the push begins

I have one day to enjoy turkey

     Friday, the push begins.  Outside lights.  Upstairs tree.  Downstairs tree.  20 boxes of decorations carried up.  Tables moved, furniture moved, pictures moved.
     It can be tiring and stressful for me!
     Usually I have the outside lights up by now, but it has been cold and I have been sick and the lights are still in the basement.  Friday.
     I usually have the downstairs tree up.  But it is still in a box.  Friday.
     The living room tree will be a freshly cut one, and that will go up Saturday.
Sunday I will collapse from overwork.
     We have cut down on the amount of stuff we put out, but the lights and the Dickens village take a lot of time and trips up and down.  Maybe I should hire a young kid to haul boxes.......
     Aside from tomorrow being Thanksgiving, it is also Julia's birthday!  She was born on a Sunday, when the Bears were playing.  Granted, tomorrow is Thursday, but the Bears are playing!  Deja vu, maybe.
     We will call her and wish her well....but it's not the same as having her here.         After 16 years, it hasn't gotten easier.
     Damn, the hot toddy is making me sentimental.
     Say good night, Gracie.....

'bout time

After 4 days, feeling better

    Maybe it is the hot toddy talking.  Say that fast four times.
    Tonight I did whiskey, water and honey.  A generous serving of whiskey, I might add.
     Jackie uses some for making sweet potato pie, but we may run out before  Christmas if this cold hangs on!  Boy, it tasted good tonight.
     I have slept in my chair a lot.  I also finished reading a book called Mrs. O'Leary's Fire.  I had a hard tine getting into it because the author talked about comets. 
     His theory is a comet, not a cow,  caused the huge fire in Chicago, Peshtigo Wisconsin, and in Michigan.
     It's an interesting read, considering the events in California this past month or so.
     First person accounts were used in describing the Chicago blaze and one particular aspect really interested me. 
     There was widespread looting of stores, warehouses, and homes during the inferno! Anything not tied down was fair game as thieves made off with clothing, alcohol, furniture, art work......just about anything they could grab.
     I always thought looting was a crime of our time, but I guess not.
     As always, the end of the book led me to the computer to find out more and I went to the Chicago History Museum site which has really neat interactive maps of the town before the fire.
     When I was a kid, it was the Chicago Historical Society and I spent many afternoons there, wandering the building and looking at the displays.  The dioramas of the fire always fascinated me.
     So...feeling better, getting more sleep,  not pushing it.....hoping to be much better for Thanksgiving and turkey!
     Sleep well, my friends.

uh ha

And people think I'm crazy

     Fear is based in reality.  If something isn't real, you should not be scared by it, right?
     But I don't like scary movies because....well, they scare me.
     Nothing real.... but mentally I get freaked out.  I know they are not true, yet....
     Same with tall bridges and buildings.  I always feel I am going to be the one to cause it to break.
     So I felt a little justified in my fears after an elevator at the John Hancock building fell 84 floors last week.  84 floors!  People got on at the top and a cable snapped and the six people in the car plummeted toward the earth, only to be stopped somewhere near the 11th floor.
     They remained trapped there for several hours until rescue workers could find them.  This was an express elevator, with doors at the top and bottom....so there was no way to open a door and see where the car was.
     Thankfully, and amazingly, no one was seriously injured, although I imagine there were several people in need of underwear after the fall.
     Today I was in a semi sleep state when I heard a noise.  Jackie was in the living room and asked me what it was.  I had no idea.
     At 8:30 when I went to turn down the bed, I found the noise.  Our new bedroom lamp had shattered!  There were bits of glass all over the place.  And it was not the bulb, but part of the base.  No one near it, no one touching it, it was not even on.  Yet shattered.
     I am still working on my cold.  Thanks to everyone who gives advice and/or wishes for a fast recovery.
     I am a baby, I admit it.  I do not like coughing and sneezing.
     I am having another toddy......whiskey, water, honey..... and this one is a little stronger than the one last night.  I actually slept until about 2, then was up and moved to my chair, where I slept until 9:30.  The chair is better because I can be upright, which makes for easier breathing.
     But there's a lady who likes to snuggle against my feet at night and I think she misses me when I go to the chair.  Jackie does not even know I am gone.
     Sleep tight.  Don't let the bed bugs burp.

day two

My cold is holding on

     Thanks for all the good wishes.
     I went to church today to share my malady with others......I just hope I did not contaminate anyone.
     In the old days, I would have come hone, picked up my Chicago Tribune, sat in my chair, made a cup of hot something, snuggled under a blanket and read the paper until I fell asleep.
     Now days, I have to read it on the computer.  Hard to nap that way.
     Emily and John came over for a visit and brought gifts.  They have been in the world of Disney for the past few days.  I have a new hat and a new Hawaiian shirt, both decorated with a little  mouse.  Jackie has a new top, also with a Disney theme.
     I watched a movie on Netflix....Ballad of Lester Scruggs?  Don't remember the actual title.
     I was highly entertained. 
     Now I have finished watching the Bears win and sipping a hot toddy, with not as much lemon juice as yesterday.  But I am out of honey, honey.
     Again, thanks for all the good wishes......I do hate colds!
     Honestly, I am a big baby about not feeling well too.

a down day

I hate having a cold

     It drains me.  It saps me.  It makes me repeat stuff only using different words.
I don't sleep well at night and don't sleep during the day.
     I did go to the store to buy some whiskey to make a hot toddy.....whiskey, honey, lemon, hot water.
    It does not taste good.  Something is not right.
     Had a nice texting conversation with someone today.  I have no idea who they are.
    Should I ask?
    They sent several messages and even called me.  But I put the phone away and did not hear it at all.
     Their name does not come up....just a number.
     The mystery will remain.
     Because I am going to bed.
     To dream, perchance to sleep.

TWTWTW

I am tired

     I had something everyday this week, sometimes two things. Doctor visits, volunteer duties, rehearsal, meeting, zoo day
     Now I am tired.  And I am getting a cold.
     I stopped for a coffee at the big name place.
     They make a special drink that is loaded with Vitamin C for those people with colds.  I can never remember the name.
     So I ordered a Bomb.  The Pretty Young Thing behind the counter said if I described it, they could probably make it.  So I said it had honey, tea, green tea, lemonade and was great for a cold.  She said, "Oh, the Medicine Ball."  I was close.  It had a B in it.
     So I got one.  And I got a peppermint white chocolate thingy too. 
     And surprise, I made it all the way home without stopping!
     The downside is, I am tired....but a little caffeinated up right now.  My eyes want to close, but my body wants to dance.
     And my hands are killing me....they are so dry!
     But wine and pizza with Jackie and SK was a great way to end the week.
     Tomorrow I hope to hang some lights......if I can find the bushes under the snow.
     Till then, peace and hope to all.
     By the way....long before expressions like LOL, or BTW, or IMHO,  TWTWTW was a hit on the telly.  Anybody remember that show?

that was work

We taught Corki to give paw

     Let me explain.
    We have had Corki for three years.  She was a rescue dog, brought up from Selma, Alabama, where she was rescued from a kill shelter.
     She's a great dog.  We think she is now about eight years old..  We don't know why the owners gave her up.  Perhaps they became too old to care for her, or they tired of her, or lost a home due to fire or flood, maybe they even died.
     She can sit.  She sometimes stays on command, but not often.  She usually comes on command.  Usually.
     We have been working on paw for six months.  Tonight, for the first time, she gave paw without being prompted by a tap on the front paw!  Yes, treats were involved, but just having her do it is amazing.
     That opens up a whole new world to old dogs doing new tricks!
     Can I learn to play piano or guitar?  Can I learn to speak French?
     Will the quarter behind your ear trick  become a reality?
     Can I learn not to salt food excessively?
     Old dogs can learn new tricks.
     Now I have to get to work on mine.
     Au revoir!  A bientot!