Back To The Real World

Well, my week off is drawing to a close, and tomorrow morning I'll be back in my office bright and early.  Actually, I'm not sure how bright I will be, but I will be there nonetheless.

It was a great week off, but it wore me out, and once again, I'm going to have to get back to work so I can get some rest.

Winter Weather Update

At this time last Saturday, my snow removal man, aka Magic Mike, had come and removed a total of 6 inches of snow from the driveway.  At this time today, it is 63 degrees.  Who knows what it will like tomorrow. 

Flashback Friday

It's been an awesome week off from work, and I know I still have the rest of today and the weekend, but in a couple of hours, technically my vacation week will be over.  That bums me out.

This afternoon, I feel like I did when I was a kid and summer vacation was over and it was time to go back to school.  Only I won't be going back with new school clothes, new school shoes, or new school supplies; it will be the same ole me.

Happy Birthday To Me, A Day Late

I had so much fun celebrating my birthday yesterday, that I forgot to post.  And today, I've been busy celebrating The Old Man's birthday.  

Hopefully tomorrow, I will have time for a full post.  Until then, keep celebrating!

The Truth Is Out There

Who Says There's No Such Thing As A Free Lunch

Here's a list of the free things I've gotten in the past week from Krogers and Thorntons

1. six pack of Nestle bottled water
2. bag of Simple Truth organic popcorn
3. Butterfinger cups
4. Annie's Macaroni and Cheese 
5. Stouffers Fit Kitchen microwave meal
6. Trident Gum (cupsize)
7. Mentos chewing gum
8. loaf of Nature's Harvest bread

Let the Birthday Week Celebration Beging

It's Birthday Week, and the celebrating has already begun.  Diva Stacy gave me one of the most awesome birthday presents ever -- my very own popcorn machine, as seen in this picture.  

She knew that the only reason I ever went to Target was to get their awesome popcorn from their concession stand, and with our Target closing in one week, she knew I would be needing a fix.  So she got me my very own popcorn machine.  

I have to say it it truly one of the best birthday presents that I have ever gotten.

Another good birthday present will be received later this evening, when I will be able to watch the new X-Files featuring my beloved David Duchovney and Gillian Anderson.

Let the celebrating begin!

I've Never Bern Accused Of Being Crafty

When the 'Rents and I visited Dad's cousins down in Breckinridge County in November, on the way down there I noticed how a lot of the barns had a very cool quilt block pattern painted on them.  This intrigued me. Dad's cousin said that they have to register their quilt block patter with the county clerk, because you can't have the same pattern as someone else.  After our most recent visit down there before Christmas, I decided I wanted to make one for our little red barn here at The Compound. I chose the bow tie pattern because Dad has a gorgeous quilt in the bow tie pattern that was made by a dear friend of ours.  

This was a group effort.  Dad got the wood ready and traced the pattern, Mom painted the black trim and the white, and I painted the bow ties.  Once it was finished we decided we wanted to keep it in the house instead of outside so we could see it, so it now proudly hangs on a wall in our family room.  And as I type this, Dad is working at the kitchen table on the pattern for our next one - the Carpenter's Wheel.  Stay tuned.

We Survived Snowmageddon 2016

I'm very happy to report that the 'Rents and I have survived Snowmageddon 2016 so far. It started snowing at about 8:00 and came down fast and furious, and within the hour, they announced that the factory and office would be closing at 10:30. 

The weatherazzi had everyone all worked up with possible snow amounts of a foot in some areas of the 'Ville, but according to our old school ruler, we got 4 inches here at The Compound. 

We were prepared, and have plenty of food and liquor, so it looks like we'll be eating and drinking good as we celebrate birthday week!
 

Get Ready For Snowmageddon

Yesterday, we had our first big of the winter. It was bad yesterday morning on the trip home to work, as anyone that had to drive yesterday morning would agree. Now we’re on the eve of Snowmageddon according to the weatherazzi. Here's some advice from me to you on how to make a trip in snow and ice more manageable. 

First of all, go to the drug store or dollar store and buy a cheap plastic spray bottle, and fill about 2/3 full with good old rubbing alcohol and fill the rest with water. Spray it on your windows, windshield, mirrors, and windshield wipers and the ice will come off effortlessly. While you’re at it, open your car door and spray it on the black door seal so your door won’t freeze. Also, spray your wiper blades. Ice and snow will come off with little or no effort, and your wipers won’t freeze up. 

Second, keep a broom in your car during the winter; preferably one with a long handle. Use this to brush snow off of the roof of your car. I heard reports yesterday of windshield wipers that quit working because when the car would stop, mounds of snow that had been on the roof of the car slid down the windshield, bogging down the wipers. 

Third, and this probably should be first, make sure you have a decent, sturdy ice scraper. Usually once or twice a winter, I see people trying (key word) to scrape ice off of their windows with a credit card. 

Fourth, and once again, this might need to be first, for goodness sake wear some snow boots in weather like this, or take them with you if it's supposed to snow later in the day. Now is not the time to worry about being a fashionista; you need to worry about keeping your feet warm and dry, and more importantly, worry about not falling down and breaking a hip.

Last but certainly not least, take a few minutes today to put together an emergency kit for your car.
1. A couple of blankets
2. Some bottles of water. Wrap some aluminum foil around them before you put them in your car and they will be less likely to freeze. Or else, just put them in a bag and take the bag inside your office when you get there. But remember to bring the bottles with you when you go home.
3. Some packages of peanut butter crackers, granola bars or similar protein bars
4. If you are crazy and don't wear them in the snow, take a pair of snow boots with you
5. A flashlight with batteries that work
6. Make sure your cell phone is charged up before you go to work and before you leave work to come home
7. A small shovel
8. Remember if you are stuck on the road, only run your car for 10 minutes every hour. 

While you’re at it, put together an emergency kit to keep at the office just in case. If we get a foot of snow tomorrow like some of the weatherazzi are calling for, there are going to be a lot of people that will opt to stay at work instead of trying to get home. 

Here's some things you should get together for your office kit:
1. At least a 2-day supply of any prescription and OTC meds that you take daily
2. A pair of sweats in case you have to sleep in your office (you want to be as comfy as you can)
3. A couple cans of soup or something that you can easily heat up in the office lunchroom microwave
4. Your cell phone charger
5. Contact lens saline solution and contact lens case if you are a contact lens wearer
6. Grab one of the blankets that hopefully you will have in your car emergency bag
7. A few bottles of water
You will probably think of other things you'd like to put in your emergency bag, but these are basics that will get you through. 

Stay safe.

Winter Update

I am happy to report that we finally got some snow here in the 'Ville.  When I got up for work this morning, it was a Winter Wonderland at The Compound.  The first measurable snow of the winter produced 2.5 inches of snow at The Compound.  

I am also happy to report that thanks to Magic Mike, our long driveway was cleared of snow when I came home this evening.  I call him Magic Mike because he came last March on the day after The Old Man came home from the hospital and cleared our driveway of about 6 inches of snow.  And Magic Mike is on retainer, and will be back Friday night or Saturday morning after Snowmageddon has moved through.

Happy Birthday, Dolly Parton

TWIT and I would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to Miss Dolly Parton.  The icon turns 70 today. 

Dolly Parton has done it all, and has done it extremely well -- she's had a bizillion hit records, she's written songs that have helped others sell a bizillion records, she's acted awesomely in movies, and she's ran a very cool theme park.  

I know firsthand that if you asked a lot of friends my age what celebrity they would most like to meet and sit down and have a down-home conversation with, it would be Dolly Parton.  And I totally agree. 

Keep on doing what you're doing, Dolly.  You rock!

Trivia Update

I'm very happy to report that Team Divas came in second tonight, and we were only one point behind the first place team.  And I'm also happy to say that the Divas kicked ass tonight. Nuff said.  I'm not meaning to sound cocky, but the two Divas have shown the other teams of 4, 5, and 6 players that we are a force to reckoned with. 

Thank You, Madonna

TWIT and I would like to thank Madonna for performing in the 'Ville as part of her Rebel Heart tour.  

I've seen Cirque du Soleil shows in Vegas, Broadway shows, and countless concerts over the years, but Madonna's concert last night ranks up there in my top 3 concerts/shows of all time. 
 

Saturday Observations

My first observation for the day was a major lull in activity at Wal-Mart.  I had to go and get some more bird seed and the parking lot wasn't nearly as full as it is on any other Saturday morning, and there were very few shoppers inside.  Not sure what's up with that, but I was glad to be able to get my few things and check in in record time. 

My second observation are the very cute snow birds.  I've yet to take the time to look in our Audubon Society bird book to see what they are actually called (I think they are Chickadees), but they are out in full force today around our bird feeders and in the yard.  As a side note, one of the weather forecast emails I get is calling for 4-8 inches of snow on Wednesday and another 1-3 on Sunday.  As of last night, the weatherazzi hasn't grabbed on to this one, so I have no idea to its validity.  All I can say is stay tuned because we know the weatherazzi will not let us down. 

Flashback Friday

Tomorrow is a day I've been waiting for for quite a few months -- the Madonna "Rebel Heart" tour concert here in the 'Ville.  I'm going with my old friend/coworker/faithful reader SDF, and today at work, she and I were discussing what we were going to wear tomorrow night.  We both decided we were going for comfort and were going to wear our tennis shoes.  We then had a good laugh reminiscing back to our teenage and twenty-something (and even thirty-something) years when we would go to a concert. 

We'd plan for weeks what we were going to wear, and have it all planned.  Now, we go for comfort, since most likely you will have to walk 87 miles from the parking garage to the arena.

 

Winter Weather Update

Yesterday morning and Tuesday morning, the temperature was 12 degrees both days as I left the house to go to work.  This afternoon when I left work, it was 60 degrees.  All I can say is that's life in the cray cray Ohio Valley. 

This Day In History

On this day back in the ancient days of 1968, the legendary Johnny Cash performed a concert at Folsom Prison.  The recording wasn't released until May of 1968, but on this day in 1968 he performed a concert for the inmates at Folsom Prison.  The concert resulted in not one but two live concert albums from Folsom Prison. 

 "At Folsom Prison" is still mentioned as one of the greatest albums of all time by Rolling Stone and it sealed Cash's legacy as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.

As a side note, "Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison" was the first cassette tape that I ever had.  Nuff said. 

Trivia Update

It's been a while since I've had a Trivia Update, and it was long overdue.

Last night, I am happy to report that The Divas dominated and came in first place against 5 other teams with 4-6 players.  Yep,  we kicked ass.  

The win didn't come easy; everyone had a bad night, but in the end, The Divas came through and came in first place.  Nuff said.

Welcome Winter

It took long enough, but we could finally welcome Winter this weekend.  Yesterday morning, we woke to about an inch of snow on the ground but worse than that, a layer of ice on all of the roads thanks to the rain overnight that froze during a "flash freeze."  Our road was like a hockey rink.  This morning when I left for work, it was 13 degrees.  And we're expecting "squall snow" early tomorrow morning during the drive to work.  

I guess I can't complain because I've been wanting it to be winter instead of 70 degrees in December and January.  Like they say, be careful what you wish for, because you might get it. 
 

Happiness Is . . .

Happiness is putting on your heavy winter coat and finding your favorite warm gloves in the pockets. 

New Product Review

I've always been a Pringles fan, and to this day, their regular old school flavor is still one of my favorites.  But last week in the grocery store, I saw "Hot Diggity Dog" flavored Pringles and I knew I had to try them.  I am probably the biggest hot dog fan in the world, so how cold hot dog flavored Pringles be wrong??

I'm here to tell you when I cracked open the can, I ate about one-third of them before smacking my own hand and making myself put the top back on and put them back in the pantry.

Unlike a like of the trendy flavored chips, these honestly did taste like a hot dog.  I didn't get any mustard or ketchup flavor, but without a doubt I could in deed taste a hot dog.  The flavor wasn't over-powering, which made it easy to eat one after another after another.  

Pringles Hot Diggity Dog chips most definitely get the Thumb's Up from TWIT. 

Flashback Friday

On this day in history, the King was born.  Yep, Elvis Presley was born on January 8 back in 1935.  

I've had the awesome opportunity to be able to visit Elvis' beloved Graceland in Memphis twice, and the highlight of the visits was getting to see the famous eagle jumpsuit, just like was wearing in this picture. 

 

Happy National Bobblehead Day

TWIT would like to wish everyone a very happy National Bobblehead Day.  In honor of this special I, I'd like to share a picture of one of my favorite bobbleheads - a bobblehead of the most awesome jockey ever, Pat Day.  

Only 10,000 of these were given out at Churchill Downs  back in November 2001.  I was lucky to find mine on eBay at a decent price, and I was even luckier to get to have Pat Day autograph it in person at a speaking engagement held at our church last summer. 
 

Somebody's Gotta Win . . . It Might As Well Be Me

Tonight's Powerball drawing will be for a jackpot of over $500 million.  Yep, a half a billion bucks.  I've got my tickets, and I am optimistic and I plan on winning.  If I do, the first thing I am buying is a Lear jet and a pilot to fly us wherever we want to go. 

I'm just giving you, faithful readers, the head's up.  If there aren't any posts for the next couple of days, that means I won and I am flying around on my new private jet.  

As always, I'll keep you posted.

Happy National Whipped Cream Day

TWIT would like to wish you, faithful readers, Happy National Whipped Cream Day.  I had no idea that January was full of so many National Days.  But you know that I love to celebrate so let the good times roll. 

I'm pretty sure you have some leftover whipped cream from Thanksgiving or Christmas; let's face it - that stuff never will spoil.  So go get some ice cream, fruit, pie or whatever and put some whipped cream on it to celebrate.  Here at The Compound, we each had a bowl of fruit salad with some delicious squirted whipped cream on top. 

Happy National Spaghetti Day

I am so sorry for not wishing everyone sooner a very Happy National Spaghetti Day.  It's not too late to celebrate.  There's still time for you, faithful readers, to whip up a quick batch of spaghetti.  It doesn't have to be fancy, or heavy-laden with meatballs; just cook some spaghetti and pour it into some Prego or Ragu or whatever sauce and you can celebrate.  

As for us here at The Compound, we already had a pot of potato soup cooked for supper tonight, but we will be celebrating a day later tomorrow with spaghetti with ground venison sauce. 

Happy National Spaghetti Day!!

App Of The Week

Yesterday, I posted about my 52 Week Challenge to save money in 2016.  I mentioned a cool app that I downloaded to help track my progress.  It's appropriately called 52 Weeks.  It's available in iOS and Android.  It's very simple to use. It tracks your weekly progress, but it's still going to be up to you to actually make the weekly deposit.  

Good luck and happy saving!

Happy New Year

I apologize for not posting yesterday on the first day of the new year; I didn't do much of anything the entire day and it was heavenly.  But I digress. 

TWIT would like to wish you, faithful readers, a very happy new year.  May you accomplish all that you set out to do in the new year. 

I have set a pretty high goal for myself in the new year: I am going to start saving some money.  I'm doing the 52 Week Challenge.  Week 1, you deposit $1 into your savings account or jar or in an envelope in your sock drawer; it doesn't really matter where the money is, just deposit it.  Week 2, you deposit $2, week 3, deposit $3 and so on.  Yes I realize fully well that come the end of summer, I'm going to be putting back some considerable change, and I know I will probably bitch about having to deposit $40 and more a week toward the end of the year, but I'm going to do it.  I've never been much of a saver, but that has changed and I am going to save in 2016.  I've found a couple of apps to help me track my progress, and I will share those with you tomorrow on the Link of the Week.

As always, I'll keep you posted.