Almost Christmas

Today is Wednesday.  My sister took the night off from work to go see her grandson's last 8th grade basketball game.  I don't drive at night, so she's picking me up at 4:00, game is at 5.

I'm so worried about her, with her daughters being such bitches to her.  

Today is Sunday, the 21st.  I've made the decision to move back to Harrisonville.  I am going to put the application in tomorrow.

While I love this place, and the location, I seriously do need to be in the same town as my sister and my son.  While in the beginning I needed the solitude and distance, now I'm starting to feel a little homesick.  

My insurance should all be in place by the beginning of the year, that will be a big relief.  

I don't know how long it will take for a unit to become available, but I'm gonna start saving for the move right away.  And I don't think I am going to be purchasing anything else for this place to make it feel more like home, because it already feels a little different, knowing that this is now temporary.

 I'll have everything organized and sorted and packed, so the move with be a quick and easy one.  I'll rent a U-Haul and get some of my boys to help.  

So, I'll close for now, Merry Christmas the next couple of days.  

Play Nice!  xxoo

Sunday

This morning I got up, started the coffee pot and got in the shower.  I haven't done that on a day I'm not going anywhere for a long time.  I'm wearing my favorite sweat pants, which are now like clown pants since I have lost so much weight.  I attribute that to a few things.  Not drinking alcohol is the biggest one.  Not eating fast food or drinking sodas are big factors as well.  I don't eat many big meals, rather I graze throughout the day. Trying to keep healthier snacks in the house, but here in America, nothing is healthy.

I've been selling quite a few of my Critters, I'd honestly like to sell at least a couple more before Christmas, there's always hope.  My creativity has been a little slack, so I've decided to work more on marketing the Critters I have than try to create more at this time.  

 I've been hanging with Mary quite a bit, she's so strong but so frail at the same time.  I worry about her.  Samantha and Rylee are the absolute worst, and if I outlive Mary I will be damn sure to let them both know just how much they hurt her.  I promise, they will not to get off guilt free.  They are hurting her so badly, I can't even imagine, no matter how hard I try...because I can't ever imagine my kids turning their backs on me...sadly, this isn't surprising behavior from hers, though.

I'm still enjoying my solitary life.  I've been thinking about my past relationships lately, and have come up with some what I think are sad realizations.

I've been married 3 times, but never properly proposed to.  Never even asked, really.  Twice it was more of a suggestion, and once I was handed a business card to a jewelry store, intended for me to assume I was going to get a diamond ring.  Unfortunately, he requested the card back the next day.  We still got married but it only lasted a few months.

I have never been pursued.  I always made myself available to the one that I had chosen.

I am hoping that this new me, the real me, will be lucky enough to have some of those moments.  I think my soul will be sorry if we don't, I think that's what it truly wants to experience.  

 

Thanksgiving 2024

We had plans.  

My sister Mary and I were going to Young Son's to have lunch with his little family.  

Turns out, Mary is sad because her kids are the worst, so she decided to stay home.  Young Son's family isn't very interested.   

So, I'm having another cuppa, then I'm gonna head down to the laundry room and do a couple loads of laundry.  

I can't quite pinpoint how this feels.  It's just another made up holiday, like all the rest, but it is a holiday that we grew up spending with family, eating a special meal.  

Instead of getting together and soaking up some happy family vibes, we're all here in our separate places.  It feels wrong.  I remember waking up Thanksgiving morning, the house smelling like turkey cooking and all the goodness being prepared in the kitchen.  Mom had already been up for hours watching the turkey, boiling the eggs, doing whatever you do to yams, opening the can of cranberry sauce...  

I miss that so much.  Before I moved here, before it got so bad where I was, we cooked Thanksgiving together, at first we had so much family over we had two dining room tables.  As the years went by and the families dwindled and moved on,  we still cooked a turkey breast and all the fixin's, and usually Young Son would bring in a stray friend that needed a dinner, or we'd have a couple friends over...

I don't miss him, and I wish he wasn't part of the memory, but it is what it is.  

The first Thanksgiving I was free, Young Son and I had Cuppa Noodles and hung out on Thanksgiving.  Both of us recovering from everything that had happened, yet thankful that we were together and away from all that.

Anyway, I'm trying to work through how I feel today.  I am telling  my self that it's just another day, but it isn't.  My heart breaks for my sister, and I am so ashamed of and angry with my nieces and nephews.  I have to stay out of it, though.  I can't even think about making it any worse for Mary.  

I'm just going to go do some laundry, say some prayers, and be thankful for all that I have in my life, the blessings I continue to receive, and to keep being faithful in knowing that every little thing is gonna be all right.  

Play Nice!  xxoo

Update:  Clothes are washed, in the dryer now.  It is a cold day here, and I have to walk a little bit to get to the laundry room, but you know what?  It is still better than where I was.

This is the first Thanksgiving in my life, and the first Thanksgiving in my sister's life, that we are spending it alone.  I offered to come, but she's in no mood for company, and absolutely not in the mood to be cheered up or advised.  She's gotta figure this out herself.  She knows I love her and that I'm on her side, and that's all I can do right this minute.

The host of the day wasn't even up at 10:30 am, nothing was cooking over there...I guess I will eat all these delicious deviled eggs myself.  

Friday - Went to see Young Son, went to see my sister, ran some errands for her, ran a couple errands for myself, and now I am home and plan to stay right here hopefully until next Friday.  xxoo

Becoming of age

So far in this journey of mine, this slow but steady incline I've been climbing for the last couple of years is working.  Every "little" thing so far I've been able to handle.  I am Not challenging the Universe in any way by saying this, I'm appreciating the blessings.  

I know those Medicare ads on tv are annoying, but they are necessary.  If you are so short sighted that you don't understand how daunting the world of Medicare is, that means you are younger than me, so hush, your time's coming, if you're lucky!  

I was involved in a confrontation with management of the complex, but it all stemmed from some me being told something that wasn't so.  I received an apology, all is well.  I was proud to have stood up the way I did.  The old me wouldn't have done that.

A "Welcome to Medicare" physical this week, turns out I am pretty healthy, besides my pesky hypo thyroid, still wanting to hypo more than it should.  New meds, and I need to exercise.  Imagine that. 

So...a couple of days have passed.   I cancelled the mammogram that was scheduled on Friday, just no need for that.  

I got some very great great news this week.  My rent has gone down quite a bit, while my EBT food assistance amount has gone up!  I have been budgeting (to the penny) since August, when Medicare payments started coming out of my SSI check.  I'm proud at how well I've managed so far, we haven't ran out of a single thing.  We have always had what we needed.   The Food Pantry is another blessing I should count.  

Now, with the decrease and increase (usually "they" give us something but then turn around and take something else, but this time might be different?) I am feeling a little bit less worry about maintaining this lifestyle.  Maybe even bettering it a little?  That is entirely possible, you know.  

It's all out of my control, my only contribution to the outcome is to expect it to come back in my favor.  There's no reason why it shouldn't.  Just gotta be patient, yeah, I've learned a lot of that.  

Being patient became much easier when I realized that I had no control over certain things.  At this phase of my life, and the path I am on, I have to depend on allowances from the money that I earned every day of my working life.  I missed a bunch of stuff with my kids growing up because I was working working working, so what I get now, I deserve.  Even in the small increments, because I can work with it.  

Being adaptable has been important, too.  Plans don't always go the way they are intended.  Unless it is something life threatening, things can always be re-scheduled or rearranged.  

So, it's Saturday afternoon, I'm doing some computer work, so I'll close this for now.  

Play Nice!  xxoo

Brad is just about bigger than Greg now.

What did you do this week?

Today I washed my front facing windows.  They are the ones I use the most.  I made the decision to leave the cobwebs at the top, outside of course.  While they are unsightly, after my bout of "Flymagedon" this Summer, I have great respect for anything that kills the eats flys.  

This has been an uneventful week.  I ran an errand into Belton for Mary, which worked out great because I needed to pick up a grocery order from WalMart...

She has a "walk through" at her apartment by the end of November.  She's really working hard on her drain pipes.  Snaking it...which isn't going well at the moment.  She's sleeping a lot, which is good and bad.  Good that she is resting, bad that I'm afraid that she might be escaping.  She knows I am available, but I am not going to take over and start bossing her around.  The old me probably would have done that.  

I did a lot of creating this week, got some new supplies in, did some changing around of wall art...I think I have the wall art the way I want it, for now anyway.  

I did a lot of computer work, working on listings, getting them scheduled, created, etc.  Trying to keep focused so I can build up some consistency.  I really need to get myself a good daily routine worked out.  Finally.  

I've been letting the wind blow me for so long, and it's taken this long to get some really old and some new cobwebs out of my head to make room for some new ideas and even better, clarity.

Clarity - not just about recent events - some way back there.  Its been a process, still ongoing, probably always will be, I guess.  Being human and all.  Whatever that means.  

I went through my YouTube subscriptions and deleted a bunch.  I am tired of resellers.  They are absolutely why thrift store prices are so high now.  Was their meager fame worth it?  All of us thrift store enthusiasts are paying the price for their fame.  They lament how high the prices are but the thrift stores are asking the same price as what they would sell them for because resellers made them aware.  Imagine.  They had it made, and no one was getting hurt.  Resellers were quietly selling their stuff on Ebay, making cash, and then all of a sudden it became a YouTube thing and EVERYONE jumped on the bandwagon.  

And then, after watching these people shopping and seeing how little they were spending compared to how much things were selling for, they show-off about their profits.  Insta/FB posts, updates, blah blah blah.    

Same goes for those storage lockers.  There is some interest in what treasures will be found, but then its the same thing, showing-off their profits.

I'm all about expanding my mind, learning about things we were never taught.  

Monday I have to force myself to make phone calls to places.  Gosh I really dislike doing that, but it has to be done.  Ugh.

I got the G-kids school pics for this year.  Gosh they are all so beautiful and smart and talented and kind.  Growing so nicely.  I wish they were closer, but they aren't, so we make the best of it.  I am still leaving them messages every morning, we still chat, it is what it is.  

Looks like I'm getting some activity on my page, I better go check it out.  Like I said, I've been working on my listings...some extra cash would be appreciated right about now.  

xxoo
Play Nice!

Being an Introvert

While I think of myself as a very nice person, I have no idea what other people think of me.  None of my business, I don't need to be told, I'll be able to tell.

In saying that, I live in a small apt. complex, and know who most of my immediate neighbors by name.  It's my nature to be pleasant, to wish them a good morning, a wave, some type of acknowledgment. I might even chit chat for a moment or two, but that's about it.  I'm not one of the "Golden Girls" (newly formed group) and I'm thankful for that.  They get together and play cards and whatever else old ladies do in a group.  I tried, I really did.  Went twice.  Not for me.  

The "girl in charge" seemed to understand that.  Or so I thought.

Today I got a text from her asking me to ride along while she took another resident to the VA hospital.  Downtown.  

I told her no, and she proceeded to grill me (over text), which was causing me such anxiety!  Why in the world is she asking ME?  She Knows that's not something I would do.   

My heart was beating, my mind is racing, trying to come up with answers to these questions that are boggling my brain that she's even asking??????

Turns out, she was texting the other girl that has the same name as me.  

omgosh

Then I get another text from her.  "I'm outside"  I informed her she was again texting the wrong one, and to please change my name in her phone.  She thought that was a very good idea.

Now that my heart has settled down, my breathing is leveling out, anxiety lowering, I can almost laugh about it.  If I did, it would be a nervous little laugh, though.

Play Nice!  
xxoo

  

Story Time

 Today has been such a good day already, and it's not even noon.  

As I was getting dressed this morning, I glanced over at my dresser.  That's where I display all my family photos, my kids, g-kids, and those that have passed.  I was filled with such a feeling of love when I realized that every single person in those photos really love and loved me.  It took my breath for a moment.  Then, I put my hand in my pocket and found 4 very shiny pennies.  Very rarely do I carry cash or change with me.  So, Pennies from Heaven, right?  I had to run an errand, and when I was getting out of my car, I saw a couple of pennies in a cup holder.  Again, I don't carry cash.  

As I got home, I heard thunder, and we actually did get some rain.  Still gonna get hot this afternoon, but the rain shower was nice.  

And now for some weirdness...

I received a friend request from someone that I had been friends with before, but apparently I had or had not done something, she got angry, called me a name, and we stopped talking.  (I am never one to plead my case, a firm believer in letting go.)  I thought we both knew the friendship had run it's course, but, here's this request out of the blue.   Receiving this request, with no words, made me take a step back.  I can't describe the feeling of dread that I felt.  

I wondered if she'd been hacked?  So I sent a one word reply:  "Why"?

A day later, I got a response from her:  "Isn't it time?"

(What?  There was a time limit?  An expiration date?  Who set that? )

Her last word to me was calling me a name.  Over a year later she's saying it is time?  No apologies?  Nothing but a blank friend request.  Like it’s something I’ve been waiting for?

We were friends during the time leading up to my life exploding.  She was a steady rock that listened to me.  Back then I was a timid, scared, weak alcoholic, living with a narcissist that was slowly but surely beating me down mentally and emotionally, and my physical health was a mess.  I was taking 6-8 pills a day, had a heart attack, among other ailments.

She was on the phone with me when he was being taken away in handcuffs for pointing his shotgun at me.  At her request, I jumped in my car and went to her.  But I really wasn't welcome, and I didn't think I had anywhere else to go, until she told that I should have told her I was an alcoholic, (I honestly thought she knew) and that I needed to go home.  I had to pretty much barge into my sister's house until I got a place of my own.

We remained friends, but it wasn't the same.  Then when I started the process of getting sober (2 years and counting), getting my own place, and trying to figure out what the heck was going on, that's when she got her feelings hurt, I assumed it was because I was getting strong and didn't "need" her as much, but really didn't know.  All I knew was that she didn't care for me anymore

So, I thought about what to respond to her.  I wanted to tell her so  many things, but my reply to her was, "I don't know why you would think that.  No."  I sent it and I blocked her. 

My purpose in life right  now is to heal old wounds, not reopen them.  

The End of that Story.  Literally

And the other great thing that happened...may sound silly, but here goes.  I don't know how far I live from the highway that runs through here, but close enough that I can hear it, and I find it comforting.  I've been looking for a web cam that shows this stretch of highway that I can hear and I finally found it today. 

Still not noon.  Still time for more cool things to happen today!  

Play Nice!  xxoo 

I am a little discouraged

Physically I am fine, but emotionally and in my head I'm feeling discouraged.  In trying to figure out why, I thought I'd jot some ideas down.  

I'm discouraged at how the Maker's Market that I am involved with here in town is performing.  I am discouraged that my Critters aren't selling, even at the low price I have on them.

I'm wondering if I should try doing something different, or do what I am doing differently.  Maybe make them a bit more adult oriented, not nasty, just make them more home decorish.  I have some textured brown pleather coming, thinking maybe a horse with a faux fur mane...

I'm discouraged that I am so awkward that I can't even relax enough to be myself, which is odd in in its own way, because I am not sure who I am right now.  I'm so wary about people in this complex that I interact with regularly.  I want to keep them at arm's length, not let them close enough that if they stopped talking to me it would bother me.  I'm ok with strangers that I will never see again, though.  

I am discouraged and relieved that I haven't met someone new yet.  I have a lot of love in me, and I am dying to know what it feels like to be loved.  But then there we go again, could I even let someone that close to me?  

I have promised myself that I will never put myself in the position to allow anyone to pull that rug out from under me again.  Never.  

While I have been like a cat every time it has happened before, landing on my feet and moving forward, I'm not sure that I have another time in me.  I'm older now, and this last one has/is been harder than the ones before, and has/is taken longer to bounce back.  

And for those friends and family members that have disconnected themselves from me, good.  I'm older now, time is precious, and I intend to spend mine with intention.  While I can't stop you from crossing my mind now and then, rest assured that I will not be reaching out any more.  It's taken me awhile to accept it, but now I have, and it's all good.  

And then I get hit with a burst of inspiration, and away I go!  \

Play Nice!  xxoo

  

 

Checking In

Gosh, time is flying.   I have been spending so much time in my head.  

I have a new neighbor and I think we could be friends but I don't seem to be able to do that right now.  To allow someone new to matter to me seems like such a scary thing to do.  There are a couple things about her that concerns me, too.  

She has a dog, and of course she walks him a few times a day.  So she's getting to  know a lot more people around here than I do.  You know, I stay to myself pretty much.  I worry that she may be a gossiper, because she's told me a few "secrets" that she's learned about other people in the complex, which makes me worry that she may be sharing some of mine???  I am being very, very careful with what I talk to her about, which makes it very hard to have a conversation with her.  My guard is way up there.  Plus, she's shared a secret about our complex manager, that he told her, which makes me wonder why he would tell her something so important.  

I thought about thinking about maybe meeting someone to have a relationship with but I can't really plan that.  I know that eventually I will meet someone and it will be the right one.  Manifesting rules say to act like it's already happened, but that is hard,  I love my place, my cats, our daily routines.  This is what I dreamed of.

I watched a tarot reading on You Tube which led me to watching quite a few different readers.  They/the cards all talk of a hard relationship in the past, and how there is someone coming my way.  Most of the readings were very similar,  but the readings were making me think about things that I don't think I am ready for, but wanting at the same time.  Everywhere I went I was looking for him.  They made it sound like soul mates, twin flames...and I'm not saying they were wrong in their readings, I just didn't like how it was making my thoughts be missing something that I didn't have and didn't know if I really wanted it right now, but feeling disappointed that I didn't find him.  I felt that it was taking me out of the present moment.

I remembered how happy and blissful I was before I started watching them, so happy where I was and content...so I decided to stop watching the readings.  While some things resonated with me, some did not, and for such a general audience...nah, if I'm gonna have my cards read, it'll be in person, and I'm not sure I'd even do that right now.

There isn't a thing wrong with having hopes and dreams, wishes and such, and I believe in the power of attraction, I think I'll just keep living my happy little life and if someone gets lucky enough to spend some time with me, well, we'll just see if/when that happens.  

If anyone reading this thinks they should suggest a dating app, thanks but no thanks.  I'm way past the "hook up" phase.  Ugh.  

The boys (Greg and Brad) have birthdays this month.  Brad is 1 year old now, and Greg will be 2 next week.  They are such good boys, now that I am pretty much fully trained.  We are quite happy in our little lives right now.  They both pretty much choose to be in the same room that I am in most of the time.  There is one part of the afternoon where they like to stretch out on my bed, and I mean flat out, on their backs, arms above their heads and legs straight out.  I giggle every time I see them doing that, but haven't gotten a pic yet.  I'd hate to disturb them when they are resting so peaceful.

 

So things have been going very well.  I had some dental work done that was overdue, so I'm glad to have that done.  Another appt. in August, then I should be good for awhile.

My Germany kids are doing well.  School is out, and I am sure they will have many adventures this summer.  I talk to them every morning, we send voice messages back and forth.  Don't know why we don't talk on the phone, but I'm ok with this system.

Young Son is doing very well.  That makes me so happy.

Play Nice!  xxoo

Now what?

 My life changed on December 1st, 2021.  It has taken me exactly this long to wonder what's next.  So much time homeless, then finally finding a place to live, moving in with just what I could carry.  Little by little me and the boys have made this a sweet little clubhouse, with lots of love.  

I am happier than I have ever been.  I love where I live, I love my life.  But that doesn't mean that it has to just be "this."  As much as I love it, there's so much more out there that I want to do.

I am ready for a new adventure.

This girl (me) lived a loveless life for 20 years.  No hugs, no kisses, no physical contact unless fornicating, and then only with the lights out.  I always kept my eyes shut.  

I am a very physical person.  I love a good hug,  I love to hold hands.  I love to reach out and just touch someone that I love, and I've had to squelch that part of me for for too long.  Not that I am wanting to go out and have a bunch of sex, that's not my objective.  

I am looking for someone to laugh with, to talk to.  To Be with.  Someone that I can be myself with, because I am finally finding me under all the layers of squelch, and I am pretty cool, imo.

Because I have to love myself like crazy before anyone else can, I am making some healthy changes in my life, and actually have an overdue appt at the dentist this afternoon.  

Random thoughts I know, but still memorable.

xxoo Play Nice!

My friend, Earlene

 She passed away last night.  She was 78.  She and I had just celebrated our 13th friendaversary.  I went to get her and took her to work just last week.  She was awfully frail, and I was concerned about her going but she was determined.  As usual.  

Earlene and her husband and kids run a very successful appliance store in town.  A very well respected company.  She had almost a dozen exotic birds at one time.  Now I think there are only 5.  Some have passed, some recently rehomed.  I worry about Rosie, she and Earlene had been together for 30 years.  

I am sorry that we don't have any pics together.  We just didn't do that.  

We truly loved each other.  And while my life was going through changes, I knew that at any time I could reach out and she'd be right there.  And it went both ways.  

It's so sad to know that she's "gone."  I will miss her until I see her again.  

If you feel like you need to tell someone that you love them, dammit, go ahead and do it.  

Play Nice  xxoo

Gratitiude

I have been brought to tears more than a few times, living the life I am living today.  It hits me at odd times, but the feeling of relief, gratitude, peace...I feel the whole mix of those and more.  I don't know if I can explain it well enough, but if you could feel my heart, you would understand.  

 Has it really been over 2 years?  The first year was first spent disconnected, then making a major life change.  That had to happen before the rest could fall into place.  

The 2nd year was spent setting up my home, becoming more independent, and realigning myself.  I wouldn't say I was fractured, because I continued to live, learn and grow, but I'm still sweeping up and discarding of the tiny scraps that show up from time to time.  That's getting much easier.  I can't say I've completely forgiven, but that will come, eventually.  

Now, 3 months into the 3rd year, I am happy to say that my independent spirit has been revived.  My home is wonderful, my pets are great, and I am getting my budget squared away.  

Starting up a new household takes moola and time.  I have plenty of time, and limited moola, but I'm making it work.  

I am blooming where I have been planted, and thriving.

But...

As much as I hate to admit, I am feeling a little lonely.  

I don't have anyone to do anything with.  I would like to make a friend of the male persuasion to do things with.  I don't want to sit here every day all day all summer, again.  I want to go to Estate Sales and Thrift Stores and Garage Sales.  Maybe even start up a You Tube channel.  Be a reseller.  

I have so much love in me.  After being in a loveless relationship for 20 years, and being the age that I am, I would sure like to share that love with someone cool for the rest of my life.  

Someone big and strong, funny, loving and caring.  Someone that will make it easy for me to give up my clubhouse.  

Someone that would love me back.  

Someday.  Hopefully someday soon.  

Until then, I am going to continue to learn and grow, love my life, and be grateful for all of it.  Every single bit.  

Play Nice! 
xxoo

I've been thinking

 Gosh, so many thoughts.  

I believe that I am connected to what I call God, or The Universe, i can feel it in my heart, i can see it in signs and symbols, songs, and I am feeling that there is a big change coming.  In all of our lives.  And I feel a big change coming for my individual life.  I'm not scared.

I've stopped trying to figure out all the secrets that "they" are hiding, 

I've stopped watching the news of any kind, as I don't trust any of it.  

My decision is to live my best life right here, right now.  I'll keep my bubble around myself and the ones I love.  My goal in life now is to be good, and to be safe.  

And I'm thinking I might almost be ready to let another person in my bubble.  I am feeling that is a change that is coming.  I haven't met anyone, yet.  

I believe that we have been dealing with AI for a lot longer than we know.  Especially with photo generating.  I know I sound like an old woman, with all my "back in the day" thinking, but I've been here awhile, and I've seen how things have gone to the dark side, so I don't really have high hopes for that.  My only real hope in this regard, is that they turn on their creators and leave us out of that beef.  And how do we know that hasn't already happened?  Maybe previous civilizations advanced as far as creating some form of artificial intelligence, and that was their whole undoing?  

See?  Lots of thoughts.  

My hair girl, Lori, she told me she took an ADD test and was prescribed some meds that she could tell the difference immediately, and how focused she was now.  Maybe I should get some and actually finish a few (more than a few) sewing projects around here!

So, it's Monday now, and I've done all my morning chores and had a shower,  Probably gonna do some laundry this afternoon.

Right now the boys are sitting in the open window, watching outside and being peaceful.  

Try not to be afraid, try to keep your energy positive, 

Play Nice!  xxoo

Below Zero

As I am starting this it is -6 degrees out there.  

I am wearing leggings under sweat pants, an  undershirt, a long sleeve t-shirt and a sweatshirt.  Thick socks and winter house shoes.  

The sun is shining, that seems to make it feel warmer in here...blinds and drapes are open, but the door remains shut, it's not very weather proof.  

It looks like I am going to venture out tomorrow...I need some groceries and I may do some laundry.  Might have some goodies in the mailbox, too.  I send off for freebies all the time.  

My workout plan for 2024 is to bend over and pick up all the cat toys that get strewn around here twice a day.  

 Wednesday...it was actually in the double digits, and above freezing for about an hour this afternoon.  I ran to town to pick up some groceries and mail a package.  After the groceries were put away I treated myself to a cuppa coffee, then gathered my laundry and walked up to the laundry room.  

And...I am done, in and staying put, hopefully until next Wednesday.  And...I am tired.  I was going to make myself a good dinner of cube steak, mashed potato and green beans, but decided to save that for tomorrow.  I had a pot pie for dinner.  

Thursday - It feels so good to not have to go anywhere.  Food in the house, laundry done.  I feel secure.  My fingers are struggling, though.  I have worked them to the bone almost.  I'd like to give them a couple days off, even typing hurts a little bit.  

Today I am going to tackle my storage closet.  It is a walk in, maybe 6' x 6'.  

Friday

I did not tackle the storage closet, but I am today.  I've lost a ball of denim that I have been building to make a rug on my loom.  It's gotta be in there somewhere.  . 

Saturday

I did tackle the storage closet, and I did find my ball of denim.  I have a lot of fabric.  I also found some hand embroidery that my mom had done, in a bag I hadn't looked in for 20 years.  Looks like I will be getting my sewing machine out here pretty soon.  I gotta make those treasures into something for everyone to treasure.  A quilt, a few lap blankets, pillows...I got a bit overwhelmed after finding them, I put them back in the box to think about for a bit...I don't even know how many there are, but there are a lot!  

I also found a shelf in the area behind the closet, where the hot water heater is.  I stashed the Christmas decor back there, and the Halloween / Fall decor as well.  

I am hoping that my payday is this week.  I'm getting a cat tree for my roomies.  

Sunday

I was awakened at almost 6 am this morning...I put food in their bowls, turned on the coffee pot and got back in bed hoping I could catch at least a half hour more...7 minutes later my space was invaded again.  Ok, I'm up.

We did our morning things a little earlier than normal, now they are napping.  I do not nap.  

And here we are it's already Thursday!  I got tied up in knots this week waiting to see if my check was coming this week...hoping, and thankfully it was this week!  Already placed a few orders.  

Picking up a Walmart order tomorrow, hit a couple shops, see my son, then have coffee with my sister.  I'm gonna fill my gas tank while I'm out, while I have moola and prices are "low."  

I'll go ahead and publish this now, then get up and do something with this day.  

Play Nice!
xxoo

The Snowy Part of Winter

So, I was doing a few dishes this morning, and working on cleaning a burner plate from the stove, when the thought came to me to do this blogging thing every day, but publish once a week, so I'm gonna try that.  

Not that anyone is reading this right now, but that doesn't mean that it will never be read.  I know I have come across a few blogs in my internet surfing that were interesting enough for me to read through a few of their entries.  

It snowed all day yesterday (Monday).  I took this pic before my first pot of coffee was finished brewing, and guess what?  It's still snowing!  

pic taken from my front door.

Greg acted the effing asshole that he is last night, more than usual.  I had a glass of water in the living room, have to set it on the floor because Greg is an asshole.  When I went to bed I forgot to put the glass in the kitchen.  A couple minutes later I hear the glass being knocked over...guess who?  So, I took the glass to the kitchen to put in the sink, but must have gotten distracted and left it on the counter.  

You can guess what happened.  Yep. Just a few minutes later I was sweeping up broken glass, bent over looking for any little glimmers of glass left because I don't want any of us to get hurt.  I felt so angry but realized I really should feel frustrated (since it was my error), which was easier for me to let go..  

Greg started off the morning being pretty demanding about wanting a window open in the living room, but it's just too cold!  I did raise the one in the bedroom a little bit, that will have to do.  

You've heard about Monday, today is Tuesday

Just shared a few back and forth voice messages with my Germany folk, they are on their way home from school, ready to start their evening.  I worked on the finishing touches on a burning I am working on.  Then I rearranged my pyro supply drawer. I scrubbed the burner pans on the stove, put it back together, had a text with my sister, now I have a fresh cuppa, gonna figure out what to do next.  

Wednesday - Woke up early as usual.  The cats, including Greg, were decent last night.  Nothing was broken, and they let me sleep all night, so win win for all of us.

The sun is shining, but it's colder than cold out there.  In the teens and dropping steadily until we hit the single digits on Sunday.  I'm gonna need to make a grocery run on Sunday or soon after, so...not looking forward to that.  

Not sure what I am going to try to accomplish today.  I started a hat for a girl that I buy stones and crystals from, but hats are my evening projects.

Thursday - Oh my...

In my head I was going to go get in my car, run up to the store to get some groceries and come back.  There's a Deep Freeze in the forecast, and I got no time to get out in that bull-oney.

It took me 45 mins to get just enough off the car to get up to the store.  The speed limit is 25mph from my house to the store, and "they" watch (police station on main street of town), so I wasn't afraid of it blowing off.  Broke my ding dang $1.25 ice scraper, too.  I am just now getting feeling back in my pointer finger on my right hand.  

(The old coot that lives in front of my parking spot, walks like that old character Tim Conway played on The Carol Burnett Show, came out without a coat on, acted like he was looking for the mail man or something, then shuffled back into his house.  That guy bristles me.)

Young Son called as soon as I walked in my door, and while he knew I was going out, he was very frustrated that he wasn't able to clean off my car for me, or run my errands for me so I didn't have to get out, but it is what it is and I'm still more than capable of doing these things.  It would be nice for him to do them for me, of course, but that's not how it is right now.

I was spoiled with a garage for the previous 2 decades.  What a price that carried with it.  I will gladly scrape the snow off my car.  

Now I am home, everything put away where it should be.  We've played around with the toys, a new box fort has been made, and I'm about to get myself another cuppa coffee, resume watching "The Incredible Dr. Pol" and work on a Valentine project that I started last night, in my nice warm home, just me and my felines. 

There are 2 cats on that bed.  

I feel sad that I only just now realized how important and short this life is.  I feel happy and relieved that I finally did!  

FrIdAy!

I'm sitting here watching the sweet, soft, fluffy little snowflakes wander out of the sky to softly join their family on the ground, I just hope Mother Nature does not think she is fooling me!  I know she's about to turn on the cold starting tonight.  She's gonna wield her power like nothing else can and put us all on lockdown for the weekend.  

(I'm saying that like I don't know that HAARP controls the weather)

Ok by me, Mother N, I'm fine as can be.  I'll stay here safe and pray for those that absolutely have to get out in this weather.  Farmers, their livestock, emergency services...I thank you for answering the call and doing what most choose not to.  I won't be getting in anyone's way or causing any problems out there in the real world.  

What are you guys going to be doing tonight?  

Me and the boys have been bustling around the place, doing our morning chores, and chasing toys that I find everywhere in the house.  I throw them in the living room, they chase them, then come back to be there when I find another one.  I wonder if they hide them in the night?  Like that's a game to them.  I'm gonna think that's it, because that's something I would want my cats to do.

Saturday Morning - 8:01 am.  

It is 4 degrees out there this morning.  I keep my thermostat to 70, because this is the time of the year that I should be feeling a little colder than usual.  I don't like it to be an oven in here, for goodness sakes.  

I have a heating pad on my bed for the cats, and they love that.  I use it at night.  Speaking of...I woke up this morning with both of my roomies in bed with me.  

I went to make the bed, but Greg was curled up right in the middle of it, so that can wait.  I'll be here all day.  Both he and Brad are being quiet right now.  I'll take advantage of that until they start wanting my attention, then we'll all bustle around doing chores and playing until their next nap time.  

Amazing how many soft rock songs of the 70s and 80s were about "doing it."  I mean, I knew it, but now I can read between the lines of "I'm not talkin' 'bout promises..." to me, now, translates to "I just want to fuck you and that's it, I'm gone."  

I really don't care for the way men have been raised and taught, and how some just can't seem to control their dicks.

Sunday - Negative 8 degrees when I got up,  High zero.  We're fine.  

I think this weekly blogging is too long.  Back to daily for me.  

Play Nice!  

xxoo

Dinner last night

Home made veggie beef soup.  

Location, Location, Location

 2024!  Woo Hoo!  I am open to all positive aspects that a come with a new year.

I haven't updated in awhile because of where I had my computer set up.  It was set up on a piece of furniture called a Secretary, in a corner, with a small space between the desk and the wall, because I needed just a little elbow room...it was that small.

Greg and Brad thought I would enjoy it if they both played in the small space between the wall and the desk, where all the cords were jangled.  Every time.  They did not think this was the best place in the world to play, unless I was sitting at the desk. 

They were wrong, I did not enjoy it.  At all.  So I pushed the desk up against the wall, and that was that.  

Yesterday I moved my monitor, keyboard and mouse to a table closer to where I could actually get to it, the wires are hidden, and while they have been trying to entertain me while I "work," there aren't any crannys or wires for the little bitches to get snarled up in.  

Yes, I called them the b-word.  

Brad is the age that Greg was when he came to live here.  He's growing like crazy, a sleek black panther.  He's so chill most of the time and he's one of those cats that go limp when picked up and purrs all the time.  

Greg is Greg.  He's bossy, picky, and demanding.  He will grace me with a snuggle and purr a couple times a day.   

They're best buds now.

I started getting up at 6:30 am right before the time change.  I was sleeping until 8, but I really enjoy getting up early, getting things done so I can have the day to create. It's 9:53 am right now and I've already done my morning chores, and here I am. 

 I was treated to this sunrise one morning I just happened to open my front door.  No filter, and you can only imagine how it looked for real.  

This was my Christmas tree this year.  That's Brad with the jingle bell collar I made for Karma Carmella way back when, I took the tree down the next day because I believe Brad took a nibble off the tree...he was sick a couple times that morning, and besides, I had a feeling there was something about that tree anyway. 

 

I'd love to have the Christmas Tree that me and the kids always used, but it's being held hostage in the storage room in the home of a very bitter man.  Maybe someday, but it's not worth facing the devil in my world to get it back.  

Does this bring back any memories?  I love opening the cannister and seeing this.  I guess you could say this sparks joy for me.  

I've been dabbling in reselling some items.  Mostly on Mercari and FB Marketplace.  Mostly household items, and I sold this statue that I had given as a gift to same bitter man.  He sent this back instead of my rhino, but again, maybe someday...but this statue I sold for cheap because I didn't want to see it every time I walked up to "my" porch.  

 

It may sound silly to some, but if you know you know, and you'll get it.  

So, probably more blogging coming, probably...I have lots of thoughts and my keyboard is right here.  

My Home Sweet Home

I only use SnapChat for the filters,

and chatting with my niece..  

Play Nice!  xxoo