insult to injury

I'm still kinda' limping from the fall down at the cabin the other day.  Last night I was perched on the computer chair which is usually covered with a quilt or blanket.   Somehow or another I slid smooth out of it and landed on my coccyx...a fancy name for ass.  I don't always take Ibuprofen but it comes in handy during these times.  

I was at the gentral' this morning scooping up Propel and whatnot.  As I was checking out I witnessed the miracle of two little kids learning to do self check out.  Older brother knew the total and came back to Daddy for another dollar.  "Sorry dude....all I have is a card."  I gave them a dollar and watched while they scanned and paid.  It was truly one of those moments that you can't make up.  Always pay it forward.  Last week at the shady one, I was behind some guy using two different cards that didn't have a balance.  I asked the cashier how much his stuff was and it was only five bucks so I paid for it.  As he was thanking me going out the door, I asked him to pay it forward.  And I believe he did.

Lauren and Reaves came for a short time and she didn't even want to get out of the car she was so tired.  She had McDs breakfast all laid out in front of her so we all shared that.  I got her into the house by promising a surprise.  That tent still ain't put together!

I have not been to church in many weeks, being overly cautious about the virus.  I saw Preacher today and he said they're opening back up next week....just to see how it goes.  If there is one thing good about this pandemic it's that the church has come to the people via technology during a very dangerous time.  I was so happy to see SNL back that I watched the entire thing sketch by sketch.  And laughed out loud!

Grace and peace to you and yours ^j^

tales from a bag lady

Here's a warning for you...if the mention of poop causes you distress DO NOT read this post.  I have had multiple accidents during the year that I've had an ostomy.  Thankfully they were all at home, or close to.  I use a three piece apparatus with an adhesive barrier, bag and clip for the bottom of the bag.  If any one of these things malfunctions I get a pile of poop.  The most common thing for me has been the clip or bag coming off and leakage around the barrier.  The bag tends to fill up with air while I'm sleeping and we do what is called "burping" to let the gas out so it doesn't explode!  If you don't lock it back real tight you get what happened this morning.  The whole damn bag fell off when I was getting up to pee.  I know, that's TMI.  

I went back to the cabin this morning to put a quilt on that bed and hijacked a bag of ice I took for Christmas.  My left side is feeling the pain from yesterday's fall all the way from shoulder to knee.  I'm glad I'm on Prolia and mega Vitamin D because I landed hard on that hip.  Oscar is all up under my feet now because he senses something is going on.  He has visited there once and ran around like it was doggie heaven.  I usually leave him outside when I leave here but down there he would "terrorize" Smoochie so I'll have to alter that routine a bit like leave him on the back porch.  

It hit me like a ton of bricks yesterday when I pulled up and saw the mailbox finished, complete with numbers.  There have been a ton of folks involved in restoring that place including the foundation guy from out of town, Greg Collier Plumbing and  Heating and of course Johnny Keeling and Billy Clark, the mainstays of carpentry and restoration.  One sunny day, we will all gather there and christen the house that we watched evolve over three years.  I'm considering making a registry somewhere like Target or WalMart cuz I figure this is a pretty big deal like having a baby or getting married!  JK

I started reading Rick Bragg again this week and this latest one is a compilation of short stories which are my favorite.  It takes a really good book to keep me going all the way to the end.  I see myself as a short story writer here on this blog.  I attempted NaNoWriMo  exactly once.  I don't do well with deadlines plus who can write when you're working full time and taking care of elderly parents.  And even as I'm writing this post, I'm doing ten other things.  No wonder I get lost!

Peace be with you and yours.  Love deeply and unconditionally.  It's what Jesus would do ^j^

before a fall

Pride goeth, or so I've read in the scripture.  My boss was good enough to let me have a day off to be able to see the progress at my old/new home.  I bought sheets and shower rings at the 'gentral. All that bed needs is a quilt which is in the dryer .  This has been a years long mission to restore the place where the Stafford family got raised up.  There were three of us....Me, Bubba and Tommy.  At one time all five of us lived under that roof and enjoyed lots of good times.  

As kids we were very different and we still are.  I see both Mama and Daddy coming out in us as we age.  I fall ALL the time because I'm always in a hurry to do this or that.  I had my virgin fall at the cabin today while carrying nothing at all but not holding the rail.  Different steps, ya know.  It was then that I realized that it will all come together in spite of me and my busy work.  I have the luxury of slowly going through old family history as I work toward my sweet spot.  

It is where I will die, just about a mile from my burial plot at the Carter Family Cemetery.  Bubba already has his stone down there but I'm paying for a new car so I'll just let the estate take care of that.  

Happy Friday kids.  Y'all keep the faith and call out the stupid ones.  

on being busy

I slept for 13 hours last night and barely turned over.  Evidently this old body needed some rest!  I headed out to paradise where it actually snowed "pretty" this time and was a sight to behold.  The geese went bonkers.  I'll be taking the birds all my leftovers as I move on.  My own have been on their own this winter.  As I empty out the old stuff and feed them, I will ask them to come visit me down there.  I bet they will.

I find myself drawn to potential pets who have no home.  If it were not for Paw2Care, Ellie would never be where she is now as a therapy dog.  I'm not one of those who wants to take 'em all in, but I do like to find homes for the homeless.  Screw a bunch of high dolla' puppies.  Save the ones who are here.  You ain't going to the AKC or anything.  My one remaining critter is Oscar and he is having the time of his life.  I keep hearing this noise at the back door, probably the wind, but it's like there's a new furbaby trying to come into my life.  And it's most surely a cat.

Y'all be happy and healthy!  Muahhhh

don't poke the bear

Lerd, y'all.  I don't know what's going on with the world but about half of it is batshit crazy.  We had a couple of murders up around Reelfoot and the details are baffling.  It will be interesting to see what really happened.  Currently there is one suspect on the loose considered armed and dangerous....older guy.  The deceased and injured were all young men in love with duck hunting, or so it seems.  Hmmmm.

I've been home for a little over an hour and on the phone the whole time.  My network is so big that if I go missing, somebody will  notice I'm absent. The sun came out today and twinkled on the lake.  I tried to take a picture but a phone cam just doesn't do it justice.  I've been too busy to do any moving but that will come.  I'm kind of a space cadet and I've got a lot of balls in the air right now.  I write notes and them lose them.  I tend to use my morning hours doing business and being on hold.  There are prescriptions to pick up and felt furniture pieces to buy.  It kills my soul to go into Lowe's so I may just see if I can order for pickup.  That is how I roll these days.  

Reaves' tent and my book are already on the way thanks to the 'zon.  I just hope the delivery people can find me at my mailing address.  That is a persistent problem since the change of the road name.  

I'm on a list for the vaccine but wayyyyy out.  I'm careful and secluded so that makes me feel better about the whole deal.  I noticed that gas jumped another dime today and I can only assume it's about shutting down Keystone.  As an environmentalist, I agree on the action.  As a consumer I will pay out the ass.  Such is life.  I often wonder what Old Hoss the dung beetle is thinking about all this crap.  He would prolly' say "too bad."  

Keep the faith ^j^

thunderation

I learned that song about native American culture at girl scout camp.  It was a favorite because we got to shout!  We had a bit of a gully washer here today and I watched it as the lake moved with the motion of the storm.  Evidently right after a hard rain is the perfect time to fish because some guy was out there at it.  

It had slacked off by the time I left for town thank goodness.  I drove through standing water to get out this morning which is, I must say, much easier in a higher up vehicle.  No telling how many flood trips that old Camry made over the years.  

I haven't bought a book in years since the days I walked festivals with my buddies in Nashville.  That's where I got to know Clyde Edgerton, Lee Smith and a whole lot of others.  You can drop 200 bucks in a heartbeat.  I bought kids classics for Lauren like Polar Express signed by the author.  I saw Larry Brown publish a darkly accurately story of rural America.  He came to his session drunk  and when I read the book Joe I understood.  He died a short time later.  All of this is to say this....I ordered Rick Bragg's new one today plus a colorful kids popup tent.  Hey...you can't take it with you.  These are immediate needs for my sanity!

When I checked the mail there was another book there delivered for my friend Hippie.  It's something historical I think.  I have talked to LP twice today and it's nice to hear her a bit more rested.  Maybe not by miracle, but she dodged a bullet.  I am so proud of her I could just die, but then that would make her sad.  *snort*

I have lived to see the ozone destroyed by a greedy oil industry which has fought like a cat to knock down natural sources of power.  The industrial age has not been good to us or delivered what we knew as children, even.  I get it:  if I want to stay warm or go I have to have gas but there are soooooo many other options out there in alternative fuels.  How about milo ya think?  It's a start.  Solar panels.  There is a huge market for renewables in our day and time.  If goes goes to 4 bucks a gallon because a pipeline was shut down, I will pay it.  But I won't blame it on the Democrats.  

Peace out kids ^j^ 

man on the street

There is a street preacher who switches back and forth between Kroger and WalMart pacing the sidewalks and hollering the gospel for all to see.  I've seen him before and heard a bit about his story so being the reporter wannabe' that I am, when I spotted him on the WalMart side while I was fueling up at Kroger, I decided to go over and meet him.  His name is Joshua and I asked him about his story.  He said that he had been deep into addiction with a career in music then lost it all due to the drugs.  We chatted about the Lord and repentance and forgiveness.  It was truly a God moment.  I shook his hand which sported tatted up knuckles and went on my. I asked to take his picture but he didn't want it on FB.  

I had a chance to get a COVID vax today but the timing wasn't good so I had to pass for now.  Evidently they are calling people late in the day so as not to waste a dose and my friend gave me a shoutout.  I was working so I could not have made it in time.  There will be another opportunity and I will wait my turn.  I do now have the link to get on the list.  

Today was sunny and cool but I was mesmerized by the twinkling of the sun on the lake out at paradise.  We, as usual, watched Kelly and loved every minute of it.  Pearl brings everybody who comes in a present....sometimes a toy, or perhaps a roll of packing tape or a remote.  She won't let go of it though.  It's the thought that counts.  She knows that when I say walk we are about to do laps around the house.  Smart doggie!  Oscar greeted me in the yard and scampered up to claim his spot in the recliner.  

I chatted with an old out of town friend today who wanted to come by and visit and I told her I wouldn't be until later.  When I pulled up I noticed a tote on the back porched filled with iced down Michelob Ultra!  Thank you Sally Rone!  You made my day.

It's time to go catch the sunset.  Y'all be blessed ^j^

karma's gonna get you

Everything seems like an extreme effort right now.  I'm slowly moving to the cabin and making a wish list of things I need.  I have a crock pot, air fryer toaster oven and a full size bed that needs sheets.  I also love candles and flowers so there ya' go.  I'm figuring on a big week long housewarming.  I will cook but all donations will be appreciated.  I made my first car payment in 15 years yesterday and that was a real reality check. I brokered a deal with the ostomy provider where they will be paid back so that I can re-order.  Hopefully hospital restrictions will ease up and I can have this bitch reversed.  My next project is to get the Covid vax.

So much of my life is up in the air right now which is pretty much normal.  I slept much better last night than I have in 4 years.  That's about how long I've been retired.  March 2017 to be exact.  That was following a left RTC surgery that didn't work out too well.  Thank the lort I didn't have the partial shoulder replacement or cadaver transplant.  I still have pretty good ROM in spite of surgery on both shoulders. 

I finished a lovely book today which always makes me sad.  I also got to the end of Schitt's Creek so now I'm roaming around looking for something new to binge on.  Such is life in the fast lane.  

Y'all be happy and hopeful and catch those little rays of hope shooting out into the atmosphere.  I don't care, I just need a hug.  Over and out from the lane ^j^

what i'm liking

There is so much to chat about these days that I don't know where to start and, frankly, the muse is tired.  And so is everybody else.  It lifted my spirits to see America united once again at least for a day.  That's not just because I'm a snowflake but because the drama of Trump's exit strategy was putting us all in danger.  Am I surprised that he flew off to FL before the proceedings?  Not at all.  He had a few fans wishing him well and pouring on the love but nothing to compare with the elegance and dignity in DC after he left.  Let's move on.  Together.

I sat on the deck today watching a flock of ten Canadian geese on the lake moving from one side to the other peacefully doing their thing.  Not much honking, just a lot of gliding.  That made me go "wow."  Me and my buddy enjoyed a Sonic blast after hair which was a rare treat.  She looked at me while we silently enjoyed the ice cream and said "Are you tired?"  I told her yes that I'm tired all the time.  She can relate.  I do my best to be her sunshine and have fun during the time that we are together.  

Lauren had strep last week and now Reaves has it.  If it ain't one thing it's five.  My dear friends lost the last of their four parents today in a whirlwind of three COVID deaths and one by natural causes over a six month period.  Four people and two estates to be settled.  Talk about overwhelming.

I am finally reading the book Joetta and Paul loaned me back in the spring "Where the Crawdads Sing" and I am hooked, looking forward to my couple of chapters a day.  You know how when you really understand who the characters are and from whence they came?  It's like that.  

Ellie has her own little girl now, I think two of them.  I saw her pictures today and she looks right at home.  I know that I did the right thing there and I am grateful for the community of animal lovers that made it happen.  Paws2Care.  Excellent network of finding homes for fur babies.  

Peace out and ride the blue wave kids ^j^

quiet observation

It never ceases to amaze me what a day will bring.  I found out early this morning that Ellie was adopted on Sunday and her family has already sent pictures to the shelter that will be shared with me.  Hopefully I can strike up a friendship with these folks and watch her grow and be loved.  I owe a great debt of gratitude to Diana Griffith and her cohort Brooke for making this all happen.  And I hope there are kids!

Before I went out to paradise, I did a Kroger and bank run for my other client.  Inside the bank lobby I saw an elderly woman who (all masked up) had come up there to find out her balance.  Now, I'm assuming she doesn't know any other way and she also asked about shredding checks which they do once a year in October.  I can't tell you how many old checkbooks and registers I have burned over the years but I probably contributed a lot of smoke to the ozone.  Many of the elderly do not understand anything technology wise and as we all know, that's the way of the world now.  The gentleman waiting on her was kind and patient and I doubt she'll remember the shred date if she's even alive then.  Dear Lord please, don't let me be one of those without an advocate.

Further on down the road, I noticed a guy pacing back and forth in front of the Kroger fuel center waving some kind of book and yelling.  He was either a street preacher or somebody else with a cause but he stayed at it for hours.  My brother works there and said he left about 2.  Dude was on fire for something!

After that I spent a few hours in paradise and it was a nice day to be out on the deck.  I watched as folks cleaned yards and uncovered what will be spring.  There are little blades popping up at the cabin which may or not get covered in snow.  We shall see.  

Hug somebody and hold it for a long time.  That's the best therapy ^j^

little by little

I am moving things one or two pieces at a time to the cabin since I now have a vehicle with room to do so.  I can't lift a lot but these are small pieces that make it look a bit more like home....antique rocking chair, wicker table, etc.  The bed is there with some modifications to be made for the full size set that I bought.  I will have to buy new sheets but I need 'em anyway.  Mine are a mish mash of nothing that matches.  

I have never bought a lottery ticket in my life until today and I just had to get a Powerball since it's around 700 million.  If I win I will remember every single person who has ever helped me out plus some.  If you don't play, you can't win.  I don't do the scratch off game and actually feel sorry for those folks who plop down all that money and sit in the car scratching away only to be disappointed.  I see how it can easily become an expensive addiction.  

I thought about Dr King all day and was really wowed by the story that Kelly Clarkson featured about a former white supremacist and his African American parole officer.  Kelly cried and so did I.  He is no longer her client but they remain fast friends.  He had to relocate after leaving the ideology behind to protect himself and his family.  Very brave on both of their parts.  

We have two days left of this presidency.  I pray that the weeks ahead will be a peaceful transition even though you know who is acting like a spoiled brat.  And so is wifey.  I'm just ready to move on to something more civilized.  I read a piece today about the usual meeting of first ladies during the transition to walk the White House together.  That won't be happening this time which is sad but whatever it takes to get to Plan B.  

There are ties between us....all men and women ^j^

aftershock

I am making a bold attempt to get my shit together by organizing papers and setting priorities.  Time is ticking on both the move and surgery.  Plus, I just bought a new to me car and the first payment is coming up.  I bought the Camry at the end of a lease and her lien was in motion for quite some time until the Chapter 13.  Oddly enough, the largest creditor who happened to hold the title failed to file a claim and got nothing.  Yet they sat on my title for several years while my legal team kept bothering them about "look...you didn't file a claim."  Your bad.  They are a very predatory lender, by the way offering quick money and hard payback.  Just like the cash advance places.  Been there....done that.

I worshiped virtually this morning and loved every moment of it.  It seems to me to be a much more intense message  when you can watch up close.  I've never understood all those people who sit in the back!  I want to see those people's faces up close and personal.  I suppose we are all a bit like Samuel in that we don't get it when God calls our name.  We ask for interpretation from those who are our elders.   But you know what?  That's the beauty of faith to me.  Do the next right thing.  Be kind and loving and against all evil.  I am thinking of Dr. King today and what he stood for.  Non violent protest.  And still they were persecuted.  

I was on the way home the other day at dusk when I passed by a guy hauling a refrigerator on a trailer and a BLM flag whipping in the breeze.  I gave him a thnmbs up and smiled.  

Peace be with you ^j^  "and also with you"

from the palace

Lauren and Reaves and Oscar and I all crammed into a queen size bed last night and slept fitfully.  Everybody was kind of not used to all that company.  I had to get up to pee around 630 and everybody was up after that.  LP drove to Bemis to work leaving me and Reaves for a grandma day.  She is only three and quite strong willed but we made it just fine until it came to getting dressed to go pick up groceries at Kroger.  Then it was a full on meltdown for both of us.  I even called my neighbor crying to ask if he would make the Kroger run for me.  Out of the blue she decided she wanted to go for a car ride so there we went.  

Now most of you know that I am a non-fiction writer girl on the street kind of gal.  Oscar rode with us to Kroger and when I lifted the hatchback for the grocery lady he jumped out and started sniffing every tire on the parking lot.  Several employees offered to help me with tracking him down even offering to pick him up and I said NOOOOOOO.  He was on the edge next to Walgreens when I finally caught up with him and got him back in the car.  Lerd.  Lauren had a similar experience last night at the 'gentral but not with Oscar....some other rascally dog while Oscar sat in her car.  UCMTSU.

Today I have been wash lady, cook, grandmother, out of my mind and blessed.  At some point Reaves began a chorus about loving all things Gaga and my heart melted.  She is presently still trolling the office which may never be the same again.  There is a reason that you have kids when you're young.  I was 29 when Lauren was born and I sure felt it raising a kid in my 30s and 40s.  At one point today I was actually invited into her palace where she sat on a throne with a yoga mat stretched out in front.  A purple one, no less.  

Wave below the crown girls ^j^

snowing sideways

We watched in amazement at the first snow of the season blew across the lake at paradise.  Gusts were up to almost 40 mph which made for some interesting patterns.  We ate and chatted and hung out with Pearl and read some books and watched Kelly.  Lawd...we love her!  And the whole time I could hear the wind howling around that deck.

My friends delivered the bed that I bought from them today and we had a nice visit at the cabin.  True friends are the ones who love you like chicken and will be there in a heartbeat.  They are dealing with a whole bunch of drama themselves so it meant that much more to me.  

I am praying for a peaceful transition of power.  In the words of my Daddy and Billy Yates, "it has always been thus and so."  Sorry I missed that chapter.  In my lifetime personally, I have never witnessed anything like it and I'm a boomer who thought she had seen it all.  Trump's latest tiff is about being compared and contrasted to Nixon.  No comment.  It would ruin my mood.

Lauren and Reaves are on the way to spend the night and pizza is ordered.  I had to hit up the shady 'gentral to get snacks and art supplies because I have her all day tomorrow.  This is a first since she became a big girl.  

Y'all play nice and just enjoy the wonder a day brings.  As for me, I'm going to plan garden 2021.  There will be lots of plants here there and yon.  Especially on that back porch.

Peace ^j^

today's soapbox

So, today's dumbass move of the day was the decision by the Republicans in Tennessee to block a grant for Medicaid expansion.  Now before you get all ruffled, I am a career healthcare provider and know the ropes.  This money has been returned to the federal government time and time again because why?  It could help thousands of under or uninsured residents of our great state who seriously need healthcare.  We are smack dab in the middle of the biggest healthcare crisis that most of us have ever seen.  Bill Lee's gang is stopping it with the help of Blackburn, Kustoff and many others.  Lamar Alexander never did a thing to help the situation.  I wrote to Kustoff concerning the riot at the Capitol last week and so far have heard nothing from him.  Not a peep.  I guess he doesn't care about the little people in his great GOP state.  Remembering the beginning of TennCare under Governor Bredesen, I realize that there was a lot of fraud and it was mostly pharmacists and members of the Ford family.  The Fords exploited the daycare piece and the pharmacy industry gouged the program.  It still stands in some form or fashion because Reaves is covered by it. This is a blessing because her single working mom couldn't afford insurance on her.   Let's level the playing field y'all.  The working poor don't have a chance unless they have multiple jobs to keep the boat floating and that takes away precious family time.  Nobody can get EBT or SNAP except for the ones who don't work.  There has got to be a better way.

Think about all these things the next time you have an urge to splurge.  Our local Salvation Army serves hundreds of meals to people in our community who would otherwise not eat.  They also have a new retail store where donations are always welcome.  Just knock on the door and somebody will come help.  I promise.

^j^

impeachment redux

I was hospitalized in January 2020 so all I did was watch TV.  I was treated to days and days of impeachment the same week that Wuhan blew wide open and Kobe Bryant died.  This today was a whole 'nother deal.  Ten Republicans flipped on him but they were only expecting 8 so there ya go.  Me and my buddy were all primed to watch Kelly Clarkson today and got that instead.  When I left I was looking for something to leave her with and they were STILL covering the vote.  I offered Ice Road truckers but she said nah.  We both read a bit today and visited the beauty shop.  And Pearl loves me which helps the Ellie hurt.

The sun was out and it hit 53 today in the 'burg.  I'll take that any day over hovering in the 30s.  I see more and more people struggling with life trying to make sense of it all.  I have always been against the death penalty.  I know and eye for an eye and all that.  The first woman to be executed in a kazillion years was the gal who murdered the woman and stole her fetus.  The baby made it and old girl was arrested.  But here's the thing:  She was truly mentally ill and suffered at the hands of her addicted parents who used her for the sex trade and whatnot.  Very low IQ and a history of horrific trauma.  What did her death accomplish in the way of justice?  Not a damn thing.  

Here we go with the big abortion thing.  Unwanted pregnancies are avoidable with adequate education and access to birth control.  Both of these resources have been slashed because of the cut in Planned Parenthood funding.  Heck, I got MY birth control from the Memphis office when I was in college.  I'll never forget my Daddy slinging that letter from them at me one day like he was all pissed.  I did the right thing and was pregnant at the right place and time in my life.  

Yes, I'm a snowflake libtard. I believe in racial and gender equality and the right to choose.  I believe in the right to bear arms if they are not high capacity killing machines. And I believe that our nation and all its' little teeny tiny communities will be okay in the long run.  Signing off here from Pollyanna world ^j^

road dogs

It hit me today when I came home this afternoon and there was no big beautiful brown dog running through the yard to greet me.  She is gone to another home somewhere, hopefully where she will be loved for the sweet girl that she is.  .  I had to go by the vet's office today and pick up her records for passing along the chain of doggie adoption.  Oscar was down visiting his girlfriend when he heard my car coming and raced me, alone, to the house.  He went straight for the water, and then to the recliner.  Dude does not have to fight for the space now.  

The long lost ostomy order arrived today just in time.  I was down to one barrier and a few bags.  That ONE has been traveling in my purse for a year as an emergency backup.  I actually read a book today and was surprised how quickly I got lost in it.  My friend and I sat there in the sun reading our respective books in silence.  That's a nice feeling.  On top of all the other bullshit going on, 'tis the season for depression with dark gloomy days.  I can tell they're getting a little bit longer but it's gonna' take a lot more sunlight to get me out of the valley.

When I woke up this morning there was a soreness around the gums where the extraction was done two weeks ago.  My young dentist humored me and examined it, with me paranoid about the possibility of necrosis.  He assured me it was fine after poking and prodding at it for a bit.  He's so nice and calm it ain't even funny.  Just like you want a dentist to be.  My thoughts are always "just get me through this."  My life is in your hands at the moment.  I will be thinking the same thing when I meet Dr. Turner at Baptist East.  You did it once dude....I trust you this time too.

Everybody's on full alert with protests scheduled in all 50 states.  I am more and more for televising the inauguration from an undisclosed location with tight federal control.  These people don't play.  The conspiracy theories are swirling.  I just want it to be over, like COVID.  I feel helpless and scared a lot.  I ran off without a mask today and stopped by Headlines to get two new ones before a drive through at Daylight Doughnuts.  There was a bank run, Kroger pickup and a 'gentral store visit.    I usually go to the shady one because it's on the way to town and easier to navigate.  

Y'all be blessed.  Tell mama'n'them I say hey y'all ^^

flashback

Exactly one year ago today I was in the Dyersburg ER after being delivered by my brother through standing flash flood water on the lane.  My cousin Millette stayed with me through that day which I totally don't remember, until I was transported by ambulance to Baptist East critically ill.  I don't remember getting there or even being put in a room for a day until I could have surgery.  The memories that I have are of waking up on a vent in ICU post op surrounded by friends and family.  There was grave concern that I would not make it.  And yet I did.  The recovery was terrible and I was pretty foggy for about two months.  I even marked on the calendar the first day I drove which was in March!

I woke up at 3AM this morning thinking about what I had to do today.  At nine, with lots of ugly crying and sobbing, I delivered Ellie to the folks from Paws 2 Care for transport to Illinois and a new life.  This is probably one of the hardest things I've ever done.  I have put fur babies to sleep, buried them when they died and grieved.  Yet I was not ready for the trauma of actually giving her up to strangers.  Fortunately a loving fellow church member was there to give me comfort and I suppose she was driving.  Every cage had a name and number and Ellie was #6...big crate.   I have her leash, the one she pulled me down with back in April.  Boy was THAT an ordeal.  I couldn't walk for a month.  Her parting act of mischief was to destroy another ROKU remote that I got one week ago.  It's strange to be able to leave food out on the counter without it getting snatched.  As much as I bitched about her, she is my babygirl.  Oscar keeps going to the porch looking for her but he is enjoying the quiet.  

I refuse to talk politics today.  I am not happy with what is happening (again) because I know that it puts our country in a very vulnerable position.  Not to mention the fact that the loonies are just waiting and being fed by hate masters.  The whole thing seems surreal and I truly believe that now more than ever we must do the next right thing for our citizens.  Taking away the nuclear codes was a nice start.  

Let us pray, kids.  Far and wide and hither and yon, we need each other now more than ever ^j^

captain

While yakking with Mamye about the past 24 hours, she helped me figure out who that ghost Navy guy was out there by the mailbox referring to The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.  From what I know the Captain was visible only to her and came by for little conversations from which she wrote his autobiography.  Now I don't know about y'all, but as a writer I totally love that idea.  So we named him Captain.  I could certainly use another character to blog about!

We saw a beautiful small group of cardinals on a tree by the deck today.  Lots of females with dots of bright here and there.  I just looked at her like "well, there's our sign" for today....right behind yesterday's cat.  I could go hog wild imagining that cat climbing that tree eating birds but I'm not that morose.  I take the fleeting moments of joy as they come.  Hey Mama!  Hey Daddy!

Evidently the dogs followed the Captain last night because I couldn't find a sign of 'em this morning.  I went out to drive around, turned around at the cabin and was headed home when they appeared out of nowhere in the field.  I drove slowly home with them following and they both sacked out after watering.  All nighters are tough on a dog.

Y'all hang in there and keep the faith ^j^

into the mystic

Bundle up kids.  It is blustery as all get out!  It was spit snowin' on the way home this afternoon after a bit of off and on rain and cold cold wind.  Which is still blowing!  I was at my friend's house today on the deck and heard a cat meowing above.  She doesn't have a cat so we were quite curious.  She's a survivalist so always has a sturdy ladder and here we go.  I spotted on the ladder and she rescued "somebody's cat with a collar" from the roof.  And promptly released him to go home!  UCMTSU  On the way to her house I passed a traffic mishap on Hwy 78N right around WallyWorld where two bigass Red Dodge Rams were boosting each other off with one very patient cop or two making sure it went well.  Lerd.

I watched TV nonstop all day yesterday because, like the rest of the world, I thought WTF.  Politics has turned very dangerous and our country is stretched to the limits with turmoil.  Political affiliation should not be a part of what we become.  Working together *with term limits* is a realistic goal.  It's all this big cat and mouse thing about who has power over whom according to our constitution.  We must evolve and change into non-partisan commune of independent thinkers.  Coulda. Shoulda.Woulda.

I am a dem when it comes to most everything that FDR stood for.  Yet I have conservative roots from when it was all like SEC football.  Lamar Alexander was a good guy then.  So was John Jay Hooker.  Phil Bredesen. Bill Lee?  Not so much.  Our state infrastructure is dying slowly but surely.  Tennessee's economic base is healthcare and tourism.  Both are dying on the vine.  Marsha is the devil and that's all I can say.  Same for DeVos.

I will never forget when the hospital in Cellina closed and my BF Trae did a piece about it.  He grew up there and it's a bunch of nothingness.  That's why he moved to a more progressive state like California! To become famous!  He never wavers on his views because he came from a rural environment where corporate just shut the whole thing down in TN.  And all the other rural areas.  Look at how many people from Arkansas were in the capitol yesterday.  You can't fix stupid.

On another odd note, my neighbor called to say she saw a ghost kind of guy hanging around my mailbox when she went out.  She described him vividly right down to the Navy coat and 'boggan.  Daddy was an Air Force man and always wore overalls and a cowboy hat so it wasn't him  Or maybe?  It was.

I love everybody and y'all are next ^j^

where is the federal government?

georgia on my mind

Yep mine and everybody else who knows what's going on politically.  On both sides, mind you.  Trump did the absolute WORST thing he could do for his party by making that phone call for the country to witness.  That could be one of the many charge awaiting him.  The only way this man can be pardoned is if he dies and Pence becomes POTUS between now and January the 20th.  The point would be moot yet it would be interesting to see what Pence the spineless might do.  

I am still looking for a proper home for Ellie.  She needs room to run and people to love on.  Me and my buddy watched some cool documentaries today about Dolly Parton and Frank Sinatra.  We both enjoyed listening to the music and learning things we didn't know.  No ducks and no turtles. And definitely no leaves.  Yet the breeze catches those windchimes now and then and you could swear you're in fairyland.

Yaya and I exchanged gifts this morning which is unusual because usually I forget to buy for her unless I see something that just screams her name.  This shirt definitely did.  We chatted and got caught up and actually saw a little of Kelly and Ryan.  I got hooked on that one long ago, but not enough to pay for cable.  

Minimalism is becoming the norm these days and after all those years of chasing the dream folks are looking for "simple."  I certainly am.  That requires a ton of letting go of things and objects and focusing on the moment.  I'm one of the world's worst at that but I'm learning.  Living in clutter is not good for you in the long haul and I've been doing that for five years.  I'm not a hoarder, I was just the last in the line of a family to deal  with a lot of good memories.  I can't wait for that dumpster to show up in the yard.  

I can touch everything all Marie Kondo style and send it to wherever it's going.  The Minimalist guys makes sense.  Travel lightly for the road is long yet short on time to seize the day.  I pray that this day and all the ones to come are peaceful and content for you and that the Lord will give us strength to stand together and love each other for who we are.  Not what we could or should be.  Unconditional.  

One of the most upsetting things I read this week was about a young mother jumping off the I40 bridge with her toddler.  I know that there is that kind of hopelessness out there everywhere.  These are the least of them and there is always help.  All you gotta' do is ask.  

^J^

talk it to death

I am involved in a whole lot of decision making at the moment which mostly involves what to keep and what to pitch.  I'm going through all three levels of this old house purging and looking for something valuable.  There is an entire sheet rocked room up there with Lauren's baby stuff.  I don't go up there or into the basement except in full sunlight because there is no light in either place.  I know Mama's cedar chest with a piece broken off is upstairs and also the couch that matches the chair in my living room.  Metal straps on the bottom...so uncomfy.  

These are pieces that I inherited from long gone relatives and I will treat them with respect and dignity as I dig my way out.  I probably need to go ahead and order some sage for the upcoming transition.  Or just buy a bundle from Sunflower.  It's a big deal to me.

I don't know what to say about all the rest.  Trump is killing the GOP by expecting them to back his outrageous behavior.  If the Senate flips, blame him.  I am surprised and honored that so many Republicans are saying enough is enough.  God bless Georgia.  

There is faith and hope and love and joy at every turn in life.  I spent the afternoon listening to old school music with my friend and even a little couch dancing.  I also had excellent customer service experiences with Walmart, Simmons Bank and Hulu.  Somehow the Hulu thing got all screwed up and I was paying double. That is resolved.  No addons.  I'll just take the no ads option at a reasonable price.  

I have been up and down about five times since I started this post.  It seems like I'm wandering in a fog trying to make life work.  And you know what?  It's out of my hands.  And that, is a gift ^j^

basic necessities

My neighbor brought by some New Year's Day food yesterday evening and while he was here visiting I dropped my only pair of reading glasses and they broke.  They have been good ones that I bought online for ten bucks last year, lost and found them in a coat pocket and carried on. So this morning found me waiting for the 'gentral to open so I could get some specs.  I got two pair of 3.25 just in case.  It's hard to find anything over that strength.  I do have a new pair of distance glasses aka driving glasses for the far sighted thing.  Not that I travel much, but.....

My gum is healing well from the extraction and I'm learning how to chew again without that molar.  Next will be a partial per year until it's all done.  I'll be wired up like a Christmas tree!  My home church is back to virtual online worship after a few months of very cautious in person worship.  I'd just as soon watch it online in my jammies because the message is always good thanks to Mary Beth and the rest of the staff.  I noticed in our newsletter that last week's attendance in person was about a hundred with over two hundred present online.  Folks are scared to go anywhere with good reason.  I read today that one of my favorite nurses who has been tirelessly serving COVID patients in Jackson is now herself stricken with the virus.  This is reality folks.  Remember that the next time you touch a doorknob or don't wear a mask.

As for the political scene, WTF?  Everybody is turning on everybody and Trump is pissed at all the Republicans who have been his lackeys for years.  Their override of his veto was infuriating to him.  Too bad dude.  It's over.  Move on.  

I am slowly but surely making plans to move to the cabin.  It will be in fits and starts and I have until May 31st to vacate.  My biggest challenge so far is to find bedding for the antique 3/4 piece that was my great great grandmother's.  That size mattress and spring is hard to come by.  I'm also shopping for a boundary collar for Ellie to try out here on the hill before we move.  I hate to do that but she will smooth get run over down there without some constraints.  She is currently sacked out on my bed and Oscar in the recliner.  They fight over the recliner because it's right by my desk.  My friend brought me an arts and crafts sort of table that will be perfect for either a desk or a place to put potted flowers on the back porch.  

As Hoss would say "and so it goes."  He is a dung beetle somewhere busily writing political speeches and making the other beetles laugh.  That makes me smile really big.  

Y'all be safe and blessed ^j^