Waking to snow yesterday, I put on my snow kickers and grabbed the snow shovel.
I shoveled the deck, the steps and the sidewalk. Although Merida and Hugo don’t care what they have to walk through, Dharma isn’t so surefooted when anything is slick. I looked at the result of my hard work and I was proud of myself!
2 hours later, most everything had melted anyway and I wasted my darned time. ARG!
There won’t be any melting happening over the weekend.
The forecast is for snow most of the day today with temps dropping tonight into single digits. I guess the good news is that the snow won’t be wet and heavy, so it’s likely I can keep a pathway for the hounds by using my trusty leaf blower.
Dharma will appreciate it.
Now you know: Venus flytraps are only found in North and South Carolina (within 100 miles of Wilmington NC), and nowhere else in the world.
Still before noon and I’m about to do the dreaded treadmill. And then… drum roll please… I’m going to shovel the deck before we get more snow and the temps drop to below zero.
I need more outerwear!
If you’re like me, you store winter clothes in the warmer months and switch out when it warms back up. As I was looking for this great pair of lined yoga pants this morning, I found 4 coats that belong to Perry stored away. Those are in addition to what he’s currently wearing and the ones left hanging on the hall tree by the back door. That little dude could move to Alaska and not need to buy winter stuff for a decade.
I guess since this is my view, I only need one good coat.
I’m not going on a Christmas cruise.
Katie leaves with her family tonight to go on a 7-day Christmas cruise. Jerilyn thought that was a great idea. Katie came home last night but isn’t thrilled. She’s more into traditional, I guess.
She may change her mind when she’s in a swimsuit in the sun and I’m here enjoying sub-zero temps and complaining about it. 🙂
Now you know: Scientists grew stem cells into mini brains, which then developed eye-like structures on their own. The structures, called optic cups, were light-sensitive and had lenses and corneal tissue.
The days are shorter and chilly (COLD) weather has set in here in my slice of the world. I’ve never bought in to the whole emotional well-being and physical health aspect of the winter blues, but my Mom swears it’s a challenge for her. I tend to align more with the “it’s just a seasonal inconvenience” theory.
Why winter affects mood. 🥶
Less sunlight during winter can disrupt sleep patterns and reduce serotonin, a chemical that supports positive moods. Seniors may feel this more deeply, especially if limited mobility or colder temperatures reduce time outdoors and social interaction. So when it comes to my Momma… I get that much.
When the Pesky Neighbors were spending the winter months in Florida, they had friends who stopped by their place while bike riding or enjoying a stroll. They love company. In addition, they gathered with friends to eat at various restaurants and partake in other activities. They stayed connected to family digitally.
Staying home during the winter months feels like they’re missing out on vacation time, I guess. Obviously, they’re stuck in a community where people have their ordinary busy lives — as opposed to being surrounded by retired seniors whose family members and grandkids are far removed so they visit with each other.
The weather is great during the winter months in Florida, but not so great in the summer. I get the allure… traveling with the climate and all…
We’re in for over 2 months of dark, frigid days: hard to get excited about that.
I have zero desire — at least right now — to spend months away from my home here in southern Indiana during wintertime. I find the colder months are cozy and uplifting — and I get excited when snow is forecasted. (Less now that Dharma requires as escort off the deck every single time she needs to go out.)
Experts say there are 4 simple ways to lift your spirits if you have the winter blues:
Stay connected. Emotional connection is one of the most powerful tools against winter blues (phone calls, video chats, etc.)
Let the light in. Open curtains and sit near a window.
Keep moving. Stretching, indoor walks, and more increase energy, circulation and happiness hormones.
Enjoy comforting hobbies. Reading, crafting, puzzles, and more engage your mind in enjoyable tasks.
Every season has its challenges—but also its charm.
Now you know: An AI company which raised $450M in investments from Microsoft and SoftBank, and was valued at $1.5B, turned out to be 700 Indians just manually coding with no AI whatsoever.
Throughout my life being a part of the workforce, I dreaded Monday mornings. Monday meant the start of my work week — and that applies to a whole lot of people. It might just include you too.
When driving a school bus, it meant hauling a bunch of sleepy and grumpy kids to school who didn’t like Mondays either — and then going to work in a bank where Monday was dreaded by colleagues and customers. In my last and longtime job, Monday was notoriously one of the busiest days of the week and that was just another reason to hate it.
Now I think Mondays are GREAT!
Everyone here adheres to a routine, including Dharma and me.
When my tribe goes back to work on Monday mornings, I have time to do things I enjoy… like sleeping in. 🙂
Everyone is out of the house at their respective jobs and it’s quiet — peaceful even. In the summer months, I mow, keep the pool clean (ok, so that includes floating on a raft), and work in the flower beds, etc. In the wintertime, there are no outside work requirements and that leaves time for inside projects.
It’s wonderful!
Retiring from work is the only perk to getting old.
Today, it meant I could pull out my trusty Cannon EOS camera and take a useless photo to share.
Now you know: The only Cheyenne battle chief killed at the Battle of the Little Bighorn was called Lame White Man.
Employees showing up for work is a problem for many companies, but it’s even worse for companies whose wages are low. Many of the companies that pay the least amount to employees will hire less desirable workers. They ignore infractions that other employers won’t — like past legal difficulties so long as those charges aren’t theft or some pretty awful violent crime. Candidates more qualified — without a criminal background — typically apply for jobs that pay a better wage.
I’m pretty sure even Hugo could get a job at a convenience store/gas station.
Next add in government assistance & childcare…
Food stamps (SNAP), housing subsidies, and Medicaid, aim to support individuals during times of need, but they can create disincentives for work. Even a slight increase in income—say, from picking up additional hours or working the ones they’re scheduled for — results in a disproportionate loss of benefits, leaving the individual worse off financially.
So what happens? They call in or simply don’t show up for their scheduled shifts.
Many low-wage workers, particularly single parents, struggle to find affordable and reliable childcare, making it difficult to commit to a job’s schedule.
On a personal level — opposed to policymakers & employers…
For those covering the shifts (like Perry as management), as well as for those calling in routinely, it’s personal. Some of these employees are living with their kids in a hotel or a camper. While I’m thinking that I can’t understand why they wouldn’t show up so they’d have the money to buy Christmas presents this time of year, they’re thinking they have food, heat and healthcare even if they stay home. It sucks all around, doesn’t it?
So while Perry was pulling a double shift yesterday, I was home to see this:
Thing is, the person that called in with an excuse why they couldn’t come to work is probably seeing that same sky somewhere. They’re just not seeing it out the window of their workplace.
Now you know: A 2023 report from the Brookings Institution noted that in certain states, individuals could receive more in combined benefits than they would earn from a full-time job paying $15 per hour (approximately $31,200/year for 40 hours/week, 52 weeks).
