Thank you, thank you, thank you

This Blog is for you, all of you who have become faithful readers.  You are my inspiration.  If it were not for you, there would be no reason for me to be typing words here almost every day.

As you know, I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer and mostly I'm a day late and a pound short kind of gal, so it was only recently I discovered there is a 'stats' page here in this Blog program.  I was intrigued by this discovery, and honored to see I have readers round the world.  I had no idea!  I was, as 'they' used to say, 'blown away'.  I have to admit, I got more puffed up than a ruffled grouse or better yet, a peacock.  I knew I had followers here in America, family and friends, but had not clue there were readers in such far flung places. I have a hard time believing I have readers in Germany, Canada, South Korea, England, and occasionally ones from Malaysia, South Africa, Japan and Thailand.

Every writer likes to feel their words are touching somebody, and when I first started writing Ramblings of an Old Woman, it was mostly for me, to get my feelings on paper (so to speak), jotting down the everyday, sometimes mundane events of my daily activities.  Sometimes I did this with a touch of whimsy, humor and even melancholy.

Crazy as it now seems, my little Ramblings seemed to take life.  Frankie joined in.  Then came Things They Never Tell You, occasionally I would Ramble about research I had done, or Zorro and CC (Crystal Champagne) would the day's topic.  Every Blog has at least one grain of truth, although some are full of hyperbole, simply because I can.  And, I have to confess, my Ramblings about my secret love at Christmas...well, good times, good times.

For, it was just Christmas time that I discovered you, my little Blog family.  I was so delighted I could barely contain myself.   It was the best present I ever got...in my whole life...you made me not just a writer...I became an author.  Do you have any idea what a big deal that is?  Trust me, for a writer to suddenly discover they are being 'read', makes that writer an author and that is a very, very big deal.

So, I just want you to know, whoever you are, where ever you are, I, Frankie, Zorro and CC thank you.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Take good care of yourselves, remember, it's a jungle out there...I don't want to lose you.

Okay, okay, okay

I know you are all tired of my ranting about Realtors.

But!!!!

Ever since last week I've been getting phone calls from a local number that has been very insistent.  The name associated with this number is the same as my niece's husband (what are the odds of that) and had it not been for the area code that came with the number, I would have thought something awful must have happened to my sister.

I've been avoiding the calls ever since, instinct told me they had to be from a Realtor.  However, yesterday, I just happened to be walking by the phone when it started to ring, for some unknown reason I it picked up.

The man on the other end wanted to know if I am who I am and announced he was a Realtor and he noticed my home was no longer on the market...could he represent me if I were to put the house on the market in the future.

I was livid...patiently as I could muster patience...I explained I intended to stay where I am, because I was quite unhappy with the results from the time my home had been on the market first time around.

In that haughty voice only a Realtor can do, (implying I'm some kind of idiot for not bending over and kissing the feet of the other Realtors' endeavors), he assured me he could do a much better job and 'Id be out of here' in no time.

I took this all in stride...well, there may have been a little edge in the tone of my voice.

And...then...he...asked...

"What were your plans had you sold your home?"

Honest to God...he actually said that.   I was shocked.  He was the second Realtor to ask me that...AFTER my place was officially off the market.  Why the hell do they give a damn...and how dare they think that is any OF THEIR DAMN BUSINESS?

And that is exactly what I told him...it is none of your business.

I doubt he will call back again.

Anyway, this will be the last time I mention R------s' here on my Blog, unless I do put the house on the market again.  Which seems more and more doubtful if calls from more and more R-------s' continue.  I've had the same phone number for over thirty years, don't you think it would be kind of a shame if now I had to change it because of continued nuisance calls?

I happen to be very fond of one particular gentleman who used to be in the real estate business.  I can't imagine him ever, ever, ever, being like the folks who are in the business today.  He's the kind of guy who, loves to work, and loves the work he does whatever that job happens to be at the moment.  When he helped me sell some property several years ago, I'd have been in dire straights without his kindness, patience, and tolerance of a Rambling Old Woman.  He's a wonderful, wonderful man, husband, father and grandfather. He deserves the EXCEPTION TO THE RULE award.

God loves ya big guy, and so do I.

P.S.  I'm glad you got out of the business, I'm not sure you would like it any more.

Tick-Tock

Tick-tock, it's almost Valentines Day, check out gueswhooriginals.com. The elves at Gues Who have been working overtime and have some new merchandise for you to check out.  Take a peek!

Things they never tell you.

I don't sing anymore.

I didn't really think about that until this morning when an 'olden days song' popped into my head, and I opened my mouth to sing to the music in my head.


We were sailing along on Moonlight Bay
We could hear the voices ringing
They seemed to say
"You have stolen her heart"
"Now don't go 'way"
As we sang love's old sweet song on Moonlight Bay.

Word by Edward Madden, Music by Percy Weinrich

I could not believe the catter-walling that escaped my lips.  I was horrified...what had happened to my voice.  Not only was I off key, but there seemed to be a bunch of gunk at the back of my throat that caused me to cough and sputter before I could continue.

Several minutes and half a bottle of water later, I tried again.  I was hoping I would sound a bit better.  This time the gunk was gone, but it was replaced by the sound of a squeaky door hinge.  What the heck?

I used to sing A LOT, I was a member of the church choir for years and years.  My mom and I used to put the church hymnal on the window sill while we were doing the dinner dishes and sing harmony, A-cappella, I sang soprano, she, alto.  We were pretty darn good.

Later in life I was not so confident to sing in front of people, so I started to sing along with my favorite tapes, or with a tune I liked on the radio.  I'd hold a wooden spoon in front of my mouth and I'd pretend I was singing duets with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Roger Whittaker, or Elton John.  (I did I ever tell you on my bucket list is an entry to sing on stage with Elton John).  Now I would be too embarrassed.  How sad is that?

So, how come nobody ever tells you, when you get old, your voice gets gravelly, turns to sandpaper, a rasp, a rusty saw. Today I'm pondering, where did my sweet sounding, lyrical voice go?  When did it go?  Why did I stop singing, was it because I knew I couldn't?  What can I do get my singing voice back?  Is singing really that important in the first place?

Yes, yes it is.  I had a passion for singing, it brought me joy, brightened my day, and made me feel good inside and out.  Maybe I never should have stopped because I thought I didn't sound good anymore, when in reality I still did.  Maybe I should have kept on singing with my favorites Frank Sinatra, Roger Whittaker and Elton John...nobody but heard but me.

Still, I'm sad nobody ever told me the day would come when there would be gravel at the back of my throat, and the sounds emitting from it would sound like sandpaper, a rasp, rusty saw and squeaky hing all at the same time.

(Insert sigh here.)

"We were sailing along.........

Boy...

oh, boy, have I been  busy.

My ole computer and I have really been burning up the electric bill. My mind in perpetual motion thinking about what I can accomplish with my store front, so you all can window shop.

Plus, I've decided to be better prepared for tax time and have set up a monthly spread sheet with Excel and have been diligently posting all my financial activities through the month of January...and did a pretty good job of that, if I do say so myself.  There are even a few posting already for February...question is...will Sandra be able to keep it up all year long.  Guess time will tell.

Then, I've been doing some crocheting as well.  This is something I do during the evening while my kitty, doggy and I are snuggled under an afghan on the sofa watching TV.

Of course there is also Bible study to do for our Wednesday afternoon lesson, and since I love research, the ole computer and I set the office smoking with that regard, too.  There is sooo much to learn.  And I  am so eager to do that.

Oh, and now that I've discovered Lumosity, that has become part of my daily routine, and every evening I spend at least half an hour trying to increase my mental capacity.  Busy, busy, busy.

And this now brings me to the point of this blog.  You've all heard the old adage about burning your candle at both ends...well, I guess I must have been doing that, cause, yesterday evening both ends of my candle met in the middle, and the damn thing went out.  I mean...it went with a quiet fizzle, a few sparks and a poof of smoke, but it was one h--l of a crash...sooo pooped...I was so, so, so pooped.  I could scarcely get myself to the bedroom to brush my teeth, pull down the covers and get under them.

What made it worse was I had chores before I could get there.  I had the dog to put out and bring in, dishes to put in the washer, doors to double check for locking, lights to extinguish, and a thermostat to set.  I was draggin' myself all over the dang place.

If I was a crying kind of gal, I would have been swimming in tears, too.

But, once I was finally in bed (a little after nine), man...did I ever sleep, yep I slept, and slept, and slept.  Didn't wake until almost seven this morning, when I felt CC land on my chest.  I'm guessing she was hungry.
I tried to convince myself I still needed more sleep, but, let's face it we all know when we've been in bed too long, and time is simply being wasted.

So, I got up and lit a new candle, and began daily activities. Busy, busy, busy.  I'd like to report to you all that I have learned my lesson and will keep this candle burning only on one end.  But, I already feel I need to find a new match to light the other, and if I do, I hope at least I have the good sense to blow out both ends at a decent bedtime hour.

G-bye winter

I understand on Yahoo news this morning, the official groundhog, Pa.'s Punxsutawney Phil, has predicted an early spring.

Well, let me just say...

THANK YOU GOD!!!!!

Although  winter just started late December it feels as though it has been here since the first sign of autumn the middle of October last year.  Yeah, where was autumn last year?

Maybe it is just me...my age talking.

Age:  "Hey, old lady...boy...am I going to screw with you."
Me:   "Why, what have I ever done to you?"
Age:  "Nothing, it's what I've done to you...I made you old, and you can't stand it....baahaaahaaa."
(Make sure this sound is a very evil laugh.)
Me:  "Everybody gets old, why pick on me?"
Age:  "You have to ask?  Well, old lady...you are such an easy target.  Plus, you hate me.  All the more reason, I love a good challenge."
Me:  "Yeah, so?"
Age:  "So, that allows me to play 'mind games' with you.  I can give the appearance that the dark, dank,  looong spelled months seem longer, and that the short spelled months seem shorter.  I can make the cold feel colder, and the hot feel hotter.  Should I go on?
Me:  "No, I get the picture, you're in control of my destiny.  You're just plain mean.
Age:  "No,I'm just inevitable...life is what it is.  Everybody eventually thinks the world is changing, well...actually it is...but not in the ways related to life.  Life has phases you have no choice to progress through.  People end up old.  You require less sleep, less food, less just about everything.  Those that give up the fight for life and give in to me end up lonely, bitter, angry, sick, tired, and did I mention lonely?"
Me:  "Gasp."
Age:  "So, let me tell you a little story:

     Once upon a time there was an old lady. She hated getting old, she complained about the cold, she complained about the dark winter months, she hated another year coming to a close (I think because it meant she was going to get another year older).  She didn't complain just this year, no, e-v-e-r-y s-i-n-g-l-e year.  Frankly, everybody got tired of hearing it.  People whispered behind her back.

Then one day, Age gave her a 'whap' up-side her head and said.  "Listen up, cry baby!  Ain't nuttin' you can do about gettin' old.  Physically old...but you can sure do sumfun' 'bout attitude...yours stinks.  Get a grip, some day you're gonna' die.

So, the moral of this little tale?  Life is what it is, enjoy the simple pleasures, like the day when you realize it is still daylight at 5:30 PM on February 1st.

Either, 'life's a bitch, and then you die...or, 'life's a blast'...what a way to go!

The end.

Mmmmmmwaaaaaahhhhhh.

Mmmmmmwaaaaaahhhhhh.

That dear friends and family is a big juicy kiss, from me to you.  

Seriously, just want to send out a gigantic thank you, hugs and kisses to all who had kind things to say about the launching of Gues Who Originals on Zazzle yesterday. I'm lifting my glass of  bubbly, here's to you folks, here's to you. 

Life is moving on, I can finally get back to concentrating of finishing an order that has been in the works for a couple of weeks. I almost got it in the mail today...dang you mailman for coming early.  Yes, I will continue sending out orders for cards from my home office.  If any of you might be interested in a 'grab bag' of thinking of you cards, I am prepared to ship out sets of ten for $25. Remember, it's a 'grab bag', but I don't think you would be disappointed in a purchase, 25 bucks for ten cards is not a bad price.

Again, thanks everybody, I'm very humbled by your support and love.