Surviving

Busy week.  I asked for some time off to go visit my sister, and got it, but I've been scheduled eight days in a row to make up for it.  Still, all in all, it's been a fairly decent week, days are a bit slower at work now that school is back in session.  Night's still get crazy, but by the time it gets to that point, I'm out of there.  Weekends are ugly, so we won't go there - ha ha.

We had an ugly incident with an obnoxious teenager running into a senior citizen lady - so we had to ban them from riding them in the store (easier said than done,) for the most part it's working, but there's always a few who push the limits...

Hubby will be home from his sojourn to the desert on Saturday.  It's been pretty quiet around here with him gone.  I've missed him, but one thing I haven't missed is having that dang TV in my bedroom on every night.  I haven't turned the thing on at all since he left!  It's nice to be able to go to bed whenever I want to, without that noise blaring at me - I can even read all night if I want to (and do.)
I will miss that when he comes back - but it's a trade off.  ha ha.

I told him that I was going to decorate the house for fall while he was gone, but I haven't done a thing.
I haven't wanted to spend the money - saving that for my trip.  But I have spent some time thinking about it.  If I had my druthers, I would do it all in white pumpkins and fall colored hydrangeas, something like this:

and this:

...And I'm really into ravens this year:

I also want to do this with my candlesticks:

(care of my Pinterst board)

and this for the front porch:

Source: radiobutlers.blogspot.com via Pat on Pinterest

...While I'm at it, I would love this for that ugly dead spot next to the front walk:

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Pat on Pinterest

There you have it.  My home is lovely in your head, and I didn't have to lift a finger.  :-)

Other than that, been entertaining myself with things like jigsaw puzzles, watching every autumn related movie I have in my hoard (I own quite a few) and lots of comfort food - too much!  I'm getting to the point that I'm not so comfortable any more!  ha ha.

Good thing hubby won't be gone much longer...

Speaking of ravens reminded me of a favorite version of Edgar Allen Poe's famous poem as read by Garrison Keillor...



Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.  (Even though I don't understand what any of these pictures have to do with it!  >.< )

Oh, how I love Fall!

Today is a work day, and I must away now.

'Chou.
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(Fetched most of those photos from Google - will add links ASAP.)

Alone Time

The last couple of days have been pretty quiet around here.
Baby and I have been working opposite schedules, so when she's home, I'm gone and vice versa.

I had the day shift yesterday, and hadn't slept much the night before, so was feeling pretty wiped out.

When I'm alone a lot, I often feel the need to do something a little bit indulgent, just to take the edge off  - so I baked up some cookies that I found on Pinterest - (I cheated though, I used a sugar cookie mix) and warmed up some apple juice with cinnamon candies melted in, and had myself a little autumnal moment.

The only thing that would have made it better is if my next installment of Dark Shadows had come in the mail.  (I'm having so much fun watching them - I remember being addicted as a teenager, but I don't remember anything else about it.  It's been fun re-discovering the stories.  The ones I've been getting are old un-edited originals, so they have all the mistakes - line flubs and story inconsistencies still intact.
Kind of funny :-)

The recipe is just a snicker doodle cookie with a rolo candy rolled inside - yum!

The weather has been great here lately - pleasant days, and cool nights.  In fact, the other morning when I woke up, I had to close the window tight because it was downright cold!

The day my husband left town, I had the day off, so I hopped in the truck and drove to Provo.
It's the first time all summer I've been able to get out of town (because of my broken car,) and I've been desperately in need of some lotion for my poor dried out cardboard-cut-up hands.
(My favorite brand isn't available here.)

It was just a quick little trip (and expensive in the gas-hog of a truck,) but I stopped at all my most favorite haunts - Bath & Body works, TaiPan Trading, Archiver's and Barnes & Noble.
Then I grabbed a bit of lunch, and headed back out of town before the rush hour traffic began.
(I don't think that freeway construction is EVER going to end!)

Pleasant day.

On the way home, for some reason, I started thinking about the old music teacher at the high school.
(He's retired now.)  My kids all had him - he was the most respected - and feared person, not only at school, but in the entire community.

He was very strict, and had zero tolerance for wise-cracking, horse play, or any form of tom-foolery.
If a person misbehaved, all he had to do was raise the "Dahlquist finger" (index finger pointed up - first warning.)  There was no second warning - if the behavior continued, the student was just gone - banished from the class forever more.  Flunked, condemned and shunned from society (or so the legend goes, I don't know if anyone ever truly found out.)

Anyway, the name Dahlquist is still spoken in hushed and reverent tones anywhere you go here in town...

The funny thing is that our dog even responds to the Dahlquist finger - just point it at him, and he lowers his head and lays down on the carpet until instructed to do otherwise.

Strange but true.  ha ha.

Had a few moments to myself again this morning, so I'm taking time to spend it here recording and reflecting...

I've talked to a few of my sisters this week - one just because she was lonely, one who is wanting a visit  - the other, I contacted to ask for some help doing a yard sale.  She agreed, and asked when - but there is where it will probably die.  I have no time left to ask off this month or next - weekends are all scheduled already - and after that, the weather will probably turn and yard sale time will be over.

I'm so wanting to unclutter and de-junk though.

It's a dilemma...

My oldest daughter is home now, and breakfast is in the oven.

Alone time has passed...

Till next time.
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Quickie...

Only have a few moments this morning before work, just stopping in to say "Hi."

It's been a quiet week around here - hubby is in Saint George working, and the oldest daughter is flitting around with her busy social life, so it's basically me and my youngest.

It's been kind of nice really.  I can go to bed at a decent hour, because I don't have to wait for hubby to fall asleep so I can turn off the blaring television in my room.  I can just read until my eyes get droopy...

...Not that we don't miss him, just sayin' - he can be noisy.  And messy.

Tomorrow is my # 2 son's birthday.  Wish I could celebrate with him.  <3 p="p">
I was planning a trip to Reno to visit my sister next week, but the person I was planning to go with is not well, and won't be able to make it after all.  Sis didn't want to accept that, since I already have the days off and all - so she helped me book a plane ticket.
I'm excited to go, haven't done anything fun at all this summer.

Hubby gave me some news that had me a bit wound up last night, so I didn't sleep much.
It's going to be a long day at work today - hope they keep me busy...

Gotta run!
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Finally Fall

 The rainy season has begun here - the grass grows so fast, we've been having to mow a couple of times a week.  The nights are finally starting to cool down, so sleeping with the windows open instead of the AC blasting is a pleasant (and much less expensive) option.

The only thing bad about it is its unpredictability.
We've been doing the sidewalk sale again at work - still trying to clear out last year's merchandise.

The other day, when I drove into the parking lot, the lightening and thunder were starting, so I clocked in, then went directly outside to see if they wanted to start moving things in - it started to sprinkle... and then to pour.  By the time we had everything inside, we were all drenched.  I had to finish my entire shift soaking wet.

The clothes eventually dried out, but my hair - with all the hair spray in it, dried hard - like one of those plastic molded Barbie wigs.  I couldn't wait until my lunch break to go home and brush it out.

The rest of the week has been "jerk Pat around" week.  I've been running from the front registers to the back to unload the trucks - back and fourth all night long - about the length of a football field.
Oy.

It makes it so hard to finish the tasks I've been given to do in my own department.
I've been scheduled until eleven every night this week - so that last hour, I'm running so fast to get caught up, that I can't unwind and sleep when I get home.

Hubby commented that I should be working graveyards - since those are the hours I'm keeping anyway.  I hate to say it, but maybe he's right - I enjoy work a lot more when there aren't so many people milling around messing up my clean areas.  Ha ha...

A couple of things to look forward to this month - one of my favorite authors' new book is out (just waiting for it to hit the shelf where I work.)
Josi Killpack's latest in the Sadie Hoffmiller saga.  These books are just so much fun to read.  I always finish in a day or two, then I have to wait another whole year for the next one.

In conjunction with the release of Tres Leches Cupcakes the author, Josi S. Kilpack, and the publisher, Shadow Mountain, are sponsoring a contest for free books. To enter, leave a comment in the comment section of this blog before September 16th, 2012. Winners will be announced and notified September 17th 2012.

For additional ways to enter, go to www.josiskilpack.com

 Also, J.K. Rowling's long awaited novel will be out.  Haven't heard much about this one, so no idea what to expect - but it should be interesting...

Other than that, I've just become an unwilling hermit.
My car has a cracked radiator, and doesn't hold any antifreeze, which means I can't even drive five miles without it overheating - that ugly red light comes on, and it starts screaming at me to stop.
I am really hating that.  Jenny and I went for a little ride the other day, and I had such a strong desire to just keep going - and going - and going...   I get so tired of being cooped up - I rarely even leave the house anymore except to go to work.

I had several places I was supposed to be yesterday, but I had to disappoint everyone and just stay home...

On the upside, my fourth season of Dark Shadows came in the mail yesterday, so I spent the evening watching that - the show where my daughter would say "nothing happens."
It's aggravating to admit that she has a point, but last night the heroine got locked in a secret room by a madman.  I told myself I would just watch until someone rescued her - but two hours and 26 episodes later, she was still there.  I finally gave up and went to bed.  By then it was after two.

It made it so I was not all there at church - made some really stupid music mistakes.
Will I learn from that?  Probably not.

*Sigh.*

Still no news on Hubby's job - but he did go to the eye doctor the other day, and found that he has to have cataract surgery.  The doctor called the one eye legally blind.
It freaked me out a little, because he's driving to work every day.  I took him out to breakfast (which is the only time we ever have together anymore,)  and I insisted he let ME drive.  (He never lets me.)
...It was like an episode of the Bickerson's the whole way - he griped and complained until I almost turned around and took him back home!

Retirement should be interesting - if we ever get there.

That's life on the funny farm this week.  I'm done with the late late nights for the foreseeable future, so maybe I'll get caught up on the sleep...

Later.
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Boom Boom

Best description of the day yesterday that I could think of.

When Jenny came home for lunch, (and to pick me up for my shift,) she told me that they were doing a sidewalk sale again.  My reaction was - "You are kidding me!"  ....Because I had spent the last half of my shift the day before cleaning up and condensing the clearance section (and a sidewalk sale means that that section had been scooped up and moved outside.)  And also because it was obviously going to rain at some point during the day.

Sure enough, after I had been there a few hours, the thunder started - big time.
I didn't wait to be asked - I ran outside to start moving the stuff back inside.  I have to say, we're getting pretty professional at that - it only took a few minutes for all of us to get it back inside.

Nonetheless, the store looked ravaged for the rest of the night.
I filled in the holes the best I could before I left - that's all I could do...

When I went to claims before leaving (that's where we record all the stolen/broken stuff we find during our shifts,) the lady back there said something about missing the fireworks - I thought she was talking about the lightning and thunder, but then I realized she was talking about actual fireworks.

Labor day weekend is our big celebration here in town, and they always kick it off with a fireworks show.  I told her I am always there at work, so I forget that there are things like holidays, and weekends, and ...summer.  I am scheduled all through the holiday so I will miss it completely.

Bummer.

I was off at 9 though, just as the fireworks were starting, they started with a lot of noise as I was eating my dinner.  I ran outside (in my bathrobe) to catch a few.
I had a perfect view of them from my front porch - so I snapped a few pics...

That fuzzy object to the side that looks like Jupiter is the big full "blue moon" that made it's appearance last night.  I don't know why the camera smeared it like that - all the pictures turned out that way.
Ah well...

My daughter informed me Sunday that the leaves are already changing up the canyon.  I was stunned.
I looked up that way when I went for groceries the other night, and sure enough, I could see patches of color on the mountain.  She posted this picture on her Facebook as proof...

I haven't even been outside for any length of time this Summer, so it was all news to me.
The seasons, they are a changin'.
I've been judging by the store - all the moving around and the getting rid of old stuff getting ready for the new...

I'm still getting a lot of people asking for swimming pools - they've been gone for over a month.
When I tell them that, they look at me like I'm an alien or something - "But it's still the hottest part of the Summer," they tell me...

I just shrug my shoulders and tell them - "you know retail, we're two seasons ahead here."

Doesn't help.

Anyway, there's thunder and lightening again today - it's supposed to rain all weekend here.  It has started to cool down at night (finally,) and it's time to start thinking of how we're going to manage Christmas this year.  (Can we go back to the beach - please?)  Not gonna happen, but I did enjoy that holiday minus the snow last year...

We still have had no news about hubby's work - don't know if we'll be moving or not.
I'm starting to pray that he won't get it.  I've been fantasizing about selling off everything, and starting fresh and new - but I'm realizing now that I'm not being realistic - we would have to haul all this junk with us, and try to stuff it into a space half the size of what we have.

Nightmare.

I guess I'd be content to stay where I am for a few more years.

...But I just don't know.

Stay tuned.
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