Farewell, January

You were a pretty good month, until the last few days, January.  You brought us the infamous Polar Vortex.  The past two days, the highs were in the single digits, with wind chills of 20 to 40 below.  Needless to say we are over it.  

We're glad you're going, because February is bringing us some temps well above freezing.  

See you next year. 

Brrr, Even More More

When I left for work this morning, it was 6 degrees.  It stayed pretty much at 6 degrees today, give or take a degree, but the wind chill was brutal.  At times today, the wind chill was -20 below.  And they are expecting the same tonight and tomorrow.  

The Girls seemed to take the cold OK today.  They were running around the pen when I checked on them.  And the seemed to be eating and drinking OK.  I think they are handling this polar vortex better than we are. 

Brrr, Even More

The Weatherazzi has us all worked up over the temperatures tonight and tomorrow.  At the time we all will be going to work tomorrow morning, they are saying the wind chill factor will make it seem like it's 20 to 40 below.  Yep, that's cold.  Even cold for me.  I've already got my long johns out and ready to put on tomorrow morning.  And I am sure that the old Blazer will fire right up when I start it.  It won't let me down. 

Party On

We partied too much yesterday on my birthday that I forgot to post.  No, I wasn't that drunk; we just had a lot of partying (eating) to do.  It was an awesome birthday.  It started out with warm Krispy Kreme donuts for breakfast, and ended with my favorite Green Chili Wontons for my birthday dinner.  
Today, the partying continued as we celebrated the Old Man's 85th birthday.  We just got home from his birthday dinner at a very cool Irish pub, and as soon as I post this, the evening cocktails will commence. 

Birthday Eve

It's Birthday Eve for me, and Birthday Eve Eve for the Old Man.  And we started celebrating yesterday.  

My Favorite Cousin and her Dear Husband came down from Purdue Land yesterday, and we started the partying at our favorite Mexican Restaurant.   And the partying continued today with a big meal with the Old Man's Two Favorite Cousins and their spouses.  They drove up from the country this afternoon and we had an awesome time talking, reminiscing and just being together.  

Tomorrow, the partying will continue.  Stay tuned. 

Happy National Pie Day, Two Days Late

We celebrated National Pie Day two days late today.  The Old Man made an awesome sweet potato pie from scratch, and SDF and I had a piece today for our lunch dessert and it was the shit.  I told him he could make another one and not even bother with making the crust; just put it in a big casserole dish.  

Nuff said. 

Happy Birthday, Fiona

TWIT and I would like to wish our favorite hippopotamus, Fiona, a very happy second birthday. 

One of the highlights of 2018 was getting to go to the Cincinnati Zoo and seeing Fiona in person. 

Keep on keeping on, Fiona.  You are a rock star. 

Nap Time Update

I had a lot on my mind last night, and didn't sleep as well as I thought I would on my new bed.  But tonight I am hoping for a different sleep.  I am tired and sleepy, and didn't take a nap tonight, so as I type this, I am ready for a good night's sleep on my new bed. 

Nap Time

We've had supper and did the dishes, and went out and gathered eggs and got the Girls all in for the night.  Now there's only one thing left to do --- go back to my bedroom and take a nap on my new queen-sized bed.  

Stay tuned. 

I'm A Bad Mother

I am going to admit I am a bad mother to my Girls.  It's on me.  This morning, I was so focused on getting the newspaper in to the 'Rents (after giving them numerous orders to NOT get out on the treacherous ice in the driveway) that I totally forgot to go out to the chicken coop and open the door for the Girls to get out into their pen.  

I worried about this all day long - my mind was racing, thinking that when I got home tonight and opened the door to the coop they would be all dehydrated and lifeless.  Au contraire.  I opened the door to their coop (that opens out into their big pen) , and they all ran over to the big door where I was and let me pick up each and every one of them to love on them and apologize for forgetting to let them out.  They all ran over to the waterer and drank a bunch when they came out of the coop, and I hope they won't hold this against me. 

Brrrrrr

While we [thankfully] didn't get the 3-6 inches of snow the weatherazzi was predicting last night (we got an official inch and a half at The Compound), they were right on with the flash freeze last night.  Temperatures plummeted  in a short amount of time last night, and the two inches of rain we had yesterday froze.  So underneath the snow today we have ice.  And it's cold.  Very cold.  It's so cold, the chickens haven't come out of their warm coop.  And I can't blame them at all. 

Another Weatherazzi Warning

The Weatherazzi and the National Weather Service have us down for a Winter Storm Warning today.  It currently piss-pouring rain, but later tonight at approximately 9:00, the arctic front is supposed to move through and we are expecting a flash freeze, and along with that 3-6 inches of snow by tomorrow.  The high tomorrow is supposed to be in the low teens.  Great. 

I truly did need milk and bread today, and made a trip to Krogers for provisions and usual weekly groceries.  The store surprisingly was just like a normal Saturday.  There was plenty of bread, milk, eggs and beer -- the staples needed for a big snow event.  There were also lots of various potato chips in stock as well.  

We are good to go here at The Compound if the big snow does come.  Homemade tacos are on the menu for tonight, Pillsbury cinnamon rolls for breakfast tomorrow, and a big pot of pinto beans and cornbread for Sunday dinner. 

As always, stay tuned. 

Friday Updates

I really wanted to post a Flashback Friday post today, but I got nothing.  It's been a long, hard week at work and at The Compound, and I'm worn out.  

We got some more good news about the Old Man today - we got a final bill from the hospital.  His total bill was over a quarter of a million dollars, and all he had to pay was $1450.  For that, we are very, very thankful.  Thank you so much, Anthem insurance company.  You rock. 

Another Update On The Old Man

The Old Man had a follow-up visit with his dermatologist today, and he got an all clear.  The doctor said that unless the horrible blisters come back, he didn't need to see him.  Thank you, again, Lord. 

He's getting his strength back, too.  Monday after work, we went out shopping and [finally] bought a new bed for me, and we went to the Dollar Tree and out to eat.  That was the most exercise he'd had in months (since the horrible blisters started showing up and since his aneurysm).  And tonight after the doctor's visit, we went to the grocery and again out to eat.  

Thank you, faithful readers, for your emails and texts asking about The Old Man.  He, and I, appreciate the concern. 

Public Service Announcement

TWIT and I would like to officially thank Diva Stacy for defending my honor today.  It turned out just like I told you it would.  I can't thank you enough for always having my back.  And you know it's mutual.  UCL.

Mullet Watch

It's been a long time since I've reported any mullet sightings.  Here's a recent sighting brought to us by a friend and faithful reader JMac.

Just when you think the Mullet is officially extinct like a dinosaur, another one is spotted at the Valley Station Kroger on Sunday Jan 13, 2019.  An older gentleman trying to hide his age by coloring his hair was sporting a fluffy style mullet with the waterfall portion descending down to the shoulders. Classic.

First Snow Of Winter Report

The weatherazzi was somewhat right in their prediction of last night's snow.  It did start after midnight, and when I went to bed their latest prediction was 1-4 inches; not much of a pinpoint prediction if you ask me, but I digress.  When I got up this morning, we had a little over an inch here at The Compound.  But just a few miles away over in the Iroquois Park area, some friends said they had about 2-3 inches.  

When I went out to gather eggs a few minutes ago, the snow was almost gone.

So much for that. 

Flashback Friday

A dear friend from church gave us a huge bag of pecans a couple of weeks ago, and it's kept The Old Man busy getting them cracked and out of the shell.  

It made us reminisce to the days when we had the old school nut bowl with the picks and cracker as pictured here. 

If I had the time and energy, I'm pretty sure I could find ours - I'm 98% sure it's in one of the bottom cabinets in the kitchen.  But it's been a long week at work and I don't have the energy to look for it tonight.  But anyhoo, we have a big plastic container of shelled fresh pecans that we can use.  And for the record, the Old Man said he was able to easily find the nutcracker and one of the picks to use.  

Stay tuned. 

Weatherazzi Warning

We are expecting our first big snow of the season tomorrow night into Saturday, and the weatherazzi is already getting everyone worked into a frenzy. 

Just in case, I did my weekly grocery shopping tonight, and I have to say that the store was pretty much empty.  I was in and out in record time.  I'm going to go out on a limb and say it won't be the same tomorrow evening at this same time. 

Those that know me know that I go to Kroger about every other day, and they've said that they think I will be there for something tomorrow or Saturday.  I'm going to prove them wrong.  

Stay tuned. 

Another Update On The Old Man

I apologize if you, faithful readers, are getting tired of these updates, but I sure am not getting tired of posting them. 

The Old Man has had a great week.  He went outside and walked around yesterday, and fixed a great supper last night.  And today, he and my Sweet Mother did some house cleaning, and mopped the family room floor, the kitchen floor, and cleaned one of the bathrooms.  I'm calling that awesome.  

He says he still feels great, and the horrible blisters haven't come back, so we are pretty sure we caught it in time last week. 

And he's gearing up for his big 85th birthday extravaganza at the end of the month. 

Bring it. 

Happy Birthday, Elvis

TWIT and I would like to commemorate this day - the day that would have been Elvis Presley's birthday. 

This picture was taken in August of 2010 when Diva Stacy and I made our pilgrimage to Graceland.  

I am sorry to say that on our previous trip to Graceland in 2005 we missed the building that had the friggin awesome jumpsuits.  

Those two trips to Graceland are ones that will forever be in my memory.  

Good Luck, Alabama

TWIT and I would like to wish the University of Alabama football team good luck in the big NCAA championship game tonight against Clemson.

All I can say is Roll Tide, Roll. 

Buyer Beware

Anyone that knows me knows I love to watch a good informercial, especially when the product has to do with cooking.  We watched a great infomercial during lunch today - it was for an indoor grill.  It was made by the trustworthy folks at Philips - the same Philips that gave us one of the first television sets, and other great electronic products.  We talked about it, and then The Old Man said "If you want it, get my debit card and buy it."  So I go his debit card, got online to the Philips website.  In big, bold print was "Grill today for only $69.99."  Now, wouldn't you think that was the price of the grill?  Au contraire. You can grill today for only $69.99; that much was true.  But after 30 days if you want to keep it, they will charge you for four additional payments of $69.99.  I think I'll pass. 

CSI: The Compound

An odd thing happened early this morning.  I was awaken from a good sleep at 6:00 after hearing a strange noise outside. It wasn't that cold, and I had my window cracked a little bit, so that's how I could hear it.  But I digress.  I closed my eyes and tried to get back to sleep when I heard it again.  I opened the window more and then heard it a third time.  It was a sound I'd never heard before coming from the direction of the Girls' pen.  I put on my glasses, grabbed my Glock, put on my head light and hurried out to the pen.  I didn't see anything odd - one of the Girls was walking around the pen, making one of their usual "bock bock bock" sounds, and the other five were still in the coop.  I looked around and saw some white feathers on the ground at one of the corners of the pen.  I checked over the Girl that was out in the pen and didn't see any scratches or blood or anything. All of the Girls were OK so I went back to bed. 

After breakfast, I got together the CSI team (The Old Man and my Sweet Mother) and we went out to the pen to check things out thoroughly.  After investigation, we saw quite a few white feathers around the outside of the coop.  Our first thought was Willie the Rooster was back.  But I don't think it was him.  He's only been gone a month and a half, and he never was aggressive when he was here.  Just in case, I walked to the back of the field, and even walked to the back fields of the houses to the left and right of us, and didn't see anything. 

As a precaution, tonight and for a while, I will go back to closing their little door on the coop and keep them inside the coop at night in case whatever left those white feathers decides to make a return visit. 

Stay tuned. 

Update On The Old Man

The Old Man's second physical therapist came yesterday, and she said like the other one that he didn't need her any more.  For that we are thankful.

And the Old Man's visiting nurse came this morning and checked him out, and she, too, said he didn't need her any more.  And once again, for that we are thankful.

And he even helped fix supper last night.  Yep, thankful for that, too. 

I'd venture to say that tonight, he's up to about 95% of his Old Self.  Once again, for that, we are thankful. 

Women Rock!

TWIT and I would like to wish everyone a very happy Women Rock day! 

I especially would like to mention my favorite rockers, who just happen to be women:

Nancy Wilson
Ann Wilson
Sheryl Crow
Stevie Nicks
Christene McVie
Grace Slick
Pat Benatar

Update On The Old Man

It's been two steps forward and three steps back.  The Old Man is healing great from the aneurysm surgery, and has been getting stronger every day.  But yesterday he discovered that the blisters from the skin issue, bullous pemphigoid, have come back.  We hope we caught it in time.  His dermatologist gave two prescriptions and said to get the filled if the blisters came back, so I did that today. I called and got to talk to his dermatologist and he said to just fill one of the prescriptions for now, and if that didn't help in a week, to call in the second prescription.  The Old Man had a few of the pills leftover from the last round a month ago, so he took them today.  We are going to try to stay optimistic that we caught this in time before it gets full-blown last back in the fall.

Stay tuned. 

Welcome, 2019

I would like to welcome our new year, 2019.

Your predecessor gave me a few goals to set for you, and I hope you will help me reach them. 

My first resolution, if you want to call it that, is to be a better pray-er.  The past month has taught me an awful lot about the power of prayer, and in the new year, I want to be a prayer warrior for my friends and family that have been such a good example for me. 

My second resolution is to read the Bible every day.  I know a lot of people start with this goal in the new year, and when they get half way through Genesis, they give up.  I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide me through reading every day.  Even if I don't make it through the entire Bible in 2019, I am going to do my best to read some of it every day.