BC.....? (before computers)

What in the world did we do before computers? How did we possibly manage our lives, communicate, and have ANY FUN WHATSOEVER? And worms or viruses had a totally different meaning way back then...you know, before fire when we dragged our knuckles on the ground and clubbed each other. Wait....we still do that.....the clubbing part.
Wonder what the next big "thing" will be that changes the world, like computers have. I guess we could call Bill Gates and ask him. After all, since he's 1-1, he's probably either inventing it or knows who is.

Sometimes I think about how plugged in we are vs just a few decades back. Satellites....and drones to fight wars with a joy stick, half a world away. Sure does change my concept of "going to the office" when those guys zip into their jumpsuits and "go to work". In a lot of ways, I like it a lot better, but would really like to see zero need for their skills.

With all of this technology, it sure seems to me we could fix air traffic control and health care . Now, don't knee jerk right into the money aspect--we have it. We just need to talk Bill and Warren out of theirs, to fix this stuff. Then all the drug companies would have to fork over all their dough, as well as all the Wall Street boys with their big fat bonuses, and Banks and Credit Card companies---- that should just about do it. At least for a while anyway. Over simplistic--maybe. But just think about it. The old Robin Hood concept (not the school one--the other one--in the tights).

Then we clean out Congress and replace it with smart, solution oriented moms--you heard me--MOMs. The no BS kind. If they can deal with kids, they could whip this damn country in shape with half their brain tied behind them and be done by lunch. Get all the zipper weasels out-- and put in women. Case closed.

BUT NOT SARAH PALIN. She's really a man anyway. You heard it here first.

Sister for sale--Free

Well.....I just returned from my errand of mercy. My sister was supposed to go check on mom this morning--her idea. Since I hadn't gotten a "report" by about 1:15pm, I had a really sneaky suspicion she never went. Dontcha just hate having really good intuition when you know you are gonna have to go do someone elses dirty work, since if you don't, your conscience is going to bug you senseless? And definitely when you already know the news is not gonna be good, and it's your mom, so now you have to go......welcome to my world. Come sit over here by me. Ahhhhhh. So I went. And, of course it wasn't good news and, yes, I'm glad I went. Her power was totally off, including her phone and it didn't occur to her to use her cell phone. Swell.

I walked right into her building since the electricity was off--a big fat zero on the security. Once the second door closed behind me, it was darker than God's pocket. I mean it.... I couldn't see my hand in front of my face. I can only imagine if mom had gotten locked out somehow...hell...it was scary to me and I'm not a wuss. Anyway, I pounded on her front door and told her it was me, since finding the doorbell a la braille wasn't working real well and I couldn't see to get my key in the lock. Here's the wild part: she had been sitting in her TV room, with no heat and no TV on, in her robe, nightie, & slippers for no telling how long, I guess waiting for someone to come find her and rescue her. And she hadn't eaten breakfast or lunch. Nuttin'.
I got her taken care of and out of there but it just made me wonder about all the other little old people who don't have family or friends to check on them. Or even injured people...I guess as long as you have a cell or remember to use it, you are probably OK....maybe.

And my sister?? She is soooo busted and she knows it. Every one of her excuses was just lame-o and she knew I knew it--'cause I told her so. Sisters. Mine's for sale.

Oh, baby...ain't this grand

Well, helloooooo Fairy Land. And thank goodness for electricity. Ours is on and that's the best news I could have today. Our wonderful Maria called and I could tell she was totally relieved when I told her to stay home. Shoot... no job's (nothing is) worth crashing your car over. I remember back in my hospital days, a certain manager always acted like suuuuch a martyr anytime there was bad weather. She practically nailed herself to the cross --that was always just her total MO--and several of us used to sit in my office drinking coffee, laughing, & taking turns being her, acting out her schtik. I never said we were nice-- but boy, we sure were fun. We would laugh until we cried... Ahhh, the good old days.

I just looked out the window, across the street, to see the neighbors two dogs out in the snow. The yellow lab was fine but their beagle just sank. He just now figured out he has to keep jumping not to totally disappear. Their skinny old cat is out there & looks flat out miserable. Tom and Hank, my two block boy favorites, just walked by (in the street) with their mom, Kelly. They are the ones that fell in love a few years back, with my plug in Jack-o-lantern and used to redecorate my front porch daily, moving him around. Kelly was worried I'd care. I told her they could do whatever they wanted with it, including take it home. We've been pals ever since. The bad news? Their house is on the market. With the real estate market down, they are hoping to move up. Rats.

Lots of trees and tree branches are down around us. Should make for an interesting and busy weekend. One guy a block or so over was already out with his chain saw this morning. That's a l-i-t-t-l-e too type A for me, thank you. Have another cup of coffee, dude.

A snowy Texas funeral

Bruce's Aunt Mina would have loved her funeral this afternoon. It was snowy and beautiful, and when we arrived, there was no power at the church--hence, no heat The whole neighborhood's power was off, so we all kept our coats on, huddled up, and sent her out in a big way. At the reception afterward, we were all laughing about how she would have loved checking out who made the effort to come and who decided to bag it, due to the weather. She'd have been taking names for sure. But the best was when her adult grandson, Jeffery, asked the church reception ladies where the hot chocolate was. They told him it was right with the hot coffee--they never missed a beat. I love older Texas ladies....they can just roll with anything. Even no power and no heat. It was the perfect funeral for Aunt Mina--beautiful and offbeat, with a big dose of humor. She'd have loved it. Not a bad way to check out, when you think about it.

It's time for the big reveal...

When I received this the other day, I knew I had to post it here. Though these are not mine, they might as well be since that's how much I love them. They are my sister's grands--or at least the ones she has so far--and since I don 't have any yet, her's are mine, too. Have you ever seen more angelic faces.......shuuudup 'cause I know you haven't. They are Hadley, Avery, and Hudson. You've already heard about all of them so I just felt it was time for the big reveal. Avery at 5 weeks has grown a ton and now is sporting a fetching pair of chipmunk cheeks. If I don't see her often enough, she looks different every time I see her. The other day as I played with her, she looked like she was doing baby Tai Chi...she was rhythmically waving her hands around until she smacked herself in the face. She didn't cry--she just looked at me like I'd done it.

Hadley is the wild woman and current two year old human frenzy. For her birthday in January, I gave her a magic wand that makes noise and is waaaay cool, and a fairy princes head doo-dad with these pretty long dangly multi colored ribbons. It just screamed GIRL all over it with the pretty ribbons and flowers,in beeeee-u-tiful colors. When I took her to a mirror and showed her how she looked, she gave me the exact same withering look Wiggles gave me the year I bought him a purple velvet collar with bells on it, for Christmas. My sister practically had to be resuscitated she was laughing so hard. Well......I tried. Now the magic wand? My sister got to eat dirt on that one. Hadley went nuts over it and ran around putting spells on everyone. It made noise like a magic wand should, and even came with pre written spells in case you can't come up with your own. Nice, huh? Hadley is sooo funny that just watching her is entertaining.

Now, Hudson.... Hudson, Hudson, Hudson. He is my dream boat and all round fun buddy. He can do absolutely no wrong in my eyes simply because he's PERFECT. He's my naked Candyland and computer playing pal who just puts the fun in everything. I have two of his school pictures right by my sink so I see him first thing every morning and last thing at night. I also have him on a special coffee cup I got the year after he was born that shows him in a T shirt that says King of the Little People.
Truth be told, I couldn't love any of them any more if I tried. Wonder what it' ll (and yes, I know it'll is not a word but it is to me) be like to have my own grands?? I'll probably just explode.

What I know today...

Sorry if this is a downer but the death count continues. And between suicides, accidents, and old age, the count is now close to 10 or so and growing. Wow...just a good reminder that it sure does make sense to "have your bags packed" so to speak, since none of us ever know when our ticket is punched (unless you punch it yourself and even then, gee...who knows how that works.) Anyway, I'm looking at each day with a little bit sharper eye and a deeper concentration. I am focusing on the things I choose to do--and really looking at what needs to happen that's within my power to make happen. In other words, doing my job, my part--the legwork that's mine.
If I've made a commitment, did I keep it? If I said I'd visit a cat, did I do it? And yes, I did yesterday. I called old DC and out of the bushes he came trotting, looking surprisingly better. My diagnosis is, he's moving right along in the grief process and is kind of a 'ho. As long as he's getting fed, being given some treats and the occasional brushing, he's sort of a loaner anyway and will cope just fine. I guess maybe that goes along with being a strictly outdoor guy, unlike Muff, who is a total wimp.

Which brings me to karma....bumpy segue I admit, but that's just where my brain went. Do you believe in what goes around, comes around....you get back what you dish out? Whoa...I sure do and the older I get, the more I see it play out. (I don't know why anybody wants to be younger 'cause you miss all the good stuff. Once you've gotten a little mileage under your hood, you see stuff.) Anyway, I've watched someone I don't care for wreck havoc (I can't give out too many details since it involves our family business and our not so wonderful judicial system) over and over again, and now the tide seems to have turned somewhat, and not of our making. This person who has done irreparable damage, lost her own daughter last week, to a blood clot. I wouldn't wish that kind of loss and pain on anyone--not even her--and it sure is interesting to see what happens when you take the high road, because it's the right one to take, even when you'd love to get down in the gutter and go for it like a bunch of old alley cats.
Ten or fifteen years ago, I'd have probably done just that--if not physically, then mentally. I'd have ripped this woman from one end to the other (in my head) and sacrificed my own serenity and happiness in the process. And all that would have done is let her win. As it is, I feel so sorry for her. Having been through the events with Crashman this summer, and the thoughts and fears that he might not live, a brand new sense of compassion arose for someone I don't really care for. I have been able to put this person and her entire family in my prayers daily. As a mom, I got w-a-y too close to where she is now, almost losing someone irreplaceable to me. I'm no saint here and that's not what I'm saying. I'm just saying if you pay attention, you might just get the lesson you are supposed to get. In my experience, God just keeps giving me the same lesson, over and over until I get it. He may dress it up a little differently, but it's the same lesson, when I look closely at it. And since the big lessons are generally painful, I'd just as soon get the lesson on the first go round. It tends to just amp up in the pain department, each time I have to repeat it.
And that's what I know today.

Dottie Cat

Well, I have great news to report. Atmos rang our doorbell at 10:45pm and re lit everything so it's toasty and we have hot water. Much to be grateful for...all it takes is just one of these minor little events to remind me just how great I have it. Heat? Check. Hot water? Check. Food? Check. And the Saints won, so woo hoo on that. Frankly, I would have been fine if the Colts had won but the Saints win just made for such a better rags to riches type story. And Drew Brees is cuter than Peyton Manning anyway. Seriously. So that's that.

I have assigned myself the task of Cat therapist for my friend's cat (the one whose husband died). She is highly allergic to cats so Dottie (gender confused male cat--they thought he was a girl until they took HIM to have HIM spayed. Uh, no...that would be neutered.) Anyway, since her husband took care of Dottie, I am going to pay him a condolence call. I'm taking kitty treats, maybe some catnip, and a brush since in his grief, his fur hasn't been looking to good. Depression will do that...suddenly you just don't care how you look --especially to the other neighborhood cats. Plus, he's getting pretty old so grooming is just not top of his list anymore. He's a strictly outside guy since my friend is so allergic but he has his own cat condo in the tool room, complete with a kitty door and a heater. His cat crib is pretty deeee-luxe. If it doesn't quit raining, this visit may have to wait until tomorrow. Getting wet was not part of the deal.