Friday Funny

 

Friday Funny

 

The End and the Beginning...

 Blizzard began Sunday 12/28 thru Monday 12/29, 26 1/2 hours of no power which meant no heat (it was 11 below outside), no bathroom (we had to put water in toilet for it to flush-we keep gallon bottles of water in pantry just for this purpose). What a way to end 2025!

New Years Eve, watching the ball drop, glass of wine toast-kiss-then in bed by 12:05am

New Years Day-clean up all Christmas decorations while watching rose parade.  Was not happy with parade announcers this year, they talked too much, couldn't hear the bands which are my favorite parts.

January 2 - had to go out and pay bills at post office, visited the library as I was in dire need of reading material, did a small bit of grocery shopping and then home.  It was all of 13 degrees.  I hate winter!        
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Every year on New Years Day, I write out my resolutions for the coming year.  The list seems quite long at times and although I have the best of intentions, the resolutions are usually broken and forgotten before January ends.  So instead of making a list of my new year resolutions, I make a list of my NOT resolutions. 

*I will NOT obsess about my weight unless absolutely nothing in my closet fits me right and/or my health becomes an issue related to it.  I have done a number of things to change my life style into a more healthier one.

*I will NOT come down on my family for putting things away willy-nilly even though I personally prescribe to the theory "everything has a place and everything in its place".  I am pleased to say that a number of times when I saw something totally in the wrong place, I found myself saying, "let it go, Ellen, it's just a ...".

*I will NOT let depression take over as I watch or read about what's happening in the world today even though 80% of what is happening is dreary, despicable and depressing. What has helped most with this is limiting my viewing of news shows like CNN and avoiding discussions on topics that stress me out.

*I will NOT "sweat the small stuff" even though this goes against my OCD big time.

*I will NOT wallow in the regrets of my past but instead will focus on the future.

*I will NOT worry about what I don't have but be grateful for the blessings I do have-my husband, my children and most of all, my God.

One Final Rant

Of all the seasons, #4 on my list as favorite is the season of winter.  I find that my list of against out weighs my list of for when it comes to winter.  This dislike for the winter comes as no surprise to those who know me.  What is surprising is that for someone who despises winter the way I do, I live in a place that has winter almost 6 months out of the year.  However, to be honest, I would say that there is one part of this snowy, extremely cold season that I do appreciate.  It is that time after the first good snowfall.  Now when I say good snowfall, I mean when there is enough snow on the ground that not one fraction of green (or brown in some places) can be seen.  It is that moment when I look down the road where I live only to see an unbroken blanket of white.  No tire tracks, no people tracks, no sled tracks, not even animal tracks....just pure white.  It is the feeling of that brisk cold air that hits you in the face when you first come out from the warm house, the smell of what can only be described as a deep breath of pure fresh air, the sound of a branch cracking in the wind or under the weight of the snow covering it.  It is that one moment when the world stops ever so briefly so that we may appreciate God's handiwork without the sights and sounds of snow machines, snow plows and snow blowers.  By February, I will be going thru cabin fever and complaining to any and all who will listen that I am sick of winter and why do I live in this cold unpleasant place.  But for this brief moment in time, I will bundle up, stand on my front deck, smile and enjoy the beauty that God has created..  

I'm back and here's the latest.

In February, I wrote that I was dealing with a medical diagnosis that came as a surprise to me.  To explain this, I hope you will indulge me, I have to go back to 2019 when I was diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism.  This is a condition I had never heard of.  For those of you who are also in the dark about it, Hyperparathyroidism (that's a mouthful) is a condition that disrupts the blood calcium level in the body.  When calcium levels in the body get too low, many effects can appear such as: muscle/bone pain, fatigue or weakness, dizziness, dental problems, dry hair and/or brittle nails and more.  I have been taking calcium medication and also including a lot of calcium foods in my diet.

In the beginning of February of this year, I went in for my yearly wellness check to the doctor which included (of course) lab tests.  When I went back to the doctor for a followup on the lab tests, she informed me that I had stage3b chronic kidney disease and that the hyperparathyroidism had contributed to it because on top of everything else it does, it also damages the kidneys.  Needless to say, it took me by surprise and I was very scared of the implications.  Unfortunately, I have a tendency to go to worst case scenario on things which only makes things more stressful.  At this stage, it is not fatal nor will I need a kidney transplant or do dialysis but I will have to make changes to my lifestyle.  I had to give up my coffee (which was my drug of choice), I cannot use pain medication with ibuprofen in it and I added to vitamin supplements to my daily medication regimen.  I also have to see my specialist for even more information on this.
 
I am trying through lots of prayer to stay positive about these developments.
 

As for what else is happening, my oldest son and dil live in Northern Nevada and have been inundated with snow.  So much so that he and my dil have been taking turns shoveling snow.  He says it is history making weather for that part of the country.  He also said that it reminds him of home and the weather is why they moved to Nevada in the first place.  I jokingly told him that all the snow he is getting is so he doesn't get homesick for UP winters.  He did not think that was funny.  The one member of the family who really loves the snow in Nevada is my grandpuppy, Buster.  My dil sent me a video of Buster running and jumping in the snow and pushing his nose into the drifts.  Glad someone is enjoying it.  Now they are dealing with rain on top of snow.  My son says the weather here at home is better than where he is and that is saying alot.

Buster

We had our annual St. Patrick's Day snowstorm.  I hope this is the last of the year.  I am really tired of seeing snow, being cold and trapped in the house because of weather.  I am ready to open windows and feel the clean warm breezes, to sit on my deck in the sun and watch the birds at the feeders and the squirrels and chipmunks play tag in the grass.  I want to see leaves on the trees and flowers in the flower beds.


With Spring coming soon, more birds and squirrels have been visiting the feeders. My cat Al loves this and enjoys watching them out of the front picture window.  He also seems to be yelling at them but they are ignoring him as usual.

AL

I have discovered raspberry tea.  I have always been partial to orange and lemon tea.  I was given some raspberry tea as a gift and decided to try it.  I am in love. I enjoy it hot or cold.  Little things like this make me happy.


I am reading the Book of Mark in the Bible during Lent.  I have found it to be a comforting way to meditate first thing in the morning.


I received a new laptop at Christmas and am still trying to get used to it.  It's amazing what I took for granted on my old laptop that I must now think about for the new one.  Of course, I had the old one almost 10 years.  It worked for me and I never considered changing for that reason.  My son had a different idea.  
 

Winter in January (Reprint from December, 2015 but it still holds true today)

Of all the seasons, #4 on my list as favorite is the season of winter.  I find that my list of against out weighs my list of for when it comes to winter.  This dislike for the winter comes as no surprise to those who know me.  What is surprising is that for someone who despises winter the way I do, I live in a place that has winter almost 6 months out of the year.  However, to be honest, I would say that there is one part of this snowy, extremely cold season that I do appreciate.  It is that time after the first good snowfall.  Now when I say good snowfall, I mean when there is enough snow on the ground that not one fraction of green (or brown in some places) can be seen.  It is that moment when I look down the road where I live only to see an unbroken blanket of white.  No tire tracks, no people tracks, no sled tracks, not even animal tracks....just pure white.  It is the feeling of that brisk cold air that hits you in the face when you first come out from the warm house, the smell of what can only be described as a deep breath of pure fresh air, the sound of a branch cracking in the wind or under the weight of the snow covering it.  It is that one moment when the world stops ever so briefly so that we may appreciate God's handiwork without the sights and sounds of snow machines, snow plows and snow blowers.  By February, I will be going thru cabin fever and complaining to any and all who will listen that I am sick of winter and why do I live in this cold unpleasant place.  But for this brief moment in time, I will bundle up, stand on my front deck, smile and enjoy the beauty that God has created.. 

Weekly Wrap-Up!!

*Got absentee ballots in the mail.  B and I filled them out, signed them and then B dropped them off at the Township Office in person. Will be happy when this is over.  We are so tired of the political calls on the phone and ads on the tv .

*Put snow shovel and broom on front porch by front door in preparation for accumulating snow.

*Schwan food order came in.  Freezer filled with food for winter as well as coming holidays.  Pantry is full in preparation for winter during the pandemic.

*Tried a new recipe for a meatless dish.  I made a chinese vegetable side dish which can also be turned into an entree by adding shrimp and rice. B is my taste tester since he is the picky one in the family.  Dil does not eat meat so I have been looking for and making meatless side dishes and entrees.

*Firewood, newspaper and fireplace matches are all refilled and ready for cold winter nights.  Also, flannel sheets put on all the beds as well as extra quilts.

*Took my cat Al to the vet for his yearly checkup and vaccinations.  He is in good health and has started cuddling with me again after avoiding me for a couple hours after the shots. Also, dil clipped his nails.  It is amazing to me how he just sits there and lets her do it without giving her a hassle.

*Took youngest son to the dentist for a root canal.  Going to the dentist is quite expensive these days.  Thank goodness for dental insurance.