A plethora of credit cards

The other day we got 3 of the same credit cards--2 for me, and one for my husband. Then yesterday we got 2 more of the same--one for me and one for my husband. Thay all have the same #. They are rolling in almost every day. It's crazy! And they're on my mind so much, that I tried to use one, instead of my debit card, at the ATM.

The sun is shining. I am sitting at the kitchen table and I can feel the warmth on my neck. The sun does so much to keep the winter doldrums/blues/blahs away! I am doing well this year with winter sadness. Even my boss says so.

So, I asked her yesterday.

Me: So how do you cut acacia.
Her: With a knife, acacia didn't know!
Chuckle

Good to be outside

I got up this morning, bundled up although I found that it was quite warm, and shoveled the driveway and walks. I had a nice chat with my neighbor who was heading out for a walk in the fresh air. We put some canned and boxed goods out for the Boy Scouts who are having a canned food drive today. The air was cool and crisp, the snow was light and fluffy, and I enjoyed working outside.

I am taking a leadership class at the dojang. As part of the class I am performing random acts of kindness (RAoKs). So far, I have made dinner for my daughter when she came home after working all day, donated to the canned food drive, picked up a bathroom scale for my friend's mom, brought 2 shopping carts into the store, and wrote many emails to my online friend. I am enjoying this task.

A Winter Day

Making progress on my book

Stephen King describes book writing as "digging for fossils."  Another author states it as "having the main character climb a tree and then getting him/her down again."  My book is about a 11 year old girl trying to cope with 7th grade, after her father leaves.  I'm not sure why or how the father left.  The little girl, whose name is Meg, will explain it to herself.  At the present time she is trying to deal with the loss of her father, illness of her mother, the bullies at school, organizing herself so that she can communicate both orally and in writing, climb out of her shell, and establish some friendships.  SQ, the talking squirrel, is her loyal companion.

A relaxing afternoon

 Time flew by this morning.  Phone orders, in-store orders, daisies to put in a dishgarden, and a dozen roses to wrap.  After work, I drove to my computer man's store.  He told me that both laptops got internet access at his store, which gave me the clue that the problema was with the password.  Sure enough, the password was different, and once we typed in the correct password, we were in good shape.  So at the moment, all computers are up and running.  I received a little message, that my daughter's b'day surprises made it to her work.  I had forgotten that they were on their way.  One more little goodie still to come.  Tomorrow is my brother's birthday.  Hope he has a special day.  I have been working on my children's book.

In the Dark Abyss

I didn't hear at all from online friend yesterday.  Generally this means that OF (online friend) is struggling with the dark abyss of depression.  OF becomes extremely introverted, uncommunicative, holes up, a bear in a cave.  I wonder what thoughts are going through my friend's head, what is swirling around and around like leaves in the wind.  What questions and fears is my friend entertaining?

A very fine day

When the sun is shining, all is well with the world.  Never mind that L lost her new flash drive, that I turned her new hoodie brown with what I thought was color-fast bleach, that the new DVD player will only record on the channel that R is watching.  I bundled up and cleaned and salted the driveway and sidewalks and then headed off to the grocery to get the necessities--pastry stix, spaghettio's, ravioli, pizza rolls...  Yes, I purchased these, but also bought tilapia, fruit, veggies, milk, eggs.  Came home, put away the groceries, ate some lunch and am now enjoying a MFDO.  (most fine day off). 

Shopping online

My daughter has a b'day coming up next month.  What fun shopping online and choosing some surprises to send to her place of work. 

Tomorrow I am looking forward to a very fine day off work.  I plan to read, work on my children's book, play music and relax.  

Slippery?

The weather forecast called for freezing rain and some glazing.  I woke up this morning with a bit of trepidation.  Would the roads be icy?  I took it slowly and made it to work all in one piece.  I had time to snap some pictures of the slippery parking lot, and the lights shining through the gloom. 

Early in the morning

Remembering Mr Scott

Last night, family and friends gathered to remember Mr Scott.  We watched a DVD of Mr Scott with his daughter, his grandchildren and his great grandchild. Since Mr Scott was born on Christmas Day, it is most appropriate that his favorite song was "Silent Night."  His daughter told the story of asking him, "What would you like to eat for dinner Dad?"  He responded, "Do you really want to know?"  His daughter assured him she did.  "Well, I'd really really like--a cup of coffee and four donuts!"  After the benediction we went to the church hall to enjoy coffee, punch, donuts and cake.  We enjoyed visiting with the family and friends.

Ali watching the snowflakes

Update on my winter-sadness

At fall's end, I checked out a DVD about seasonal affective disorder.   I watched it and decided that I do not have SAD, but rather what I call winter-sadness.  The cause of this sadness, is the lack of color--the grays, whites, blacks of winter.  My mood lifts when the sun shines, no matter what the temperature.  If it is snowing/blizzard and I am stuck in the house, I feel hemmed in.  Since I am not bothered too much by winter-sadness this year and I am not as preoccupied with myself, I am noticing it more in my work colleagues and the phone customers.  The sadness might take the form of a work colleague not wanting to be at work, or quickness to feel a hurt.  Perhaps this winter I will reach out since I am not so focused on self.

1-11-11

I didn't realize that my son's b'day was on 1-1-11.  And today is 1-11-11.  But perhaps the most special day this year will be 11-11-11!  My husband's b'day was on 10-10-10.   A bit of fun with numbers and a wisp of imagination that this day will bring something special.  And perhaps it has!  Bunches and bunches of colorful tulips.  A snow travel advisory.  An afternoon of girl companionship.  A trip to the store to buy milk, tinfoil, chip dip and a notebook.  A chance to blog.

The Golf Course

Today I drove past the golf course.  Snow, undisturbed by human feet, covered the hills and the trees stood tall and dark against the white sheet.  The snow sparkled in the sunlight and overhead the sky was blue.  How I wished I had tucked my camera into my pocket so that I could share the sight!

I continued on to the gas station where I breathed the cold cold air and stood with hands in my pocket while filling the tank.  Then on to Meijer to buy dishwasher soap, valentine day cards, and chocolate candy to give as a gift.

Worked concessions

The softball team won the opportunity to work the concession stand at the women's basketball game today.  So I went to HKD forms class and then zipped to the high school.  Got to my job with 30 seconds to spare.   I had the chance to talk to the high school AD about her choice for a new UM football coach. Sold lots of popcorn, gatorade, pizza, hot dogs.  My friend even bought a hot dog for my work boss.  After my concession shift, I had to work 'til 7.  Spent many hours counting greeting cards and recording the number on a sheet.  193 cards at $5.95, 91 cards at $2.95.  I can look forward to many more hours of card inventory.  Came home and ate chicken on top of lettuce with raspberry vinaigrette.  I am staying accountable or fairly accountable or somewhat accountable as I have an appt with my MEAN nurse practitioner on April Fool's Day!  Good day, don't ya think!  :)

A New Great Nephew

Yesterday morning, my niece had her baby.  A beautiful healthy baby boy!  I saw pictures of the family this morning!  All are doing well.   On the very same day that baby Gabriel was born,  another baby was born in North Carolina.  His name is Andrew.  Such blessings.  The sun is shining on these new little families.  Congratulations!

A Game

My friend suggested that her facebook friends play a game.  I am to take the third letter of my first name, 'R' and think of one word that describes her and then another word that describes her father, who is dying.  To describe my friend, I thought of the word "rare," as in someone more precious than gold, and for her father, the word "righteous," as for a man who is non judgmental, generous, and who always stood by his beliefs.  I hope she likes the words.

Snow fell softly thru the night

My dear friend

On this day, my friend sits up at the hospital with her father as he nears the end of his life.  We are of an age.  An age when our parents go home to be with other deceased family members.  She has faced these last months with courage, humor and dignity.  Certainly she has happy memories of her father.  He recently became a great grandfather and  there were four generations.  The family shared a wonderful Thanksgiving meal.  Yes, many happy memories to keep him alive in her heart.

The tulips will be coming into the store soon

The lack of color, the gray and white, brings me down in the winter.  I have been doing pretty well this winter because there has not been a lot of the white stuff and there has been sunshine.  Today, tropical bouquets arrived at the store.  Immediately, I thought, sun, warmth, and color.  In the next few days, our tulip bunches will begin to arrive.  Myriads of colors, bringing spring to the cold Midwest.

I found out today that the tooth and gum pain I have, is probably due to stress.  I was relieved.  It actually had gotten better by the time I went in for my cleaning, because I have been taking ibuprofen.  I think on my day off, Friday, I will relax and regroup.

Palliative care

My friend's dear father is being moved to palliative care.  This last week has been so stressful for her.  She has gone through so much.  She wrote on facebook that everyone is welcome to visit, even her baby grandson.  My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family during this difficult time.

Fed Ex

I pulled up to the house in the Sebring, just as the Fed Ex truck was coming down the street.  I pulled the Sebring into the driveway, and noticed that Ron had pulled in also.  The driver handed me my the box with my new flute!  I put it together and tried to play.  Took me several minutes to figure out that tiny pieces of cork wre keeping the keys down.  Took them out and played Bouree by Bach, Yesterday by the Beatles, and some solos.  Very nice to have a flute in my hands again.

During the Christmas rush at work, I ate only peanut butter cups. So it is not surprising that my molars hurt.  Had 2 dental cleaning appts. scheduled for this week.  I will go on Wed.--canceled the Friday appt.

A New Fish

A few days ago, my ailing catfish died.  I thought I would go to the Fish Doctor and buy a friend for the surviving catfish. I talked to the sales associate for awhile, and finally decided to purchase a pictus.  The pictus is gray with black spots and resembles a dalmation.  When I drop fish food in the aquarium, she skims along the top at high speed nibbling here and there.  She seems happy.  While the catfish is content to stay at the bottom and stay still, the pictus swims to and fro.  The catfish and pictus are so different in temperament that they will never pair up.  I can see that I need to devise an alternate plan.  Perhaps one more pictus and another catfish?

The New Year

You know, I am very glad that I cannot foresee the future.  Since the family reunion in June, an aunt and her son-in law have passed.  I am thinking of a friend.  Her father is very ill and the doctors have discussed placing him in hospice.  She feels heavily burdened and all alone.  I remember in years past how she would make a cake for my son's New Year's Day birthday.   Certainly, I wish all good things for family and friends in this year 2011.

The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and
give you peace!
Nms 6:22-27