Farewell, 2019

I am very glad to tell you goodbye, 2019.  You gave us health problems for my father, and worst of all, you took my sweet mother from us.  You were without a doubt the hardest year of my life to get through.  But you know what? I got through it.  And I am anxious to meet 2020.  

A Great Monday

This has been an awesome Monday. 

First of all, we owe many thanks to Prudential Heating and Cooling for being here at 9:00 sharp this morning and taking out the old furnace and installing the new one.  The Old Man said they pulled out of the driveway at 4:00 this afternoon.  That was an awesome's day's work.  

Second, Good Shepherd Security Consulting was contacted by the New York Times this morning - asking if I would be available for a phone interview.  In light of yesterday's church shooting in Texas, they are going to run an article about church security et al.  I emailed them back and said I would be more than happy to talk to them.  I'm sure that they will have already contacted other consultants, but still, I am very excited that they were able to find me through Google or whatever search engine they used. 

Third, tomorrow is New Year's Eve.  We will be saying goodbye to 2019 and will be welcoming in 2020.0

So all in all, this has been a good day. 

Rain Rain Go Away Please

It has been raining all friggin day.  It was raining when I got up this morning, and now it's still raining as I am getting settled down for the night.  
  
The temps today have been in the upper 60's all day long.  I wish we could have this tomorrow - the temps are supposed to start dropping at daybreak and the high will be in the upper 30's.  Not ideal weather for us here at The Compound.  The workers will be here at 9:00 in the morning to take out the old furnace and install the new one.  

I made a quick trip to buy a case of the fake logs (on sale, of course) so the Old Man will be able to keep warm in the family room while they are working.  This old house is very well insulated, so I am sure he won't freeze.  But it would have been better if they could have put the new furnace in when it was 60 degrees.  But it is what it is.

And most of all, I am very happy to report that as of 10 minutes ago, we didn't have our usual rainy day water in the basement!!! 

Stupid Me

I did a very stupid thing last night.  I dropped my iPhone, and the screen was shattered.  I've dropped my iPhones before and didn't have any breaks, but last night's must have been epic.  

I found a repair shop just 10 minutes from The Compound.  I took my phone there this morning, and 20 minutes and only $60 later, it was fixed.  I can't ask for much more than that. 

Happy Day After Boxing Day

I'm not sure what to call today - other than it was a long ass day at work.  the eight hours seemed like eighty.  But I made it through.  That's about all I can say. 

Happy Boxing Day

TWIT and I would like to wish all of our Canadian faithful readers a happy Boxing Day.

I'm not ashamed to say there were a few people I would have liked to have boxed today.  But I digress. 

Merry Christmas

TWIT and I would like to wish you, faithful readers, a very Merry Christmas. 

We Need A Little Christmas

It's not Christmas until we've heard the Sweeney Sisters. 

https://binged.it/2sXznnG

We Need A Little Llama

But You Know I Don't Cook

Today was a busy day for someone that doesn't cook.  

First of all, I made a double batch of Chex Mix.  It turned out pretty darned good, if I do say so myself.  Me, the Old Man, and my Favorite Cousin and her Sweet Husband each had a styrofoam bull full of it this afternoon.  Nuff said. 

Then, I made fruit salad.  It was mainly chopping and slicing, but it was work, nonetheless.

And last but not least, I made a kickass hash brown casserole with sausage.  Everyone had seconds at supper.  So I will take that as a success. 

Tomorrow, I'm not cooking.  

Flashback Friday

Back in the day when I was in elementary school, the Friday before we got out for Christmas break was one of the most awesome days of the whole school year.  

First of all, the room mothers would come to our classroom after lunch and we would have a big party - complete with cookies, cupcakes and Kool-Aid.  

Then we would all get a present.  A month earlier, we would all have drawn names, and would buy a $2 present for that person.  I remember getting some awesome presents during my elementary school days at Greenwood Elementary.  One was a cool bingo game, and my most favorite present was a multi-colored knitted cap, which I still have today. 

I'm sad to say that the kids today don't get to have a cool party like we did.  So much for political corectness. 

Throwback Thursday

Happy Anniversary To Me

This is a pretty big day in my life.  Today is my 30th anniversary at Zoeller.  

Thirty years ago today, I walked up that long stairway to the second floor of the United Furniture building, which is now where I park every day.  Little did I know that I would still be there thirty years later. 

My time there is fortunately drawing to a close.  I will be retiring in a little more than two years.  I hope the next two years fly by as fast as the last two have. 

But You Know I Don't Cook

As I type this post, I am in the middle of baking four dozen cookies for the cookie exchange at work tomorrow.  But you know I don't cook.  

I might not cook much, but I am making some kick ass white chocolate Macadamia nut cookies tonight.  Even the Old Man was impressed.  And he's the official baker in the family.  I think I did pretty good to get his seal of approval.

Stay tuned.  Who knows what I will bake next. 

Team Bud Update

Team Bud Update:

It's hard to believe that a year ago this past Tuesday was the day that we almost lost the Old Man when his aortic aneurysm ruptured. We went last Monday for his six-month scan, and we just got back this afternoon from a follow-up visit with his vascular surgeon.

The scan was great, and they said that the aneurysm is getting smaller, and that the two stents are doing what they are supposed to do. The surgeon still called him his "miracle man" and I have to agree. The doctor said he is still doing great, and wants him to have another scan in a year.

Thanks again to everyone that prayed Bud through this last December. And thanks to his awesome surgeon Dr. Lerner. But most of all, thanks to the Great Physician.

Sunday, Sunday

The Old Man and I have both been sneezing and blowing our noses all day long.  I am praying that he doesn't get the Crud that's going around.  Me getting the Crud is the least of my worries - I'm more worried about him than me.  

All I can say is Pray For Me, America.  

Way To Go, Navy

TWIT, me, and the Old Man would like to congratulate Navy on winning their 120th showdown with Army.  With the Old Man being a Navy veteran, we've watched this game as faithfully at our home throughout the years as most people watch the Super Bowl.  

Navy won today with an impressive 31-7 ass whooping. 

Go Navy!!!

Happy Friday

It was a good day today.  It was Christmas Party day at work, and we got to leave two hours early, so that was a plus.  And it was Distribution Day, which is always welcome.  And at the party, I got my 30 year award.  At times, it feels like just a few years, and at other times, it feels like it'd been fifty years.  But all in all, it's been a good thirty years.  The company has been good to me. 

The award pins were late, so I will get my diamond-studded 30 year pin next week hopefully.  Stay tuned. 

So Happy It's Thursday

There's a few thingst to update everyone on today, but I really don't have the energy to do it tonight. I will hopefully update you all tomorrow.  In the meanwhile, the Old Man and I are doing OK.  That's about all I got tonight. 

Keep Up The Good Work

After The Girls' had their few month hiatus, they are laying eggs like crazy now.  In the past week I've delivered three dozen eggs to friends.  With holiday baking coming up, we need them to keep up production. 

Team Bud Update

This evening, the Old Man had his bi-annual scan to make sure the aneurysm hasn't grown back.  It's hard to believe that it's almost been a year since that happened; in fact, it will be a year on Wednesday when the aneurysm ruptured and we almost lost him.  

I still give all of the glory, honor and praise to the Lord for all of the miracles He performed on that day last December.  And I give Him thanks for the Old Man. 

Sunday, Sunday

We'd hope to get back to church this morning, but we both weren't feeling as strong as we thought we were.  So we stayed home.  We're pretty sure the Lord understood.  

And we were still not feeling strong tonight, so we  didn't go to the Christmas program at church.  Once again, I'm sure the Lord understands. 

This is going to take some time to adjust to.  When the time is right, we'll both know. 

Good Saturday

It's been a busy, but good Saturday.  I did the usual trip to Kroger's, and this morning spent a lot of time cleaning up the living room.  Unfortunately, since the Old Man's aneurysm surgery this time last December, the living room has become the catch-all for everything, especially the last three months.  It didn't get that way overnight, and it's not going to get cleaned up overnight, either.  But I made a big dent in it today.  And will continue to work on it a little each night this week.  It's all good. 

Finally Friday

It was a long week at work and at home.  But the Old Man and I made it through.  

I'm not going to lie - mid-week was very, very hard for both of us.  But as I said, we made it through.  And now I am looking forward to not having to go to work for two whole days.  

A Good Day

The Old Man and I had a good day today.  We had some ups and downs - a text message from a childhood friend today got me weepy at work, but I needed to hear the heart-felt words she said, and I love her for sharing that with me at the right time.  That's about all I can say.  We'll see what tomorrow has in store.  One day at a time is our new mantra. 

Now I Know What That Means

I've often heard the term "take you to the cleaners."  Today, I totally understand what that means. 

The Old Man and I quickly learned that neither one of us are good at ironing.  So on Saturday, I took two shirts to the cleaners.  I picked them up today, and at $4 a pop, I quickly realized what "take you to the cleaners" meant.  At $4 a per shirt, I decided that either me or the Old Man would learn how to properly iron our shirts.  Nuff said. 

So Much For Tuesday

I'm not ashamed to say that today was one of the hardest days I've been through since my mother died.  I can't tell you how many times I had to get up from my cubicle and run to the bathroom to cry.  But I made it through.  

And it was an equally hard drive home from work.  I cried almost all of the way home as memories flooded back.  But I made it through. 

I made it through. 

Monday, Monday

Re-entry wasn't as bad as I thought it would be today.  I was busier as all get out, so that made the day zoom on by.  And lucky for me, I didn't have many coworkers coming by to chat and pay their condolenscenes.  There were a couple that did, and I made it through ok.  We'll see how tomorrow goes.   As I said, one day at a time. 

It's Time For The New Normal

I go back to work tomorrow, and I guess it's time that The Old Man and I start on our New Normal.  Even though I truly believe "normal" is just a setting on our washer and dryer.  We've got to get back to our new routine.  And we will.  We'll make it; some days will be harder than others, but we will make it.  

We even decorated the house a bit yesterday - we have the fireplace hearth and mantle decorated, and have candles in the windows.   Stay tuned - we might even put up a few more decorations.  Or we might not.