Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

A Pinkie Promise

Last night, my sister, friends and I attended the Advent by Candlelight Dessert Night at her church. At the beautifully decorated table, we shared a delicious cake with whipped topping and strawberries, and a cup of chocolates and maple walnuts, with tea or coffee. We chatted for awhile and then moved into the church. Several women talked about the meaning of the four Advent candles--peace, hope, joy and love. And we made a pinkie promise to the women next to us to live a life of peace, hope, joy and love--not just at Christmas but throughout the entire year. It is good, I think, to be accepting of each other.

The Thanksgiving Jinx Continues

I wish we could just move the calendar to the Friday after Thanksgiving. We went to my nephew's beautiful house and had a delicious dinner. He was fighting a virus. This evening all six of us who went to his house, are sick. Hard to know if we got it from him or from something we ate. One Thanksgiving, my husband was sick. Another he was in the hospital. One year, we drove to my brother in law's home to find out that his wife's son had died Thanksgiving morning. Another year, my husband drove over the median and damaged two tires. I would like to skip Thanksgiving.

Special events

My daughter and I got up early yesterday, picked up two friends and headed off to zumba at the rec center. In lieu of an entrance fee, we brought some items for the local women's shelter. There was a good turnout, perhaps not as many as last year, the instructor said, but still a number of people showed. It was a nice break for my friend and her husband who are struggling with finding a nursing home for an elderly aunt. My sister and I are attending the Advent dessert by candlelight at her church on Monday. First the dessert and fellowship and then the talks on the four candles of the Advent wreath--peace, hope, joy and love.

Grateful

Praise Him, from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below...

Yes, I Am is a part of me.
Thank you that you are part of me, for my family and friends, new experiences and the countless blessings that you have given me.

Oh Great Spirit, Allah, Heavenly Father,

May you be praised for your goodness.

Thanksgiving Wishes

An angel

On Saturday, I put an order online for a small fall arrangement to be delivered in Chicago. My customer was strapped for money and could only afford the minimum amount. He wanted to send some flowers with a "Hope you had a nice trip. Happy Thanksgiving with love" message. I called Chicago and by tweaking the service fee was able to get a shop to accept the order. I asked my boss to send the order to the Chicago floral shop. I was out front when my colleague told me that I had a call from a floral shop. Scott, the caller said that he had informed us that they could not make the arrangement for the amount of money and had REFUSED the order. My boss and I discussed the order and discovered that she thought I called the order over to the second shop and I thought she had sent it via the internet. The short of it is that NO shop had gotten the order--not the first, nor the second. And surprisingly, when I tried to tell the first shop that all was well, I could not get thru. Clearly, Scott, was an angel letting me know that something had to be done about a Thanksgiving Day order. Thank you Guardian Angel Scott.

Thoughts and prayers

I saw my friend at church. Her husband died from cancer a few weeks ago. When I asked her what her Thanksgiving plans were, she told me that she was going to her mother's house, that her mother has been diagnosed with cancer. I came home and was catching up on facebook. My friend wrote that her friend's baby granddaughter had died. The baby's uncle was killed in a car accident two weeks ago. My thoughts and prayers are with these families and all the families who are mourning the loss of loved ones.

A Quest

Max, the lab-beagle, is feeling better this morning. He requested some dog treats and wanted to check out the backyard. His right shoulder is still bothering him. I have decided to make some friends. I am getting together at a restaurant with two women from zumba next month. I have joined a senior site, folks looking for friends. Seven of us were in the chat room and though the conversation was superficial, it was interesting to talk to folks from Oregon, Idaho, Florida, New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Georgia. I am looking at work colleagues, zumba dancers and the people who train at hapkido as potential future friends. It's nice, actually, because I am more inclined to let idiosyncracies pass by without bothering me.

Max the labrador beagle

We rescued Max from the pound back in '04. He had a lot of issues, fear of dogs and people and chronic ear and skin conditions. In September, his shoulder began bothering him, so we added a supplement to his food. Today, when I came home from work, he refused a treat and went off to lay down. He is resting in the kitchen. I made an appointment with his favorite vet for next week, but I can't shake the feeling that this appointment will be like the one for our previous dog. Keep him comfortable until his quality of life determines that the humane action is to put him to sleep. Max did have a reasonably good life with us and enjoyed the puggle and mini dachsund that we adopted 3 years ago. Max, before the bad shoulder and short of breath days, loved to trek around the field. He enjoyed laying on his back and wriggling his body in "the worm." My husband and Max would wrestle. He howls with the distinctive hound arrrrrrrroooooo. It is so hard when loved ones reach their geriatric days and then the end of their life. Saying good bye and trying to fill the hole of their absence is painful.

Lunch with my friend

I drove into the country and picked up my friend from the cafe. Four or five years ago, she lived in a nursing home and during that time, she lost a lot of weight. Because she gained all the weight back, she has mobility issues. She had trouble getting into the car, a mid size car. She can't put on the seatbelt by herself. She waddles from side to side when she walks. I am sad. Sad that she is shortening her life span. This is my friend I have known for 32 years! She would like to work and is getting together with a job coach. How can she hold a job if she can't get around? I hadn't seen her in many months, so her additional weight was a shock. I am concerned. What can I do for her? It was an eye opening experience.

Can you believe it?

A young man with cerebral palsy traveling around the world, having new adventures. Just read about Zach Anner and watched his trailer. One of my classmates had a brother with palsy. Zach and John both have a "can do" attitude and are an inspiration.

Deja Vu

"The Friday Night Knitting Club" by Kate Jacobs (2007) and "A Single Thread" by Marie Bostwick (2008) have several common themes. Two women become owners of stores--a yarn shop in the first book and quilting materials in the second. Both women draw on the support of community women when faced with tough times. As I read, it was with a feeling of deja vu.

No good deed goes unpunished

My friend lives in a group home. I haven't seen her in a long time, so invited her to lunch next Wednesday, since it is my only day off. Usually she would be at club near my home, but club is closed that day (wouldn't you know!) She will be at the group home, some 12 miles away. There goes my time and gas, not to mention the cost of the meal.... Now I did ask her if she would be at the clubhouse. If only I had known, I would have opted for a different Wednesday!

Oh say can you see...the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Thank you Veterans

my brothers in law
my uncles
my husband
my great uncle
my nephews

To all those who served and their families, your sacrifices will always be remembered. Many blessings.

Reenergized!

I am back from my vacation with a smile on my face and abundant energy. I took the Megabus to the big city. The bus was delayed an hour. I would have taken the city bus to my son's, but wasn't exactly sure where I was going, so decided it was safer to take a taxi. I spent all the next day as part of a studio audience for two taped shows. Such fun! I must have bad bus karma, because I hopped aboard the city bus only to have it stop to pick up passengers and then grind away and die. I found out that I was near the Nature Center and the zoo. I enjoyed watching the butterflies fluttering gently around the haven. Stayed there until my peacefulness was crushed by several school girls. And I like the exhibits about living green. I attempted to take the bus back to my son's condo, only to have it pull off at a terminal. Sat there for a few minutes and then decided to give up buses and walk. I get aggravated with myself when I do the back and forth thing several times. Am I going north or south? Which way? Which way? I would have been really lost without the laminated map that I found at the Nature Center. The previous night we had sushi,so decided that what this rainy night needed was a specialty pizza, buffalo wings and a salad. With wine,of course. My son and I started the last day of my trip with eggs, hash browns, juice and toast at a restaurant. I then walked up to the Swedish American Museum. When I asked one of the workers if the museum was open, she answered, "Not yet!" I had forgotten that my watch was an hour fast! The exhibits drew me close to my Great Grandmother, Klara from Sweden and my grandfather. I attempted to tour the theater district, but no tour guide arrived. Could have been the weather or that the tours are summer adventures. I then walked up toward the bus stop. Once there, I ate a delicious wrap "The Sultan" and then read until it was time to catch the bus home. Here I am at work, reenergized and patience and helpfulness in place!

Grinchy

I have reached my limit with the upheaval at work. Since September, one of the designers has been putting up glittery Christmas. There are boxes and clutter everywhere--in the self-design area, on her design table and on the fruit basket table. I am leaving tomorrow for a small vacation and by the time I get back, the store should be in some kind of order. There is a Holiday Open House on Saturday.
People will be thinking about the sunshiny day, college football and fall. Why does our store skip over fall and directly into snow and ice, sparkles and ting?

A fantastic day off

It is such a pleasure to lay around in the morning, to not have to hightail it off to work! I packed away Henry, our rapping skeleton, and Count Dracula. Put a couple loads of laundry in the machine and then headed out to do errands. It was good that the dogs and cats needed food because it was back in the pet section that I found the leftover Halloween candy--Kit Kats, Butterfingers and Hershey bars (no Twizzlers. Had to buy a big pack). I found some LA Gear Walk n Tone shoes on sale for $19.95. The soles on my old shoes are worn out. I drove to the bank and the library. The sun is shining and the air feels warm, a perfect day to have off.

Busy

Sunny here today--a beautiful fall day. Couldn't help but think of the people on the east coast who do not have power and probably will not have it restored until Sat. I enjoyed the drive to my stylist's house, 16 or so miles from my home. After my appointment, I headed to church to celebrate All Saints Day. Relaxed for a few hours and then finally made it to the restaurant to have crab, lobster and shrimp. The dinner had been rescheduled from last Friday. I do not work tomorrow, so will shop for dog and cat food and a few other necessities. I am planning my trip to the big city. Some suggested activites--the zoo, photography and art exhibits, a musical, a walking theater tour. Such fun!