Bright and shiny Monday

[MandysMom]

It's a bright day in Northern California, at moment. May have some clouds. Today my son and I honor my Father's 110 th Birthday! He has been gone nearly 33 years. He left too soon, after a botched surgery to clear a partial blockage in his right carotid artery. I miss him still, but know Moms baking him his favorite cake, white cake with lemon filling, topped with vanilla ice cream. Happy Birthday Daddy!
The packages are wrapped, the stockings filled, the tree shining with lights and ornaments. For once, we are ready to just enjoy the week, without rushing around for last minute stuff. Hope you all have a warm wonderful week, enjoying celebrating the way you choose.
I'm so thankful to be a part of this warm friendly group. I thank you all for making my life richer. And holding me up when I need it most.
Have a good week everyone.
Velda

[Cudedog]

It's a bright day in Northern California, at moment. May have some clouds. Today my son and I honor my Father's 110 th Birthday! He has been gone nearly 33 years. He left too soon, after a botched surgery to clear a partial blockage in his right carotid artery. I miss him still, but know Moms baking him his favorite cake, white cake with lemon filling, topped with vanilla ice cream. Happy Birthday Daddy!
The packages are wrapped, the stockings filled, the tree shining with lights and ornaments. For once, we are ready to just enjoy the week, without rushing around for last minute stuff. Hope you all have a warm wonderful week, enjoying celebrating the way you choose.
I'm so thankful to be a part of this warm friendly group. I thank you all for making my life richer. And holding me up when I need it most.
Have a good week everyone.
Velda

Morning, Velda!

My Dad was a December baby as well (early December, I think - I can't recall the exact date at the moment). He passed just a few days before his 97th birthday. He has been gone 12 years. I never knew him well, not until his final year when he finally moved near to me. I discovered only then that he had a wonderful sense of humor (which I had never known) rather like my own. I wish I could have known him better over his long life, but, alas, it was not to be.

From what little I know of him, he had a difficult childhood. His name was Noel, which I am sure didn't help much, teasing kids were probably just as painful when he was growing up as they can be now.

On his birthday this month he would have been 109! So your Dad and mine would have been contemporaries! Where was your Dad from, originally?

I haven't done much decorating. I put out my string of winking/blinking colorful solar Christmas lights on the house; that is about it. No tree, no stockings, no decorations inside. Imagining being at your house and seeing your decorations and feeling the ambience puts a smile on my face.

I have tried watching some "Living Room Christmas Music Fireplace" videos on YouTube, but the music just makes me feel very blue, and after a few minutes I have to turn it off.

Generally, this time of year just a few days before Christmas, I will drive around and look at the Christmas lights on people's homes. Have always enjoyed that - [sigh] not gonna do that this year, either.

Oh, I did make a few home-made (on my computer) Christmas cards to send to friends. Don't know what possessed me - I haven't sent cards in years. I was just in the mood, I guess. Also made the cookies mentioned in another thread.

I will second your statement, I feel exactly the same way:

I'm so thankful to be a part of this warm friendly group. I thank you all for making my life richer. And holding me up when I need it most.
Have a good week everyone.

I, too, am very thankful for this group, and echo your statement.

Now I think I must get up off the couch and putter around outside while I can still move - although it isn't yet sunny here at my house, the day is a bit dark, with very heavy fog.

But going outside will make my Joe happy, and when Joe is happy I am happy too.

Thank you.

Anne

[SoCalGalcas]

Good Morning from sunny San Diego. Did my water jogging. The little warmth in the sun felt good. Today is my eldest GS birthday. He and his wife are doing IVF and have one frozen embryo left. Latest info on date to be planted is March.
Lyn

[Bethers]

I've decided to stay in Pahrump for a week. I'll take the time to decide what\where I'm heading and when. So I'll just relax over Christmas. There are two dog parks here so I'll take Ty to one or both everyday. Like you, Anne, Ty being happy makes me happy. Funny he never was really happy in DV. Ty who makes friends everywhere, after people get over his mean bark, only made a couple there... And while lots of others had dogs, none were willing to let the dogs meet. So he and I will have our Christmas together. The Honest Kitchen (who i started using for dog food with Peaches and continue with Ty) sent me an email on homemade Christmas dog treats. I think I'll be running to the store for the ingredients for one of the simple and adorable ones and for ice cream for me. Those will be our treats.

Velda, you've got me thinking about my dad. He died when I was young but I still have wonderful memories of him. I also am glad you've got things ready for a relaxing holiday. Sometimes the stress that comes with holidays made me want to scream.

After leaving DV yesterday I got to thinking that something happened with my new manager (who I liked and thought was doing a good job). I know he disagreed with the gm (and in my opinion he was right) so the manager I finally talked to yesterday I think replaced him. Ha 4 managers in a month. This is a nice guy but no where prepared to take over the store. I'm so glad to be gone. But part of me would like to be a fly on the wall to find out what's happening lol. I'll never know as i didn't exchange info with anyone there.

I, too, am very grateful for all you wonderful women.

[BarbaraRose]

Good morning gals! (well, just before noon anyways!). Another sunny day with a slight breeze, probably in the low 70's today.

I have been keeping a low profile the past few days. Have been having some intestinal issues I am thinking from one of the hormone capsules I am taking. I take two besides the pellets. I will probably go back in today or tomorrow to get the stitches removed and aske them about it. Hopefully, that will subside soon once my body gets used to it all. One thing the doctor told me I would first notice from the pellets is I would sleep better. Well, that is for sure the case! I sleep like a zombie now. No tossing and turning thru the night. I fall asleep on my back and wake up on my back (which is good for my shoulder).

My middle back feels fine now so no serious damage done there. I need to at least get outside today to water my poor plants. They have been neglected for a few days. Also will check the test area I did with the new paint yesterday and see how that is. The color is slightly darker than what I was using before but I like it better.

Velda, your house sounds so inviting and cheerful! Wish I could be there to see it. I am really missing the holiday spirit this year. Last year we had a large Christmas dinner and party at the clubhouse and it was so fun to decorate our table and eat all the wonderful food and share in the holiday spirit with my friends and community here.

I decided I will do a take-out spaghetti dinner and will pick that up on Wednesday morning. That will save me on dirty dishes and work, and this place makes the BEST spaghetti! One order is enough for at least 2 meals for me and is only $10.

The 3 week shutdown will be up on December 26th but our hospitals are all still full so I know that will be extended indefinately. Governor said he won't lift the restrictions until the available bed capacity is at 15% or better. That could be awhile from the looks of things here.

Lola has been very sweet this morning but I think that is because her dish is getting low on food. If she can see any little bit of the bottom of her dish, she panics and thinks she is about to starve to death! Then she gets real sweet and affectionate to get me to fill it for her. Sometimes I purposely keep it low (still at least 20 kibbles in it) to make her more willing to cuddle!

Have a good day!

[JudyJB]

The really good thing about today is that this is the Solstice, or at least it was early this morning. This means that from now on, the days will be getting longer, which always makes me feel good because there is more daylight to look forward to. All the dark makes me depressed and longer days means more time to do things outdoors.

As I posted late yesterday, my son may have been exposed to COVID-19 from the furnace repair man. Their furnace has not worked in 10 days, and last Wednesday, they got someone to come in and found they needed a part ordered. He came back Friday to check on something else. Both times, he and my son wore masks and stayed as far apart as possible, but masks are not 100%, so I am staying away for a few days. Son came over here on Saturday to help me with sanding my steps and cab running boards, and spray-painted them, but we were outside the whole time. He did not find out until yesterday, Sunday morning, about the furnace guy testing positive.

So, I am hanging around home getting some work done. Will probably go out for groceries on Wednesday, and then will go to their house on Friday for Christmas, but will wear a mask. Then I head to Nevada on the 29th. I just hope no one gets sick from this. As soon as I can get the vaccine because I am over 75, I will do so. Also, son and his wife are both educators, so they will be in one of the next groups, also.

[BarbaraRose]

Judy, when will your son get the results of his Covid test? I hope you can get your vaccine soon! The second company has gotten FDA approval so more vaccines will be coming out soon.

[Acadianmom]

The sun is out today and it got up to 77. As soon as the sun starts going down the temperature drops fast. I'm glad when the days start getting longer. I hate when it gets dark so early.

Beth, sorry your job didn't work out. Ty will be happy to have you all the time. The campground I went to last put in a dog park. That's the first time I had taken Sugar to a dog park. She made one round smelling everything and was ready to go. I don't know what she would have done if another dog was there. When we walk she always wants to go see the neighbor's dogs. She says hi and growls at them for getting to friendly and is ready to go.

My son didn't get out of going to Alabama for Christmas. I really don't like the idea of them doing that. I'm not driving 300 miles to go to the beach in December.

My house phone is out again. There was static on it night before last and I noticed yesterday that it was out again. My appointment is the 28th. Good thing I have a cell phone.

One of the cats peed in Sugars bed last night so I was washing the dog bed at midnight. I'm pretty sure it was CC. That's the kind of thing that gets them kicked out. I can't dry her bed because it melts the back so had to find her something to sleep on.

I had to put the Christmas cookies in the freezer. It was either that or throw them away. They were too handy sitting on the counter. Hopefully, out of sight out of mind.

Martha

[Cudedog]

Well, its been totally socked in with heavy fog all day - most days it will lift in the afternoon, but not today. Along with that it is pretty cold as well.

Wouldn't you just know - we haven't had this kind of thick fog here for probably a year or more, so of course it is pea soup outside on the exact night I was looking forward to seeing the only-once-in-800-years conjunction of the planets that is theorized to be behind the legend of the "Christmas star".

I'm not sure I will still be here the next time the conjunction comes around, but who knows?

For those of you able to see it, would appreciate a report. Thanks!

Anne

[JudyJB]

Son was tested last Wednesday and just got his negative results today. Unfortunately, the exposure was last Wednesday and Friday, so he will need to get tested again. And it is probably too early to get another test because it takes a while after exposure to get good results. So far, he is feeling fine.

I'll get vaccine as soon as I can, but it is not available to my group quite yet.

[snowball]

I was able to get most of what was on the imaginary list done... package mailed laundry done I hate doing laundry on a Monday don't know why so many people still do their laundry on Monday... so you ask why did I??? hmmm planned on doing it on Tuesday then decided that it might be better to do it today forgetting that it was Monday and I hate doing laundry on Monday every body and their dog are there literally one lady had her dog in a pouch type thing... but got it done even found the mask I couldn't find knew I'd taken it off tossed it in the washer (had a clean one in my purse) then I couldn't find it even checked the tops of the garbage cans... found it when taking stuff out of the cart and putting into the truck it had fallen into the cart came home thought about putting the village up then decided not to not going up this year... decided I needed the table to use as a table not as a village set up
think I saw the planets not totally sure but think so wasn't a bright as I thought it would be but stood out
was going to make french toast of sausage for supper had soup out of a can tomorrow perhaps
going to go to Walmart tomorrow hopefully it won't be to busy but not counting on it...
Enjoy your time in that town Beth.... first can't remember the name and knew I couldn't spell it if I could starts with a P and is in Nevada... I am sure that your leaving DV was the best choice...
Tina feel better
Everyone enjoy your night/day
Sheila

[MandysMom]

Anne, you asked about my Dad. He was born in Abingdon Virginia, December 21,1910. When he was about 9 mo old, Grandma and Grandpa packed up the baby (my Dad) and his older brother, and headed west to California. They lived in the Fresno vicinity, where 2 more children were born, first my Aunt, then the baby Brother. Later they lived in Southern Calfornia, in Corona. There is a street with Grandpas name on it. Tne men worked in lemon groves until the 3 boys went to fight WWII. Fortunately all returned safely, though Uncle Sam made my Mom very unhappy, by sending Daddy on west to occupy Japan , when all their other fiends were headed home. Mom told the story of Dads arrival back in San Diego on a LST (landing ship tank/transport ) and Dad sporting a magnificent handlebar mustache, which she refused to be seen on the streets with him wearing ,making him promptly shave it off! Dad took some UCLA classes, and ended up tutoring math students, but he ended up getting a job with State of Ca as a correctional Officer at the new prison in Lancaster. When I was almost 5, the new prison was completed in Tracy, amd all of us, inmates included, moved to Tracy to the brand new prison. Dad worked corrections 27 years, before retiring. I still own the Tracy house. Luckily they were able to travel the world, before both declined in health. Side note, Californua recently announced that the Tracy prison will close next year due to declining population ! Don't get me started on who is letting them out!
Fog moved in here about 6 pm, just as we were seeing the Star of Bethlehem. And no, I don't consider it myth and I believe there is reason why it's appearing on this year.
Chris and I had steak and potatoes, followed by Dads favorite cake and talked about him tonight. I said in 1994, when Mom died, after a long illness, but still quite suddenly, that she left on Dec19, so she had time to bake Daddy's birthday cake for the 21st.
Have a good Tuesday everyone.
Velda

[Cudedog]

Thank you for the story, Velda. Very interesting. It sounds like you had a happy family.

What did the star look like from your house before the fog rolled in? I had been looking forward to seeing it for many weeks, but the fog never burned off here at all yesterday, remaining thick on into the evening, and got even thicker as the night went on.

Looking at the sky from my backyard I could see nothing but fog and overcast.

Anne

[Pooker]

Anne - Sorry you didn't get to see the planets. We here in So. Calif. got lucky. The time that tv said would be peak, it was still too light out. I kept checking and we went out just as it got dark and managed to see them in the southwest sky. At first, it looked like one large star. After a few minutes, they were separating and we could distinctly see both planets hovering just over some palm trees! We were even able to see Saturn's rings! Perfect photo time, but none of us had a really good camera. Only our cell phones. Also I had weak binoculars that I used to carry in the RV and by squinting one eye we each took a turn peeping at this once in a lifetime opportunity before they faded away behind the horizon. Since this event only happens rarely, I firmly believe that this event in the sky was what the shepherds and kings mentioned in the bible saw. Keep in mind that the part of the globe where they were would have made these planets even brighter than we get here in the states, so it would have been very bright.

Yup! We all needed this at this particular time! How awesome is the universe!

Pooker

[MandysMom]

Like Evie, they were apart when I saw them, but fog moved in before they were together. Bummer.
Velda