A Tossed Hodgepodge

 

Whew!  February is coming to a close.
Before she does, Joyce would like to know ...

"Give us a two-word phrase that tells us something about how yours went."

Partly sunny

"If you had to describe how you're feeling right now as an amusement park ride, what ride are you on?  Explain."

It's hard to beat an old-fashioned Merry-Go-Round.
The view rarely changes, but there are enough up-and-downs to keep me awake.  Amused, even.

"What's something on your desk or a nearby wall that cheers you up when you see it or walk past?"

Through the years --

My son, my best friend, my rock

"Are you a salad eater?  How many salads do you typically eat in a week?  Your favorite kind of salad?"

I love a good luncheon salad 4-5 times a week.
Usually it's a throw-together affair: Green leaf lettuce w/ protein and a medley of Roma tomato, walnut pieces, hard-boiled egg -- generously dressed in olive oil w/ a zap of Marie's bleu cheese.

However, given our dreadful experience at Long Horn the other evening, we visited our favorite BBQ on the creek yesterday.  Now this is a salad to my liking!

"Without telling us the category, give us your top five ____"

Garlic and onion

Burning Mesquite wood

Jergens original lotion

Play-Doh 

Leather

"Insert your own random thought here."

Okay, I can't stop at just one (heh-heh)

Clint Eastwood
Meryl Streep
Cillian Murphy
Diane Keaton
Tom Hanks

and how about ...

ABBA
4 Seasons
Bee Gees
Beatles
Commodores

Okay, I'll stop now.  Did any of these strike a chord in your heart?

Gonna take a sentimental journey .......

Hugs, Myra

Monday Matters* (Vol. 8)

*Matter: (noun)  An affair or situation under consideration; a topic
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello again!
This morning I'm feeling ...

Thankful that our Macie Ann came out of surgery feeling smart and sassy.  Never mind that (in the words of her vet), she looks a bit like Dr. Frankenstein -- missing several areas of fur where he had to remove some worrisome growths.   Please join me in prayer that they come back from pathology negative?   

Thankful, too, that Tom didn't bat an eye at the $700+ bill.   Like me, he's got a "whatever it takes" attitude to ensure our girls are kept healthy.

Enjoying what Pastor Janet spoke about this morning: "Let go and Let God."

"Jesus Take the Wheel" was a song made famous by Carrie Underwood several years ago -- maybe you can relate?

One of my biggest, silliest fears is going through a car wash.  Granted, I've only had to do it once myself, but it took everything in my will power to "put the car in neutral", then, "take my hands off the wheel."  I'm momentarily blinded by a wall of water as the car makes its slow journey through the tunnel.  

Of course, there's no danger.  He's got this.

Looking forward to enjoying a late lunch in a few hours at LongHorn; perhaps a his-n-hers pedicure after the fact.  It's not every day my fella celebrates his 82nd Happy Birthday!

Wasn't he cute?!

Pondering closing out my eBay account.   Not only the rising costs of postage, the P.O. has become notoriously bad for late and/or completely missed deliveries.  

Oh, I don't know really.   We recently visited a private estate sale that bordered somewhere between a treasure trove of memorabilia or a hoarder's den.  This lady's parents passed a few years ago -- but not before having traveled all the world, filling their home with storied antiquities, books, etc.  

Gazing at the many tables, each filled with hundreds of pieces of fine china, serving pieces, glassware, etc. made me really sad.  Tom, holding up a tiny pair of golden metal slippers, "Would these fit the girls?"   

Click to enlarge.
Isn't it awesome?

Those walls!

What's curious, since living here I probably pass this home 4-5 times every week.  And as so often happens, I say to myself, "How I'd love to see the insides."

The elderly-ish lady of the house seemed pleased when I told her that.

Aside from a housekeeper, she still lives in the back rooms of the home.  A warren of hallways leading this way and that, I wonder what stories these rooms could tell!

... which made me a little curious about the wording on this sign.

Things that make you go, hmmmm!

Finally, a mystery!

As seen on my Chromebook list of nearby networks.  Look at the second one from the bottom.  

Something to concern myself about?
... or someone's idea of a joke?

What do you think? 

Okay, I need to get ready for Bible study.  Y'all enjoy a wonderful new week, and I look forward to chatting soon!

Hugs, Myra   

A Hodgepodge of Thoughts

G'morning, y'all!

I think Flora-the-Flu bug finally got the message she's not welcome and went back to h*** where she belongs.  Gosh golly.  I've not been sidelined like that in many years -- and this, even after having had the flu vax.

Anyway!  The sun's shining brightly and I'm ready to carpe the heck out of the diem.   Let's play The Hodgepodge!

🌞

This week Joyce asks --

What kind of thinker are you:  Doer (concrete thinking), Analyst (analytical and abstract thinking), Orator (logical thinking), Inventor (imaginative thinking) or Original Thinking (creative)?   What makes you say so?  

You can try this little quiz (link HERE) to help with your answer.

Ha ... surprised myself!
Reading each choice, I guessed 'Analyst' -- but no.

Doer - 38%
Analyst - 13%
    Orator - 63%
Inventor - 50%
Original Thinker - 75%

I'd love to hear yours!

Do you own a crock pot, air fryer and/or Instapot?   Do you leave said small appliance(s) sitting out?  How often do you use it/them?  Favorite thing to make in one of these?

We've all 3, but a 'hard no' to sitting out.
Our kitchen counter space is pretty lame.

The crock pot and Instapot get used weekly.  My go-to is a Mississippi Pot roast in the former, but I'm putting together a chicken chile chowder this evening.   

I desperately wanted the air fryer, but now I'm not a fan.  Cleaning and trying to de-grease the insides?  Honestly it makes me want to kick it to the curb.

What's something you hold a strong opinion on that matters not at all in the grand scheme of things?

 .....Beans don't belong in chile

..... Regardless what the 'under 40' set say, 2 spaces still belong after a period

Describe the view from your window.

North facing Chapman Road.
All this land belongs to the adjacent Chapman Christian Academy, so there's no immediate fear of development.  Plus, the school itself is only open 1/2 days, 4 days a week.

Which view depends on what window I'm looking out (of).
You can see from the first photo above, there's still a large undeveloped parcel to our right.   That used to scare me a bit in the long winter nights, but now I love the quiet.

Do you have a favorite brand?  Explain.

There's many to which I'm loyal:
Bounty, Charmin, Duke's, JIF ...

... but for today I'm going with Volkswagen.  Specifically, my little Taos.  I love its maneuverability; and like the Jetta before, I can turn on a dime with only an index finger on the wheel.  Wheeee!

Insert your own random thought here.

True that, but now it's Nexxus.

Thank you soooo much for stopping by!

Have yourselves a good one!

Hugs, Myra

Watercooler Wednesday

 

Wouldn't you love to know what -- or who -- they're talking about?

Welcome back!

Being that Valentines is a difficult day for me, I'm taking a little break from the Wednesday Hodgepodge. 
Nevertheless -- with apologies to Joyce -- I can't resist channeling my inner Barbara Walters.

Let's keep this simple --

If you were a contestant on a trivia-style game show,
what category would you most want to see displayed
when it came down to the million-dollar question?

Warm hugs,
Myra

Are you ready for some (more) football?

 

  Happy Super Sunday!

Okay, I've got to confess.   Barely into the year, and there's times I struggle to stay PRESENT.   Like now.

I'm blaming it on Taylor-and-Travis and their merry band of Swifties.  I don't necessarily dislike her, but I couldn't name one of her songs even if you held a gun to my head.   Like the NFL itself, I guess you could say I'm dispassionate.

That wasn't always the case.
Color me, mired in nostalgia.

The Dallas Cowboys weren't just "America's Team" ... once upon a time they were my team.    Loud and proud.  (Now I wonder, a wee bit annoying?)   

  

Revisiting the reels, those were the best of times.  If the team was playing at home, we were there -- once even getting to experience a (charter) police escort from the Fort Worth Club.   My mother's voice in my ear, "I didn't know they were so loud!"  Never mind the fans -- she was talking about the players!

I subscribed to the semi-monthly newsletter (pre-Internet) ... and if one of my idols came to Abilene, I was right there.    

Charlie and Drew

Preston, too.

Nice guy!

From the Cowboys' Wives Cookbook

This is still one of our favorite meals.

'Thinking I may have to add it to next week's rotation before the weather turns too warm. 

So, will we be watching The Game?

My love for the Cowboys waned many years ago, but yes.

More for tradition than anything else; of course, the commercials.

And the food.  Woo-hoo!

Now, when some talking head on television exclaims about the cost of a 30-second spot ... or the 'average' price of tickets ... no-one has to tell me, I'm old.   I'm the one sitting in her recliner shaking her head.

But regrets?  Like the man said, "... too few to mention."

I hope Taylor, her Swifties and all the fans enjoy every stinkin' minute of the hype.  Goodness knows, there's precious little of that to be found on television these days.

... and you're only young for a little while.

🏈

This still cracks me up --

You had one job

Okay, this guacamole isn't going to make itself.

Let's chat soon!    

Hugs, Myra

      

Friday Letters

 

Dear Dr. A

Thank you for double-checking!

... and speaking to us in a friendly, informative manner we 'regular folks' can understand.
Tom's stenosis isn't as severe as the local hospitalist made it sound. 

You didn't point a finger at those folks -- but strongly suggested, the next time we think we have a cardiac concern we call on you and your team.

See you next year!

Dear (formerly) Favorite Restaurant

Maybe it's a little bit me, a little bit you.

Because the last few visits have been underwhelming, it's time I take off my rose-colored glasses.
I mean, who serves french onion with American cheese????

I think this is the first time we've left without bringing home a slice of cheesecake.

Dear Chief Meteorologist

More rain this weekend?

The mud pit, formerly known as my back yard, will be happy to hear this news.

Dear HP Tech Support

At first, I questioned Tom's decision to pay xxx each month for 24/7 assistance.
But no, on those occasions we've called, you've been right there ... patient and informative, too.

Thank you, Ernesto, for not laughing out loud when we couldn't find our desktop's serial number.  We're old!

Our connection was so slow, you talked me through allowing you access via my cell phone.

Admitted technophobes, you showed us how to check our electronic devices -- and what to expect.
I'd never heard of FAST.COM -- but like a blood pressure cuff, it reads our internet connection speed in a matter of seconds.

Ours was only showing 50-some KBS, when it should read 5MG (minimum).

We're paying more for a better monthly plan -- but guess who's going to research a new provider?

Dear Citizens of Blogland

Does anyone have an opinion about Starlink?

Weather conditions aside, what do you recommend?

(p + ty)

🤗

Hugs, Myra 

Volume 537!

 

... of the Hodgepodge, that is.  Thank you, Joyce!

Something you've waited for recently? 

Off the top of my head .....

Yesterday we were scheduled for an 8:30 telemed visit with Tom's pain management doc.  8:35 came and went ... as did 8:45.  Then 9 o'clock.   I put aside Monday morning Bible study. 

Finally, a human voice:  "We say 8:30, but it can be anytime between then and 4pm, because they make calls in between office appointments."   Whaaaaat?   Finally, the call came in at 11:20.

Is this the new normal?

What's something you loved to do as a child? 

If it looked like a horse, sounded like a horse or smelled like a horse, I was there!   Usually, the horses themselves were little plastic figurines or images on TV.   

Occasionally, however, my mother could be convinced to drive me up to 'Horse Mesa' where my little friend and I would coax a horse to the fence for petting.   And if we were really really lucky I'd climb up and onto it's back.

One summer my Minnesota grandfather borrowed a fellow farmer's horse for a week to keep me entertained.

Something you learned from a grandparent? 

Unfortunately, I never knew my grandparents well enough to form a bond.   Aside from an occasional yearly visit, our living more than 1,200-2,200 miles apart made memory-making improbable.

The most visited cities in the world last year (according to this site) were-Bangkok, Paris, London, Dubai, and Singapore. Have you been to any of the cities mentioned? Which would you most like to see? How do you feel about international travel in general these days? 

A long, long time ago I visited both London and Paris.  

I'd love to revisit the UK once more and perhaps break bread with Victor.

... but being the big chicken I am -- and given the unrest that exists almost everywhere -- right now I'm not eager to travel outside the U.S.

(cluck! cluck!) 

February is the perfect month to ______________________.

.... shower my husband and DIL with love on their birthdays.
There are no plans in place, but I so enjoy making a Big Deal out of these holidays.

Insert your own random thought here. 

'Still reading and savoring Sean's new book, Kinfolk.

Has it really been one year he lit up my life?

(Maybe it was those moon pies -- or all the beads.

Laissez les bons temps rouler!)

Stay sweet, y'all!

I'll be back in a few with updates to our visit at UAB tomorrow.

Hugs, Myra

My week that was

Y'all!

I had so many expectations of myself this week.

Then came Tuesday.  Mid-morning Tom alerted me to his escalating blood pressure.  He was also feeling light-headed, so by noon we I made the decision to go to the ER.

After all their preliminary tests, a decision was made to admit.  Unfortunately, we didn't know it would be 3am before a room came available.

More tests followed, but no-one could/would tell us anything.
Until ...

..... yesterday afternoon the attending cardiologist agreed he could come home -- provided we follow up with UAB sooner rather than later.

Their final report states he has 'medium to severe aortic stenosis' -- so we'll be taking the ride up to Birmingham next Thursday to see what Dr. A recommends.

Thankfully, the swelling in his ankles has all but disappeared and his blood pressure's stabilized.

❤️

Speaking of UAB!   I missed 'Thankful Thursday' but wanted to introduce y'all to Samuel.

Samuel isn't a blood relation, but he is the youngest member of our close church family and is greatly loved.

Born mid-November, he was immediately air-lifted to Children's.  Despite being diagnosed with Esophageal and anal atresia (plus some other challenges I won't get into), this lil trooper's defying medical explanations!

He was scheduled to have his 12th surgery yesterday, but when they go in there, surgeons discovered that, like his esophagus, his problem had solved itself.   In the words of his mother, "Doctors are floored and wondering how to explain it in their surgical report."

His feeding tube's been removed and Samuel enjoyed his very first bottle Monday.

Prayers answered!

❤️

In other news ... 

I've a new guilty obsession.
It's called Chick-Fil-A spicy chicken biscuit ... have you tried it yet?  I did everything but lick the paper wrapper.

In a total out-of-character move ...

Day before yesterday I pulled into the "full service" bay at the Chevron station and said, "Fill 'er up."

You know how long it's been?
The little old man was so friendly -- he even washed my windows and asked if I wanted him to check anything under the hood.
Pampered.  Yep, that's how I felt.

... and nope, I'm not going to make a habit of it.

Finally -- I spotted this out on FB and man, it resonated.

Even before Tom's 'incident', I'm becoming nervous over new or unfamiliar places and things that a few years ago wouldn't cause me to raise an eyebrow.

Anyone else?

Okay, I'm going to say g'night now and see what I can find in the fridge that grabs my fancy.

Y'all be good now.

'Til next time!

Hugs, Myra