House Plant

When I was a kid, if my mother thought I was spending too much time indoors, she would tell me to go outside and not be a houseplant.  

I still spend a lot of time outdoors.  Don't want to be a houseplant!  Walking is a lifelong outdoor activity.  Most days, I walk between 4 and 5 miles.  Good thing, because I had an 8:00 AM haircut appointment this morning.  When I got in the car at 7:45 AM it would not start.  I called the saloon and said my car would not start and I could walk (it's only 1.25 miles away) but would be late and could they still see me.  The temp when I left home was 28 degrees, but no wind and sunshine.  In other words, a perfect winter day for a walk. 

Rex said he liked my haircut.

I Miss Surfing!!!

I have been a channel surfer since they invented the term.  

Now with smart televisions and streaming, it just is not possible to channel surf.

I know that most people found channel surfing either rude or annoying.  But I liked it.  I miss it.

Does anyone else feel this way? 

A Man Of His Word

"A Man Of His Word"

Let that sink in.  Close your eyes, let it sink in.  Really think about it.  Do you know anyone, male or female, that you would describe as "a man of his word"? 

When I was a kid, I heard people described with those words.  It was a time in history when you could trust people and believe that they would do what they said they would and when they said they would.

I don't find that to be the case anymore.  It is sad, it is worrisome, and it indicates that people no longer have any standards to which they hold themselves.  

So many times I have made decisions or plans based on what I was told by whomever.  Very frustrating for me.  I have also been disappointed by people for not doing what they say they are going to do and when they say they will.  I am either blessed or cursed with an excellent memory so I don't forget when commitments are made.

I am also amazed by people that are shocked when I do actually do what I say I am going to.  Like most people I fall down on the job sometimes, but not real often.  

My Dad was known as a hardworking, man of his word.  Maybe that is why it is so important to me.

There is only one thing any of us truly has in this world, and that is our word.

  

Toilet Paper

 Ya, I know, I know, it's 2020 and the last thing you want to hear about is toilet paper.  But I am going to write a toilet paper story anyway.

I am a female and, being a female, I use toilet paper every time I go to the bathroom.  I kind of get really, really pissed (no pun intended) if there is no toilet paper in the dispenser.

Let me give you an example of how upset I can get.

At the health club I belonged to several years ago, I entered a stall in the locker room and noticed there wasn't any TP.  No big deal, I used another stall.  Then I went to the desk and told the 2 employees there that there wasn't any TP in that stall.  Cool, they will get right on it.

After my workout, I went to use the bathroom and went into that stall.  Unfortunately, I didn't check first for TP.  There wasn't a note on the door saying it was out of TP.  Was I really, really pissed.  Oh ya!  At the desk, the story I got was they were out of TP and the other employee ran to get some.  So why no note?  No real answer.  So I said, you know what, because there was no TP, I now have piss dribble in my pants, and I don't like piss dribble in my pants.  Then I walked out the door.

Do you think they're still talking about the old lady that bitched about piss dribble?

Now let's go to the incident in Socorro NM.  

Socorro is right off the Interstate and I really had to go.  We stopped at the first place off the I.  For some reason, I happened to notice a sign on the window by the door.  I made a b-line for the ladies.  There was a lady in there washing her hands.

I went to a stall and went.  Damn, I had to go #2 and I didn't check for TP as is my custom.  I hate situations like this!!  I yelled out but I was the only one in the bathroom.  What do I do?  This is what I did.

I held my pants down below my knees and crab-walked to the next stall.  Guess What???  NO TP in the other stall either!  So I had to crab- walk to the sink (thank God no one came in) to get paper towels.  Did I want to put that in the wastebasket?  Absolutely not, but the alternative would be to flush it down the toilet and clog that.  Something I would never to no matter how pissed I am.

Now I am REALLY, REALLY PISSED.  I go storming out of the bathroom directly to the clerk and told him there was not 1 square of toilet paper in the ladies' room and that, that was unconscionable!

Unfortunately for her, the lady that was in the bathroom washing her hands was at the checkout.  I said she could have at least warned me.  I would have warned her.

Now, back to the noticed phone number.  I went out to the car, got my phone and called the manager.  I was not belligerent, or unreasonable.  I just told them how unacceptable it is to not have any TP in the ladies' room.

Do you think they still remember the old lady that had a fit over toilet paper?

P.S.  If I come to your house, please have toilet paper in reach.

NEW!!

 Friday the UPS driver brought me a package with something I have not had in many, many years.

Yup, I had to buy a winter coat. I knew that eventually, we would be spending some wintertime on the mountain.  That became this year when our summer trailer was destroyed by a microburst.  Rather than rebuild there we decided it was time for some new adventures. 

The coat I had been wearing in the winter for the last 5 years was a hand-me-down from my sister-in-law, had my last name emblazoned on the back, and was not warm enough for mountain winters.  I had been looking for a new winter coat for the last 2 years.  It was so exciting to find one that met all of my requirements!!

Friday was the perfect day for it to come because our weather turned from beautiful to COLD on Thursday.  I wasn't sure at first because I am not a fan of fake fur hoods.  Now that I have had the opportunity to wear it, I have decided that I made the right choice.  It has SIX pockets which, for me, made it really functional.  It has 3 ways to adjust the hood so that is working out.  I am now prepared for the winter weather this mountains throws at me!!

Nana

 

Nana

In the pool I met this wonderful, born and bred, Texas “Nana”.  She is a proud “farm girl” as am I, so we really hit it off.  She made a deep impression on me. 

Several times a week she watches her 5-year-old granddaughter. Everyday, before she leaves, they have a little question and answer session.

The first question:  What did Nana do for you today?

The second question:  What did you do for Nana?

What an important lesson this little girl is learning.  A great way to point out to her that it takes someone doing things for us to exist.  And it takes us doing things for others, so we learn the ability to and, hopefully, learn to enjoy watching out for others.  This little girl is going to learn to recognize and appreciate this fact of life.  A lesson too few have learned.

Way to go Nana!!!