Christmas Trees, Candles and Pink Floyd

With the new desk that Hubby bought for his business, I wound up with no room for a full size Christmas Tree this year. We discussed getting a tabletop sized tree but I wasn't planning on getting one now.

Went shopping today and stopped at Lowes because Youngest said they had soy candles in spicy scents. Pumpkin Pie, Ground Cinnamon and Hazelnut. I have an expensive Hot Cinnamon Bun candle that I really love, but I don't really want to spend that much money again on a candle. The soy candles are the same size and half the price as my expensive one, so I bought the Pumpkin Pie scented one to try it out. I'm sitting here enjoying the lovely scent of cloves and cinnamon and am really pleased so far. What it smells like when I light it again will determine whether I make a trip back to buy more.

The candles are right next to the Christmas Tree display and I saw the perfect tree for us. I admired it for awhile and then I looked at the shelves. There was only 1 left. So, since I wanted it and Lowes seldom re-orders seasonal items, I had to buy it today. I now own this perfect tree all decorated with pine cones and berries plus clear lights.



And all of this costs Money!

La La La La Lola!

Ray Davies ode to the lovely transvestite Lola.

Foolin' Yourself

Sometimes finding what one really wants in life isn't what one thinks it is.

With Passion

Simple Life

One of my new favorite tunes from Lynyrd Skynyrd.




Hey! When was the last time you sat down
and had dinner with your kids?
Talked about what's goin' on in their lives?
Hey! When was the last time you just
stopped and helped somebody out?
I bet you can't remember.

Well lots of people are saying it's changing for the better
But that don't interest me,

I like the simple life
The way it used to be
We left our doors wide open, we didn't need no key.
I've been around the world
Seen all there is to see
I'd trade all those memories
For one more day of how it used to be
I like the simple life.

I want to get up Sunday morning and go fishing with my boy.
Watch the sunset and kick back in my yard.
Take my Harley on a real long lazy Sunday drive
And do a little more of nothing once in awhile

Yeah maybe kick my feet up watch an old rerun on TV
Laughing with old Barney, Andy and Aunt Bee.

I like the simple life
The way it used to be
We left our doors wide open, we didn't need no key
I've been around the world
Seen all there is to see
I'd trade those memories
For one more day of how it used to be
I like the simple life.

Everything's moving by so fast
I swear sometimes we just can't see
So caught up on where we're trying to get
Life as we know it can be gone in a minute

I want the simple life
The way it used to be
We left our doors wide open, we didn't need no key
I've been around the world
Seen all there is to see
I'd trade those memories
For one more day
I want the simple life
I want the simple life.

Life In The Fast Lane With Music

I'm just not feeling this blogging thang anywhere at the moment. My life seems to be pulling me away from the computer these days. It's OK here where I can throw something up and ignore it, but I just don't have the time, nor am I inclined to find the time to work a blog.

My real life was broken by the death of my Mom, and that's what got me into this blogging thing to start out with. It seemed to me to be a way to both honor her and to help myself grieve. It took over my life, and that should never have happened. Had I spent the time and effort in life to help myself the right way rather than spending all that effort on a blog, I might have recovered faster.

For a very long while I separated myself from what was real in my life and replaced it with funny characters, and some very fake people. I invested months of my life in something that did more harm than good. I replaced time spent with real honest to goodness breathing humans with words on a screen and a community in which witches and trolls lived. There were a few real souls floating around, but I couldn't tell the difference until I was in the middle of things that I didn't understand.

Part of me still lives there, because that other site and my posts are in some way memorials to the people and the cat that I lost in my life. You'll find me there two days a week and once in awhile to answer what comments I get. You might find me in Twitter now and again or here, but for the most part, I have a life I'm living with people I can see, touch and hear. Computers and all the "friends" you meet when online can't replace that.

I'd Really Rather Not Get Sick

Spent two and a half hours yesterday in the office attending an inservice on infection control. NY mandated that healthcare workers get both flu shots before Nov. 30 this year only the vaccine seems to be in short supply. Since the company wants to protect our ability to make them money, in the interim, we were given some instructions regarding prevention.

Neither of the strains do all that much damage if the person they attack has a healthy immune system. So, we were given information on how to boost our immune system during this flu season. Some of the information is of course standard infection control habits. Washing hands, not touching your face with your hands when out in public. Covering your mouth with your arm rather than your hands if you have to cough. Proper use of exam gloves and how to take them off without touching the possibly contaminated surface. We were also issued face masks in case our clients are coughing, or if we have a cold. That was new, and unwelcome.

Other things I wasn't quite as familiar with. Our nurse found a "walking" exercise program which can be done indoors. Suggested is 30 minutes 6 days a week. Most of us will get out and walk when the weather's nice, but much of the year here it's not nice and making youself go out in rain, cold, snow, etc isn't something any of us have done successfully. It's a pretty boring routine, but with 30 minutes of any CD I truly love, I can get through it.

We've been told not to start weight loss diets and to increase our complex carbohydrate consumption through fruits, vegetables and whole grain products. Also absolutely necessary is the consumption of plain water to stay hydrated. Homes are now being heated which dries out the nasal passages and that allows the development of a breeding ground for the flu and colds.

Proper diet and exercise will reduce the effects of stress which in turn builds a good immune system so I'm willing to help myself with that. I'd rather not get either types of flu, and by the time the vaccine is distributed for many of us that may be too late. Well, I have to go start my day with a bowl of cereal, and some fruit. AFTER I do my walking.

I Really, Really, Really Do.

Let's Work Together

"Make someone happy...make someone smile."

It's supposed to snow here tonight. That will make snowmobilers and skiers smile. Me? Not so smiley, but it's going to happen here sooner or later.

I Might Have To Put Him Out Of His Misery

Took a trip to Walmart yesterday for Nyquil, Sudafed, tissues, Clorox Sanitizing wipes, more Purell and a 38 Special. Hubby's down with a severe cold and I needed the tools to combat his germs, help him feel better and hopefully prevent me from getting what he's got.

If he gets friendly and gives me his germs, I am so going to need that 38 Special.

Kings and Queens of Soul

Even though I don't have any clients until Wednesday I'm going to be busy and may not have time to post. So, I made a Mixpod of the people I feel are the Kings and Queens of soul music.

Gadget removed until I figure out how to change it from autoplay. LOL

On this little gadget you'll find 27 songs from:

Aretha Franklin

Tina Turner

Gladys Knight and the Pips

Stevie Wonder

James Brown

Wilson Pickett

Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Let's Call It What It Is

I make my choices, go on about my business and keep my ship on a steady course. Wanna borrow my Rock Steady?

Paying The Toll

Who Do I Love????

The main boulevard in Rome, NY is the victim of a major overhaul thanks to the infrastructure stimulus package voted in by our government. It's been a long summer of detours, driving on grooved roads and carefully entering intersections from side streets so one doesn't lose the oil pans on our cars. Was on my way to a clients shortly after lunch today and for the first time in months, I actually blessed the road construction. I am in no way exaggerating when I say that the conditions at the intersection I was crossing actually saved my life.

The north/south boulevard is normally a two lane in both directions. Due to the road and curb work the number of lanes have been reduced to just one lane on the left side of each direction. As one enters the intersection in front of the closed off right lanes one drops down 3 or 4 inches to grooved surface, so it's best to do this slowly. Because of the reduced speed necessary to negotiate these drops and other obstacles like the manhole covers which are still up at road surface, I have been using stop light intersections as that gives me time to carefully negotiate the mess. I have a Chevy Cavalier, it's oil pan is very available for rupture if I should hit one of those manholes or anything else that might present an uneven surface.

I had the green light, so I entered the intersection carefully and looked to see if I was missing the manhole and the smaller natural gas cover. I was about 5 feet from being into the left lane on that side of the median when something made me look to my left. Bearing down on me was a tractor trailer whose driver showed no sign of stopping. Since I was only doing 10 mph I managed to stop within a couple of feet and sat there watching the truck fly past. I was close enough that the draft from the semi rocked the car a little. If it weren't for the road construction I would have been moving faster and directly in front of that semi when he ran the red light.

I was shocked at that truckers total disregard of the traffic light. I actually looked up to see if I could see what color the light was. Of course, I was too far out, but then I realized that North bound traffic was stopped so my light must still have been green. It wasn't until I arrived at my destination that the enormity of what just occured to me sunk in. There was no way I would have survived the impact. That's an extremely sobering thought.

I've never been a careless driver. Partly because I'd rather not hit anything or anyone. I'd rather not add to the roadkill total, so I always keep a sharp eye out when driving. I discovered today that I do rely too much on others to obey the traffic signals that should keep us all safe at intersections. If I have the green light and nothing is close to the intersection I don't always look far enough down the road to check for oncoming traffic that might not be slowing down. My little adventure today serves as a reminder to do that because in this particular situation the life I save would be my own.



The answer to that question would be MYSELF of course!

Having Some Fun

Former Georgia Satellite front man Dan Baird giving us a lesson on the correct grammatical use of punctuation marks.



Any questions? No? Well, I have one.

Where were all these teachers worthy of mental undressing when I went to school?

A Little Steve Miller Band For Wind Beneath My Wings

For the first time in decades bald eagles returned to Central New York. Got a chance to actually see one in a tree along the banks of 6 Mile Creek on my way to work this past Spring. Wouldn't it be nice to fly like an eagle? Unfortunately, I'm surrounded by a bunch of turkeys. And I mean that literally.

I opened my door to go outside a bit ago and frightened one into flight. I've never seen a bird quite that clumsy and I almost didn't think it was going to clear the tree, but I didn't see or hear a splat. I'd rather soar than do that. I think I'll get a little lift from Steve Miller.

80's Ladies Liked To Dance

In the 80's I was newly single, much thinner than I am now and a lot younger. In order to clean up some debts I got stuck with after the divorce, (long story) I worked 2 jobs. I had 1 Sunday off every 13 days. Like any red blooded single female in the 80's, I loved to dance. So, on the night before the one day I could sleep in and nurse a hangover if necessary, I would get my glad rags on and hit the local dance clubs.

In my smallish city there were 3 or 4 of them. My favorite was The Casbah, followed in a very close second place by The Spotlight. One or two Mudslides, Snakebites or Fireballs to oil the machinery and then it was on to the dance floor. Mudslides were a pretty big drink so you definitely wanted to limit the consumption of those by sharing with a friend.

Mudslide Recipe.

1 shot vodka
1 shot Kahlua® coffee liqueur
1 shot Bailey's® Irish cream
1 shot cream
1 shot milk

Whirl with ice in a blender and down the hatch.

Snakebites also needed some basic common sense.

2 shots Yukon Jack
Dash of lime juice

Then there were the gut busting Fireballs

1 shot of Cinnamon Schnappes
A healthy dash of Tabasco Sauce.

Still standing? Good...now....on to the dance floor.

Cold, Rainy Sunday Music Menu

Not entirely what I planned on listening to, but plans are made to be changed. Some days you just have to go with the flow.

The Beatles




The Eagles



Janis Joplin

What's In A Name? Oh...You'd Be Surprised

How closely does music reflect our lives? Sometimes we'll hear a particular song and say to ourselves "That's IT!!! That's MY life in that song!" Sometimes it's just a song that suits our mood, or a life changing event happening at that particular moment in our lives.

Our life from beginning to end has different stages, birth to death and everything painful, mundane or exhilarating in between. Whatever we experience in our life has been sung about in some decade or another. In my case, rather than a song defining a change in my actual life, it's more a case of my name sung in ways that reflect changes in music styles.

Some people's peoples accomplishments earn them their name in lights on a marquee. Some peoples accomplishments earn them their name on prison rosters for the deeds they commit. Somewhere in the middle are the rest who plod about their daily lives with little or no recognition for the work they do.

Then there's me. Someone who has spent a large portion of her life being embarrassed by friends and family who think it's cute to sing these songs to me simply because my name is in their titles. I suppose it's a situation that is not nearly as bad as having a last name that rhymes with FART. How do I know that? Well...before I married...mine did.