Still a bit under the weather

It's been a lousy couple of days. I'm feeling a bit better today.  Even taking nourishment.

I tried something new, ketsup on peanut butter crackers...don't.  Wasn't bad, but certainly wasn't good either.  I'm glad I gave it a test run on only one cracker.  I'm also glad Frankie was not there to see what I had done.  The rest of the crackers have peach jam on the peanut butter, and I eat one or two as I'm making my way through the kitchen.

I've also got some cream of chicken soup left over from the day before yesterday.  I think I will finish that up for lunch.  The thing I hate most about feeling under the weather is I know I'm hungry for something...but don't know what.  Mom was great at the 'what to fix' to eat when one does not feel well.  One of her favorites was toast with cinnamon/sugar on it.  To this day I occasionally fix myself some of that kind of toast.

She would also make jello.  So nice and cool going down, and took so little effort or work...pop it in your mouth, allow to melt slightly, and swallow.  Another of her favorites was chicken, bullion soup.  Also, still a favorite of mine.  Matter of fact I recently fixed myself some of that.  I guess some remedies simply don't get old.

However, I'm thinking it was not so much the food she prepared, it was the love with which she prepared it.  And, also, the fact I didn't have to fix it for myself.  That's definitely a downer having to live alone.

I find, I would rather not cook at all when I'm under the weather, it takes too much time and effort.  But, if I do, I've discovered I tend to use my mom's standbys.  Like this morning, a plate full of saltine crackers with peanut butter and jam is really hitting the spot when it comes to pleasing my taste buds.  Plus, the left over chicken soup is sounding pretty good as well.

When that is all gone, maybe I'll break open some Ramen noodles, or perhaps make a batch of macaroni and cheese.  KISB.  (Keep it simple, Babe.) 

I guess I'll make it somehow.  And when I really get to feeling better and my appetite is back, guess who I'm going to call.  Yep, Pizza Hut, I've got them on speed dial.

When will I ever learn!

Should never have gotten the flu shot.

I've been exhausted for days.  It's crazy. I have no energy at all. 

Took everything I had just to get dressed this morning.

Didn't even realize I had not turned off my computer last night until this morning and there it was...ready to use.  This is nuts, crazy.

If I mention next year I'm going to get the shot...take me out and have me shot.

Okay, here's the scenario.

Young guy, apparently the boss, has just conducted a meeting, over the net.  A conference call so to speak.  He indicates the meeting is finally over, the folks in attendance all want to 'send comments'
(e-mails, pings[whatever they are], notes) about the meeting. 

The boss states quite clearly to each of their requests that they are 'not necessary', everything has been taken care of right here, face to face, in other words, we are done here.

Does anybody besides me see the flaw in this?

I'll wait for you.

Tick tock, tick tock.


It is now two months later, one of the people who had attended the
meeting now has a follow-up question, or perhaps needs a little recall.  He/she is looking for notes about the meeting.  He/she knows somebody has said something about this, but he/she has no written record.  Hmmm?  What to do, what to do?

Does he/she want to appear stupid, and call the boss?  Should he/she contact one of the other people who was at the meeting, admitting he/she does not remember what was said hoping they might be able to give him/her recall?

Oh my, if only there had been notes taken and shared.

Had the boss the foresight to record the video meeting and send copies to the meeting participants?  I sure hope so.  But, I think not, at least the commercial does not indicate that he did.  So, there you have it, the electronic age run a muck.  Now we have that dreaded 'he said', 'she said' scenario, or was anything said at all?

Remember folks, the electronic age is indeed a marvelous thing, I'm the last one to put a hex on it.  However old fashioned is not so bad; not only does the written word last forever, (hopefully) it can certainly avoid a lot of ricocheting bullets.  Come on Mr. Boss Man.  I'm sure you saved a lot in travel expenses, but could be, you might just lose a lot more in production costs down the road. 

Things they never tell you.

I learned a new word yesterday.  Malaise

I've been contemplating for several weeks whether to get a flu shot this year.  For the last two, after getting the shot, my health took a downward spiral.  No, not with flu-like symptoms, just a general not 100% 'feeling good' kind of way.  I hated it.  I was exhausted, some mornings I could barely drag myself out of bed.  I was sad, cried at the drop of a hat, was achy, had no appetite, and was frequently cranky.

I associated all these symptoms with having received the shot.  I got a lot of poo-pooing.  Since I'm generally medically uneducated, I eventually began to believe the poo-poo-er.  Also, eventually all my symptoms went away.

Still, in the back of my head I'm thinking the flu shot had something to do with the way I felt and decided, absolutely, positively I was NOT going to get a shot this year.

Then I got to thinking about the height of the flu season, what if I actually got the flu, it turned into something more sinister and I ended up in a hospital.

Yesterday I caved and got a shot.

Here's the thing.  My neighbor is a nurse, and she and I talked a few times about my reluctance to get a shot and yesterday sent me some information via e-mail about side effects of getting the shot. 

Minor Flu Vaccine Side Effects

Just as with all medical treatments there are potential side effects. Some of the minor flu vaccine side effects include:

• Pain at the injection site
• Fever
• Malaise or just feeling poorly overall
• Myalgias or muscle aches
• Headache

Son of a gun.  I was certainly struck by the word Malaise...that was me, to a "T".   So, I did a little research myself.  Guess what?

Among the causes of Malaise related to a flu shot is medications you are taking, and I just happen to be taking some of those medications.  Well, Lucy, "that splains a lot".    I confess I was glad to learn my after-effects of the flu shot the last two years was not all in my head.  Whew!

So, how come nobody ever tells you, there might be times in your life when unexplained physical things happen and it's okay.  It's not imagined, it's mysterious, and surprisingly real, though it's not something you like to talk about because, frankly, people think you're nuts. 

I have to thank the Internet, my nurse neighbor, and my own internal biology for helping me come to grips with my discovery that I'm not just some old lady wacko.  I can deal with and live with my Malaise, if it comes this year.  Because I now know I'm not crazy and the condition is temporary. 

Malaise

A generalized feeling of discomfort, illness or lack of well being.  Fatigue occurs and can be accompanied by a feeling of not having enough energy to accomplish usual activities.  Interaction with various medications can also bring on and cause Malaise.  

So, if you call some day, and I'm a grumpy bear, sigh a lot, and sound weepy.  It's all good, I'm just having a Malaisey kind of day.  I'll get over it, eventually.

Santa's Satellite Workshop.

Here at Santa's Satellite Workshop, the lights burned late into the night.  The Elves busily making merchandise for Gues Who Originals store front.  Itsy was especially busy, her fingers either clicking her mouse or racing across her keyboard writing copy for the goods being placed in Gues Who Originals brand new department "Holidays".

Let me tell you, by the time Santa called last night and said it was okay to turn off the lights and hit the sheets, Itsy and all the other elves were frazzled.  I wasn't looking all that great either.  However, quite a bit had been accomplished.

You see, I discovered an item in Zazzles inventory that I think people could actually afford, and it's something I think kids (and adults) just might enjoy.  They are candy tins.  There are small and large sizes and you can decide what you want to put into the tins you want to purchase.  Mints or Jelly Belly Jelly Beans.  So, I say to Isty, "What do you think.  Should we make some?"

Itsy was immediately on board (which is why she's in charge) and she began to bark orders to the other elves, and I mean to tell you our shop was a buzz all day.  Oh, there were illustrations to find, shape, and color to adorn the tops of the tins.  There was copy to write.  There was cutting and pasting to do.  It was a mad house. 

Even Frankie helped out, she was in charge of keeping us hydrated, and supplying us with sugary snacks, they in turn, had us pretty much bouncing off the walls all day. 

Zorro, well,  he slept,  in his office bed most of the day.  Lucky dog!

The important thing is, as a team, we accomplished much.  I watch all those commercials on TV showing how all the new electronic wonders help companies preform miracles when it comes to being super effective.  Well, good for them.  Here at Gues Who Originals we do things the old fashioned way.  Blood, sweat and tears.  My computer, printer and scanner humming, buzzing and grinding along.  My elves work tirelessly, happy, smiling and excited.

Santa's happy, too.  He told me yesterday he checked out Gues Who Originals Holiday Department and that he was very pleased.  Especially, it seems with the candy tins.  Well, who would have thought?

"What's that?"

"Oh, okay."

Isty has just stopped by to tell me my coffee break is over, and I need to set a good example for the workers.  So, I will say adieu for today.  Hey, stop by my workshop some day, I'm sure Itsy can find some kind of job for you.

So, there I was,

scrolling through my favorites to reach the I-Ching website. 

Click, click.  Click, click.

Man, I was sure glad Frankie was not in the room.  I about fell out of my chair...well, slid...out of my chair.  I had suddenly begun to drool. 

There...in an ad was a picture of three, stunning, gorgeous, beautiful, handsome, men.  All three were over fifty (so the ad states) (although I seriously doubt it) (they looked maybe in their early forties), and I was told I could look at their profiles for FREE!

Oh, my, oh, me.  I was sorely tempted.  I mean, these guys were...were...clean shaven, hair neatly coiffured, clothes neat-clean-tidy, and mine for the asking.  It was the one in the middle that got me.  Salt and pepper hair, ruggedly handsome, without the rugged.  You could tell he worked out.  You could tell he probably had a good paying job, as though financially you would never have to work a day in your life ever again.

Have I got you hooked?

Okay, okay, I know these guys don't exist in the real dating market.  But I gotta tell you for the first time, my mouse quivered toward the 'browse free' box. 

Poof!

On my left shoulder sat that little guy in the red suit, pitchfork in hand. "Go ahead," he whispered, "what could it hurt?"

The little girl in white on my right shoulder, leaned out over my neck blubber, and chastised the 'Devil'.  "Are you kidding me!!!  Do you realize just how vulnerable this old broad is?  Turn her loose in a web-site like this and she might not eat or drink for days!!!"

I want to brush her off my shoulder, and tell  her to get lost, but the 'Devil' did that for me.  Man, I didn't realize the power he had.  "Go ahead," he said, "What could it hurt?  After all, you're just browsing." 

Angel is standing on my keyboard, readjusting her halo.  "Listen up buddy, this woman had better things to do with her time, and, just what makes you think she wants a man in her life.  Right Sandra.?"

"Sandra?"

"Sandra!"

"SANDRA ANN!"

I'm brought back to reality, but I'm still gazing at this gorgeous hunk-a, hunk-a.  I do believe this is the first time my Guardian Angel has yelled at me. 

"Please tell me you are not going to hit that browse button." Angel pleaded.

With that, I place Devil down on the keyboard next to Angel.  They are glaring at each other.  I had better make a decision soon or things could get ug--ly.

Enter Frankie:

"What the heck is going on here, what's with all the shouting?"

Oh, Boy.  Just what I need another opinion.

Frankie glances at my computer screen.  This threw her into a fit of uncontrollable laughter.  "Really, really, you're looking at a dating service...have you learned nothing...remember not long ago you would not allow me to delve into that black abyss?"

And, with that, she took control of my mouse, and 'poof' the handsome men, the Devil and my Angel were gone. 

"Idiot."  Said Frankie leaving the room.

Why yes, yes I am.  "Click."

Monday's Bits and pieces

First, I cooked my 15 bean soup till afternoon.  The flavor was wonderful, I enjoyed it very much.  On the down side, the garbanzos and lentils simply would not soften, I ate them anyway...what the heck.  Overall the soup was really, really savory, hearty and tummy filling good.

Second, I finished cutting down the hops that grow up the side of the garage, and across the top of the door.  I'm so glad I nailed drawer pulls across the top of the door, and trained the hops through them.  All I had to do was take the clippers, snip the vines on either side of the pull, and they fell to the ground in perfect lengths to fit into my yard debris container.  I swept up the smaller pieces and leaves and was done in less that half an hour.  I could not believe how easy it was.

Third,  I'm trying to take a break every afternoon and sit outside for at least ten minutes.  It's a little on the chilly side to do that, even though the temperature registers around 70.  Somehow, 70 does not feel the same in October as it does in July.  Plus, any area of the yard that does not get sunshine does not dry off, the grass constantly has dew on it.  I keep getting my feet wet.

Fourth,  I didn't sweep leaves yesterday, and I'm glad I didn't.  The wind did a pretty good number on 'nuding' the trees, and I'm thinking today might be the last day I'm going to have to sweep.  Wouldn't that be grand?

Fifth, I got my tax bill....gasp.  It went up three hundred dollars, as a result of measures people voted for last November...I personally didn't vote for any of them.  I think only those that did should have to pay the extra tax money.  Yeah, yeah, I know, secret ballot, blah, blah, blah, no way to know who voted for what...really...to tell the truth I don't really believe the ballots are all that 'secret'...what do you think?

Sixth, I'm back to drinking water on a better basis, and I'm hoping by the end of the week I will have a better handle of keeping hydrated.  As I posted on facebook last night yesterday I drank three 16 ounce bottles of the stuff. The first had raspberry flavor, the second strawberry flavor, and the last had a lemonade flavor.  My taste buds have been very, very happy.

Seventh, I finally cleared all the works in progress in my Zazzle store, and they should be ready for purchase today.  Each item is for Christmas.  I've made wrapping papers, with matching stickers, no transparent tape needed this year; six Christmas cards, and even more stuff.  Today I'm going to make some address labels to match the cards.    Busy day ahead. 

Eighth, I just had a run-in with a girl on the phone, you know those anonymous calls saying this is your final call to reduce your interest rate.  Well, I finally picked up the phone and punched one.  A girl came on the line.  I asked for her name, her supervisor's name and the name of the company she was working for.  To my surprise, she told me.  I told her I was going to report her and her company to my state's Attorney Generals Office.  Things got heated.  All I wanted her to do was delete my name from her list.  She accused me of yelling at her, I told her I was.  I said I wanted to talk to her supervisor, she said I couldn't "she would get fired.  How could she feed her children."  I said "I don't care."  She called me a "mean old lady", I told her I was. 

The line went dead.  Hmmm, I wonder why?

And that's the bits and pieces of my life today.

Ummm, ummm, good

I over-slept this morning.  I kind of did it on purpose.  True, I was up late last night and that does not usually stop me from waking up at my normal time, jumping...well at 76 nobody literally jumps...out of bed and starting my routine.  This morning however, I deliberately stayed in bed.  I got up around five and made a quick run to the bathroom, Zorro thought it was time to get up and followed me, to his dismay I headed back to bed.  He joined me with a disgruntled sigh, it didn't take long for both of us to be back to sleep.

Next time I opened my eyes it was 8:30, Zorro, dear little guy, who has a constant rattle in his throat, is still sound asleep beside me.  As soon as I stir, he does, and so our day began.

I'm not one to sleep in, never have been, even when I was young.  On weekends mom might have had something for us to do, or if we wanted breakfast we had to be there during a specific time frame, or we had to do without.  Can you imagine me, doing without breakfast...food...at any time............seriously.

So, this morning, when I finally did put my feet on the floor, my tummy was rumbling pretty much how I suspect Poo Bear's does...I wanted food.  Well, first coffee, then food.

When I arrived in the kitchen, there sat the frame of my slow cooker and I remembered I had taken the pot part to the garage for storage over night.  Here's the thing.

Some time ago I bought a package of dried beans, the label indicating they would make up into a lovely, hearty soup.  15 Beans, mind you, 15 beans...I didn't know there could be 15 beans, so as you can imagine I was quite intrigued.  Yesterday was the day I was going to fix myself that wonderful, delicious, hearty soup.

Well sir, those beans cooked, and cooked, and cooked.  A little after eight last evening I ladled some of that soup into a mug ready to enjoy.  Crap...some of those beans were still hard as bullets.  How can that be, this brew had been steeping since mid morning.  I was so hungry, I downed the substance anyway, chewy beans and all.  I even went back for seconds...can you believe that?  Believe it!

Eventually I turned off the cooker and allowed it to cool for a while so I could handle the crock part.  I took it to the garage refrigerator for storage over night, then let the cooker part sit on the counter to remind me to finish softening the beans today.

Truly, I don't expect those dang beans to get any softer than they already are, but I have to give it a shot.  The broth, potatoes, tomatoes and most of the beans were quite tasty and I hate giving up on the soup all together.  I guess I can always set aside the hard as bullet ones, or at least kind of eat around them while enjoying the good and tasty parts.  Word to the wise, don't buy a package of the 15 bean variety, one or two of them will surely be crunchy to eat no matter how long you cook them. 

I'm hopeful by dinnertime today, the beans will have softened, and the soup will be even heartier as a result of having been 'steeped' over night.  I'll try to remember to post tomorrow how my 15 bean soup turns out, usually my mug is 'half full' with optimism...although, at the moment I'm not 'feeling it'...sigh.

P.S.  Generally speaking I always have packets of Manischewitz dried bean, kosher, soups in my pantry.  I thought I has some yesterday.  Sadly, I did not.  However, if you want to make up a good slow cooker soup allow me to suggest their Hearty Bean, Split Pea, Split Pea and Barley, Four Bean, Lentil or Vegetable varieties.  Each comes with a packet of seasonings and you can add other vegetables if you wish, I like adding potatoes to the Split Pea and Split Pea/Barley varieties.

Water, necessary evil

Here's the thing.  My doctor is on my case all the time about drinking water, so is my neighbor who happens to be a nurse.  So, I drink water, although not as much as I used to, and not as much as I know I should.  To tell the truth, I'm sick of drinking water. 

Yes, it's bottled, and yes, I know I'm putting a lot of plastic into the environment, and I should care, and I do.  But, (and I am a great little recycler) if I'm going to have to drink the stuff, I want to be able to tote it around without spilling it, I want it to be 'pure' and I want it to be icy cold...so guess what folks?  I'm not going to give up my bottled water. 

(Besides, I need bottled water, I have to be ready when that natural or man-made disaster occurs, after all water is a necessary evil, even though I don't care for it all that much anymore.)

But, I digress.

Yesterday morning I was fixing my morning cup of coffee with flavored creamer and decided to add a couple of pumps of strawberry syrup flavoring as well.  It was sooo good.  After which I then switched over to a bottle of water.  I confess it took just about the whole day for me to drain the bottle.  Eventually I'm standing in front of the refrigerator contemplating if I want to open a new one.

Frankie:  (In sing-song voice.)  "So....what's ya doin'?
Me:  "Thinking."
Frankie:  (Same icky sweet voice.)  "Bout what?" 

She actually tousles my hair.

Me:  " 'Bout' whether I want to open another bottle of water."
Frankie:  (Getting serious.)  "How much have you drunk today?"
Me:  (Sighing)  "One bottle."

Frankie reaches around me pulls open the door and hands me an icy cold bottle.  I shudder.  The though of drinking water repulses me.  Frankie bonks me on the back of my head muttering as she walks away, "You could-a had a V-8".

Me:  (A slight hint of irritation in my voice.) "Yeah, but that wouldn't be water, now would it?"

I slam the bottle of water on the kitchen counter and wish it would disappear. 

(Insert music from heaven here.)

I walk back to the refrigerator and pull out my bottle of lime juice, take a long draw of water, pour lime juice into the bottle, add a bit of sugar, and shake the dickens out of the whole shebang. 

Man...that bottle of water was great...I had drunk the whole thing in less than an hour.

(Insert music from heaven here.)

What if...what if...I should add some strawberry syrup instead of lime or lemon juice? OMG!  It was mystical, it was magical, I drank that bottle down and was ready for more.

Wait a minute...evening was close, if I keep drinking water, by bedtime I'm gonna be floating...and well...accidents do happen.  So I decide to hold back on the water intake.  However, I do open another bottle and add some strawberry syrup.

Frankie:  "What the heck is in this water?" 

She is closely examining my latest experiment, and I explain.  She takes a l-o-n-g draw, swallows and smiles...broadly...wipes her mouth with the sleeve of her sweats, nods and walks away.

I think I 'done good'!  Let's see, I've got strawberry, raspberry and blackberry syrups as well as lemon and lime juice, too.  I think I'm going to start to like drinking water again.

I don't get it.

How come some days linger f-o-r-e-v-e-r, and some days zippppp past.  Yesterday was a zipper for me.  I kept wanting to write a blog for the day, my intention was good----really, but stuff kept getting in the way.

Even Zorro seemed to be at loose ends.  There are some days he is really needy, and yesterday was one of those days.  He kept wanting to be in my lap while I was working, so I would allow him to jump up.  Then he would do that little 'paw' my arm trick.  Well, everybody knows how hard it is to type with one hand, while trying to look at the keyboard over the head of a dog. 

He didn't seem to want to be up anyway, and he'd jump down. 

Bark, bark, bark.

Maybe he wants to go out.  Maybe not.

And so my morning went. 

Surprisingly, at noon as I went over my morning activities I discovered I had actually accomplished quite a bit in spite of all the interruptions. 

After lunch I decided to take some time to clear the back sidewalk and patio of fallen leaves.  I discovered the chickens were out of solitary, and I took a few minutes to say hello to Florence.  My, oh my, she has gotten so big and plump.  Although the guy who put up the tree house...well, it's more like a tree 'deck', still has some his some of his tools lying about...I can't tell you how that drives me nuts...I'd like to jump the fence and at least put them under the deck out of the elements.  My husband would be having a 'fit' at the way this guy treats his tools.  Mind your own business old lady, sweep the leaves.

Anyway, while I was out broom in hand, the guy who gave me an estimate to do my gardening went by in his truck. Uh-oh...he waved at me...not good, not good.  I hustle Zorro back into the house.  I just know he will stop by, I just know it.

He does.

I hide...do not go to the door...I figure he will read the sign on my storm door and leave.

He does not.

His truck is still at the curb, but I can't see him...anywhere. 
Where the heck did he go?  I find myself sneaking around my own house looking for him.  I guess I'm a little ahead or behind him as I go from window to window.  Finally, I see his truck is gone.

Now here's the thing, I'm the kind of person who hates to hurt any body's feelings, saying no is difficult for me, so I told him I WOULD CALL HIM if I needed him.  Bad mistake, I never should have said that, realizing now, that I have left the door slightly ajar for him to make return visits.  I guess I'm going to have to call him just to put an end to this evasive dance.  Besides, I hate having to hide out in my own home.  Plus, (AND I'VE GOT TO STOP WATCHING CRIME SHOWS) I don't want him to be one of those creepy guys that turn out to be stalkers, and harass me.

Eventually I discover there is not one single good thing to watch on TV...except for my scary shows on the Discovery Channel...and I was not about to watch those since I had pretty much freaked myself during the afternoon...I go back to work. 

Before I knew it, it was a little after midnight. 

Zip-zip-zippity, zip, zip.  The day had come and gone.  Time flew by.  I remember watching Jay Leno, and started to watch Graig Ferguson, when the Sandman finally came to call. 

This morning I'm off to a pretty good start.  First load of laundry in washer, and my blog is almost done.  Not bad, for nine o'clock in the morning...on a Saturday...a lovely, lovely, October Saturday.  Zorro nestled in my lap, I'm on schedule (so far) and about to go to work.

All is right with my world, although, the planet on the whole could use a lot of lovin'.

What the heck?????

So, y'all read my blog yesterday and what the day's future held for me...get a load of today:

Act on my intuition....even though...

I will run into a host of problems.

Hit unforeseen bumps in the road.

Meet complex emotional entanglements....

...and feel dissatisfied.

Where's my blankie?

Where's my pacifier?

Where's my Jim Beam?

Oh, my, oh, my!

Ooooouuuuhhhhhhh! Caution and uncertainty discourages you from initiating action early in the day, but the cosmic landscape changes, prompting impulsive behavior later on. Your irrepressible desires urge you to defy social convention. 

This is my future for today...oh my, oh my!

Cosmic landscape------

Impulsive behavior----

Irrepressible desires---

Defying social convention---

Oh my, oh my!

Scary, huh?

It just might be a blustery day

I'm cold, my little piggies are wishing I would go to the bedroom and get my wintertime slippers and cover them up.  While the rest of my body is in 'work mode' and I can't seem to pry myself away from my computer.  Is that nuts or what? 

Work as been going so well this morning, I'm on a roll, and don't want to stop. Although I am on a coffee break right now and should spend at least the half a minute it would take for me to walk across the hall, open the closet door and get my slippers. I simply cannot.

Question is will I finish this blog first or save my freezing tootsies?

Technically, I've even drunk all my coffee, so it's not even an official coffee break, but it is a "I'm really tired of looking at Christmas illustrations" break.  There is only so much I can take, and at the moment to look at another candy cane or tree ornament is going to send me into a screaming fit you will probably be able hear if you open your front door.

Maybe I should push my chair back, stand up and go sweep all the fallen leaves from sidewalk and patio break.  But, the East Wind is blowing pretty good today, so maybe that's a job best left till tomorrow.  Speaking of the East Wind.

I'm starting to giggle...give me a moment to compose myself...

>
>
>

Y'all know how I feel about all those edjukated meteorologists, giggle, giggle, giggle.

Well several years ago here, locally, the guys and gals along with the local newspaper and the American Meteorological Society got together and decided that the East Winds had to have a new name. As a result, "during November 1997, a Portland television station and The Oregonian teamed with the Oregon chapter of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) to name the strong Columbia River Gorge winds through a contest. Some 7,000 entries were submitted to the "Name our East Wind Contest", with a total of 2,424 different names. The name 'Coho' was judged to be the best name since it is easy to pronounce (and spell), it is an indigenous name to the Pacific Northwest, silver salmon are wild fast swimmers analogous to the wind, and it relates to the widely known westerly chinook winds that are also a name of a salmon."

(Excerpts from Wikipedia, today October 15, 2013)

Let me tell ya, they tried hard, they truly did...but they could not get the new name to stick.  Baaaa, haaaa, haaaaa.  Damn, I'm an awful, awful person...I just love when things go wrong for them edjukated folks. 

So, come on East Wind, make my day, do your thing.  Blow those leaves hither and yon, tussle my hair, rustle through the firs.  It's a grand and glorious day. 

Yes, piggies, I'm coming, I'm coming.

What the heck happened to the weekend?

 I closed my eyes Friday night and when I opened them this morning it was Monday.

Yeah, I frittered the whole damn two days away.  What did I accomplish?  Seriously, did I do one productive thing?  I'm gonna' let you judge. 

Well, Saturday I ate, and ate, and ate.  It was one of those days I kept opening the refrigerator and cupboard that contains all my snacky stuff managing every time to find something to shove into my mouth.  I hate days like that.  I remember thinking "What the heck did I eat today?"  Turns out just about everything but the kitchen sink.  Honest, I had a container of donut holes on the counter and it seems every time I walked past it I was shoving one in my mouth.  Oh, and all that Lebanon Bologna, I started with a sandwich but by TV time I was rolling the slices up and gobbling them down in a very unlady-like fashion.

Of course, I managed to do the laundry, always a fun endeavor.  Which was mixed in with some work for Zazzle, as I made some holiday mugs and additional kitchen towels decorated with "Christmas Cheer" to brighten your kitchen and bring delight to your holiday guests.  "Also, good as a gift for your holiday hostess.  Blah, blah, blah."

By the time I was done with all this day's nonsense, I was ready to hit the sheets, but somehow managed to fritter away even more computer time and never got to bed till after one o'clock.

Sunday morning in addition to my regular routine I went to my saloon salon, for my weekly coiffure, which involves rolling up my hair in plastic rollers so tightly they pull back my face that I look like I've gotten a face lift.  When they begin to tighten my scalp and start to hurt (ouch, ouch), I know my hair is dry and I can remove them, the results of which make me look like my beloved childhood book character, Pinky Marie Washington, Jefferson, Jackson.

I did some entertaining Sunday morning as well, a neighbor came for coffee.  From the look on her face I could tell she never expected to be entertained by a woman who's face was drawn back in a grotesque manner the result of the array of pink and white rollers totally covering the top of her head.  Pretty funny stuff, pretty funny. We did have two lovely hours of chit-chat and neighborhood gossip, winding down around noon, when we both discovered we were getting hungry.  Food...again? 

Time for a stroll around the yard looking for pretty autumn leaves...Zorro and I found none. 

Time for work

I did some more Zazzle work Sunday afternoon while listening to and watching some football, then chatted with my daughter in California for a while.  Before I knew it, it was getting dark outside. 

Where had the weekend gone?  Okay, I had asked you to be the judge whether I accomplished anything this weekend.  I think I take that back.  Maybe I did close my eyes Friday night...and this is really just Saturday morning...

Wow, a 'do over.'

Whatever happened to...

...a good, ole pie in the face.

I spent the summer evening hours watching television shows about murder, kidnapping, rape, theft and all the other horrible things people do to each other.  Mostly I discovered people do stupid things that get them caught, even the best thought out plan ends badly.  I put a lot of thought into what 'perfect crime' I would commit, and indeed get away with. 

Most crimes involve a lot of blood and gore, or at the very least a good set of fingerprints someplace.  While others are clean, but painful for the victim.  Take poison for example.  DON'T USE POISON...you will get caught...those dang medical examiners in the morgue are very edjukated.  They might have to dig you up for a second autopsy, but the system will end up putting you in jail.

In the end I figured out that crime does not pay, so lately I've been watching network shows that have gone into syndication, and 'on demand', so that I can spend a whole evening viewing a 'mini-series', catching up on shows I missed during their 'first run'.

Some are quite delightful, there are some pretty clever sit-coms available for watching that will tickle your funny bones, with clever dialogue, and sometimes outrageous activity.  I think it is much more easy to write about blood, gore and evil than comedy.  Blood and gore pretty much repeats itself, while comedy is pretty much off the cuff, and 'you had to be there' funny.

Hence, while slipping on a banana peel is funny, to slip and fall on something unusual and new is not so easy.  Plus you have to take into consideration how you make the person fall.  For instance, last night, even though I didn't see it, to hear the words of how a young woman had to leave her apartment building having to jump from hers to the adjoining one, was really, really funny.  Turned out by the time she got to work, they had called in somebody to take her shift.  So, not only had she almost killed herself, she lost eight hours of work.  (Which was not funny.)  But, the story leading up to that was; thanks to clever writers.

Anyway, enough with the rambling.  I just want you to know I'm pretty much done with murder, kidnapping, rape, theft and all the other horrible things people do to each other...I can get that daily on my local news.  I'm going to go for things that put a smile on my face...the more slap-stick the better.  Remember Lucy?  What a pro.

Then there are the funny things I do to myself...take last night for instance.  I think I may have mentioned a few weeks ago I got a new kitchen sink faucet.  My new one has a much longer neck, and is quite a few inches taller than the old one.  I'm still trying to judge the water pressure, so I can stop the water before it splashes out over the top of the sink.  There I was, rinsing and putting objects into my dishwasher, thinking about something else all together.  I happened to put a plastic storage container under the water flow.  Before I knew it, my shirt was soaked, the floor was wet, and I even had water spots on my face.  How is it that at those moments everything suddenly moves in
s-l-o-o-o-w motion?  Your mind kind of goes blank.  And, you have to kind of throw yourself into a new gear to solve the problem. 

I wish I could have seen the look on my face.  Cleaning up the water, and changing clothes was not so funny, but the moment the water hit me and brought me back from reverie...priceless.

Sight-savors

I suppose we all have pictures in a box in our heads of things we like to see from time to time, so that even when we don't actually see them, we know immediately what they look like because we can simply open our memory box.

I got to thinking about some of my 'sight-savors', and wondering if you had some that are the same as mine, and if not, what yours are.  I'm hoping today you will take a minute or two and think about some of your favorites, and perhaps even see one today.

Since I'm preparing new illustrations this week at work, I've been going through a lot of my computer 'clip art', and that art in turn, made me open the picture box in my head with ideas I might be able to use for future illustrations.

Last night I was looking for pictures of Cardinals.  I found a lot, but it is difficult and time consuming to try to figure out which ones are actually 'free' to use, and which ones could get me into trouble because of copyright and trademark infringement.  So, I thought maybe I should choose a different bird, and that in turn, brought to mind one of my favorite 'sight savors'.

A chick-a-dee on a Deodar branch.

And, that  opened a flood-gate.

There's those 'Life-Savor' books at Christmas time.
A spider's web bedecked in diamond dew drops.
A drop of rain in the center of a lupine leaf.

A maple key, helicoptering to the ground.
A brilliant orange sun plunging into the ocean at sunset.
A full moon stuck to a black, velvet sky.

A frosty diamond necklace outlining an autumn leaf.
A double rainbow after a summer shower.
Fireflies twinkling, dancing, in the back yard on a warm August night.

Baskets heaped with all kinds of pine cones.

The first purple crocus each spring.

Oh, I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture, and I know you must have a long list of your own.  So, today I'm going to think hard about my 'sight savors', and be as creative as I can with the resources I have on hand.  Sometimes I think I make my work a lot harder than it needs to be.

“I have, as it were, my own sun and moon and stars, and a little world all to myself.”
― Henry David Thoreau, Walden

John and Louise

Louise sat at her desk staring at the glossy brochures; the colorful images of castles and country inns burning into her brain.

"Picture this,"  said John.  "The Rockies looming in purple majesty, birds chirping, the sound of tiny woodland creatures waking on every side.  Suddenly, with a gigantic burst, the sun heaves itself over the mountain tops."

"Not in my lifetime."  Louise said.  "I've no particular desire to wake up in a sleeping bag with creepy-crawly things for bed partners."

"Where's your spirit of adventure?"  Asked John.

"Here."  Said Louise.   "Right here.  Under white flannel sheets, in this lovely Bed and Breakfast, Chichester, England."

"You want flannel sheets?  I'll get you flannel sheets, you can wrap them around you right before you slip into your goose down sleeping bag."  John's youthful enthusiasm continued, "You won't wake up with bugs, either.  Take a look at this tent, Louise, Just  look at it."

Louise spun around in her chair.  "Where's the bathroom?"  She inquired.

"There, there, behind that bush."  Said John, pointing to some stubby, plastic shrubs surrounding a khaki colored tent in his brochure from the Camping Supply Store.

The headline read:  BIG SAVINGS!  HALF OFF PRICES!

"I don't see any telephones.  What about wake up calls?"  Asked Louise.  "What about room service?"

"Room service...room service!"  John threw up his arms in exaggerated frustration.  "We won't need room service.  I'll get up at dawn, make hobo coffee and have the bacon sizzling before your pretty blue eyes are open."

"Yeah, right."  Snickered Louise.  "Who's the one still in bed at ten thirty Saturday morning, you or me?"

"Well, me."  Said John, a sheepish look on his face.  "But, this will be different, you'll see."

"Ha."  Louise feigned a laugh

"Imagine this..." John made a sweeping motion with his arm,"...crystal clear, blue skies."

"No!"  Countered Louise.  "Foggy mornings and gentle mists."

"Paths leading upward to a dizzying height."  Added John marching in place.

"Cobblestone streets leading to pubs with fine brewed English ales."

"Pure mountain streams, bubbling and dancing over rocks."

"The Thames, meandering toward the sea."

"Wild berries ready to eat as we walk along the trails."

Louise pretended to sip tea, "Afternoon tea with crumpets, and REAL linen napkins."

"Wild flowers."  John began violently waving his arms.  "Butterflies."

"No, no, no, bears and snakes."  Louise stated.  Then stuck her tongue out and hissed.

"Bears and snakes?"  Queried John.  Bears and snakes had not occurred to him.  He slumped on to the sofa.

"Yes," said Louise grinning.  "You do remember bears and snakes live in the forest, right?"

"Well, yes.....um, bears and snakes, huh?"

"Yep."  Louise answered.

"Come on, what are our chances of seeing bears and snakes?  Five percent, ten percent, tops?"

"Picture this, John.  You and me, out on your trail, alone, all alone.  A twig snaps.  We stop.  Slowly we turn, and there, crashing through the underbrush is a bear.  A huge, angry, black bear.  We slowly back away.  Hssssssssssss!  We don't look around, we know it's a snake.  Probably a rattler.

By now Louise is leaning over him, inches from his face, John gulps.

Louise straightens and holds out her arms hands upward, imitating scales, waving one arm up and down she says.  "You and me, John."

Then, she waves the other.  "Bear and snake."

John  watched with intrigue and Louise waved her arms up and down.

"You and me, bear and snake...you and me, bear and snake."  Suddenly the hand holding 'you and me' fell to her side.  She bowed her head.

Silence, like death, filled the room.

John coughed, then cleared his throat.  "Tell me more about the English pubs and the fine brewed ales."

Louise turned to the desk, lifted her eyes upward and silently mouthed the words "thank you".  Then, she picked up the shiny brochures and sat down by John on the sofa.

"See, here, west and south of Dover..." she had him hooked, all she had to do was reel him in.

Annoyances.

Remember not long ago I wrote about how the little, red, blinking dot on my television was driving Frankie crazy, and how I annoyed her by not taking a few minutes to correct the problem.

Well, for the last few days there has been something annoying me just as badly, but I've kept it a secret from Frankie because I didn't want her to know I can now sympathize with her frustration. 

Here's the thing.  Last week I washed and cleaned those little metal drip plates under the burners of my stove top.  It only takes a few minutes, swish, swish, I'm done.  However, with my newer stove I have to remove the heating elements to get the drip plates out, and then return them afterwards.  There is one element (back left) that never seems to fall into proper place, and as we walk by the stove the blankity-blank thing rattles...oh yeah...it rattles. 

I've spent days trying to ignore it.  Rattle.  RATTLE.  RATTLE.

Grrrrrrrr!

I was hoping this annoyed Frankie, too and she would take a second or two and simply push the element farther into its receptacle and the problem would be solved.

She didn't.

This morning, I could not stand it any longer.  I wanted to scream...I loath that dang burner.

Me:  "Frankie!  Don't you hear that?"
Frankie:  "What, hear what?"

I walk by the stove again.  Rattle, rattle, rattle.  "That! I say with disgust and irritation."

Frankie looks at me as though I'm a 'fruitcake',  I honestly don't think she heard it.

"This," I state, jumping up and down...rattle, rattle, rattle.  All the while pointing to the culprit.
Frankie:  "Ohhh, that."

I wanted to bash her with a wet noodle...if I had happened to have one.  "How come you've not fixed that?"

She gets that 'remember when I was annoyed' look on her face and opened her mouth to speak.

Me:  "DON'T EVEN say it.  You're thinking about the blinking red light.  That was different, you didn't know how to fix that.  You were at my mercy, and I...well, kinda got carried away with that.  I'm sorry.

Frankie grunts, and pops another donut hole in her mouth.

Me:  "This is different, you know how you could have fixed this, and would only have taken a second of your time.  So, why didn't you."
Frankie:  "Well, first, because it didn't annoy me,  I didn't feel the need and second I didn't want to because I knew it was annoying you.  Revenge is a dish best served cold."

She turned and stomped...yes stomped from the room.  Rattle, rattle, rattle.

Grrrrrr.  I slapped that gosh darn burner good and hard and shoved it soundly into place, then walked around the kitchen to make sure the rattling had stopped. 

Frankie reappears, grinning like the Cheshire cat.  "Now...we're even."

Me: (Under my breath) 'Till the next time Frankie...till the next time. 

Oh, there will be a next time, trust me.
 

And,

there it was, clinging to my screen door.

I almost missed it, because it was close to the bottom, and had I not been checking out the fallen leaves, and thinking about sweeping them up I probably would not have been looking down at all.

Yep, there it was just hanging out and hanging on....my shield bug.  I'm guessing it was there because I had the inside door open and heat was probably escaping from the house.

I stood there for a moment.  Should I leave it alone, or bring it into the house?  My first thought was to leave it alone, since I've been learning more about this insect, and I have heard it is becoming a real problem for farmers crops.  Maybe I should simply let nature do what nature does.

Nope, couldn't do that.  So, I tried to remove the shield bug from the screen, but it's tiny feet were tightly attached to it, and while prying it loose, it fell to the concrete patio...onto it's back...oh, I could not believe the speed of its legs, violently moving, convulsing, in an attempt to turn itself over.  To my amazement, in a second it had righted itself. 

Before it could regain its senses, I grabbed it again, this time with a firmer grip, slid open my sliding screen door and tried to put it on a plant I'd just moved indoors a few days earlier.  This time I let go of it too soon and it fell to the floor of the morning room.  At least this time it landed right side up.  I decided I had cause this poor creature enough trouble for today and walked away hoping in time it would find a place to settle in for the winter. 

Later when I went to check on it, I could not find it anywhere.  I'm hoping it's okay.

Not long ago I went out and finally swept up the leaves.  As I was closing the screen door I saw two shield bugs clinging to it.  Uh-oh...that was certainly unexpected.  Saving one shield bug from winter's cold is one thing...but to start a colony, well, that's another matter all together.  Now, whether one of the two bugs was the one I brought into the house this morning, I don't know, and I'm not going to take a chance it was, or wasn't; heaven only knows I don't need two shield bugs in the house and I also don't want to have shield bug babies running all about.

Speaking of babies, what is it with all the tiny spiders I've been finding in nooks and crannies of my house.  Why are they not outside?  Caterpillars are supposed to be indicators of bad winters, so I'm not quite sure what all the baby spiders are trying to tell me.  Hmmm?  I know shield bugs like green beans, I wonder if they are meat eaters, too.

HI-HO, HI-HO

...it's off to work I go.  Yes, I hate to admit this, but I worked late again last night.  Remember when I said, (on a couple of occasions) I was not going to do that any more?

Apparently I lied.

See, I've got all these ideas for merchandise at my Zazzle store that I want to have on-line and ready for purchase by the first day of November.  Yes, Zazzle's items are very expensive, but all the ones I've purchased have been of excellent quality, and better yet, they are always giving substantial discounts on purchases, so I'm a happy camper (so far) being affiliated with them.

But, I digress.

Since everyone I know that knows I have a store front is middle class, and pretty much on hard times, (like me) so I'm trying to produce items I feel people can afford.  Cards for instance.  Although I did spend quite a bit of August and September making 32 mugs in the color schemes of the professional football teams, and yes they are pretty expensive, but just this week Zazzle had all their mugs on sale at 30% off. 

Anyway, yesterday afternoon and last night I started a line of Christmas merchandise.  I've made some mugs, and (so far) two sets of holiday coasters.  They should be available for view sometime today.  I hope some of you will take a look.  Please remember, if you see an item you like, but you would prefer it in special colors, let me know, I can make changes for special orders. 

I'm hoping to have some kitchen towels available soon, some holiday stickers, and I think I can make ornaments, too.  That might be fun.

So, here I am at my computer again...laundry started...and a pile of Christmas illustrations spread out in front of me...a cup of lukewarm coffee at my left elbow, and visions of sugar plums dancing round in my head.

I think you can see where my day's headed, baby....down hill, all....down hill.

Well, shucks.

I was working late last night when Frankie came into the office.  She asked me where the 'socks' were.

Me:  "Ah-mmm.  I'm guessing in the sock drawer."
Frankie:  "Not my socks, I'm talking about the socks."

I twirl around in my chair and look at her over the top of my broken, taped-up, nerd, computer glasses and give her the look.

Me:  "Could you be more specific?"

I find myself blowing on my hands and frantically rubbing them together.  I guess I'd been working so hard I hadn't realized the office had gotten quite chilly.

Frankie:  "You know, our rice filled socks, I want mine."
Me:  "Frankie, it's only October third, you really need the socks?"  I shiver.
Frankie:  (Arms akimbo, looking disgusted.) "Are you going to make me beg?"

It's a good question.  My mind wanders to how much I can torture her before I remind her where the rice filled socks are.  But, I'm struck at just how cold I am as well, and decide I had better tell her, then make her warm up mine, too. 

Me:  "They're in the morning room cupboard."

Frankie begins to leave the  room.  "Get mine out, too, okay?" I call out as my body convulses in another shiver.

Dang, where did the year go?  Can it really be time to warm up the bed before getting into it?  Didn't we just put our rice socks away?  Man...
it's gonna be a long, long, l-o-n-g autumn and winter. 

I decided I had better go with Frankie because it occurred to me there was a good possibility insects had burrowed through the fabric and chewed on the rice inside the socks, and knowing she does not have the same affection for our six legged friends as I, she might freak out, scream and wake the whole neighborhood.

Besides, if there were creepy, crawling things in the socks I wanted to be there to see the microwave oven blow them to bits.  Great entertainment for a midnight adventure.

To my surprise, they looked good, there were no visible holes, and no indication there were living creatures in the drawer.  Things were looking up.  I leave Frankie in charge of the warming process as I hurriedly shut down the computer, straighten the office and make a dash to the bed room to throw back the covers and jump into my winter nightie.

I find I'm excited about having warm socks to wrap around my piggies as I doze off in slumber and suddenly don't care if it's going to be a long time before I can store the socks away for spring and summer.

Frankie enters the bedroom with an arm load of socks, dumping mine at the foot of my bed and disappears, yawning and muttering "nightie-nite" as she goes. 

I grab one of mine and put it around the back of my neck and around to the front covering my ears at the same time.  Oh, it was a glorious, warm moment.  I strategically place the socks between the sheets for the best effect, brush my teeth and slip under the covers.  O-o-o-o-h my.  Ooooooooh my, Oooooooooooooh, my.

"Well, shucks friends and neighbors" says I, as I burrow  my toes into a sock, "ain't nothin' better than warm rice socks on a chilly October night."  You simply gotta' make some for yourselves.

Dang it!

Mid-morning yesterday I finally took a coffee break, and meandered outside to peruse my back yard.  The sidewalk was covered with leaves still stuck to the concrete, they made quite a mosaic of ash and alder mostly, in icky shades of yellow, brown and very tired green.  As the little boy in the nanny commercial says disgusting.  I had wanted
to sweep them up, but sadly, my broom simply swished over the top of them plastering them tighter to the sidewalk.

I'd given up worrying about spider webs thinking the wind gusts and heavy rain had destroyed them and sent the spiders where ever it is spiders go this time of year.  So, I was taken by surprise when I walked through a web strung across the walkway from my potted birch to indigo bush.  I ruined it pretty badly, I could see the outline where my head had pushed through it.  I felt terrible, from the looks of the remains it must have been a thing of beauty because tiny dots of dew still clung to the part that  remained.

Anyway, I walked the yard, checked the chickens, and broke up a few twigs I found on the ground that I apparently missed from my weekend clean-up. I put them into the back yard bin I use for recycling, then headed back to the house to get back to work.

A while later Zorro started barking and pacing, wanting to go out.  Since I didn't have time to go out front with him I put him in the back.

As I opened the door I noticed a slight breeze had come up, and was greeted with a wonderful autumn surprise.  As Zorro scampered down the walk I caught sight of something marvelous.  There, with their stems caught in the remains of a strand of web, were two perfect, bright yellow, spade shaped birch leaves.  Each complementing the other, they were performing a magnificent ballet.  They twisted and turned in the breeze, sometimes at dizzying speed, sometimes gently. Then, as quickly as the dance began, it would cease, and the leaves would hang in stillness, waiting for the next act to begin.

I was mesmerized.  I could not stop watching.  Even after Zorro returned to the house, I could not tear myself away from this scene.  I was fascinated that the strand of web was so strong that it could support the weight of the leaves for so long.  Add to that, the fact the breeze was pretty strong at times made the scene even more miraculous.  How does nature do these things?  Why is it that most times we don't even bother to take the time to see them?  It was amazing.

Eventually I had to get back to my project, and last time I checked the leaves had apparently fallen to the ground.  In the afternoon my gardener came and with his gas powered blower cleared all the sidewalks...good bye leaves.  Well, shoot...I should have taken a picture of my ballet.  Dang it!

I'm a naughty girl...

...yes I am.  I went shopping yesterday, and by the time I got home I was exhausted.  Is it only me, or have prices gone up even more.  Seriously, I almost had apoplexy.  All the companies who advertise regularly on television have lost me as a customer.  I can't afford them anymore.   And fresh produce.  Oh my gosh.  We are supposed to eat our fruits and vegetables, especially only organically grown ones because the others are loaded with pesticides, and heaven knows what. 

During the winter a green pepper costs close to three dollars.  You all know I'm not crazy about fruits and vegetables and seldom eat them.  But when I saw a deal yesterday for locally grown, red, yellow and orange peppers at THREE FOR A DOLLAR...well, I could not resist.  I'll make a Mexican dish of some kind out of them.

I don't even stop at the meat department...I've not bought a steak in years, and although I would love to buy a pork roast, who on a fixed income can afford that.  So I waltzed my cart to the canned meat department and picked up the house brands of chicken, tuna and the one we love to hate, too.

I needed a roll or paper towels.  I was appalled at the prices.  Since I was with a friend I knew I couldn't buy a multi-pack because of room in the 'boot', so I walked, and walked, and walked down the aisle...gasping as I went...finally I found a skimpy roll for sixty nine cents and bought that instead.

I wanted snacks, and strolled down that aisle.  Eventually I found the house brands and bought some tortilla chips and crunchy cheese-its.  My favorite Kettle Chips were on sale in the health food department, but I walked by those thinking the house brand would be much cheaper.  To my surprise I was wrong and I raced back to pick up two bags of my favorites.

Now, let me just say...just about every expert will tell us you can't tell the difference between house and famous name brands.  Don't you believe it.  You can.  Oh, they are all edible, of course.  But, as far a quality goes, nope, they are just not the same.  They will not be as salty, sweet, crunchy,  or have the general good looks of those famous name brands. 

Take a dill pickle for instance.  My very, very favorite (Name Brand) dill pickle is not only delicious, when you open a jar of them, they have the smell, taste and texture of the kind you used to be able to pick out of a barrel in the general store.  The house brand is just not the same.  Now, I've a jar of second grade pickles in my fridge I'm having a difficult time eating.  Yes, it's the house brand, and it's the biggest size, cause it was the better buy, but now I'm stuck with trying to drain the jar down to the last one.  I think there are three left.  Sigh.  It will be a long time till I buy dill pickles again.

Anyway, back to the naughty part of this story.  When we are done shopping my friend and I always meet at the in store coffee shop for a sit and chat.  Yesterday by the time my cart was comfortably full, I swung it into the coffee shop.  Normally I purchase a tall, decaf coffee, black, for senior...cost a whopping 99 cents.  I was so unnerved by the prices I had to pay for my purchases I splurged on my coffee and bought a tall, caffeine, Carmel, salted coffee with extra cream.  Cost...four dollars.  Sigh.

In the end I didn't do too badly.  It was First Tuesday, the day the store offers seniors a 10% discount on purchases of house brand items, so along with all house brand purchases and coupons I had my total bill was under one hundred and sixty dollars.  Still, ouch...shopping hurts.

I'm trying to justify I deserved to be naughty.