Nov 16, 2020
Up early to vacuum and steam mop the floors to put up my Christmas tree, I was excited! I’ve never decorated this early, but thought it might give me something different to look at. I’ve seen the same old inside of this house since March.
My heart sunk when, after looking through every single box Perry brought in the house, there was no tree stand to be found. I probably have 25 of the things in the attic. I climb up the ladder to look around and I can see tons of Christmas boxes. I then debate if I should get up in there knowing I’m alone and no one is close if I pulled a Teddy and needed help.
Ted did a big spinaroonie on that same ladder and broke a hip. With Perry in Madison, the Peskies in Florida, and Ben in Indy, I figured I should just give it up for the day. Plans thwarted, I get to look at this — much worse than the same old thing since March.
If that’s not bad enough, I also have to worry that Merida will tear stuff up since it’s just laying there on the floor. It’s sooo tempting.
I know. they LOOK innocent. But only one of them is.
What a poopy way to start the week. Know what else is poopy? COVID on the rise is poopy. Really poopy!
How severe the pandemic is in the places where people I care about are located…
Daily new COVID-19 cases (7 day moving average):
Indiana-83.2 (UP-oh my!); Jackson Co – 74.3 (up); Florida 25.3 (up); Nevada – 46.9 (up)
There are NO states that are green risk level left. There’s only 1 yellow state – Hawaii at 7.1. There are 11 orange states at under 25. The highest risk level state is North Dakota at 181.4. Indiana is 12th insofar as risk level… but our bars and restaurants are still open.
TIL (Today I Learned): Daredevil, Evel Knievel, ruined his career when he attacked a man with a baseball bat due an unflattering book. Evel only served 6 months in jail but lost all his endorsements and contracts. You can read more here…
Jan 6, 2020
I haven’t posted for quite a few days but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t a ton of stuff happening around here. For example — I went with Perry to his Mom & Dad’s for Christmas in Rising Sun and didn’t even gamble (he was sick on Christmas so it was a weekend pretend it’s still Christmas day)…
Ben’s last-minute house project meant the family gathering was switched to my house with less than 24-hours notice. But oh, well…
Katie never misses the fun, and even brought along the ‘man of her dreams’ and his little feller…
Speaking of Katie — I couldn’t miss her swearing in ceremony for Crothersville Town Council!
Merida is growing crazy fast. The only time she’s not evil is when she’s sleeping. (Which isn’t nearly often enough!)
And finally… only a couple more weeks, you guys! Can’t wait to be at the happiest place on earth — even though Ben has made a spreadsheet to follow with reservations, fast passes, and early magic hours for each park. He’s the only one of our crew more excited than I am. 🙂
Dec 20, 2019
My cousin, Sonny McKain, died yesterday at 5:45 PM. Not an old guy by my standards (under 70 isn’t old when you’re my age now), complications from a kidney stone — combined with being too stubborn to go to the doctor — became too great for him to overcome.
It’s especially difficult when a death in the family happens near a holiday that typically revolves around family time. His smile will be missed greatly and remembered fondly.
I know this is crazy, but every time a family member of mine dies, my friend Sherry is there. When I got word about Sonny, without fail, there she was at my kitchen table. Nothing planned beforehand, the timing of her visit was coincidental. (Starting to worry that I need to ban her from the premises.)
Sherry was there to deliver a bouquet of flowers. An old and dear friend sends them to me every year. Sherry always delivers and also brings bags of homemade cookies and candies she’s prepared. Then, we always take a selfie. Not sure I’ve ever looked worse in a photo, but I’m sharing it anyway… it’s tradition.
It’s Christmas week — are y’all ready?
Dec 10, 2019
There is no way to unsubscribe from group text messages. None. You can opt out on Facebook group messages — but not group texts to your phone.
The very worst type of group text messages is when it’s family doing the texting.
I know this because I’m currently in the middle of group text Hell. Let me set the stage…
- I have a family member that is ill and that’s who the text messages are primarily about
- I have a family member that is kind and compassionate — but also “takes charge” when anyone in the family is sick — and that’s who started (and continues) the texts
- I have many family members who are very religious and when asked to pray, they respond with a prayer typed into the group text
- Every single one of my family members gets up at the ass crack of dawn
Don’t misunderstand… I want my relative to get better! But I do NOT want to be awoken with my arm vibrating (Apple watch) and my phone dinging just to hear about my cousin having a bowel movement. To be clear — if I get sick and anyone talks in group text about my rectum, they better hope I don’t make it.
Yes, I’m grumpy. I have a new evil puppy and I’ve been woken up every single morning for the last 5 days by group text notifications primarily about poop.
Oh, and did I mention my outside Christmas lights lasted about 30 minutes before going out for no apparent reason?
Nov 25, 2019
I’m typing this in the middle of the night (ok, so it’s morning already) because puppies only sleep in the daytime. But I had to share Merida’s obsession… and it doesn’t even make the top 3 according to reputable sources:
- Fears about contamination
- Worries about having left appliances on or doors unlocked, and
- Fear of acting in shameful or humiliating ways
She doesn’t care about any of that stuff. Merida is obsessed with the Christmas tree! She wants to chew on the branches, sleep underneath, and chew the buttons on the tree skirt.
Her worst enemy is the crate. I explained that the cage is really her very own den and she should be proud to have a pink girly one. I’ve never crate trained a dog before and read about a bajillion Google top finds about it — but so far, they aren’t helping.
She can’t wait to get out of jail and attack the Christmas tree. At her vet check-up tomorrow, I’m going to see if we can safely put her in a coma of some sort and wake her up on January 1.
