Attitude

They say attitude is everything.  Hmmm.  Okay, I can go with that.  Instead of saying I had a do-nothing day, I'm changing that to having an "intermission."  Doesn't that sound better?  It implies I might actually get back to doing something.  I suppose several days of intermission could be called a vacation.  It's all in the terminology...or the attitude.

I've been going to bed and instead of counting sheep, I've been berating myself for all the things I didn't do during the day and, believe me, it's a pretty long list.  With an attitude adjustment, I can change that to a list of accomplishments, a much shorter list to be sure, but hopefully one that will send me to sleep smiling.  After all, even on a do-nothing an intermission day, some little chores get done.

One thing I'm really going to have to work on is my attitude regarding going to town.  That's a real toughie.  I can't promise I'm going to skip lalala out to the truck instead of dragging my feet, but I can try to work up some enthusiasm.  Calling it Michael's Day Trip might help.

Yesterday was an intermission.

Monday

Yup, I'm pretty sure it's Monday.  I'm reassured because Dave and I watched the Vikings narrowly beat the Saints (woohoo!) on Sunday football yesterday.  We often do this when the Vikings play, texting messages of exhilaration or commiseration during the game.  It's more fun to watch with someone.

There was a song we sang when I was a Girl Scout (ohmigosh, that was a long, long time ago) that said "Monday's wash day...."  This week, wash day was Saturday, and Sunday, and there's enough left over for Monday, too.  I did wash the slipcover for the couch, but had a spot of trouble putting it back on.  It's like a Chinese puzzle.  I'll try again today.

Deb and Craig gave everyone slippers this year.  Instead of plaid, the boys' were patterned with pizza and burgers.  I put mine on last night for the first time.  So soft and warm!  Years ago Steve gave me sheepskin slippers with the fleece inside.  They won't wear out, but the fleece is gone and they are well past warm.

The vultures have returned from vacation.  Yesterday they lined not only the goat pen, but another fifteen or so were perched on what is left of the fence by the front pasture.  The raucous crows have also come back in numbers.  Vultures are silent, crows are anything but.

Missy is becoming bold.  She walks the deck with a sense of impunity, peering in and driving the house cats crazy.  Yesterday Michael and I were ready to come back into the house when he stopped.  There was Missy nose to nose with Michael on the front porch!  It's a good thing he's the calm dog that he is or there could have been a real brouhaha.  It didn't hurt that he was still on the leash.

It was another beautiful day for our walks.  Hard to believe that snow is predicted for next weekend.  Nature isn't through with us yet, it seems.

What Day Is It?

I feel like that camel in the commercial who goes through the office asking, "What day is it?!"  I still don't have a calendar.  Just to add to my general confusion, my daughter called this morning, and it's not Saturday.  I know it's not Saturday because the repairman came yesterday, so yesterday was Saturday.  Oh well.

I am so very glad I called for the repairman instead of going ahead and shopping for a new washing machine, as I'd thought.  He wasn't here a half hour, put in one little part, and was gone, and it was a tiny fraction of what a new washer would have cost.  I did several (overdue) loads of laundry and that spurred me to get going on some other neglected chores.

Michael is doing a very good job of training me.  After a walk, he knows he'll gets a treat.  I know this because he will sit expectantly by the door and wait.  "Oh, I'm sorry, Michael.  I forgot," and I hurry to get one of several kinds on hand.  That stimulates his appetite and he has a bite of breakfast, after which he comes to sit in front of my chair.  "And what do you want, Mr. Bright Eyes?"  He moves closer to me and looks pointedly at my pocket, the pocket where I keep little milk bones.  If I'm slow on the uptake, he lifts a forepaw to shake.  (And I thought I was training him.)  "Okay, kiddo, here."  He stands up and then does "sit."  Another treat.  And he waits.  He waits for the third treat just for being a good boy, which he gets and then goes away.  It's nice to know I'm still trainable.

The rain that threatened yesterday did not materialize and it turned out to be a lovely day, and it looks like today is going to be a repeat.  That means I can wash the couch slipcover and hang it on the line to dry.  Until I had company last week and they sat there and got up covered in cat hair, I didn't realize it had gotten so bad.  I don't sit there, after all.

This burst of ambition may not last, so I'd best take advantage while it's here.  Hmmm, I'm pretty sure it's Sunday.  Isn't that supposed to be a day of rest?  Get thee behind me, I've got things to do!

Days Of Our Lives

(It seems I'm hung up on soap operas I've never seen.  Days Of Our Lives began in 1965 and, believe it or not, it's still going.  Gonna try hard to stay away from General Hospital.)

The days of my life have two speeds, fast forward and near stop.  I had no intention of napping yesterday, knowing Arden was coming.  She woke me up when she got here.  C'est la vie.  After the day before, I make no apologies.

I finally managed to download the photo of the Christmas Clan.  The big dude impersonating Santa is Dave.  Next to him are my two sons from other mothers, Clay and Craig.  Jester is Dave's buddy and a welcome holiday visitor.  Deb got into the frame just as her camera clicked.  I'm that midget in the middle.  Trust me, I'm not that short, but I look like one of Santa's elves next to the clan.  My two sons not present are nearly as tall as Dave.  (Click on the picture for a better look at those smiling faces.)

Shuffling out to the kitchen this morning I started the coffee and then checked the food bowls.  Ralph, Celeste and Michael were fine, but Missy was mewling out on the deck in the dark.  Her bowl was empty and she was letting me know it.  It seems the inside and outside cats are never the twain to meet.  Ralph, inside, was growling big time and then hit the glass door hard just to make his point.  Missy paid him no nevermind and set about eating her breakfast.

Yesterday, indeed most of this week, was beautiful.  This morning I hear the wind howling outside and I guess we're for it again.  The repairman is due this morning, if he chooses to brave the weather.  Here's hoping.  I'm running out of socks.

Welcome Sight

Whew, what a day!  Sundown was a welcome sight, for sure.  I'm not a runner, never have been, but felt like I'd been in a day-long marathon when it was over.  Nothing other than going to town was stressful, but I'm used to going at my own slow pace and yesterday I was on a tight time schedule.  Aarrgh!

Worried about being late to meet Linda, I got there first, but only because the road workers were taking an early lunch break and didn't hold up traffic on our two-lane roads.  It was nice to spend time with my friend again and have a leisurely conversation over my KFC Kids Meal.

We both had places to go, things to do, so we parted ways and went about our business.  I had just enough time to squeeze in a quick visit to Wally World to get the cat food without which the cats would not have left me back in the house.  They were down to the last crumble and were not shy about telling me that they were not happy.  Even Missy was prowling the deck and pointing at her nearly empty dish.

The next stop was at the doctor's office and I made it just in time.  She decided my medication needed tweaking, but wanted blood work to be sure.  Okay, she sent me to the hospital which was across town to have it drawn, where they said the lab was too busy and to go to the outpatient lab.  Double aarrgh.  I seem to haunt the Vampire Halls these days.

Mission(s) accomplished after the delays, I was nutso to get home before dark.  Poor Michael had been left in the house for hours and I was sure his back teeth were floating.  Let's just say he was glad to see me, as were the cats for a different reason.  Michael and I went for a quick-step walk as the sun and the temperature were dropping.  The view from the porch was such a welcome sight before going in the house, shutting the door, and collapsing in my waiting chair.  Whew.

See It, Do It

Does a New Year's resolution count if it isn't started on New Year's Day?  I sure hope so, otherwise I'm in trouble.  Most of yesterday was spent watching the Rose Parade, both live and DVRd, because I was looking for a particular entry.  A friend of mine's son was in it this year and I wanted to tell her I'd seen him.  After the third go-round, I gave up, but the day was shot and I didn't do much besides noshing on KFC.  The Kid's had left me a bucketful, and it's not gone yet.

This year is off to a busy, confusing start.  I have trouble keeping track of the days at the best of times, but neither Mt. Aukum nor the market gave out calendars this year so I don't know which end is up, let alone what day it is.  See it, Do it is being put on hold for the time being.  I am joining Linda for lunch today and I'm not going to miss that.  We don't get together often anymore.  Guess where we're meeting.  Right!  KFC.  I'm starting to check myself for pin feathers.  After that, I have a doctor's appointment, and then I'll stop in at Wally World and pick up a calendar (can I get points for trying?).  Arden will be here tomorrow for our regular Friday get-together, and a washing-machine repairman is coming on Saturday.  That is as far ahead as I can go, after that I fall off the edge of the world.

Michael and I saw deer in the south pasture last evening.  As many years as I've lived here, they never fail to take my breath away.  Michael pays more attention to the happenings down at the winery.  He is that typical nosy neighbor who wants to know what's going on.

I still have visions of a neat, tidy, dust-free house, but the cats are having such fun with their tissue-paper games I'd feel like Scrooge if I deprived them.  Maybe next week, whenever that is.

In And Out

Through a set of circumstances, I was awake at midnight last night, playing solitaire on the computer.  As it happened, that was a good thing.  I wasn't the only one awake and, let me tell you, hill people celebrate the New Year big time.  The gunfire started about 9 and went on well past 12.  It was as if the boys (and gals, too) were in a competition from hill to hill.  It started with .22s and moved on up the gauges to .45s, .357s and bigger.  When they got serious, the AKs and/or ARs came out.  It sounded like WWIII!  If I'd been asleep, it would have been more than a little scary.  As it was, I could only hope they were sober enough to realize that those bullets had to land somewhere.  They definitely ushered out 2019 and welcomed the new decade in with a bang!

Twenty-twenty is off to a great start.  I've already received calls from my daughter and a school chum from years ago.  Consequently, I'm behind the eight ball with this entry in the new year, priorities, you know.

I wish everyone "health, wealth, and time to enjoy them!"  Cheers!