My FAVORITE Robbie Burns...

There are SO many versions of this lovely sad ballad...but I heard this one just tonight, and like it just fine

Star quality Molly

This little Doxie freeze poses for photos at the mention of her name. Molly is my friend's newest addition to her small gathering of pets. On Christmas day she sat stock still waiting for me to get this picture...and another I took minutes later when I thought she was unaware...but as soon as she heard the click...she wiggled off, skittering over the hardwood floor on other hyper pursuits...like the puppy she is. What a poser...

Happy Christmas

Hope you are all warm and well filled with Christmas cheer whether it be Kool-aid or Kahlua, and that you are with the ones you cherish and not stuck in a drift OR an airport.

We're off shortly to brave the weather for dinner with friends.

Angh

Merry Christmas!

Crystal Clear???

As I sit here with the last cup of coffee, hoping the power stays on,at least until the new pot brews up. I'm staring out at the whiteworld, wondering if Himself made it to work in MY poor little ol'Camry. His car died on the road as he tried to leave for workearlier, and a plow helped by pushing him back into the driveway. Ourmobile needed charging, so I can't call until it's juiced up again.
Listening to all the weather reports from Spokane channels...thecommon theme is to "STAY home, everybody...away from roads!" Thehospitals are now operating under low level disaster plans.
Kubota Fats was plowing our driveway when I got up...hopefully hemanaged to not plow Himself's car in...it's sitting between our placeand neighbor Jack's. I'm hoping it's something simple like a loosewire that kept it from service today.
It looks like we got maybe 10" of snow, but they are predicting 10-15" more today. It's a balmy 29F out.
Funny in a way, but not funny at all is that last night...duringcommute hours...there was gridlock in Spokane and they closed theentire downtown area at about 6 pm. This morning they announced thatthe STA in the city is SHUT DOWN too. Last night chains were requiredfor driving anywhere between Spokane and the Montana border! That's afirst since I've living up this way. This whole thing is justsurreal....looking at the webcams is plain spooky. WINTER WONDERLANDme arse...I wonder what the hell I'm doing here!As I sit here with the last cup of coffee, hoping the power stays on, at least until the new pot brews up. I'm staring out at the white world, wondering if Himself made it to work in MY poor little ol' Camry. His car died on the road as he tried to leave for work earlier, and a plow helped by pushing him back into the driveway. Our mobile needed charging, so I can't call until it's juiced up again. (edit to add: I have talked to him now...my car did FINE...bless her greasy lil' heart)

Listening to all the weather reports from Spokane channels...the common theme is to "STAY home, everybody...away from roads!" The hospitals are now operating under low level disaster plans.

Kubota Fats was plowing our driveway when I got up...hopefully he managed to not plow Himself's car in...it's sitting between our place and neighbor Jack's. I'm hoping it's something simple like a loosewire that kept it from service today.

It looks like we got maybe 10" of snow, but they are predicting 10-15" more today. It's a balmy 29F out. (edit/add: it's now 31F, less snow, but I'm hearing that this storm front is basically stalled over WA/ID...thus they expect more of the same until tomorrow!)

Funny in a way, but not funny at all is that last night...during commute hours...there was gridlock in Spokane and they closed the entire downtown area at about 6 pm. This morning they announced that the STA (buses) in the city is SHUT DOWN too. Last night chains were required for driving anywhere between Spokane and the Montana border! That's a first since I've lived up this way. Edit to add: This photo was shot through the storm door--the white you're looking through is ice crytals on the INSIDE of the glass. It's a great porch for storage...except for canned goods...OOPS! You ought to see it today...12/21...

This whole thing is just surreal....looking at the webcams is plain spooky. WINTER WONDERLAND me arse...I wonder what the hell I'm doing here!

My silly day...

started at 9:ish, with coffee and a shower to wake up, dress and MOVE for a change of pace. It was a late night so I wasn't moving fast mind you, but I finally hit the road shortly after noon, with a quick run to pick up mail and post a business reply that needed to get out today...re my medical records from the hospital stay in Spokane. Also on my to-do-list was dropping off a check for a guy who got smokes...and picking up the pool league money and score sheets...taking some stuff to the thrift store for donation, and picking up flea meds for the Gang of 4, and whatever shopping I could fit it. Also had books to return to the library. A full schedule in My case.

The day was fairly fine...40F outside, so no problems starting car or driving, at all. I noticed gas was down to $1.75, and no major weather fronts moving in until the end of the week. I wore a wrap rather than the customery jacket or weather cape, and my beret. A sweater and slacks n' loafers and I hit the road.

By 3 pm I was done with the do-list and stopped to shop a bit before heading home. I found the coolest set of "long johns"....a light blue stretchy turtle neck top and matching fleece lined pants, great for underwear but functional wear for the house too. Then I found a shirt I thought Himself might be able to wear, a faded blue chambray work shirt but lined with a great red plaid polyflannel. It was new, but had like manufacturers soiling on it that I didn't notice when I grabbed it off the shelf. The clerk and I noted this at the same time...so instead of 2.99 (still a good buy!) she said she would only charge me a quarter for the shirt! And then proceeded to give me her secret tips to clean the fabric up! I'd also found a fake fur beret that I knew would fit...and even if it didn't...would keep my head warm as I pound away at the keyboard. It was 99 cents. Quite a nice haul of goods in exchange for the sackful of shirts and shoes I donated.

Himself was home from work by the time I pulled in. He tried on the work shirt right away, but it was waaayyyy small on him, so I inherited the chambray...and it actually fits like I love my shirts to fit...and the bonus was it laundered up just perfectly, and looks GREAT! The furry beret also fits, and I just LOVE IT...and I'm wearing the new long johns as I type. They are fun and toasty warm.

We had some small sirloin steaks n' small baked potatoes for dinner and spent most of the evening watching some cowboy movie marathon on AMC. I'll be going out again tomorrow to do some real Christmas shopping...since after dinner I was efficient/energetic enough to get the pool stats all typed and ready for proof n' print. Feeling very pleased with myself, as I head for bed...NOW.

Gawd, it sounds stupid but y'have no idea how long I've waited to find a chambray work shirt I could wear and feel comfortable in...my purchases totalled less than $5...I'm so chuffed I hope I can sleep! Nighty-night....

Greetings from Colorado

I got home from my Thanksgiving in New Jersey trip on Tuesday.  I brought a new cat along.  She is Lopher (named for my friends' son, ChristoPHER and his friend CarLO.)  The kids found Lopher and her two sisters in 2006, when they were just about 3 weeks old.  I fell in love with them, naturally.  So this year, with Lopher having some behavior problems, I convinced my friends to let me have her.  Right now, we are going through the isolation phase of the introduction to the other cats.  They've seen each other, played a bit under the door, and done some hissing & growling, but so far nothing awful.  She is a very sweet little cat, and I am hoping that she & Eartha will be friends.  Otherwise, Thanksgiving was wonderful - we outdid ourselves with the food.  Christopher, who has been my special little friend since he was three months old, turned 17 on Saturday!  Monday morning he passed his drivers test.  Monday afternoon, he & I went for a drive - how fun to be his first official passenger!  

We had a bit of snow while I was away, but I am told only enough to stick to the grass a bit.  Driving home Tuesday morning, the thermometer in the car said it was 73 degrees!  Wednesday it was 23.  Yesterday I woke up while it was still dark, wondering what time it might be, but too lazy to check.  Then I heard Nathan, my next door neighbor, shoveling his walk.  This told me that it was probably around 5:30, and we'd had our first snow!  I waited til 6 and went out to shovel my driveway and sidewalk.  There were maybe four inches of very light fluffy snow on the ground, with more falling slowly.  I shoveled another couple of inches later in the afternoon.  Last night it got bitterly cold, around 11 degrees, and today it's up in the 20s.  The weekend it's supposed to be back in the 50s.  Quite the roller coaster ride we're having.

I've decided that, since I obviously will not have to work on Christmas day this year, I will have Christmas dinner at my house.  I can't remember the last time I had Christmas off from work, and probably won't again for a long time.  My aunt & uncle are coming, and I've invited a few friends.  I think it will be fun.  I'm still not getting a tree, though, or putting up lights on the outside of the house.  (BTW, my neighbors all took advantage, two weeks ago, of the temps in the 70s to put their lights up!)

Just for fun, thought I'd post this old video - it still makes me smile!