Caught up in the madness…

of the Jodi Arias trial.  http://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-defense-attacks-travis-alexander-testimony/story?id=18355580

I guess I am hooked on it.  What can I say?  I was hooked on the O.J. trial and  the Casey Anthony trial.  I thought both of those trials turned out badly as I felt Simpson and Anthony were both guilty.  I think Arias is guilty too, but who knows how a jury will decide.

I have been a juror on a county and federal trial.  I am fascinated with the whole jury system.  I think that is one reason I love the books by Phillip Margolin.  http://www.phillipmargolin.com/    He is a criminal defense lawyer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillip_Margolin and he imparts that into his writing. 

It is very cold and sunny this morning at 16 degrees.  It is very windy too so the wind chill is right down there.  I have been grocery shopping this morning stocking up for the below zero temps that are on the way.

Are you all geared up for the Super Bowl??  I am not as I don’t understand football.  Jim tried to explain it to me time after time.  I do love baseball and basketball though.  Not to say that I don’t admire the outfits the football guys wear.  LOL

Keep warm, stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

A rainy day in Illinois…

Preparing to cross the Illinois River this morning over the McClugage Bridge.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McClugage_Bridge

It is 64 degrees here now with thunderstorms predicted for this afternoon.

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Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Another Monday Morning…

and we escaped the ice, just getting pretty steady rain all day yesterday.  This morning it is foggy with 48 degrees.  Tomorrow is to be mid 60s with thunderstorms and then another cold front comes through. 

I am so glad the days are inching closer to spring.  Friday will be the 1st day of February.  I have always thought that January was the hardest winter month to get through.   Actually pretty depressing.

I am still looking at old photos.  This is a photo of my mom’s family.  That is my grandfather and grandmother in the front row.  My mother is standing on the far right.  My mother had 7 siblings.  One of them is missing from this picture.  If my cousin Audrey in Michigan is reading this will you please let me know who is missing from the picture.

I need to get off here and get busy, also go check my car out.  It made some funny noise when I started it yesterday.  I am tired of putting money in my car but I only have 85,000 miles on it and I have to leave my car sit outside in the elements.  For that reason I hate to buy a new car.

Have a good week all of you!  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Saturday Quote…

“The government’s view is that the best time to announce bad news, news that it doesn’t want the public to dwell on, is late on a Friday, when it will wind up in the Saturday papers, which if you were readers, then the week day editions.  A holiday weekend is even better.”

~ Bob Schieffer ~

I think this is so true.  I love this guy.  He is my very favorite announcer on all of TV.

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I have been out and about already this morning.  My daughter and son in law took me to the breakfast buffet on the boat.  Then we went onboard and I proceeded to lose $20 quickly which is my limit.  The breakfast was very nice though!

The sun is shining brightly right now at 14 degrees.  We have an ice storm forecast for tomorrow.  Possible ice accumulation about 1 quarter of an inch.   I have to get out this afternoon and  put some cardboard on my windshield. 

Have a great weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Friday Quote

“ I’ve been saying for a couple of years now that people need to let God out of the Sunday morning box, that He doesn’t want to just be with you for an hour or two on Sunday morning and then put back in His box to sit there until you have an emergency.  He wants to invade your Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.”

~ Joyce Meyer ~

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Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

  

It is so cold…

and even though I put on 2 pairs of gloves today my fingers still felt frozen.   I went out about 8 this morning to get an early start on stock up grocery shopping.  My next door neighbor came out about the same time and we stood in the bitter cold and chatted for a bit.  She told me that her husband had a heart event at work yesterday and was taken by ambulance to a Peoria hospital.  Heart attack and blocked arteries were ruled out.  He is having a pacemaker implanted today.  I listened carefully because a pacemaker will be the next step for me if my meds don’t start working together.

The weather tomorrow is to be snow developing tonight.  On Sunday  we may have freezing rain again.  I am really tired of winter and I am longing for spring.

This picture is from the internet.  Last winter it was so mild that the robin stayed with us all winter.  Not so this winter.  They are in a warmer climate right now trying to decide if they will ever come back to Illinois. 

I have visited most of you and I am on my way to catch the rest.  Have a good weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

In the deep freeze..

Here it is, Wednesday morning, the official rant day and I don’t have anything important to complain about except the weather.  For that I simply say “Thank you God.”

It has been bitter cold here since Sunday.  It has warmed up a bit today and we have snow in the forecast for the next couple of days.  Nothing major I think.  Hopefully, I think!

I am so getting geared up for spring.  First comes my daughter’s birthday on Valentine’s Day.  I always look forward to Valentine’s Day for that very reason.  I remember the dozens of heart shaped frosted cookies that I made as room mother through her growing up years.  Some years I was room mother for my daughter and my son at the same time.  Those were fun times even though I was working a full time job at the same time.  Oh, I would love to have some of that energy right now.

Another old picture, taken of me when I was in the 3rd grade.  I remember the dress very well.  It was mint green.  It was made from feed sacks.  My mom had enough material that she cut out 3 dresses apiece for my younger and older sister and me.  She had no pattern.   She put bits of lace or bias tape around the neckline.  To this day I cannot understand how my mother coped.  I feel sure she is getting her rewards in heaven. 

Have a great day.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Award

Thank you McGuffy Ann for this lovely award.  It is a new one for me that I have never seen before.



There are several rules we must follow in order to accept this award:

1) Visit and thank the blogger who nominated you.
2) Acknowledge that blogger on your blog and link back to them.
3) Answer the 5 simple questions.
4) Nominate blogs for the award and notify each of them.
5) Display the award on your blog somewhere.

Here are the 5 questions and answers:

1. If you could change one thing, what would you change?
I would have the cancer research teams discover a cure for all cancers.
2. If you could repeat an age, what would it be? Any year?
I would love to go back to the time when my children were ages 6 and 9.  Among the best years of my life.
3. What is one thing that really scares you?
To be quite honest, life scares me.  I have seen a lot of life and I hope to see more but life is scary!
4. What is one dream you have not completed, and do you think you'll be able to complete it?
I have this one dream over and over.  I am out visiting somewhere and I can’t find my purse.  I always wake up before I find it.  I would like to finish that dream once and for all.
5. If you could be someone else for one day, who would it be?

No one.  I kind of like myself.  I would like to possess the courage that my sister has.  She will tackle any adversity and come out a winner.
 
I think all of my blogging friends deserve this award.  Please feel free to participate if you want. 

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Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

R.I.P. Stan Musial…

“Stan Musial, the longtime St. Louis Cardinals baseball Hall of Famer, passed away Saturday at age 92. Stan Musial had a lifetime batting average of .331, including 3,630 hits, 475 home runs and 1,951 runs-batted-in.”   http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Sports/2013/0120/Stan-Musial-remembered-for-hitting-prowess-and-ebullient-personality-video

 

"was a poor boy who struck it rich in many ways through the wonders of baseball.   I learned to hit with a broomstick and a ball of tape and I could always get that bat on the ball."  ~ Stan Musial quote ~

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/21/sports/baseball/stan-musial-substance-over-sizzle.html

 

I think most of you know that I am a big St. Louis Cardinal fan.  Stan Musial was active in the days of my youth.  He was a great favorite of my dad who was one of the world’s greatest baseball fans.  I have this nice thought that maybe daddy is shaking Stan’s hand right now and wishing him God Speed!

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It is bitter cold here this morning with the wind chill at 6 below zero.  I have a doctor appointment this morning and I am not looking forward to going out in the cold to get the car started.

I hope this is a really good week for us all.  Be kind to your fellow man.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Old Photos…

Taken the day we moved from Missouri to Illinois.  I am the little girl with the striped shirt in the front row.  Four of my sisters and two of my brothers are in the picture.  Rae is the baby being held in her aunt’s arm and my youngest brother was born in Illinois.  Rae and I are the only ones still living in the picture.

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Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

What flavor would you like…

We have chocolate, chocolate mint, strawberry, cherry, orange, lime and bubblegum.  These are the flavors I could choose from yesterday for the polish that they use on your teeth after they are cleaned.  Is it any wonder that a visit to the dentist costs a fortune?  I usually choose mint but this time I chose chocolate, just to see what it would taste like.  Well, it does taste like a gritty chocolate, not as satisfying as a Snickers bar though.

I have a tooth that has been giving me twinges every now and then.  I am going  to have a crown put on that tooth.  Oh yippee!  The price per crown is $910 plus X-rays. 

It is sunny here today and the temp has climbed to 38 degrees.  Cold wave still to come on Monday along with another doctor appointment.  I would rather have cold than ice though.   If I had my druthers though I would rather have 70 degrees and sunshine.  My daddy always said want in one hand and poopiedoop in the other and see which one gets full first.  I swear he really did say that.  My dad was never one to use swear words and that is about as  ornery as his speech got.  lol

I have been to Walmart this morning to spend a few dollars.  Seems I  am not happy if I don’t buy something wherever I go.  I needed minutes for my cell phone, etc.  When I moved here I gave up my cell phone service with AT&T and bought a tracfone.  I have unlimited calling through my cable company and I was using maybe 1 or 2 minutes a month on my cell phone.

I hope you all have a great weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Wednesday Rant…

I am so sick of robocalls.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robocall  They are never ending and the Do Not Call List doesn’t phase them.  You can’t get rid of them.  I always check the caller ID and if I don’t recognize the number I don’t answer the call.  Once in  awhile though I will pick up the phone without thinking.  Do I have diabetes, my car warranty has expired, second notice, we can lower your credit card rates, etc. and the list goes on and on.  I am rushing in from the store this morning and the phone is ringing and I am thinking this is probably the call I am waiting for to schedule a doctor appointment.  Head to the phone, big mistake.  And that is the end of my Wednesday rant.  Put the violin away.

It is sunny and cold today.  I have about got all of the ice off my car now and with a little bit of ingenuity I managed to get the garbage can lid pried open yesterday.

I have a dental appointment tomorrow afternoon.  I know I have said this 100 times or more but I hate going to the dentist.  I hate the way the technician or the dentist will ask you a question while your mouth is full or worse yet talk to each other as if you are not there.  Boy, I guess you can all tell that my mood is less than stellar this morning.  On that note I will close my post.

Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

The light bulb goes on…

after the comments I received from my post yesterday.   At the first hint of ice coming my way I will cover my windshield on the car with cardboard.  Thank you all for your helpful hints. 

The sun is shining brightly this morning at 13 degrees right now.  I am reminded of that old song by Wynn Stewart, ‘It’s Such  Pretty world Today, Look at the Sunshine.’  However it is is nippy enough outside that I am not going out for awhile.  It is supposed to warm up to 30 degrees today.  I need to figure out a way to get the ice off my garbage container.  I think I will put some ice melt on the top and see how that works.

I gave up on the book I was reading yesterday that I reviewed for you all.  It was boring!  I am used to a fast paced book.  I love a good murder mystery.  I have about 100 books on my Nook and all kinds of books that I haven’t read in my bookcase.  I need to get my Nook out and use it again as it has been sitting idle for awhile.  I actually like the feel of a book in my hands.  I also confess that I always read the last few pages of a book before I start it and that is a bit of a chore on the Nook.  And I have this thing too about a book that I consider boring after the first 14 pages.  I stop reading it and put it in the box that I have going for Goodwill.  I have donated dozens of books to them since I have been here.

I do need to get off the computer and do a bit of cleaning.  I think I will check the freezer too and see if I have anything good to cook.

I will be around to see you all in a little while.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

The ice man did come…

and he deposited about a 1/2  inch thickness of ice all over my car.  I worked on it yesterday for about and hour and then for another hour this morning.  I had to be able to see out the windows as I had a doctor appointment in Peoria this morning.  Next Monday I have another appointment with a different  doctor.  I am hoping that we don’t get any bad weather next weekend.  It was 9 degrees when I got up this morning . The sun is shining brightly now and it is up to 21 degrees.

I can tell you one thing,  I am getting to old to be scraping ice.  The car was running for over half an hour before I could even begin to get any of it off.  I am so ready for spring.  Bring it on!  Please note the new countdown to spring widget that I have at the top of my right hand column.

Now I am worn out so I am not planning on doing anything the rest of the afternoon.

For the person who asked what I was reading:  It is The Perfect Love Song by Patti Callahan Henry.  I am just getting started on it but I think it will be pretty good.  Nothing like John Sandford’s books of course but then we can’t have everything.  I have read all of Sandford’s books and a few of them I have read twice.  I love that guy!!

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Book Description of The Perfect Love Song

Publication Date: October 12, 2010

Jimmy Sullivan has been living on the road with his brother, Jack, and his band The Unknown Souls. Without a place to call home, Jimmy and Jack lead a nomadic life filled with music and anonymous cities. When they return to a place Jimmy never wants to see again—their old hometown of Seaboro, South Carolina—he falls in love with Charlotte Carrington.

With his soul now filled with hope, Jimmy writes his first love song. When he performs it at a holiday concert to a standing ovation, the lyrics are dubbed the “Perfect Love Song,” so much so that Jimmy finds himself going on tour with famous country music stars, catapulted into a world where the trappings of fame and fortune reign supreme.

All too soon, the hope that had once inspired Jimmy to write such beautiful, genuine lyrics is overshadowed by what the song can do for him and his career. In his thirst for recognition, he agrees to miss Jack’s wedding in Ireland to sing at a Christmas Eve concert. And his ties to Charlotte seem to be ever so quickly slipping away.

Alone in New York City on Christmas Eve, Jimmy finally sees—with the help of a Christmas miracle or two—that his material gains are nothing compared to love, that he is losing all that really matters in his life. Is it too late to find his way to Ireland, to his brother, and to love?

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Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

I need…

a flu shot and a whooping cough shot I overheard a young man say as I was paying for prescriptions in the pharmacy this morning.  The technician told him that they wouldn’t have flu shots in till this afternoon as they had run out of them.  He could have the whooping cough shot this morning or he could wait until this afternoon and get both at the same time.  This guy was desperate to get those shots.  While I was in the pharmacy I heard the technician tell someone on the phone  that the flu shots would be in this afternoon.  I didn’t realize, but is whooping cough making a comeback too?  Rather frightening.  I always get my flu shot in September around my birthday.  The hospital beds are full and there has been a no visitor ban placed on the local hospitals. 

And then, you guessed it, I had to stop by Kroger on the way home as I forgot to get bananas yesterday.  With the bad weather  scheduled I didn’t want to run out.  Of course I didn’t get just bananas, I got a few other things too.  What can I say?  I have no willpower.

I have changed bedding and done 2 loads of laundry this morning.  I think I am through working for today.  I have a pot of ham and beans on cooking and I will fix some cornbread to go with it.  Then I am settling down with a good book.

I hope this is a good day for us all.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Sunshine and 50 degrees…

on this Friday afternoon in the heart of Illinois.  Yes, where I live is called the heart of Illinois.  Has a nice ring to it doesn’t it?  We are under a winter weather advisory for Saturday afternoon and evening for freezing rain changing to snow.  Oh Yuck, I just got my car all cleaned off from the last snow.

I have been busy this morning.  I can’t seem to stay away from the grocery store.  I try to limit myself but I get carried away.  At Food Depot this morning my cash register receipt showed that I saved over $35  on this shopping trip.  I was surprised to see that Food Depot is still carrying all kinds of Green Giant canned veggies for 49 cents a can.  I don’t use many canned goods and I am pretty well stocked up.  I also got the large size box of Post Raisin Bran for $1.67.  I thought that was quite a bargain and that was without a coupon too.

There is not much news around here today.  Several of you asked for updates on my sister and my niece.  My sister is doing well except that she has caught a cold.  I am hoping that is all it is and not the flu.  My niece came home from the hospital today and she is doing well.  Thank you all for your kind thoughts and prayers.  I do believe that prayer can move a mountain.

I hope you all have a great weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!  Don’t forget the tips for avoiding the flu.  And if you haven’t got a flu shot yet, what are you waiting for?

Beth

Happy Birthday…

to my mom.  She has been gone a long time.  I still miss her and I always will.  Below is a photo taken long ago.  I have very few pictures taken of my mom and me because I was always the one taking the pictures.

My daughter with me and my nephew acting silly sitting with my mom in the front.

My mom and dad on their 50th anniversary.

 

My mom and dad.

I love this picture with my kids and mom and my nephew in the front.

If you click on the pictures they will be larger.

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The rain is coming.  Stay safe and be happy!

Beth

Wednesday prayers…

It is 34 degrees, the sun is shining and rain is on the way for tomorrow.  Maybe an inch or more.  Annie, where you are, perhaps 2 inches.  We are desperate for moisture here as are many of the states so as much as I dislike a rainy day I will be glad to see this one.

The rain coming does mean that I have to go to the store this morning for a few things.  A few things for me in the store usually adds up to 40 or 50 dollars. 

The hair thing is no longer an issue.  I found out that the person has the same first name but is not my old beautician.  However I did get a better haircut more to my liking as I told her to cut my hair short everywhere.  At least today my bangs are not hanging in my eyes and I am fairly well satisfied with my hair cut.

And now for my Wednesday prayers.

• I pray for our nation’s leaders to work together to solve  the many problems we are facing.
• I pray for our troops to come home safely.
• I pray for world peace.
• My most fervent prayer is for my niece in West Virginia to have a successful surgery today.

I hope you all are having a great day.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Happy Birthday Elvis…

Elvis would have been 78 years old today.  I remember the day,  August  16. 1977, that he died.  I remember thinking that if Elvis is mortal then I could die too.  I remember the National Enquirer picture of Elvis in his coffin that graced the front page of that gossip magazine.  He looked so bloated, nothing at all like the handsome young man that had all of the little teeny boppers screaming their heads off when he would wiggle.  Overeating and drugs were found to have caused his death. 

http://oldies.about.com/od/elvisdeathfaq/f/elvisdeath.htm

I wasn’t a huge Elvis fan but I did like some of his songs.  His version of Blue Christmas that he did on his Hawaiian tour is my favorite song of his.

I remember when I was working at Chanute AFB in 1988 and it was announced that Chanute was one of the bases being closed.  The local radio station in Champaign redid his song “Don’t Be Cruel” and inserted the words “to the town of Rantoul.”  Rantoul IL is where Chanute was located.  I had a recording of the song at one time but it has long been lost.  Fortunately my husband had enough years in to take an early retirement.  I soon followed in 1989.

I am doing laundry while I am typing this and later on this morning I have an appointment for a haircut.  I have a dilemma here.  My favorite beautician left for another job and now I find that she is back in the salon I go to.  The lady who has been cutting my hair is an extremely nice lady but I do NOT like the way she cuts my hair.  How can I get my favorite back without hurting my present gal’s feelings?  HELP!!

I hope you all have a great day.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Sunny Monday…

Although you wouldn’t have known it when I went out this morning at 6:30 to go to the hospital for a fasting lab.   It was dark and 21 degrees then.  Even though it is sunny now it is still only 21 degrees.  We are in for a January thaw for the next few days, maybe even reaching 50 and some much needed rain.

My niece took me to the hospital and afterwards we ate at Bob Evans.  Bob Evans needs to hire some decent cooks and not come and go minimum wage ones.  Who in the world can’t cook hash browns?  Ours were pale, barely warm and still crunchy.  I asked for some more and they brought me more of the same.  If my daughter had been with me she would not have liked me complaining, however my niece agreed with me.  I was given a complaint card to send in to the company. Big whoopee deal huh.  Sorry, it is Monday morning and I am suffering from a sleepless night.  I think Bob Evans and Cracker Barrel are about even on their presentation of breakfast.

Enough complaining from me this morning.  Enough I think to last for a whole week.  I will be nice and cheerful for the rest of the week.  I hope it is a good one for you!  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

The Dinette Set

copyright Julie Larson

copyright Julie Larson

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I love this artist’s cartoons.  She is an Illinois gal from Lincoln IL which is not far from here.

Beth

Bright sunshiny day…

Bright sunshine today.  It was 10 degrees this morning when I first went out.  It is to warm to the low 30s today which will be very nice as long as the sun is shining.

Last year on the 4th of each month I took a picture of a tree that is between my back door and the cemetery.  I thought I might do something similar this year but I can’t think of anything interesting to photograph for 12 months.  It is too cold to go outdoors and browse around looking for a subject.  So I guess that is out for this year.

I am so longing for spring and winter has barely started.  I don’t, however, want another summer of drought and unbearable heat like we had last year.  We are still 10 inches below normal on the precipitation.  We have had about 6 inches of snow so far this season and it takes a foot of snow to measure one inch.  Not looking good right now.

My niece is coming over for lunch today.  I fixed chicken salad for sandwiches.  Then to warm up the tummy a bit, some baked beans.  I love baked beans, one of my favorite foods, right up there with pizza and mac and cheese. 

Have a great weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

No problem…

You know, I really dislike that phrase.  Whatever happened to saying  ‘you’re welcome’ after someone thanks you for something.  No reason for my saying this;  it is just that I heard one too many ‘no problems’ today and it  struck me wrong.

It is warmer today checking in right now at 31 degrees.  After I went to Kroger this morning I was able to finally get the rest of the ice and snow off my car.  Bird poopiedoo (made up word from my own dictionary) now that is another problem.  

I really hate leaving my car out in the weather.  My car is 10 years old and for the first  7 and 1/2 years it sat lovingly in my garage at home.  I kept it washed and waxed, always kept the gas tank full and never said an unkind word to it.  Since I moved here and it has had to sit out in the heat, cold, ice and snow it has been mad at me.  It has paid me back by costing me several thousand dollars in repair bills.  But I still love my car.  I remember the day that Jim and I picked it out.

I am in the mood to start Spring housecleaning but the energy is not there.  I am working on that however.  I am glad the middle of the week holidays are over as they are worse than a Monday holiday.  January 14 is the next Monday holiday and the way time flies by it will be here before I turn around good.

All for today.  Batten down the hatches, I am on my way to visit you all.  A cup of tea would be nice with a spoonful of honey.

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American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms:

batten down the hatches

Prepare for trouble, as in Here comes the boss--batten down the hatches. This term originated in the navy, where it signified preparing for a storm by fastening down canvas over doorways and hatches (openings) with strips of wood called battens. [Late 1800s]

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Be kind to those you come in contact with today,  Do something nice for them and don’t cringe when they say ‘no problem.’  Above all, stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Quote

"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian."

Henry Ford

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I usually don’t discuss politics in my blog but I will say one thing.  I am thoroughly sick of the words ‘Fiscal Cliff.’

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Stay safe and be happy!

Beth

A new year…

and a new post; the first one this year.  It is so cold here today.  Even though the sun is shining brightly the wind chill right now is 10 degrees.  We had 3 inches of snow yesterday and my car is covered.  I need to go out this afternoon and try to get it cleaned off.

I ambitiously cleaned my bathroom top to bottom today.  I had to force myself to do it, but it is done.  I also have myself back in my exercise routine and even though I refuse to call it a resolution I intend to be faithful to it.

One of my old friends from home called me last night to wish me a happy new year.  Her kids were all there visiting.  Her son is going to be a new father in a few months so that means another grandbaby for her.  She was so excited about it.  Then last week another old friend from home called.  Thanks Sandi and Christine, your calls brightened the season for me.

There is nothing new here to write about.  No resolutions because I don’t make them anymore.  And now I am going to bundle up good and go out and try and clean my car off. 

Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth