What a Difference a Month Makes!

 It has been the worst of days and the best of days!  A month ago today, Jeff woke feeling worse than normal.  He was filled with too much fluid that was literally drowning him. We headed to Ithaca hospital (which might have been a mistake) with hopes of no wait time in the ED.  As it were, his blood pressure was critically low and the some action finally began.  We spent the most part of the day in the ED where they put in a central line to get BP meds directly to his heart.  Finally the decision was made to transport him to the closest large hospital with an ICU bed... Upstate here we come.. They transported him via ambulance and a nurse.  Once in the ICU, he was evaluated and it was confirmed that his liver and kidneys were failing.  NOT a good prognosis.  The nurses and most of the Docs were exceptional. One Dr. in particular obviously failed Bedside Manner 101 and will forever be on our "Shit List!"  Finally, after a few days of pleading with them to call Strong, where we had been doctoring for 6 months, a young resident took the initiative and called Rochester. Another wait for an open ICU bed there and "we" were on our way, once again via ambulance and a nurse, to U of R/Strong Memorial Hospital.  Our highest hopes included addition to the transplant list...ASAP.... time was running out. Sunday, the transplant surgeon said a liver had been located....and a few hours later, "an even better liver was secured!!"  Upon reflection, I marveled at the fact that an organization that covers the entire United States had not only found a liver but found a second one even better suited to Jeff.  They never stopped looking for something  better.......AMAZING.

This team of amazing men and women gave up their Memorial Day to save the life of a man they only knew by statistics and charts.  They stood for 12.5 hours to painstakingly disassemble the torso of a human and replace the largest organ (albeit the skin) that virtually runs your system.  Words escape me....(I know ;-) 

The next couple of days were very scary. Intubated and tubes from every orifice were frightening for not only Jeff but Lee and me. Nobody ever wants to see their child in a life and death situation unable to communicate. By Wednesday, the vent was removed and those big, beautiful eyes opened clearly...and were WHITE.  Each day progressed a little more.... We waited for the kidneys to "wake up" and they did. We waited for the fluid to go back where it belonged and it slowly did. We waited for a full, regular diet and we got it... An oddity of the first few weeks was his taste buds had changed and everything that used to taste good...was pretty yucky.  Of course, with hospital food, identification was even tricky.  Finally a move from the ICU to the Organ Transplant floor.  Yep, a whole wing dedicated to organ transplants.  PT began, heading to bathroom, moving from chair to bed etc. all started to materialize. Then......."you can go home this afternoon." 18 days of hell and a new liver and we were headed to EIEIO.  Hallelujah!

We had the support and prayers of one hell of a group of friends and family. I never would have survived this 3 week journey if it weren't for so many concerned friends who were family and family who were friends! Jacki and Ally Brown literally lowered my stress level by merely existing. They took Bailee under their wings during the last few weeks of school, they took her to job interviews, covid vaccines and everything in between. A safer more nurturing harbor has never existed. They even all journeyed to Rochester to spend the toughest week-end ever with me.  NO words will ever be written well enough to express my gratitude and love.  I mean seriously, who finds a liver cookie cutter and makes perfectly delicious pink smooth, non wrinkly cookies to share.. That's you Ally B♥  I would not have made it through the intricacies of modern medicine and lab results if it weren't for my family Docs, Dr. Dyer and Dr. Sweet and my in-house nurses and NP,  Mary B. and Kelly P. You two rocked my uneducated world. Then there were my prayer warriors. I have never been as blessed as I was (am) with everyone's outstretched hands and warm hearts.  If I ever thought my 69 years of "Our Father, who art in heaven" was whispered to deaf ears, I was mistaken. As Bailee calls him, Sky Daddy heard us loud and clear!

We are home in our happy place surrounded by food, good wishes, phone calls, visits and friends and family. Life is good and we'll count our blessings day and night for that wonderful organization that searched the country for a liver, the team of surgeons and nurses who saved Jeff and nursed him back to life, the amazing family that rallied and never gave up hope and to Sky Daddy himself (or herself) that reunited Jeff and Jett for the best Father's Day ever!

Life is short....LIVE it!!!!!!!

From the Ridiculous to the Sublime

 Some days just go from the ridiculous to the sublime.......and right back to ridiculous again.  That was yesterday. May13,2021...It should have been a Friday!

Report cards came in the mail and I knew I had high expectations and they would hopefully be met.  They blew me away. What Freshman in today's pandemic world, gets a 99.187 average...in advanced courses no less........Mine (and others I'm sure but they're not mine!)  Four 100s and a low of 94.. I am beyond thrilled and living my best day...............till the phone rings and she says, "Come and get me, I've been quarantined!!"  We just got things back to normal..after having to have a Covid test to return to school following a day of allergies.  It's just precautionary and the rest of us can carry on as usual. It's a pain for her as her final art project is in the works, she'll miss her honors assembly and no shooting this week!  I have; however, booked an appointment for her vaccine for quarantine release day next Friday. Not me though...still holding out for some realistic numbers.

In the big picture, the sun is shining and the skies are blue, the laundry's finished and no taxes are due. 

It's a good day....so far!

UPK (U Practicing Kissing?)

 If you never have anything in life, I hope you all have a "Jett!"  He's our own personal Lon Chaney (I'm dating myself) and stand up comedian.  Nearly every day I snap a photo of one of his faces or laugh hysterically over an action, a story or an event in his little, short life.  He has an amazing memory for commercials, songs or anything he really shouldn't remember!  Whether he invites me to look at his ballooning swim trunks and says, "Check out this package!' or remarks in a low, swooning voice in the bathtub that his penis is a "blossoming flower!)

Last week was a topper.  He goes on spurts of watching the same movie over and over.  Everything from Yellow Bird to Boss Baby to Bad News Bears....(T ball just started!)  His Mom got a call from school last week that he was found in the "kitchen area" (one of his favorite play areas) in a hug and lip lock with his new sweetie, Meara! In his defense, we are all about kisses and huggies both here and at his Mom's.  With our chuckles tampered and our smiles hidden, we have all since explained that there are places for displays of affection and school isn't one of them.  I'm not completely sure that the instructions didn't fall on deaf ears but nonetheless, we tried our best to instill the boundaries.

When asked what he was doing, he proudly explained that they "were playing married!"  We're pretty sure he hadn't seen that at his Mom's house (as she's NOT married) and we're absolutely sure she didn't see it here as you must be in the same room in order to kiss your spouse!  However, Darla nd Alfalfa did play "Marriage" on his newest favorite movie, Little Rascals!"

All in all, it was fairly harmless and we're all breathing a collective sigh as we realize he was just playing "Married" and could have been playing "Doctor!"

Father Knows Best (or does he?)

 If being a teenager, during a pandemic, living with their grandparents and uncle isn't enough... try adding an estranged father with early onset Alzheimer's.  

Bailee is bright, savvy and an adult way before she should have to be.  Abandoned by her mother at 12 and living a less than stellar, normal life for 4 years prior, she now has the ambiguous task of reconnecting with her Dad.  Her grandmother, whom she never knew, died of early onset Alzheimer's at 45.  Her Dad is now 48 and in the midst of the disease as well.  Their relationship has been rocky to say the least.  Bailee became acquainted with the legal system at an early age. Through police, law guardians, social services and courts, Bailee learned that children have a right to be safe and heard.  After formal court proceedings and being heard by the judge, Bailee was allowed at 11...to decide when or IF she chose to see her Dad.  Being the intelligent girl that she was, she chose one more supervised visit with her him.  She then decided that was enough.  He had not shown up for a few visits and the others were just accomplishing nothing.

A year later, she decided she needed closure and arranged a meeting with him.  It went well and she felt good about parting company. After all, they really had no relationship for most of the life she remembered.

Fast forward to 2021, yesterday in fact!  Bailee had heard that her Dad was not well and it might be a nice idea to visit with him before he lost all cognizance of past years.  She contacted her half sister and learned that her aunt and uncle were planning a little family gathering for Marc's birthday. Yesterday, she met Denelle, her sister, and spent 3 hours reacquainting with her Dad and sister.  She was a little leery about spending time in surroundings that had always made her fearful and uncomfortable. Having her sister there made the situation less tenuous and she actually relaxed and enjoyed their time together.

She believes her Dad knew her. Conversation was limited as he generally only answers yes or no questions. It appears his mental status is that of a pre-teen and regressing.  I watched them playing frisbee in the yard and saw the frivolity of a child....hands clapping, jumping up and down and twerking.  He was unable to fasten his belt and needed help from Denelle.  This man had never been on my favorite list but I was truly sad watching his childlike play.

Believing his next move will be to a nursing home, it put life in a bit of perspective.... Possibly a different one for me than for Bailee.  She was happy that she had the chance to spend time with him, less guilt-ridden than she might have been had he completely forgotten her and a sense of forgiving for his past misdeeds.  Forgiving does not mean forgetting!

If you think a child does not remember their young childhood, think again. Sadly, this is a generation of misguided, misunderstood and often misused children.  Thanks to Bailee's fortitude, resilience and intelligence, she will be fine....She's heading down a good road that is paved with support and love and each driving lesson is making her a better driver!  There will be roadblocks but she will navigate around or through them......I have no doubt...success is her destination!!♥

You are Amazing....Remember that!

 For my birthday this year, one of my amazing friends gave me a "kind jar!"  The jar is filled with little envelopes each having an uplifting message tucked inside.  Today's message was: You are Amazing...Remember that!  A perfect rainy day reminder when it would be so much easier to dwell on the unfulfilled, the uncontrollable and the unhappy.  I AM amazing!  I can still bend over and touch my toes ( I just have trouble getting back up,) I manage to keep a household of 4-5 running semi-smoothly, I can still remember a few people's names and events that have happened in the past, I still know how to spell, read and write and have the ability to help others with their lack of skills (or at least point them out,) I still have organizational skills that help to keep us all in line and I am learning that me time is precious, necessary and guiltfree.

I am looking forward to the next few days and the messages I will open.... I'm pretty sure one might say "You are Thin" or "You are Young."  If not, I'll use my educated interpretations to bring a smile to my wrinkled face....after all, I AM Amazing!!!

7th Decade

 Well, that was fast!  Seems like we had just built a new house and were moving on from my hometown (Locke.)  Those 13 years flew and here I am beginning my 7th decade on this planet at my favorite place.  It's actually quite surreal and hard to wrap my aging brain around. Everything outside of me knows I'm absolutely in my 70th year...while everything, except a part of my brain, is still trying to make me believe that I have a wonderful memory, can dance with the best of them, am able to actually run a bit and am able to get off the ground all by myself.  Those things are all behind me. Gravity is no longer my friend and wanting to do something versus actually accomplishing it is merely an unattainable goal. Although, even at 69, goals are a good thing!  My goals now are to remember which night my favorite shows are on, to spend quality time with my grandkids, to keep a sufficient supply of toilet paper and diet Pepsi and to pay my bills on time.  I have come to terms that I will forever need a calendar, a list of my passwords and usernames, my phone within reach, my dearest friends nearby and my eyes on the road at all times.  I can, however, still sing along to the radio without fear of other drivers' glances or hand gestures.... remember, I'm watching the road and no longer care how silly I might look!!

This new decade does have its perks. I no longer feel the need to hold in my stomach(s!) Hair dye isn't necessary as white and gray are signs of age and wisdom.  I can write in cursive and do math without a calculator. I am keenly aware that the 60s were my favorite years with no worries, politics NOT a thing in my purview, someone cooked and cleaned for me and the music STILL far surpassed anything I've heard since.  I make few apologies, I stand my ground (ok, maybe wobble a bit,) I can substantiate my opinions and when I am finished doing ANYTHING....that's the end of the story.

I will try to be an optimistic septuagenarian!  I'm breathing, ambulatory and cognizant of the world around me. I must continue to keep my household in order, raise Bailee to the very best of my ability, keep on top of Jeff's healthcare and live long enough to share in college "grand"uations! Lofty goals indeed but on my radar nonetheless! 

Right now, I just need to make the bathroom:-0

End of an Era

 We are officially out of the bird business.  All our fowl friends that hadn't ended up in bird heaven have been relocated to a new home... All together so they will know birds there....we aren't up for having to have our birds in therapy because we abandoned them.

Jeff worked diligently over the week-end to take all of the pens down and they headed off to new locations to house other birds.  I must admit, I don't miss the mismatch of dog pen panels, steel roofing, netting and chicken wire that adorned the barn.  It resembled a homeless shelter for the less fortunate.

Now for the interior of the barn to be cleaned and serve as a cool wood shop for Jeff.  The floors are linoleum and will work great for sweeping wood shavings. He has many tools that can be set up permanently for a multitude of projects.  I have many in mind ;-)

I will miss Penny and Baby and the girls keeping us tick free but I will NOT miss the poop on the stoop....every stoop.  They were fun for many years and fresh eggs were great but I can still afford to buy eggs and the hobby farm was losing its intrigue.

It's probably time in our lives to simplify things when we can. I'm even making an effort to clean storage in the basement and pare down what hasn't been used in the last 10-13 years.  I'm not quite sure where this sterling silver should go and I'm down to just a dozen boxes (from 63) from Hewitt Brothers and 940 Main Street. SO hard to just "throw things away!"  Sadly, GenX has no desire for any stuff from years past. It's understandable but disheartening. I've quilted what memories I can and there are thousands of pictures so I guess I'm the one who must reckon with throwing away the past or donating it to someone else.

It seems it's harder to make decisions as we age.  Things were harder to come by in our "day" and this generation has less appreciation for what was...maybe that's our fault too.

Anyway, it's the end of an era in the pet department at EIEIO. Time for spring cleanup and soon....lawn mowing, one of my favorite things!

Functioning

 Functioning is described as the normal and specific contribution of a bodily part to the economy of a living organism.......to carry on an action!  To date, I am a functioning female human. In other words, I am contributing my bodily parts to the economy of a living organism...this family! It doesn't get more mundane than that!  At nearly 70, I had hoped to be more than just functioning. On the other hand, I should be be ecstatic that I am able to function and all parts are doing their job.  I just didn't realize I would be the main contributor.....for so many!  The sad part is that a person can function in the place between happy and unhappy. That space offers a level of calm and balance. It holds an evenness, a place of moderation that allows one to do their job well while experiencing the dysfunction and unrest that possibly exists in their life. Many folks prefer to just simply exist and accept it.  Many circumstances don't allow for the opportunity to change what is... so they just continue to function.  The entire premise is frankly...sad. I guess it's like the Serenity Prayer simply stating you should be able to accept the things you can't change, change the things you can and be smart enough to know which is which..

This place between happy and unhappy is like floating just above a stream of lava.  It's warm, comfortable and relaxing but you know just one wrong move (not necessarily on your part) will drop you into an unhappy hell that may hold you forever.  I'm vaguely sure that the golden years were touted as more than merely functioning.

I'm not really complaining (ok maybe a little) as some of my decisions are totally on me. I am happy to be able to provide a safe haven for my family, I am happy that I have saved wisely and can offer a modicum of comfort for us all and that our retirement home is in a beautiful spot. We are surrounded by nature in both floral and fauna and a little slice of calm resides here too.

So I guess function is all relative(s). I will be content to reside in this place between happy and unhappy and function to the best of my ability. Life isn't perfect and sadly is short but it sometimes beats the alternative. It does seem blatantly obvious that Form Follows Function (structures are formed in direct correlation to what they are meant to do!)

Passwords123

 Oh my lord, passwords may well be the death of me.  I have a little spiral index notebook that holds my plethora of passwords. They say use something that you'll remember...I barely remember yesterday and from all the evidence I have seen and heard, it's gonna get worse. Don't use your birthday, don't use your anniversary, don't use your families' birthdays, don't use the same password for every website, use numbers and letters, punctuation marks, capitals.....!!!!  Then you get a message that for safety measures, it's time to change your password...seriously? Oh, and then, it really isn't safe to store/save your password on your computer in case it becomes compromised.  Ok, well it really isn't safe or smart to eat chips and dip for dinner and pizza for breakfast but I do it.  What isn't safe, is trying to tell a nearly 70 year old woman what to do.  I have never been known for taking orders and less so for following them.  If I can get the computer, iPad and phone to take me to the website, address or page I want to go to, it's been a really good day. If I can then access the information, Hallelujah!!!!!!!  

Most of us are fortunate to have grandchildren who can navigate the World Wide Web for us but they don't understand the importance of going slowly and showing us how the hell they got there.  If they would show us step by step the first time, we could avoid the under their breath conversation and the subsequent eye-rolls!  I keep saying they'll miss us when we're gone but I don't think that sinks in!  

While rewriting my password notebook for the umpteenth time, (they have no idea how many that is,) pondered writing a description of the site or service as my password.  For instance, Zito Media would be...Zitosucks666 or Verizon ...virtualchats000. Many could use this one...ohhold30minutes, or even..Dothead420 for several.  

More and more I miss the direct audio contact with a real, live person...even if they're idiots.  Virtual help virtually doesn't..........And when I have a password AND a PIN...Well, no flipping way am I going to remember those. 

I have a plan for departure and I have tried to make it easy and painless for whomever is left to clean up  my mess. I have, however, given a great deal of thought to burning my password notebook and letting them try to figure it all out.  But for now, all changes will begin with WTF2020!!

Stuck in the Middle

Mid February is winter hump time.  We're getting kind of sick of the cold, we've had a bit of snow, Santa arrived, Father New Year and Cupid drops in this week-end.  It does stay light until nearly 5:45 which is a mere blessing in itself. It staves off my bedtime by an hour.  There are some good shows on prime time and a few new series that fill in the blanks. I've started watching a new movie every afternoon and always fit in at least an hour of reading.  It's not like my dance card is full!

My vacation is impending...Lee will be off to Florida this week and then it's me time, my time, all the time... Kind of like it always is :-)  Our chickens have been relocated..some to Sempronius and some to heaven..  Bruce will be returning to Burtless Road and Baby hopefully going to Genoa.  Spring will then be time to take down fencing, reseed the lawns and decide on a new use for the barn... I have ideas!!!! I rather enjoy planning....... I still have that caboose for sale swimming in the back of my mind. The perfect pool house it would be!!!!I'd only need a crane and trailer to move it, a dozer to level its new home and a torch to fit in the French doors....doesn't every caboose have French doors?

February usually sucks weather wise but with only 28 days, we'll muddle through...especially knowing that with March, comes spring...on paper.  St Patrick's Day always brings snow and we usually have it in April as well.  At least in those months, it comes and goes quickly. We're over the hump in no time.

For those of us who are not travelers, patience is a virtue. I have almost achieved that virtue and it only took 69 years. What's the rush.  I have a warm house that I love, books that entertain, television shows that teach and friends who help me complete sentences, remember names and ............something else????  It'll soon be time to slide down the other side of the hump and find myself no longer stuck in the middle!

Things

 I always find it odd that contestants on Wheel of Fortune choose things as their bonus round topic... Why? There are trillions of things in this world....everything is practically a thing!  Then I think about all the things in my house....Once again, everything is a thing. Why in the world do we need so many things. Being at the end of my tenure on earth, I 'm thinking a lot about what will happen to my things. My kids don't care about my things, my grandkids don't really care about my things and my husband doesn't care much about anything...OK maybe his things!  Sadly, I still have my Mom and Dad's things and some of their Mom and Dad's things.  Basically, my point!  I made the monumental decision to start donating, throwing, burning and paring down all things.  If there are trophies, credentials, certificates, awards and paper memorabilia, I will be photographing them and organizing them in to a Shutterfly book that I can hand to my grands.....which they will inevitably hand to their grands and it will be thrown away in the 2070s. At least I will feel accomplished even knowing the destiny of those artifacts. 

 I Just found my grandmother's high school diploma.....from 1910.  Various insects and time have air-conditioned it. I covered it in clear plastic! For what? My mother kept everyone's marriage, graduation, engagement, wedding, birth and death announcements from the newspapers. Ok, there's a page in my book....maybe.....I don't even know who some of the people are!  

Pictures- here's where it gets really tricky. I have gone to such lengths as using a magnifying glass to see if the folks in pictures from the early 1900s look like any relatives I remember.... That was a certain waste of time. If there is no identification on a photo.....it's gone! There are few actual interesting pictures from that time period. Most folks look alike and nobody carried a camera on their adventures. I do have a photo of my great aunt and her pals smoking in their bathing suits and another of an unknown family member standing next to a giant hanging shark.  That's about as adventurous as it gets.  I'd really like to find photos of my relatives stealing horses with the Rockefellers or some back room politics at the state capitol with my great grandfather.  Assuming they were intelligent enough not to photograph those events.

Most things in this house, if out of sight, would be out of mind. As I peruse my desk, I can count 17 things I don't need and haven't used but have been here for years.....3 rulers, 3 chap sticks, 2 candles I have yet to burn, crayons, flash cards for the US states, my father's paperweight and ashtray, a needle and thread (seriously?,) 6 pens, 2 bottles of lotion, a rock, lavender spray, a penalty flag and a miniature pitchfork...WTF!  See, things...and that's just one area of one room.  

Things are described as a material things without life or consciousness and something that could be an actual object of thought.... So for the next month, I will be purging many of the objects without life or consciousness in this house.  I am keeping body parts off the list for now but hey, you never know, if it has no life (or use) it will be out the door. Even people aren't safe here anymore!

Till Death Do US Part

 Mating Season!  As I age, I contemplate way too many weird things.  Like finding a mate for instance.... We see so many TV programs that have just that as their premise.  It doesn't seem that the process used to be so manipulative.  Although, my new found interest in period series set from the 1500s through the 1900s, shows exactly that manipulation. You were promised (betrothed) practically from birth.  Eeeeewww!  Marriages were arranged and actually carried out from age 12 into their teens.  I can't even imagine... a 12 year old barely knows how to brush their teeth properly much less any marital task....and that brings me to another point.... If it's a task, you're with the wrong mate. 

Fast forward to the 1900s....which is sadly my time period. I remember recently seeing a handbook on how to be the perfect wife in the 40s.  Pretty sure I would have been either jailed or banished if I had married in the 40's.  Although, I assume I acquired many of my skills, or lack thereof, by watching my elder relatives....most of whom I surmised really didn't care for each...at all.  I realize there were few PDAs (public displays of affection) in the early 1900s but the only proof of any affection were the offspring....and I'm not sure the parents liked them either....

Then it was the 60s and 70s...everybody loved everybody then.  It was the Age of Aquarius. That, btw, was our Senior Graduation song! Marriage became less important but mating was still high, and I use the term lightly, on many people's lists.  Most men loved most women and vice versa.....maybe it was because it was so hard to tell the difference.  Birth control was a thing, if you remembered to take it, and if not, well you either walked the halls with a big belly, were sent away to deliver or just became a single parent.  It was the age of nobody really caring what you did.

Fast forward 50 or 60 years...yikes!  We have the Bachelorette, The Bachelor, 90 Day Fiance', Married at First Sight, Sister Wives...etc.. WTH.  Interesting...ok not that interesting.  We must remember that this generation only knows what they've seen (or lived) and their requirements (if they have any at all) are often far different than other generations.  Women want men who are handsome, employed, will let them have a mind of their own and are well endowed....not necessarily in that order. Men want someone who will wash their clothes, cook their meals, birth their children all while earning a comparable salary...oh, and large boobs!  Through family experiences, salary seems to trump most of the listed female qualities.  

Mating legalities..... there appear to be few. If you're not happy with your choice in a mate, dump them, divorce them or bury them... Three interesting choices.  My answer to the entire fiasco is "DO NOT MARRY. I'm pretty sure Holy Matrimony is less than holy these days and the institution of marriage is just that...an institution.  Who needs a piece of paper to love (and live) with someone?  Who needs to say in sickness and health or for better or worse or even till death do us part...Nobody!!!  It's too expensive to get in and it's too expensive to get out!  Now you may think I sound pessimistically against love....not at all but I am intellectually against hypocrisy.  I also have always been one to steer my own ship. I have been fortunate but not naive. Life is short!!  If you're not entirely happy, your partner most likely isn't either.  If your heart says you love a woman and you ARE a woman, go for it and vice versa.  If your heart says, move on, move on!  Spark is important but but sparks are seldom forever. If your fire continues to burn, you're a lucky soul. If not, build another fire or get a blanket. You're dead for a much longer time than you're married.... Use your head and heart in unison and remember nothing lasts forever..............unless it does♥

2021.... that's odd!

 Pretty sure that 2021 is going to be another extremely ODD year......odd in so many ways.  We all are turning an odd number; 5, 69, 71, 15, 43...That's odd as they total an odd number too. It's odd (sort of) that school is from home and it's odd that that is becoming accepted as normal! It's odd that wearing a mask EVERYWHERE is now normal... Catalogs and ads offer masks to match your outfits...WTF.  It's odd that you can catch (or spread) Covid standing next to a restaurant table but not sitting at the table.  You can also spread the virus at church but not so much at Wal-Mart....I try to avoid both places...Sorry God but I pray at home....a long, sad, evening prayer that includes and asks for help for way too many people.  It's odd that at nearly 70, I continue to oversee the safety and well-being of children (and adults!)  My recliner time, reading time and quiet time have been shortened rather than lengthened.   That's odd!  It's odd that I now enjoy period movies and series that depict history and at the very same time I count the hours until a football game appears on my screen......both are relatively violent at times and quite entertaining.  It's odd that I'm losing interest in soap operas as my own life is often more drama filled and slightly more entertaining. It's odd that the cold doesn't bother me but ice terrifies me, staying home makes me happy and travel unnerves me and the news disappoints me while game shows entertain me...... Maybe I have a bit of a spelling problem (just kidding) and things really aren't all that ODD...I'm just OLD.  Regardless, I think we're in for 12 more months of life continuing to be an oddity.  I have decided to just sit back and go with the flow.  After all, you have to be ODD to be number one...... right Dr. Seuss?

Hindsight

 Whew, we made it...I had my doubts at times.  Unfortunately, things are pretty much exactly the same as they were 4 days ago.  Just like being a teen on the night before your 18th birthday and automatically being an adult the next morning...Nope......or wearing your mask into the restaurant so you won't be at risk but you're fine the minute you sit down at the table....Nope.....or putting students in the classroom puts them at risk but it's fine for staff and faculty to report.....Nope....I have no answers so it appears fruitless for me to question anything anymore.

I guess I'll focus on the things I can manage.  I'll pay my taxes with the $1200 I received from the government.....Not sure where the other $3800 will come from but I'll use the money I already paid tax on to pay my taxes....WTF!  

I did manage to take the Christmas decorations down in the house and on the porch.  Each year I swear I'll be more organized and meticulous on how I label and pack them away....maybe next year:-/

I was successful with my Fantasy Football this past season.  I won last year and I WON THIS YEAR TOO. See, it wasn't a fluke even though I drafted with my heart for a couple players (Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs (Bills players) rather than my head.  All my choices were pretty reliable and helped me squeak through for several weeks.  Already looking forward to next fall and a new season.  Go Buffalo in the next couple of weeks!!!!!!!

Hoping we can all stay healthy throughout the winter. Jeff is still doctoring and we're hoping for an improvement. Lee is planning on heading south for a couple of trap tournaments. That's MY vacation!! Bailee is continuing to flourish in her studies.....in her bedroom. That's definitely a day-to-day scenario. I would hate to be a school administrator!!!

Not sure what my next project will be..... I need something occupy this aging brain.  Maybe I'll finish my book about JimBob and maybe come up with some new creative yard decor to keep him looking fresh!

As always, I'll be looking forward to my time here at EIEIO during any season. This is my happy place and I'm thankful to be here every day!  Hindsight is a good thing if it make foresight better....As a friend recently imparted....Knowledge speaks....but wisdom listens.. She rocks....literally!!!!♥