Farewell, 2017

Dear 2017:

Sorry to be so blunt, but it's time you left.  

It's not that you were all that bad of a year, but you were one of the worst years in my career at work. There were a lot of problems and issues that we faced this year, and I am glad that you are leaving and am really looking forward to 2018.  We know what needs to be changed, and I am confident and optimistic that we, meaning my department and I, will do better in 2018.

I do thank you for not giving us any major health issues this year.  Other than my bought with the mega cough that was going around in March, the 'Rents and I had a great year health-wise.  I thank you for that.

I also thank you for my opportunity to become a chicken farmer.  If you'd asked me this time last year if I would want to raise six chickens I would have told you that you were crazy.  But thanks again for the opportunity.

I'm not going to say I'm sorry to see you go, but as always, I am thankful for the lessons you taught me this year.

Security Tip Saturday

We're at week 18 of our 20 Weeks To Preparedness.  You know the drill by now. Each week for the past 17 weeks, I've posted a list of items to buy or gather so you can compile an emergency kit for you and your family.  At the end of the 20 weeks, if you've bought or gathered the items listed, you will have compiled the recommended items for an emergency kit for you and your family. 

It's not too late - just check the archives for the previous 17 weeks for the items you need to buy.

Week 18

Child proof lathches (if needed)

Double-sided tape (or Velcro)

Two Plastic buckets with tight lid

Plastic sheeting

Baby, It's Still Cold Outside

Let me just say that anyone that knows me, knows I like the cold.  You've read countless posts about me wanting to flip the switch on the a/c as soon as the temps are above 70.  That having been said, when I say it's cold, then you know it's cold.  And it's cold. 

I still have on my thermals, both the top and bottom, and I wish I'd worn another pair of socks today.  Yes, I know I'm in my nice warm office, but I'm cold.

And it is so cold, the Girls didn't come out of their coop until almost noon today.  

It's supposed to get above 20 tomorrow, but unfortunately they're calling for almost another week of lows in the low teens or single digits.  Tuesday night, they are predicting a low of -4.  I'll shut up now. 

Baby It's Cold Outside

I'm very happy to report that The Girls weren't afraid of their heat light in the coop last night.  When I went out to close the coop door, 5 of them were already inside on the roosting bar, and only one was still outside.  I think she was just wanting to be anti-social.  I picked her up and put her inside the coop without incident and I think she liked the light being on so they could have some more warmth during the night that got down to 7 degrees.

When I went out this morning to open the coop door, they sure weren't in a hurry to get outside.  And I can't blame them one bit.  

But even with the bitter cold, they still gave us 3 eggs today. 

Happy Boxing Day

TWIT and I would like to wish our Canadian friends a very Happy Boxing Day.  

I spent most of Christmas Day on the couch in the nice warm family room with the 'Rents, and was remiss in wishing my faithful readers Merry Christmas.  I hope your Christmas Day was filled with as much love and happiness as mine was!

Happy Christmas Eve

It's not Christmas until we've heard the Sweeney Sisters sing their bells medley.  http://www.downvids.net/sweeney-sisters-bells-medley--259279.html

Security Tip Saturday

We're coming down to the end of our 20 Weeks To Preparedness - we're on week 17.  Hopefully you've been able to buy or gather up the items for the previous 16 weeks.  As always, it's not too late to start.  Just check in the previous 16 Saturday posts for the items to get, and you will be able to put together an emergency kit for you and your household.

Week 17

1 box graham crackers

Assorted plastic containers with lids

Dry cereal

Anti-dirrhea medication

Rubbing alcohol

Antiseptic

Syrup of ipecac and activated charcoal

Flashback Friday

I'm thinking back to the days in elementary school when we would have a big party on the last day before Christmas break.  The "room mothers" would bring cupcakes, cookies and KoolAid for us.  The class would exchange presents with the person whose name you drew a month ago, and the school would give us a stocking with awesome ribbon candy, candy with jelly in the center and always a candy cane shaped pen or pencil.  Oh how we looked forward to this day.  Now, not so much.

I was at work today from 7:00 until 5:30.  It was our year-end inventory audit.  Me, my boss, the plant manager, and all of the plant supervisors were there until 5:30 today while the auditors were doing their counts.  Oh how I longed for the elementary school day-before-Christmas-break.  

I drove home in the pouring rain, wolfed down a bowl of soup, and then got the rain boots on and went out to gather eggs and put the girls in for the night.  When I got back in the house, I became domesticated and made a batch of Chex Mix while I wrapped presents.  And now I'm ready to crash. 

Yep, I wish today had been like the elementary school days.  That way, I'd be looking forward to two weeks off. 

My Heart Is Breaking

My heart is breaking tonight, faithful readers.  In the past two days, two dear, old friends of the family are suffering through the deaths of their mothers.  On Tuesday, the mother of our our dear friend Mary Mary from our Fourth Avenue Baptist days died, and today, the mother of one of the Old Man's best friends Katie Bug died.  

I can't even begin to imagine how our two friends are feeling now, especially with Christmas just days away.  All I can do is pray that they will have the peace that passes all understanding.  

The Girls Got A Christmas Present

The Girls got their first Christmas present today - from my dear friend, coworker, and faithful reader SDF.  She got them a very cool old school chicken ornament.  They and I loved it to pieces!!  Thanks again so much.  

Monday, Monday On Tuesday

This was Tuesday that seemed like a month of Mondays all in a row.  

I was off for two days from work, and had more problems to deal with today than if I'd been off a month.  And that's the gospel truth. 

It's Christmas week, and instead of people being happy and being filled with good cheer, almost everyone I dealt with today was in a very pissy mood.  

I sure hope they get over it.  

Apologies For Slacking

I apologize, faithful readers, for not posting yesterday. My cousin and her husband have been here with us since Thursday and we’ve just been doing so much that time got away from me.

Security Tip Saturday

This is week 16 in our 20 Weeks To Preparedness.  We're coming down the stretch and in just four more weeks, hopefully you will have purchased and compiled the recommended items for your family's emergency kit.  As always, you can go back to the previous 15 Saturday posts and get caught up if you're just joining.  It's not too late to be prepared. 

Remember - when the list mentions cans of foods or a gallon of water, it means per person in your household.

Week 16

1 can meat
1 can vegetables
1 box facial tissues
1 box quick energy snacks
Dried fruit/nuts

The Girls Have Rdeemed Theirselves

My little come-to-Jesus talk with the Girls last night must have worked. They gave me three eggs today. 

Keep up the good work, Girls.

Really, Girls?

I am very disappointed to report that once again, we did not get any eggs tonight.  And last night we got three.  WTF, Girls????

Question For My Faithful Readers

I'm curious, Faithful Readers.  Do any of you all still send/plan to send Christmas cards this year?  

Tuesday, Tuesday

Today was a pretty good day at work.  With a full staff today, I was able to get caught up on a week and a half's worth of reports and paperwork that got pushed aside.  And the problems today weren't all that bad.  Until I got home and found a letter about the Old Man's supplemental health insurance. 

To make the very, very long story short, tomorrow I'll need to call them and then do a conference call with the Old Man to re-inform the company that he didn't want their insurance and wanted to keep his Anthem insurance.  I'm pretty sure this will not be cut and dried.  Yep, I'm already calling it.  I'm thinking it will be at least a 15 minute call.  

As always, stay tuned. 

Monday, Monday Not

I have to say that even with one of my people out again today on a Monday, the day wasn't all that bad.  In fact, it was one of the least problematic Mondays I've had in ages, even with a person out in the department.   It was a good day, and Monday evening is turning into a pretty good night, too.  

The Time Has Come

It's been a pretty good run for the past nine months betting on the Ramsey family owned horses, but this week, I didn't have a winner.  Yep, each day last week, I didn't have a winner.  So the time has come to step aside until the spring.  

It's been fun betting on their horses and watching them race.  And when they won, it was even more fun.  But last week I couldn't pick winner for anything, so it's time to move on and wait until the spring. 

I'll still follow all of the Ramsey family's horses, but I just won't be betting on them. 

And for the record, I'm still ahead money-wise.  A good gambler knows when to hold 'em, and when to fold 'em. 

Security Tip Saturday

This marks week 15 of our 20 Weeks To Preparedness.  For the past 15 weeks I've been posting a shopping list of items for you to buy for you family's emergency kit.  If you buy or gather all of the items I list each Saturday, at the end of the 20 weeks you will have gotten together the recommended items for an emergency kit for you and your family.

If you're just joining TWIT, please look in the archives for the past 14 weeks.  It's never too late to catch up.

Week 15

Extra flashlight batteries
Extra batteries for portable radio
Assorted nails
Wood screws
Labels for items

Something You Don't See Every Day

I am very excited to report that for the past two Sundays, we've seen the previously mentioned albino squirrel on our way to church.  I was stoked to have just seen it for the first time a couple of months ago, but to see it again two Sundays in a row was way cool.  And he/she was seen in the same spot all three times - close to the UofL campus. 

The albino squirrel has become a legend here in the 'Ville, with just a few people seeing it. 

I'm hoping we'll see the albino squirrel again this Sunday.  As always, stay tuned. 

Rebound

Today was one of the coldest days we've had so far, but yet the Girls came through.  I am happy to report that we got 3 eggs today.  That's 300% better than yesterday's production.  Nuff said. 

Not A Good Day

This is not a good day in egg production at The Compound.  In all of the days since the Girls have laid their first egg, we've always gotten at least one egg every day.  Until today.  Yep, we got zero.  Slackers is what I've got.

Something You Don't See Every Day

The 'Rents and I went to church Sunday night for the annual Christmas music program.  The church was filled with the number of people that I had thought would attend.  But I digress.

The 'Rents and I were sitting in our usual spot on the last row, mid section; my usual spot so I can monitor everything going on in the sanctuary.  But once again, I digress.

Five minutes after the Christmas program started, something caught my eye.  In the row in front of us, an older woman and what appeared to be her daughter were eating cheesy poofs during the Christmas program.  I watched them for a good five minutes, and sure enough, they were dipping into a bag of cheesy poofs and eating them during the Christmas program.

That is for sure something I have never seen before. 

Trivia Update

After a hiatus, the Divas were back in action tonight at Trivia.  We came in a respectable third place, after our time off.  We are hopeful for a better showing next Monday.

Security Tip Saturday

We're at week 14 of our 20 Weeks To Preparedness. By now, you know the drill.  But in case new readers are joining, each week for 20 weeks I will post a list of items for you to buy, and at the end of the 20 weeks you will have an emergency kit for you and your family. Remember when cans of fruit, meat, vegetables and juices or gallons of water are listed, you need 1 for each member of your household. As always, you can look back at the archives for the previous 13 Saturday posts to catch up.  It's never too late to plan and prepare.

Week 14

1 can fruit
1 can meat
1 can vegetables
1 package eating utensils
1 package paper cups

Flashback Friday

When I was younger, I would be looking forward to staying up late tonight to watch TV, sleeping in tomorrow morning, and then watching Saturday morning cartoons.  Right now, not so much. 

I'm already planning my Saturday.  I have to stop by work tomorrow before noon and pick up a big stack of inventory adjustments I need to key in before Monday morning.  I brought my work laptop home today in preparation.  With some additional inventory adjustments I have to make from today, I anticipate I'll have about 4 hours worth of work to do tomorrow.  

In between doing my inventory work, I will need to find time to help the 'Rents get the Christmas tree from the attic in the garage into the house, and then get it put up and decorated.  That alone will take probably an easy 4 hours of work, at least. 

And when that is finished, I have to start painting on a 4 ft square barn art picture for an order.  

I'm tired already.