Atop the Wednesday hill

[Sojourner]

Brrrr, Winter is here! Coffee's on, pecan rolls out in a minute.

Christmas seems to come earlier and earlier each year, not a new observation but one that I'm really noticing this month.
I think that during hard economic times we need a little Christmas, STAT, to cheer us up. I've decided to give mostly gift certificates for local businesses this year, in a drop-in-the-bucket attempt to help the local economy. Some friends of mine opened a burger joint a while back and have been struggling along; it'd be nice it they could get some more business. It's hard to see them put their heart and soul into this, and then have lunch hours that only barely keep them afloat. It certainly isn't the food that's keeping people away, 'cause they make one mean burger.

And sweet potato fries to die for. Now I wish I didn't have other plans for lunch...

[Colliemom]

Good Morning ladies,

How's everybody this morning? I'm fine here thank you. Just up and ready to start another day. Had a breakfast bar and a glass of milk for breakfast, am now drinking a glass of OJ.

It's a cloudy, cold day here today. Might see some snow a bit to the north or even here possibly. Forecast is calling for lake effect for next three days, starting tomorrow, but not a steady type lake effect. Depending on winds, the amount of snow can vary widely from one place to another. But it's time and the winter sports fans are chomping at the bit. As are the resorts and motels who need the business.

So in light of the forecast, I am heading into town this morning and doing some shopping to stock the fridge, pick up some items for doing some cookie baking, making Spritz (butter) cookies and also go hunting for a new printer so I can start getting my Christmas cards going. Not sure yet what printer I will buy, but will look at some different ones. Nothing fancy, just your basic, get it done printer, but one that does a good job on photos. Not even sure if I want wireless or not as I am using my laptop on a table, hardwired unless I move it elsewhere, then I use the battery. So a printer can be tethered to my laptop and when I am not using it, I can just unplug it from the computer. Would love to buy a new desktop computer as I use my computer a lot, and would like to just use this laptop for when I am out someplace and take it with me. But a new printer and computer are out of my budget right now.

Hope those of you who have to do Christmas shopping, have gotten a good start. Things seems to be flying off the shelves around here. It's a case of, if you see it, get it, cause it won't be there long type thing. I don't have any shopping to do, but have spied things I think I would like to have and have watched it disappear in no time. The stores are a madhouse on the weekends. Haven't seen a lot of big ticket items like TV's etc. going out the door, but have noticed that the boxes on the shelves seem to be going down to almost empty.

So, what's everybody doing today? Kathleen, hope you can head south pretty soon as I know you are chomping ot get going. BJ, good luck on your GPS hunt.

I'm off to the races here, so have a great day all.

[Nasoosie]

GOOD MORNING SUE AND ALL!

As my father used to often say, sometimes at the most unexpected times, REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR.

It was a long time before the deep meaning of those words became real to me, rather than just a euphemism my father liked to toss off. Now I think about the whole event as meaning, "Just when you think all is well and you are safe, BOOM! Things are liable to fall apart!" The survivors of that event have dwindled seriously this year as many are nearing the 100-year-old age. It's nice that they still manage to travel to the site to remember their shipmates and friends and relatives who still lie below the surface of the harbor. I doubt that my father's words are likely to be soon forgotten.

Another day of warmth and sunshine this morning, but it is to be followed by a serious cold front passing through this afternoon as that huge storm headed up the east coast brushes past us. Our cold front, about mid 40s by tomorrow morning here in Orlando, will be very brief, however, as the temps by this weekend will be back to the mid 70s normal. The north could use some snow to make it look more like Christmas!

I was going to staple up my screening over the gaping holes underneath the eaves in my roof that the squirrels have created, but am now thinking I should wait until I get my new electronic squirrel chasers for inside the house, and my new solar-powered batteries for the device out in the yard. I want to be sure I don't trap any critters in my attic! Yesterday morning sported a huge wave of the grey critters, moving in a tidal wave across all the yards here, chittering, climbing in and out of all the trees, skittering across the lawns and roofs and into the holes already in the soffits, flashing their great long, fluffy tails like semaphores, and causing Molly to go ballistic! Today I see and hear not a single one! Was it some sort of a migration? Rather like a swarm of locusts, it seemed to me!

So, instead, I may go back to Sea World and scout out a place to park my bike today, and take in some other shows I missed the other day, including the shark tunnel. Then I can swim at the pool this afternoon, if the clouds and scattered rain showers in the cold front hold off. Happy Wednesday to all!

[dayspring39]

Good Morning everyone... coffee is hot and we have a tiny bit of sun streaming in the window... that should brighten an otherwise cold day!

Yes, Martha I will listen to your words... I will take my boot and be sure to wear it most of the time... when I take it off at night I feel it ache so know it is helping when it is on!

Oh Soos my mom had all of our things packed for shipment to Hawaii when Pearl harbor was bombed... I remember years later the trunks still had the shipment stickers on them... that was a day that changed our lives forever...

My oldest daughter Jackie will have a total knee replacement on Friday... her sister Gwen will stay with her during her recovery... we all hope that by spring she will be able to enjoy her house and yard...

My girlfriend Janie called last night we talked for a very long time! I think she is looking forward to my visit way to much!! she is a dear lady and takes care of her crippled husband as well as all of those dogs!!!

time to get a second cup of coffee...
Have a great day
Kathleen

[dayspring39]

Hi Megan... I did not see your post... maybe Beth will combine them later...
Kathleen

[Acadianmom]

It's sunny but cool here today. I think the high will be in the 50's. Not too cold for a lot of people but cold to us. Our weather chart looks like a roller coaster. The temperature climbs into the 70's, it rains and everything goes down hill to start working it's way back up. I have been having a crick in my neck for 3 days and it's worse today. I am thinking about putting one of my DH's patches on it and smelling like Mentholatum.

Sue, good luck on your printer search. My take on printers is that the *#%# things should be free because the ink is so expensive. I had an HP and it started leaking ink all over so I got a Canon. The ink for it is just as expensive. I waited around a couple of months for my son to come install it and finally gave up and did it myself. I couldn't get it done wireless but did get it working. It didn't come with a manual, it's on the computer. I tried to print part of it for something I was trying to do and never could get it to print.

I finally got the gift I need for the party tomorrow night. Last night I finally remembered I forgot to RSVP on Monday. Can't get in touch with the lady this morning but I will probably still be able to go. lol She usually has to call everyone anyway. I have been trying to find anything I buy locally before I take off to Lafayette. No sense in my tax dollars helping another city.

Martha

[Readytogo]

Good morning everyone, if I bragged a week or so ago about my beautiful Alabama weather, I take it all back! Dreary and drippy here for a few days. Holding out hope for sun tomorrow or maybe this afternoon, don't even mind if its cool as long as it's sunny! If so, will pick up one group of gdks and go get tree after school tomorrow. Havent done much for Christmas yet, noone has let me know what they want. We have a family birthday dinner this weekend, maybe some of them will give me ideas. If all I end up doing is money and gift cards, I won't have much shopping to do. I kind of miss it, as long as Im on THIS end of the shoppping! Yes, let's remember those who died at Pearl harbor and after. I got to go to the memorial park in HI, but couldn't get out to the Arizona memorial, because tickets were sold out and the times I could go as my plane was leaving later. Don't know why I saved that visit for my last day. Everyone have a good day, travel safe have fun! Wendy