Cripes.

It's still frickin' cold out.

Good God I had to go outside today! Early!!

What the world seemed like at 7:30 this morning.

Gees-O-Pete's was it miserable. Because of how awful it got yesterday I rescheduled an appointment for today. BIG mistake! -21 with windchill bringing the temp in at a mind-blowing -47.

A bunch of stuff happened, blah-blah-blah (too boring for even the blog!) bottom line was that I was actually outside for nearly 15 minutes. My brain went numb, tears brought about by the cold froze on my cheeks, I felt like I was breathing fire and wheezed for much of the remainder of the day....

I was struck by two very different thoughts. First, conditions such as these are considered "wonderful" by my dear ones, the dog mushers in Alaska. I decided rather quickly that they're insane. (I'm kidding...) Second, I was really set back on my heels as I was faced just how fragile I really am. (Reference the "wheezing") The worst of the 'thoughts' of my day was when it turned out that my going outside turned out to be for naught.

Cripes.

Have you ever heard the saying, "It was so cold it was a three dog night"? On the way back home I stopped at the store, because it was 'A quart of chocolate milk for cocoa day'!

Wow! What a difference!

This is how I wish my house looked...

The new windows are in and I am very impressed. Three guys came, while one was tearing out the old, one was carrying in the new window, then the second guy took over with the insulation and "tin-work" (I'm not entirely sure what that means) when he was finished guy number three set the new window and so on.

There was only two windows open to the cold and it actually only dropped down to around 50 by the time they were through. These windows are seriously primo quality and I couldn't believe how much of a difference they've already made. Even heating back up to 65, the furnace has only run a few times and I can sit in my chair and not have to put my feet up to avoid the drafts.

Probably the thing that really impressed me was that they finished as the first flakes of the severe winter storm watch began to fall! They were quite literally closing the doors to their trucks as the neighborhood kids were walking home because the schools closed early because of how bad it's going to get.

It's been about three hours now and there is easily 3 inches of new snow and the winds are gusting up to 35 and 40 mph. This storm is really going to suck. Yesterday it hits the 40's and today... on our way down to sub-zero temps again, blowing nasty snow & winds...

My plan for the rest of the day is enjoying my crisp clean windows, a cup of cocoa and my newest book.

Life's not too bad here in the Not-So-Great-White-North so long as you don't have to go anywhere!

New windows in the middle of winter? Whose bright idea was that!

Well... they're not this bad...

And I would die happy if they were this good...

But they are somewhere in the middle, um... maybe the lower end of the middle... or they're... nevermind. Anyway, the men that built them will be installing them tomorrow. I'm not quite sure why it is that these windows must be installed in January in the Not-So-Great-White-North... but I've learned these are often times questions best left unasked.

It's supposed to be a rather quick process as the weather is supposed to be "mild" but I am wondering if in fact the installation will be postponed because it is raining furiously out right now and a quick flip of the porch light shows pure, glare ice on every surface.

This whole thing has nightmare written all over it.

I took care of some new feline entities this past week. If I can ever figure out how in the hell to transfer the pictures from my cell phone onto my computer, you'll die when you see Jack's face.

He's about 8 months old and a sweetie. He's also possessed.

Seriously.

First off... he thinks he's a puppy. Case in point... I'm doing the crossword puzzle, the phone rings. I put the paper and pen down, walk four step to the phone, turn around as I answer... AND DISCOVER HE"S CHEWED THE COVER OFF THE PEN!!!! I'm talking all of 17 seconds!

It was like taking care of a cross between a chainsaw and long-haired domestic! (as the vets refer to this particular non-breed breed)

A cat this age I discovered finds everything and anything he shouldn't have. I've done childproofing that didn't involve hiding so much stuff!

He is what's referred to often as a "tuxedo" cat. (The black and white ones?) So anyway, he's got a perfect black "goatee" and these bizarre whiskers and eyebrows, so he was named "Captain Jack Sparrow" (yeah... who knew?) Well, seems as if he takes his name to heart.

I'm laying on the couch reading my book and reaching that point where I was between the world of actually getting up to go to bed or just falling asleep on the couch.

I should mention that I had my waist length hair in a braid. I had had the braid twisted up in a clip, but took it down so I could lay back on the pillow. At some point... the braid slipped down onto the edge of the couch.

Captain Jack Sparrow spied said braid. I can only assume he began stalking it shortly after that. I was too sleepy to notice this. That was when he struck...

He grabbed hold of that braid with all four paws, claws extended and swung on it as if he were using a rope to swing to the ship on the other side of the ocean!

I let out a scream and while trying to keep my hair from being wrenched out of my head by the roots, I fall off the couch, holding desperately onto the braid... I'm yelling, he's freaking, because he's caught up in my hair and the ponytail holder, I'm trying to grab his body so I can get the weight off my hair to untangle him, he, in the meantime is doing everything in his power to try and escape this screeching, demon hair thing that has attacked him... when suddenly...

It was over.

I'm leaning against the couch, panting and crying (Hey! It hurts! Those tears came all by themselves!) He's under the entertainment center looking quite shell shocked. By the time my breathing returned to normal and I was reassured to find my hair still attached to my scalp (with no bleeding I happily noted!) and decided it was indeed time for bed.

I think he slept under the bed.

And for the record... my hair still hurts!

Tattoos and snow...

So it's snowing again and I've been thinking about getting another tattoo. Yeah, yeah... I'm bored! Anyway, I love dragonflies and I love dragons. Hmmm.... I wonder if I like dragonflies because I like dragons? (Okay, more mind games to play later when I'm really, really bored!)

Sooo.... what do ya' think? Dragonfly or Celtic/tribal style dragon?

Although, I wouldn't be getting it on the small of my back or between my shoulders so that does bring about some issues as to how small to make the dragon. I thought half the size or maybe down to a third...

So give me your thoughts.... of course once the snow stops the musings over new tattoos will more than likely cease as I would have to go off the blood thinners to get the tat and I'm not sure if doing that and dying from a stroke from a blood clot is the wisest thing to do.

Then again........ they're both pretty cool lookin' though, eh?

I hear the sound of my neighbor guy firing up his snow blower... yay! It helps that he does my driveway for me or I would certainly end up in the hospital if I tried to do it myself.

I did just the front walk and porch and my side is on fire with pain. I hate being so limited. It's just one of these rare moments when I feel kind of sorry for myself. This too comes occasionally with the snow...

But I remind myself that since I'm still here to watch the crap fall that's what really matters.

Yeah... I know... how lame is that! Hahahahahahahahahahaha!

I've gotta go dig through the boxes in the basement and find a book I haven't read in a while... this is nuts!

I can hardly believe it...

Hey... how's it goin'?

It occurred to me just this morning that we are already almost halfway through the month! Why is it that as we age, time goes faster? Hell, I'm still waiting for them to find a way to change the time/space continuum to give us a 36 hour day!
As I sit here, listening to the dulcet voice of Patsy Cline and sipping coffee... I think back on all the memories the music brings forth. She was a favorite of my Grandpa's...

I sit hear and I can hear the crickets, feel this swishing of the long grasses against my young, coltish legs. We could go from my Aunt & Uncle's home, across the field to Grandpa & Grandma's house.
I can almost feel the warmth of the sun on my hair and face... probably best of all I can close my eyes and see him standing in the doorway. One arm extended near the top of the door frame as he watched me come across the field.

He left us far too early and in tears when I was only eight, it took me years to become accustomed to the empty door way. There were times I would have sworn I saw him there, even as an adult.

I had seen him there one more time many years past, a trick of the eye... wishful thinking... I believe in a lot of things, I believe that some loves never dim or die. For thirty plus years, my Grandma waited for the day she'd join him.

I saw him for the last time in the doorway less than a week before she died.

How wonderful it must have been to be loved so deeply. I have always wished I could have found that.

I'm heading out to spend the night with the big, dopey blond thing. I know I can bring my summer jammies because she will be right tight against me as we attempt sleep. But it's okay... you can't help but love those big brown eyes!

The weather has been highly damp and cold, makes my bones ache... such an annoyance. But as I've said many times, "I woke up breathing... so the day's not half bad!"

Well, Patsy's done singing and the day is getting darker. So I should take my tote and head on out. There's a chance for snow tonight... yay. At least I will be able to park my car in the garage!

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

I love this!!

Laughing our way into the New Year!

A WOMAN'S PERFECT BREAKFAST:

She's sipping gourmet coffee,
her son is on the Wheaties box,
her daughter is on the cover of Business Week,
her boyfriend is on the cover of Playgirl,
and her husband is on the back of the milk carton.

WOMEN'S REVENGE

"Cash, check or charge?" I asked, after folding items the woman wished to purchase. As she fumbled for her wallet, I noticed a remote control for a television set in her purse.
'So, do you always carry your TV remote?' I asked.
'No,' she replied, 'but my husband refused to come shopping with me, And I figured this was the most evil thing I could do to him legally.'

CIGARETTES AND TAMPONS

A man walks into a pharmacy and wanders up & down the aisles. The sales girl notices him and asks him if she can help him. He answers that he is looking for a box of tampons for his wife. She directs him down the correct aisle. A few minutes later, he deposits a huge bag of cotton balls and a ball of string on the counter.
She says, confused, 'Sir, I thought you were looking for some tampons for your wife?
He answers, 'You see... it's like this, yesterday, I sent my wife to the store to get me a carton of cigarettes, and she came back with a tin of tobacco and some rolling papers; cause it's sooo-ooo--oo-ooo much cheaper. So, I figure if I have to roll my own .......... so does she.

(I figure this guy is the one on the milk carton!)

Well... happy, happy and all that jazz!

Is this cool or what?

New Year's day was unreal! That's not ice, but rather, hoarfrost. That phenomenon occurs when the air is full of high humidity, it's overcast and very cold. Once the sun breaks through... it disappears in seconds... it's amazing and I've always loved seeing it.

It reminds me of hand drawn or painted "Winter Art"

The New Year started off with a bang as usual. I was at friend's house (they're away on holiday) and decided a big, rowdy "Welcome 2008!" celebration was in order. Mainly that meant I stayed up all night watching all the channels I can't get. Mostly marathons of Law & Order, CSI or Court TV until my eyelids were stuck in their locked and upright position.

The highpoint of my New Year's Eve came when I got up to answer my ringing cell phone on the table before I realized the ringing was on TV. I don't have surround sound at my house either. Man... can that mess you up! It makes your neck hairs stand up when you suddenly hear conversation behind you! Especially when you're only too well aware that you're alone in this huge house that's not exactly on the beaten path!

It was right about then I started surfing for something a little less "dark". Go figure. I then turned to watching some Australian version of a similar show here. It was really fun trying to figure out what in the hell they were saying. I'm sure they think the same of us but what in God's green earth is a "scrod envelping wanker"!? (I never did find out what it was, much less how to spell it!) What are ya' gonna do?

So, here's hoping 2008 is the best year we've ever had!