My mantra

By now, I should know to keep my mouth shut.  It's not worth it, not worth it to be thrown to the wolves.  So, in the future, I will listen, and even if I know the person is wrong, will let it go.  As, I say it's not worth,  KMS and NGAMU. "Keep mouth shut and not give a monkey's uncle!  Yes, my mantra as of now.  And what of my missing friend?  I have no clue.

Thanksgiving and Advent

How appropriate to move from Thanksgiving to the first Sunday of Advent.  Thanksgiving--a day to thank God for the gift of my faith, my family and friends, and the countless blessings that He has given me.  Now, I am moving on to Advent, the time to prepare for the celebration of Christmas--"for God so loved the world that He gave it His only begotten Son....that we might not die but have eternal life."  Advent-- a time to rejoice.  On Monday, I have been invited to a candlelit dessert night at my sister's church--one of my favorite Advent events.  Fellowship, music, inspirational talks and dessert.  I will set the Advent wreath on the fireplace, and set up the Nativity set in the French way, including children, musicians, clowns and animals.  When I find myself too busy, the Nativity will remind me that I am celebrating the birth of God's Son.

Trying to smile even when things are not optimal

Yesterday, I received the heart-stopping telephone call that my daughter had been in an car accident.  I was told that she was all right.  THAT was the most important thing, the only thing that mattered.  Yes the car has a couple thousand dollars worth of damage, but cars can be repaired.  Haven't heard from a friend in several days and am wondering--have I become a pest, an albatross, a pain?  Or is my friend locked in a closet somewhere?  Or perhaps the email service is giving him trouble?  Wondering, for all the good it does.  And then off to go shopping for work, and while I was gone, my fellow colleagues sang happy b'day and the b'day boy served cake.  Came back to most of the cake gone, and the feeling that I had been excluded from the party.  Trying to tie up lose ends to go away overnight. More stress.  In the midst of it all, I am trying to smile, and to make others smile.  I did that today when a young man stopped to buy flowers on the way to pick up his special friend at the airport.  When he saw the bouquet that I put together, his eyes sparkled and he smiled.

In Celebration

One evening, I was in the living room and I heard a noise that I couldn't place. Getting up, I noticed our cat, Ali, rapidly and repeatedly moving her paws on the sidelight.  Opening, the door, I let our escape cat AJ into the house.  If we're ready for our walk, and one of the young dogs is out sniffing, Max, our older pound hound will sound, arrrrrrroooooooooo.  This means in dog language, "come here now."  The young dogs listen and come.  Or if I say, "Come, Max or Maui," Pudge will grab part of the leash and help me walk the dogs.  On another note, we attended a very special dinner yesterday at a local restaurant.  It was in honor of those students who had earned black belt certificates.  A joyful time of celebration of all their hard work.  Congratulations to our daughter and the other students.

Based on a true story

I finished a novel 31Bond Street.  It is fiction based on the true story of the murder of dentist Dr. Harvey Burdell of New York in the mid 1800's.  In the novel, his housekeeper/mistress is arrested and subsequently acquitted of the murder.  Bittersweet as she loses touch with reality and goes crazy.  I was interested enough in the case to do some research on line.  The housekeeper had two affairs going on--one with Dr. Burdell and the other with one of the boarders living in the house.  She tried to get control of Dr Burdell's estate by stating that she was married to him and pregnant.  Later, the marriage was questioned and it was thought that someone had posed as Dr. Burdell.  She was caught picking up a child to pass as her own.  I can't help but think of the old adage, "truth is stranger than fiction."

Ambiance

A few years ago, we bought a small electric fireplace.  It is not complicated--it consists of a light bulb, rotating spindle with thin metal strips that create the flame and a heater.  We noticed that the flame effect was not working.  How I enjoyed the illusion of a fire on a cold, windy, snowy winter's day! I snuggle up with an interesting book and a cup of hot chocolate in front of the fireplace.  Yesterday, being my day off, I thought I'd take a look at the fireplace to try to fix the flame effect.  I took off the bulb cover and tightened the bulb.  It was working fine.  I unscrewed 13 screws that hold the back plate on and took a look at the shaft.  I suspected something was wrong with the small motor that turns the spindle--not sure whatever as the motor hummed and clicked. Had a bit of an issue with trying to get the screws out that hold the motor in place.  One of them wouldn't budge.  I put the entire assembly back together and in the evening I called my father.  He is the most knowledgeable builder, fix-it and mechanic in the world.  "Did you oil the shaft?" he asked.  Well, no, I hadn't even thought about oiling the spindle.  When I complained to my daughter about the devilish screw, she suggest I use a smaller screwdriver.  I followed her advice and that stubborn screw came out.  The spindle only allowed the motor cover to move an iota.  I carefully oiled the shaft with q-tip.  Plugged it in and it wouldn't work. I took the casing off the other side of the shaft and saw the vaseline-consistency oil along the side.  Dad's right!  I cleaned the oil up with a paper towel and carefully squirted 3 in 1 onto the spindle.  Set a few screws back into position,  plugged in the fireplace, and flipped the switch.  The shaft immediately went around creating the flame affect.

A special gift

Today for about six hours, I have the house to myself.  What a gift!  How I enjoy the peace and quiet!  I can think, read or work on the computer.  I can play my dulcimer or listen to music.  I could snuggle under a comforter on the couch and take an afternoon nap.  I will take it easy as I believe that from dancing on a hard floor I got stress fractures in my right leg.   It's been bothering me for several weeks now, but with patience, this episode will pass.  So for now, except for necessary walking, I am taking a hiatus from dance, aerobics and hapkido.


Thanksgiving Day is in less than a week.  An early am trip to pick up our daughter from the train station and then on to be together with extended family, probably for the first time in several years.  On Friday, I am looking forward to breakfast with my son and his friends.  A highlight of the trip. 

My thoughts and prayers are with you

To my dear uncle, cousins, their spouses and children,

It is always possible for God to work a miracle, that health may be restored.  My thoughts and prayers are with you as you go through this very difficult time.  May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may His light shine upon you.

Sunday

I met my son this morning for church and coffee, and then came home and walked the doggits around the field.  Had to bundle up as it is probably 30 degrees and windy.  The doggits were so happy to be outside--frolicking and sniffing and having a wonderful time getting tangled up.  We saw one other doggit and human.  Otherwise had the field to ourselves.  How I love getting outside, but am contemplating buying some battery operated gloves and boots.  Wonder if I can still stoop and scoop in battery operated mitts.  We will see.  When we got home, the doggits had to bound to the fence and bark wildly at my neighbor who was raking his leaves.  So work and then a visit to the stylist with my daughter.  We have to look our best.  And back to the store with my new outfit.  I wouldn't be comfortable wearing it at work (aside from the fact that it doesn't meet dress code) and there is no sense in buying something to wear at home.

Home from work

A busy day!  I train and spar for two hours before I go to work.  Today was the holiday open house at the floral shop.  An exciting day!  Folks bring in their cameras to take pictures of the beautiful trees.  We serve refreshments and offer discounts.  Today we gave away cinnamon candles with purchase.  People could enter their names for special  plants and centerpieces.  Charlie and Prince, two cute little dogs came in to visit.  At home, I slipped some scalloped potatoes into the oven, and cooked ham and peas.  Have a hungry daughter who wants to order Jimmy Johns.   

A new day for a new look

I was reading a magazine at the ortho office.  I spend a lot of time at dentist and ortho offices as my daughter has TMJ.  She had a predisposition for the problem, and the rubber bands on her braces caused it to flare to life.  She awoke one morning several months ago with a locked jaw, and cannot open her mouth fully.  She is very brave and a real trooper.  Today perhaps I will email another dentist.  His daughter and my older daughter played high school softball together.  In the magazine, I spotted a new look that I would like to try.   I tried a variation of the "new look" the other day.  I wore a dress over a pair of deep deep burgundy pants to work.  In the magazine, the model wore a sweater over a pair of leggings.  The sweater has to be long enough to go to top of thigh. This is good as I bend and stretch a lot at work.  The heat blasts at work, so as much as I enjoy snuggling in warm sweaters, I need something lighter and cooler.

Up Early

I woke up in the early am and couldn't go back to sleep.  Thoughts swirled in my mind.  Of course in the light of day, I wonder why I even gave credence to these thoughts, why I bothered with them at all.  I'm up and about, read daily scripture and meditation.  Many times the meditations do not strike a chord.  I suppose that is because now we see as through a veil, and it is very hard sometimes to interpret and explain.   I haven't had an omelette in a while and am considering making one for breakfast.  I have to make lunches and get ready for work.  I am looking forward to tomorrow.  I have the day off, I dance, and my sister and I are going out to celebrate her birthday.

What could be so horribly amiss that a young 13 year old would take his own life?  How very sad, that he would chose to end his life rather than confront the difficulties.  According to the paper, he was not harassed.  He was the classmate of one of my fellow hapkido students.  While researching this young man's life and a possible cause, I came across a heart-wrenching story of animal abuse.  Two very sad situations.

Circadian Rhythms

This is a fancy way to say that I do not spring ahead or fall back with any kind of aplomb.  No indeed.  It is early, but my body is on DST.  I will wait 'til the short cycle of the washer is finished, throw the load in the dryer, head upstairs and go to sleep.  Perhaps in a week or two, I will be adjusted.  I can only hope.

Had a bad dream

A blast from the past can cause a nightmare, even if the intention of the blast is good.  In my dream last night, I lost my bosses' checkbook.  This then caused their cell phone to be turned off, and they conduct their entire business via cell.  In addition to their checkbook, my cell phone, credit cards and library card were taken.  Now in real life this happened to me a few years ago.  I had to call Esperion etc, cancel the cards, put passwords on all our accounts, replace my driver's license, credit card.  I was up like a shot, glad to be awake and to put the nightmare behind me.

Friday

Yesterday, at approximately 4:30, I began my fine day off which includes today.  What do you ask is on, the agenda for today?  I've already taken a look at the daily scripture verses and meditations.  I've let the doggits in and out several times.  I've eaten 2 pieces of peanut butter toast and drank hot chocolate and made a small grocery list.  I've read some other blogs, one from a person in the UK.  I will fulfill my resolution to walk every day and take the doggits.  I plan to do some writing today, visit the hairdresser, and zumba dance, read, play music and clean a bit.

The Fish Doctor

I always enjoy a visit to the PTO Thrift Shop, the library and The Fish Doctor.  You can be sure to come home with treasures from any of these places.  Today I went to zumba and then drove to the fish store.  I parked and went to the door.  Hours 11-9.  Okay then, I would go home and clean the aquarium, and drive back later.  At home, I threw out the live plant that seemed to shed needles everywhere, rinsed the artificial plants, siphoned out the water and replaced it.  Now I was ready!  Off to the fish store to talk to the associate about different types of non-shedding plants and harlequin raspboras.  Since two of the raspboras had died, my one fish was lonely.  She hung out with the white clouds.  I bought four friends for her, and a water sprite plant and some kind of sword plant.  At home, I set the plants in the gravel, and then began to acclimate the raspboras to the water temperature.  Probably, ten seconds after I floated the bag with the new fish, the little raspbora found her friends.  Oh was she happy!  She never left the area, sticking to the bagged fish like glue.  Finally, the fish were acclimated and could be netted and placed in the aquarium.  Now the cat fish, white clouds and rasporas are having a meet and greet.

Viewing other blogs

Sometimes I peruse the "next blog."  I surf through them as if I were channel surfing.  I'm not too interested in the family blogs, pictures upon pictures of little ones doing cute stuff.  I found a site today, written by a bicyclist who rides great distances and gives lessons. Her writing style is warm and friendly, and she does not take herself too seriously.  I was drawn into her world.

A new month

It's always exciting when a new month starts.  Kindof like out with the old, in with the new.  My sister's and nephew's birthdays are this month. I celebrate turkey day with extended family.  MI plays that school from Columbus.  I scrape the frost from the car windows and I bundle up to go for my walk in the sun and take the doggits for their romp in the field.  I read in front of the electric fireplace and find warm sweaters to wear to work.  I wonder how the previous months sped by, and how the start of a new year could be just around the corner.