Let Us Breathe

 For the past two weeks, we've had haze and smoke here in the Ville from the Canadian wildfires.  Even after storms and rains, the haze and smoke has still lingered.  I've talked to a few friends in the past few days that had had a hard time with the haze and had to use their Primatene or Albuterol inhalers.  On the nightly news, they said that doctors and hospitals are reporting more patients coming in with breathing issues.  Thank the Lord I hadn't had that problem but you could sure tell the air was "close" as my Gram would say.  I sure hope that this haze and smoke clears up so everyone can breathe again easier.  

Thankful Thursday

 On Tuesday morning, I put the Silver Bullet aka the Odyessy into the shop for some major repairs.  A friend up the road took me to the shop this morning while we dodged another storm and I picked it up.  I will do whatever it takes to keep the Silver Bullet road-worthy since it is easy for the Old Man (and me) to get in and out of.  I was thankful for the money to pay for it.  And I was more thankful to my former employer for their mega generous contributions to my retirement fund to pay for it.  

Wheezy Wednesday

 I heard from five different friends today that all said they had some breathing issues with the haze and smoke from the Canadian wildfires.  It was a "red alert" day here in the Ville, warning people to stay indoors.  I was out for about five minutes today getting gas in the Ranger, and had no problems, but you could definitely tell the haze and smoke was out there, making the air "close" as my Gram would say.  

Hoping for better weather tomorrow. 

Storm Update

 We had one hell of a storm move through the area last night.  With the wind the way it was, I am not ashamed to say for the first time ever I was afraid.  I knew the Old Man couldn't safely get down to the basement, so we moved to the kitchen table away from windows.  

We made it through safely, but not without some drama.  The wind was so strong that it blew open the door to the chicken coop - tearing off the latch along with the caribiner D-clip that keeps it locked.  After the wind stopped, we saw our neighbor Meghan knocking on the back porch door - she wanted us to know that Large Marge was out of the coop.  I went out there, wading through a lot of standing water, and managed to catch her and put her back in the coop.  Meghan's husband Josh put the latch back on the door and all was well.  

It was beautiful all day long today, albeit a bit windy.  But a lot better than last night. 

Mullet Watch

 I went to the local fruit and vegetable market yesterday, and while I was there I spotted not one, but two mullets.  But these weren't just two mullets; they were father and son mullets.  I regret not sneaking a photo of them, but I digress.  The son was young - probably 7 or 8, and from the looks of it, his long blonde mullet had just been recently trimmed.  The father's long blonde mullet looked as if it, too, had just been trimmed.  That is truly a mullet sighting that you don't see often.  

Friday, Friday

 I am hoping for a more peaceful and drama-free Friday for the Old Man.  He was up half the night hugging the porcelain god.  He says he's fine now - no fever, just tired from not sleeping much and from running to the bathroom.  I'm getting ready to run up to the convenience store and get him some Gatorade to drink today.  We both are praying that this was brought on by the Dinty Moore stew he had for supper last night.

Stay tuned.

Thursday, Thursday

 I bit the bullet today and made an appointment to get some major $$ work done on the Odyessy,  I've put it off for over a year and a half, and thankfully the old Silver Bullet has been hanging in there.  I take it up to the shop on Tuesday morning, and they are even going to give me a loaner to drive while it's in the shop.  I'm so thankful for that - because there's no way the Old Man could climb up into my Ranger with it's big tires.  

Ordinarily I would be stressed out over this but I am as calm as could be.  I look at it this way - I will be using some of my retirement fund money to pay for it.  So in my mind, it's not like I'm having to use money that I earned from a paycheck; the retirement fund is 100% funded by my former company.  You can't ask for much more than that,  

Wednesday, Wednesday

 That black cloud is still around, faithful readers.  We heard today from a childhood friend that her brother's cancer has returned.  I'm at the point I am afraid to answer a text, email or phone call for fear it is more bad news.  

Tuesday, Tuesday

 The Old Man and I have had a rough day today.  Not directly, but indirectly.  We have so many dear friends in the hospital right now and others that are dealing with cancer. We just heard from one dear friend in Florida that is in the hospital after a fall and has both feet broken.  Another dear friend's husband just heard that his cancer might be back.   We might have to go to bed early tonight so we can fit in everyone on our prayer list.  I'm just thankful that we are both doing pretty good right now.  That's all I can ask for,  

Monday, Monday

 Last week was kind of crazy around The Compound.  I was worried and focused on Diva Stacy's father who has been in the hospital since last Monday.  I can't begin to tell the amount of time the Old Man and I have prayed for him, Diva Stacy, his doctors, surgeons and nurses.  And the prayers are still going on. 

It's been pouring all morning long and I am fighting the urge to lay down on the bed and take a nap.  Instead, I think I'll read in hopes of not dozing off so I will hopefully sleep good tonight. 

Stay tuned. 

Happy Fathers Day

TWIT and I would like to wish a very happy Fathers Day to all of the fathers out there, especially to mine.  The Old Man has had a great Father's Day.  But as he says, every day is Fathers Day to him with the way I take care of him.  You can't ask for a much better compliment than that.  

Happy National Bourbon Day

 TWIT and I would like to wish you, faithful readers, a very happy National Bourbon Day.  

It's not too late for you to go out and get some bourbon at your local liquor store if you don't have any at home to celebrate.  The Old Man and I will be celebrating tonight after supper with our favorite bourbon, Bulleit. 

Celebrate!

A Happy Tuesday

 My new good friend from my BSF group asked me to meet her for lunch today at my favorite restaurant, The Bristol.  Her daughter from Houston is in town for a week, and she wanted her to meet me.  

We had a great lunch - I had my favorite Green Chili Wontons and used restraint and didn't order a lunch meal.  We had some great conversation, and my friend brought me and Bud some books.  But best of all, my friend complimented me and said "You look good."  I had seen her last a month ago at our last BSF meeting.  And I haven't been weighing on the scales, but I can tell my summer clothes are getting baggy.  I had to get a safety pin and pin up the waistband of my shorts today, which made me very happy.  So it was a very good day.  And I am happy with myself.  

Stupid Sunday

 I think I felt more stupid yesterday than I ever have in my sixty years.  I thought yesterday was Fathers Day.  I felt stupid for texting two very good friends who are two of the best fathers ever.  They were both too kind to tell me Fathers Day was next Sunday.  That just goes to show you what great, caring men they are.  

Happy Fathers Day

 TWIT and I would like to wish a very happy Fathers Day to all of the fathers out there, especially mine.  

With restaurants being packed today, we celebrated Friday evening with dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant.  

I know that they have designated the second Sunday in June as Fathers Day, but if you ask the Old Man, he'd be the first to tell you that every day is Fathers Day to him.  

Flashback Friday

 Last weekend was when the Jefferson County high schools had their graduation ceremonies.  It made me think back to my high school graduation back in the ancient days of 1981. 

My Favorite Cousin and her husband drove from their home in California in his awesome 1954 Cadillac just to see me graduate.  I remember every part of the graduation ceremony, but what stands out most is our family celebration after the ceremony.  First of all, my cousin's husband drove us all in the old Caddy.  Then on the way home from the ceremony, we stopped and got White Castles.  When we got home, my Favorite Cousin opened a bottle of champagne, and we all had Sliders and champagne.  It was a night I will never forget.

Wacky Sleep Update

 I am happy to report that I have slept great for the past two nights.  The only thing I have done differently is not having anything to eat or drink after supper, except for water.  It sure has helped.  I am hoping for a third night of good sleep tonight. 

Stay tuned. 

Tuesday, Tuesday

 I was up early this morning.  Thankfully I had a much better night's sleep than the night before.  I was up early by choice, and not because I couldn't sleep.  I got up to get prep work done for a pot of bean soup with ham.  As I type this, the kitchen sure smells good. I just hope this new recipe tastes as good as it smells. 

Stay tuned. 

Monday, Monday

 It's almost 10:00 a.m. as I post this, and I don't even feel like I went to sleep last night.  I was wide awake at 4:00 and tossed and turned until after 7:00 when I finally drifted back to sleep.  I didn't have anything to eat or drink after supper last night, so I can't blame it on that.  Nothing was hurting or aching, and my sinuses were clear so my nose wasn't stopped up.  I wasn't worrying about anything, either.  So who knows.  

Stay tuned. 

My Favorite Day Of The Year

 

Ode To Billy Joe 

It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta day
I was out choppin' cotton and my brother was balin' hay
And at dinner time we stopped and we walked back to the house to eat
And mama hollered at the back door "y'all remember to wipe your feet"
And then she said she got some news this mornin' from Choctaw Ridge
Today Billie Joe MacAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge

Papa said to mama as he passed around the blackeyed peas
"Well, Billie Joe never had a lick of sense, pass the biscuits, please"
"There's five more acres in the lower forty I've got to plow"
Mama said it was shame about Billie Joe, anyhow
Seems like nothin' ever comes to no good up on Choctaw Ridge
And now Billie Joe MacAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge

And brother said he recollected when he and Tom and Billie Joe
Put a frog down my back at the Carroll County picture show
And wasn't I talkin' to him after church last Sunday night?
"I'll have another piece of apple pie, you know it just don't seem right"
"I saw him at the sawmill yesterday on Choctaw Ridge"
"And now you tell me Billie Joe's jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge"

Mama said to me "Child, what's happened to your appetite?"
"I've been cookin' all morning and you haven't touched a single bite"
"That nice young preacher, Brother Taylor, dropped by today"
"Said he'd be pleased to have dinner on Sunday, oh, by the way"
"He said he saw a girl that looked a lot like you up on Choctaw Ridge"
"And she and Billie Joe was throwing somethin' off the Tallahatchie Bridge"

A year has come 'n' gone since we heard the news 'bout Billie Joe
Brother married Becky Thompson, they bought a store in Tupelo
There was a virus going 'round, papa caught it and he died last Spring
And now mama doesn't seem to want to do much of anything
And me, I spend a lot of time pickin' flowers up on Choctaw Ridge

And drop them into the muddy water off the Tallahatchie Bridge

Happy National Donut Day

 TWIT and I would like to wish you, faithful readers, a very happy National Donut Day.  

The Old Man and I celebrated this morning with donuts from our new favorite shop, Jeff's Donuts. 

It's only lunch time, so you still have plenty of time to go out and get a donut or two today to celebrate. 

Thankful Thursday A Day Late

 Yesterday was a very thankful Thursday for us here at The Compound.  We got the results from the Old Man's blood work, and were thrilled beyond words that the one number the doctor was concerned about was down from his blood work on May 1.  It was still higher than from his blood work in February, but we are still so happy that it was down from last month.  We gave all of the thanks and praise to the Lord for answering so many prayers for the Old Man.