Flashback Friday

TWIT would like to wish everyone a very Happy and safe Halloween tonight. 

In honor of Halloween, here is a picture of yours truly and my friend/coworker/faithful reader SH, taken on Halloween 2001.  I dare to say we were the coolest Legos around.

Happy Country Ham Month

I am so sorry in waiting until the last day of October to wish you, faithful readers, a happy Country Ham Month.  I just found out today that October was the official Country Ham Month.  

Never fear - you have a day left to get some country ham.  I stopped on the way home today and bought a package of small country ham pieces to put on our biscuits Saturday morning.  So technically we will still be celebrating Country Ham Month. 

I know that the majority of folks out there don't like country ham.  Give it a try.  If you buy a slice, let it soak for a few hours in either Coke (or any cola) or milk.  Then just fry it up in the pan and you won't be disappointed. 

Who Cares?

The title for this post can be both a question, and a statement, sorta, but it fits.  

When I got home tonight, I checked the family room coffee table for any mail that might have come for me today.  The 'Rents put my mail in a certain spot on the coffee table by Dad's recliner.  But I digress.  In the stack was the almost-daily letter from AT&T begging me to get U-Verse, a couple brochure from Rite-Aid, and a greeting card from one of the sweetest little old ladies at church.  After quickly opening the U-Verse letter and putting it along with the envelope inside the postage-paid envelope so I cam mail it back to AT&T (which I have been doing for quite some time now out of frustration with them hounding me to get U-Verse), I quickly opened the greeting card from Sweet Margaret.  The front said simply "Thinking of you today".  It made me smile.  I opened it up, and the card wished me a happy birthday.  I smiled even bigger.  Who cares that today is not my birthday?  Sweet Margaret thought enough about me to send me a card, and she is most definitely one who cares.  

I'm keeping this card forever. I wish everybody had someone who cares like Sweet Margaret. 

Tuesday Updates

As I type this, some friends are going through some pretty bad shit right now.  That's the best way I can describe it.  One friend is having surgery on Friday on her ear and the area around her hear, to correct a problem she's had since she was born.  And another friend is having surgery tomorrow to remove a third of one of her kidneys in hopes of removing all of the cancer that was recently found.  Both of these friends are exceptionally strong women; they wear many different hats, and work multiple jobs - for pay and for charitable work.  They both have a very strong support system, and I am for sure that they will both come out on top. 

It's times like these that make my current issues seem so insignificant, and yet make me so thankful.

I am sending out love and prayers to TW and DG, and I know you both will kick ass and be back in action before too long. 

Special Guest Writer Monday

I proudly welcome my Friend Of A Lifetime (FOAL), Diva Stacy, as she brings us today's very interesting post.  I've laughed about this for two days, I might add. 

Businesses love loyal customers. Usually they are willing to acknowledge and thank you for your business. For instance, my friend Puddin gets perks and comps when she goes to the casino boat. When she uses her loyalty card, they recognize her as a high roller (even though she is far from it) but they still treat her like a queen.

My boss is the same way with Kohl's. It's no accident every single coupon she receives in the mail is a 30% off. They know she will be using it and will spend a lot of money. I think her Kohl's credit card is made of platinum. Seriously, real platinum.

Me? I might get a 15% or 20% off coupon from Kohl's. I get nothing at the casino boat. But there is one place where I seem to be appreciated. That place? Kroger. Whenever Puddin comes to my house she is amazed at the really cool glossy magazine type brochures and coupon books I received from them. Lovely works of art, filled with lots of coupons. Puddin always says "We don't get these!" Yesterday I told her "You get your perks at the casino, I get mine at Kroger! You start spending $1000 a month there, they will send you the glossy brochure too!" I guess there could be more glamorous places to be recognized, but we are a busy household and use a lot of groceries. So....anybody want a coupon for a free dozen eggs?

Sunday Reflections

I'm tired today - as I have been for the past few weeks, and actually months - after all of the extra meetings and team projects I've been doing at work, in addition to working on a project for a church for Good Shepherd Security Consulting, and in addition to keeping everyone safe at WSBC on Sundays and Wednesdays.  Add all of that together and you've got one tired Puddin. 

Things have eased up at work a bit last week, and that gave me time to breathe and not feel like I was going to hyperventilate, but I am still busy with the previously mentioned projects. 

I've really enjoyed this weekend to just stay at home and not work on any project or problem.  

I know that this opportunity won't come around again for a long time, but for this weekend, it's been awesome. 

Security Tip Saturday

They're at it again, faithful readers - those unscrupulous, shyster home improvement con artists that prey on the elderly.  Earlier this week, a couple of them were in our neighborhood.  Thanks to our neighbor that called LMPD about them; once the guys heard she called the cops, they left the area. 

Winter will soon be here and these shysters are out to take advantage of the unsuspecting folks, offering to repave their driveways or fix their roofs (that don't need fixing) or a number of things.  As always, be watchful.  If you see something, say something.  Don't let these low-lifes rip off you or your loved ones.  If you see people like this in your neighborhood, write down a description of them and their vehicle and call the non-emergency police department number and report them.  And if you're able, get a picture - that would even be better so you can spread the word about them through Facebook.

As always, stay safe.