All is Calm - All is Bright...

Christmas 2009 is now a thing of the past - to be filed away with so many others.

It turned out to be a pretty nice one, in spite of the last minute preparations (and the mild panic attack.)
My oldest daughter did most of the shopping (it's one of the things she does best!) It was fun to be able to sit back and have a few surprises again!

We were able to squeeze in some fun activities this month - like attending my youngest daughter's choir concert.

It's her first year in the choir, but her last year at school - bittersweet for us - the last High School concert we will be attending for one of our children...

It's been a long time tradition here, that the last number performed is always Handel's Hallelujah Chorus, and they always invite any and all former members of the choir who are in the audience to come up on the stage and join them. It's always very powerful and touching.
My other daughter went up to sing with them - a two-for-one night!


We also attended her choir concert at Temple Square. It was so beautiful there!

I love the old Assembly Hall, where the concert was held.
Isn't it amazing that back in the day when the tools and technology were more primitive, they still built places like this?
Now that we have every tool and convenience known to man, all you ever see are boring straight lines.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland...

It's no wonder people come from all over the world to see this sight...


Hubby's family party was a big hit - as usual (organized chaos)...And, as always, Santa was there:


Christmas Eve dinner went well too, in spite of all my worry and my absence from the kitchen.
(In fact, I think they did better without me! *Making a note for next year...)

New Jammies were had by all...


If you'll excuse me for being corny - I went to bed that night with a very full heart. I have a wonderful family - I feel very blessed.

The Christmas morning breakfast was nice, (or should I say brunch? It was a little more laid back this year.)

Elmo was late.
"Hey - where did everybody go?"

Hubby and the girls have this week off, so they are keeping me busy, but just wanted to share.

Leaving with this parting thought - my favorite Christmas Message:

Hope your Holiday was Happy too - and wishing you the Happiest of New Years!
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Myth Busted

The Perfect Christmas. Does it exist?

In all the years I've been doing them, I've never had one.
If such a thing does exist - it's out there roaming around with Sasquatch and the Lock Ness Monster.

There's always something more I wish I could have done -
if only I had more time, or more money - or just the brains to organize and plan better.

In my mind I imagine sparkling dinner parties, with everyone in best dress - and food that even Chef Ramsey would
approve of.

Instead, I usually serve meat that is a little dry, vegetables that will probably be luke warm, and the same old tired pink salad.

Instead of a candle lit dining hall - we'll be setting up the folding tables in our cramped living room - and invariably, something will end up spilled on the carpet or the furniture. (OK - sometimes even by me...)

This year will not be one for the books (at least, not in a good way) - there won't be many gifts, and I won't even be able to make dinner myself - I'll be working.

Still, I have much to be grateful for; a daughter who is willing to sacrifice her income to help buy the gifts, a family who all live within a few minutes of home, so they can be here to share the day with us.
Hubby will have time off to spend at home, most of the debts will be up to date (for a change.)
...And there are three little grandchildren who's excitement and joy bring all the magic back again.

No, it won't be the perfect Christmas - but it will be good enough.

Merry Christmas!

Epic Fail

...That's a phrase I borrow from my daughter, but it certainly fits the way I'm feeling today.
What a cruddy Christmas this will be. Besides being behind on everything, and having to last minute shop because no one gets paid until next week - I found out last night that I work Christmas Eve until 6 PM!
...I've got 15 people coming for dinner, and I won't be there to cook it!
(Hubby and my daughter have generously offered, but I'll miss putting in my touches.)

That's all today - just feeling bummed.
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Shifting into High Gear

I was sitting in the kitchen, minding my own business Sunday, when my daughter came in and exclaimed - "Merry Christmas.... in about a week."

My stomach dropped to the ground floor as I realized - it really is that close.

*Ahem* ...We started shopping like - two days ago.
We have never waited this long, or been so unprepared!

It's time to shift into high gear (or in other words - panic mode) and get moving!
I did some shopping today, and finished making my Christmas cards, hopefully to go in the mail tomorrow - started that hand-made gift that should have been finished months ago... the list is longer than my arm.

Wish me luck - I need it.
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Mind if I Regress?

Sometimes my brain goes off on tangents, and gets stuck there...

Lately I've been spending a lot of time with my gran-girlies, and I think how fun it would be to share with them little things from my childhood that they will probably never experience.

Just the little things like the games I used to play - jacks, hop scotch and jump rope... and favorite memories like holiday times, and the fun children's' fashions from times gone by...

For instance, I took little Millie for a ride the other day, and I was trying to tell her about when we used to use a "muff" instead of gloves to keep our hands warm. How do you explain something like that to someone who has never seen one?
I found this picture to show her - but she just thought it was funny.
(I've been playing with the idea of making her one just for fun.)

My mother was a lovely seamstress, and she made most of my clothes back in the day.
At Christmas time, we always fell asleep to the drone of the sewing machine in the other room, as she created new cozy flannel nightgowns, beautiful ruffled dresses, or outfits for our dolls.

Back in "my day" (don't you hate when old people use that line?)
*Ahem*, anyway - we weren't surrounded by the huge chain stores that carry everything from toothpaste to tires.
We only had the little local mom & pop department stores.
They didn't have the floor space to carry toys all year through, but at Christmas time, they would often open up a corner of a storage room, fill it with toys, and call it Toyland.
We always thought it was such a magical place - our own little glimpse into the North Pole.
...We were always anxious to see if the toys we craved were there.
I love this painting by Tricia Romance - it reminds me of those days...


My thoughts had me Googling vintage patterns from the 50's and beyond. I found several sites selling vintage patterns, and I had a lot of fun browsing those sites - viewing fashions from other, more glamorous eras.
One site carried a variety of wedding gown patterns, from the 30's on down through the 80's. That site was particularly fun - and guess what? I found the pattern that I used for my bridesmaid dresses!

I remember it clearly, because I had a LOT of bridesmaids, and I had to cut out each and every one of their frocks, just to make sure I could get them all out of the amount of fabric that I had...

By the time I finished looking at all those dresses, I looked at the clock and it was 3:30 A.M. I had gotten carried away again!
When I went upstairs to go to bed, I looked out the window, and it was so light outside. There is nearly a foot of snow on the ground here - and the street lights played off it like a white sheet on a clothes line. It was glowing and beautiful, like a Thomas Kinkaid painting (my son would argue with that one...)
I tried to get a picture of it, but the window screens blurred the picture - and just as I was debating whether to venture outside - the battery died.

Just as well - a body does have to go to bed sometime. Especially an old body.
Here's that feeble attempt:

...Now I'm going to head upstairs to bed, before it's the wee hours again...

'Night!
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December

Can't believe I haven't been here since Thanksgiving.
I didn't even realize until several days after it was over, that
I didn't even think to take any photos that day.
I guess I was more concerned about having it go over well (and having to work the next day) to even think about it.
*Sigh* Maybe next time.

It snowed here over the weekend, and it's cold. I have a feeling it's going to be a long winter...

I finally saw New Moon this weekend. I liked it ok. If I have to pick a team though - I'm going with Jacob. The boy is just too cute - but seriously - can't that girl find any normal guys?
I think her father missed the boat by not putting her in therapy - she is messed up.

Anyway, the house is all decorated now (prayers of thanks) and now we just have to figure out the Christmas list (or who's been naughty or nice.)

'Till then...
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Carnage

The other day when I got home from work, hubby was outside waiting for me.
He told me to pop the hood before I could get out of the car, and he looked over the engine. I got out and asked him what was wrong, and he showed me a puddle of blood on the driveway with chunks of fur and little bloody paw-prints leading away from it.
I had gotten up really early for work, and I guess he assumed there was a cat hiding in my engine.

I think if that had been the case, I would have heard, felt, seen (smelled?) something. It wasn't me - I swear.
...And yet, Ick.

I think that creature that attacked my dog and the neighbor's kitten must still be roaming out there - and claimed another victim.

Yeah.

...Speaking of carnage...

My husband has begun the annual Christmas decorating.

Heaven help us all.
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Thankful

Thanksgiving is over - it was a long day, and lots of work - but so worth it.

Other than spilling my punch all over my mother in law, everything went perfectly. All my family were there - and I feel very blessed.
I'm so thankful that they are all close by and that they are healthy and doing well.
I don't deserve how good they are to me.
Life is good.

Today, however, was another story.
Whoever thought up "Black Friday" should be dragged out into the street and shot.

I'm beat, and I have to do it all again tomorrow.

'Nuff said.
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Scattered Brain Cells

...Just a few disconnected thoughts today -

Murder most foul
There was a heinous crime in my little town on Monday. The perpetrators are still at large, and it has my community on edge this week. Things like that just don't happen here.

Signs & Wonders
The other night, I was up later than I should be (as usual), but just as I had finished dousing all the lights in the house, I started to climb in bed when there came a light so bright - it was as if a freight train was headed straight at my window.
I jumped up and looked through the blinds - but saw nothing.
My little block was sound asleep - nothing was out of place, not even any traffic.
What the heck? I wondered.

Yesterday on the news, I learned that I wasn't the only one who saw it.
Apparently a meteor exploded somewhere - they are speculating that a piece of it may have fallen somewhere in the West desert.
Cool.

Interesting that it happened right after the release of 2012. The news said there were a lot of nervous people coming home from viewing that film...
(No, I'm not going to see that film - I've already been told it's way too stressful for me!)

Escape
I had a full day off yesterday, so I fled the borough and went shopping.
It started out fun, but by the time I came home, I was exhausted, frustrated and depressed.
I went with a very specific list of what I wanted, but as usual - what I want doesn't exist. At least not in this valley.
I spent money that I shouldn't have, and came home with nothing that I needed.
Poo.

Babe in the Woods
My youngest has ventured to the big city today, to job follow her big brother and do a report on the state judicial system.
Poor thing, she worked last night until almost midnight - then she had to be up at the crack of dawn to catch the train.
I hope she can stay awake long enough to see what goes on out there.

Flu
I'm finishing my second week of this crappy flu bug, and not feeling any better yet.
Yesterday, I thought I was on the improve, but I had a rough night last night.
I'm at that stage where I'm so stuffed up that it feels like I'm suffocating in my own fluids. (Sorry for that image.)
Yesterday was a glass was half full day, and I felt that life would be better soon.
Today, it feels like this will never end, and I'll just have to learn to live with the gagging, the muffled cotton in my head, and the cold sores.

I don't like life on this side of the looking glass.
(I know, too many metaphors.)

That's about it today from my little town - aren't you glad you stopped by?

Make it a good one. :-)
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Thursday

Winter storm coming

Longer work days

Sick with the flu

Bleah.
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Again...

Here I am again - another week has gone by...
This one is a good one to have over with.
Went in for the routine colonoscopy today. (Scream)

This was my second try - I was scheduled to do it a couple of weeks ago, but had to change venues for insurance reasons. (Way too much information, sorry.)
The thing is, that I've had to stress over this twice this month.

Everything went well today - no cancer this time.
(Good News)
What was weird though, is - I don't know if I was dreaming this, or if I was not all the way under - but I could feel excruciating pain. I kept screaming and grabbing at things for help, but I wasn't making any noise.

...Weird - that's never happened to me before.

I woke up feeling fine, and have slept the day away - happy ending after all...

***

I may have mentioned before, that my favorite organist has moved from the neighborhood.
I am so sad - he was just the nicest guy. One of those people who would do anything for anybody.

I've been in denial all week, until Saturday night, when I realized I hadn't talked to my other two organists to see who, if anyone was going to fill in for him.
Needless to say, I had nightmares all night (again) that I got to church and had no organist to play the hymns.
Bless their little hearts - they had worked it out amongst themselves, and everything went off without a hitch.
I should have known.

***
I've been reading the book Mayflower this month.
I've been curious about this book ever since it came out, and my sister was kind enough to loan it to me.
Very interesting so far ...much different that what we learned in grade school!

***

My brain has been playing tricks on me again lately - I keep getting my work schedule mixed up. I went in Friday only to learn that I was supposed to have been there Thursday instead.
They kept me all day, because it was pretty busy, but sheesh, things like that are so embarrassing! I want to be a dependable worker - not somebody who just wanders in whenever she feels like it to do the job!
I can't figure out what I'm looking at to get those days wrong - I'm writing them down off her calendar, but it seems like every time I look at it, it's different.

This is my first job since the stroke and the hearing loss, so I'm paranoid about everything anyway. I really want this to work out.
Woe is me - am I really getting this old?

I'm not supposed to drive today, but I really really REALLY want some ice cream.

...Ssshhhh, don't tell...
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November

Halloween is over - it was a pretty fun day for everyone (except hubby, who hates it.)
He had to work until 11 that night. I heard him drive up after his shift, but he didn't come in the house for a while...

What was he doing out there in the dark?

Wrestling the inflatable pumpkin decoration to the ground.
That's the rule around here - all Halloween comes down before his birthday November first.

We had a birthday party for him Sunday - and I had the dirty dishes to prove it. It will take me a couple of days to clean up this mess!

It's always a shocker when you start totaling up the years (I don't know about you, but we only do that once a year around here.)
Both of us are getting a little too close to that next milestone - how did that happen?
Hope our ship comes in soon, otherwise retirement will be spent in a cardboard box.
Hmmm.

Speaking of age, I sure have been noticing some not-so-fun symptoms. I get confused so easily these days, and the memory is worse than usual. Maybe I'm just noticing it more because I have a schedule to keep track of now - but whatever the reason, I don't like it.

Sunday was a sad day because I learned that my favorite organist is moving. He is such an awesome person, and so dependable. I will miss him and his cute little family in our ward.

Some photos to share today...

Grandpa's Birthday - the girlies love to help open presents.

I actually dug out my old cake decorating supplies, and tried to get fancy this year...

My cute little girlies all dressed up for Tricks and Treats

My youngest still likes to go out on the town Halloween night - this year she and her friends dressed as pirates to loot and pillage...

My oldest daughter got in the party mood for work - she was the fortune teller for her department's carnival (they won the office pizza party!)

Jenny wore her Anime Banzai outfit to work - Tifa from Final Fantasy

That's it for our Holiday Festivities - at least this year they didn't start playing Christmas songs on the radio Halloween night (they have done that for the last two years!) ...But I'm already seeing Christmas commercials on TV!

Ready or not - here we go into the Holiday Season!
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F is for Fun

What a crazy busy month this has been - in a good way.

A fun sister weekend last week, and a fun trip this week.
In between was my grand daughter's birthday, and my youngest had her first choir concert.
Years ago I would complain about having to go to so many of these, but I think when the kids are all finished with school (next year), it's one of the things I'll miss the most.
Silly, huh?
My baby - front and center. (Black hair)


My sister has an old school chum from here, who often makes the trip out west to see her. This year, she invited me to tag along. I was happy to do so, since it has been a few years since I've been able to get out there.
We had such a good time - Karen is very easy to get along with. I haven't talked that much in... well, forever. I was almost hoarse from chatting by the time we got there. If anyone wants to know my life history - just ask Karen.

My brother in law had an itinerary planned for us - after a good night's rest (in a bed as cozy as my mama's lap) we drove all the way out to an outlet mall in California, and shopped the morning away. I got some great deals - a name brand purse and shoes at a Walmart price. How can you beat that?

On the way back, we stopped at a place my sister has been telling me about for years - Apple Hill.
It was different than I imagined - I had a tight little community in mind, but what it actually was, was a lot of different apple orchards spread out over a large area. We drove to just a few of them, and sampled the goodies they had to sell.
...A yummy lunch and gooey caramel at one, colorful pumpkins and gourds at another, and a petting zoo somewhere else.



This place forced us to stop for it's gorgeous gardens...

We drove past Lake Tahoe as the sun was setting - Beautiful!

Autumn in the Sierras. *Sigh*

Saturday was a little more leisurely. We went to the doll show at the Holiday Inn. I didn't splurge on any dolls (no room for them at home), but I did find a few little treasures to bring home.
We had a late lunch at Red Lobster with the girls, then we met the whole family for an early dinner at Los Tres Amigos (at least I think that's what it was called.)
I'm not sure that a bucket of shrimp followed by a ginormous mesquite chicken burrito was a good idea. My tummy threatened mutiny the next morning...
But it was so good to spend time with all the kids - I fell in love with Ty's little baby girl. (He said I could have her - I'll go back and collect one day! :-)

I got to play with the pets too - couldn't be helped, they loved me.

The first night, I convinced Lucy (the cat) to come sit on my lap while we watched Castle and Gilmore Girls. I haven't had a cat in decades, and this one is such a friendly one.
I was a little horrified when she got up, however, and I found that I had metamorphosed from human to centaur.
She had left so much hair behind, that I'm going to have to go get a wax job to get it all off! Ha ha...

It's always fun to go visit my sister's homes and see that the little nicky-nacky's that I painted for them ages ago, are still alive and well, and on display. The ones I did for us have mostly been lost and/or destroyed years ago.
It's nice to know someone out there appreciated them.

That's my week in a nutshell. I'm done traveling for this year - now it's time to light the home fires and settle in for the winter.
I love to travel and see what this wide world holds, but I also love to come home to my own little hamlet, and my own kith and kin.
The kids were here when I arrived, and my darling daughter had made a tasty meal. I was greeted first by my youngest gran - It doesn't get better than this.

Sisters are Good for the Soul

I just got back from a Ya Ya weekend with my sisters.
We"ve been trying to do this at least once a year since our mom passed away to strengthen the family ties.
It's been a real blessing in all of our lives -
(...I think, at least it has in mine!)

When we were growing up, there might have been disagreements and rivalries, but those are all but gone now -
I think we've learned to value and appreciate each other, not so much in spite of our differences, but because of them.

We started off by dinner out at a local rib joint, then we drove up to Heber to ride the Heber Creeper's Haunted Train.



We were planning to go home and watch scary movies after that, but we had a much better time just talking - so much better, that we were up until 3:30AM doing it!

We talked about everything from the origin of silly phrases, to the traditions of ancient tribes - the discussion there led to how many of the tribes had a person who was the "story teller."
He was in charge of keeping the history of the tribe, and passing it down by word of mouth from generation to generation. Often they carved symbols on a stick, since there was no written language - those symbols helped him remember the story.
I was thinking later, that my oldest sister is the "story teller" in our little clan. Most of us girls came in at the tail end of the family, but being the second oldest, she was there at the first. She knows so much more of our history than we do.
I love hearing her tell it - she is the strongest link in our family chain.

After a breakfast of Janell's yummy breads the next morning, we drove around town re-visiting all the old sites where we grew up. Our home town has changed so much, we hardly recognized most of the places.

Just a couple of them...
One of the old trees that are still left on our lot - I climbed every tree on the place at least once.


The first church house I went to. I was really young when we moved from this neighborhood - I barely remember going here.


After that drive, we went to lunch at Kneaders, and then we visited the gardens at Thanksgiving Point. It was a beautiful day for that, the weather couldn't have been more perfect.
It's amazing - just a few days ago there wasn't any fall color in the valley, but this weekend, it had already peaked.

Could not have been more perfect.


Some grannies stroll, but we grannies roll

I was fascinated with the fishes in the coi pond...

Like I said, perfect...


I got back just in time for my little gran girlie's birthday -
she's 5.

Back to work for a couple of days, then I'm off again...
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Flu Season

My husband sent me this as a forward yesterday.
I'm posting it here mainly for easy reference - it's good information to have on hand. Hubby says there have been people out with swine flu in both of the places where he works, so it's still a threat out there.
Consider this my public service announcement.

Prevent Swine Flu - Good Advice

Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital , Bombay Hospital , Saifee Hospital , Tata Memorial etc. Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W).

The following message given by him, I feel makes a lot of sense and is important for all to know

The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected o ne. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
;
4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*
&nb sp;

5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

FOG

This has been a strange year. Especially this Fall.

Usually the leaves turn and it's beautiful for a while - and then winter comes, but Old Mom Nature has it backwards this year - we're getting the nasty weather first before there's even any colored leaves in the valley.

What I'm getting at, is that this morning we woke up to FOG. ...In October.

Weird.

I'm off for a sister's weekend tomorrow (after work, that is.) We're all going to be there this time, so it should be all kinds of fun!
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What's New?

It's Monday again, and I feel like I've been AWOL forever.

I've got to learn how to manage my time better now that I'm working again - no more playing all day... (sob)

I'm working on cards today.

Tomorrow is the deadline for the Oct. Sketch for My Sketch World. I just barely made it under the wire.
...Can't show you yet, but soon.
I've got to get one done for my little gran's birthday this weekend too. They've come to expect grandma's cards, and I don't like to disappoint them.

Last weekend, I had to run over to the store to get my schedule for the next week, and I took my 2 girls with me. They had fun perusing the Halloween aisle, while I took care of business, and this is what they came home with.
(The outfit, not the dog.)

Pirate Puppy

Yes, I do believe he's snarling - I don't think he's amused at all.

If you want to see where I've been hanging out in my head lately, this is the place:

It's called Wings Neck Lighthouse in Massachusetts, and I've just added it to my list of dream destinations. The lighthouse can actually be rented - is that cool, or what?

As I was working on the computer today, my printer went *grind* spr@ing *pop* and died. Poop. This is not a good time for my printer to expire.
(As if there were one.)

So far behind on everything else,
...But I'll have to catch up later - got to run!
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Clackity Clickety Clack

I've had a very productive week. Sort of.

Besides typing up a very long chapter of family history, I've produced 6 new chapter's of my second "novel". (A record for me.)
...My second novel that no one will ever see.

Maybe by number 9 I'll have something I'm ready to share, (LOL) ...but right now, I'm just learning the ropes.

I must say, I'm enjoying it more this time around. The first one was excruciating, and felt like hard labor, even torture, but this one is almost writing itself.

I guess it's just less scary now.

Artistic productivity means, however, that my productivity as a housekeeper has gone down the chutes.
My house is a shambles, and spiders are building condos in every corner.

I'm going to have to take a break soon, and clean.
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It's All Good...

Some days are ok. I had one of those today...

I checked off all the little items I had on my list to get done before work, and I started to take some R & R, when I decided I needed to run down to Walmart and see if I could find a couple of shirts that would pass as work uniforms.
(I just can't justify spending money for their monogrammed gear, when I know I'm only going to be there a few months.)

I ran into hubby's mom there. She snuck right up behind me, and when I whirled around to see who it was, she said; "Oh, it is you."
(Scary, does she do this to people often?)

My mother in law is legally blind. She has to get right a person's face to see who it is.
I could see that she was in need of a "seeing eye child" (much like the ones I take to the store with me ) to read the labels and prices on the things she was looking at, so I stayed with her until her daughter caught up with her.

I headed off to work, and arrived there during the afternoon rush. It was really busy.
I thought I saw my neighbor wandering the isles, but each time I went to look for her, I couldn't find her. This happened a few times, until I finally caught up with her in the back corner of the store.
I had a fun chat with her for a few minutes before she had to leave.

Later, I was measuring fabric for a lady, when someone else came up and asked, "Can I just ask you a question?" I recognized her immediately, although it took me a few minutes to place her.
I told her to let me finish up, and I would go help her find what she was looking for, and called her by name.
She gave me a deer-in-the-headlights look, so I told her who I was. She was embarrassed not to know me, (but hugged me anyway.) It was one of my husband's favorite cousins who we don't see often because she lives out of state now.
I got to hang out with her and catch up a little bit.

You see?

Fun.

My shift went quickly, because it stayed fairly busy. I'm getting to know my way around a bit more, which helps too.
Things were going great, that is, until one of the managers came and insisted I take a break. (I've never had one of those before, and I only had half an hour left of my shift) I really didn't want to take it, but I obeyed.

...Just that few minutes off my feet made me feel so tired! If it hadn't been for all the weird noises in the back room, I could have fallen asleep.

Anyway, that was my day.

I came home and crashed, but hubby woke me when he came home, now I'm up for the night...

Going to go finish my chapter.
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BOO!

I've started a new project. It's a ghost story.

That being said, I was laying in bed this morning, half asleep - thinking about what I want to have happen next, when I received three distinct "pokes" on the shoulder.

I jumped about 3 feet!

...It was just my daughter, letting me know it was time to drive her to school.

Scared the bejeevers out of both of us!!!

Honestly, she is so quiet - I'm going to have to put a bell around that kid's neck or something...


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