Feelings

 

Thank you so much for all your heartfelt comments.  Sorry for not responding to each, but lately my mind feels like it's in a blender set on puree.   I know of 13-year-old girls with more emotional maturity.   

So, lucky you get to read all about it!     

😝

Once upon a time in Central Alabama .....

We'd a few errands to run on the other side of I65.  Uncharacteristically, Tom was thoroughly enjoying himself -- in no hurry to go home.   About 10:30 -- the time I normally enjoy my big meal of the day -- my stomach began growling.  By 11, I was frantically searching my purse, the glove box for a breath mint, a fortune cookie. Nada.  12Noon we're standing in line at the Publix Deli for Tom's olive loaf.   Muttering expletives behind my mask.  He thinks it's funny.

By the time we got home my hunger had abated -- not so my upset.  In no uncertain terms I let him know I was HANGRY.

Obviously, the little spy that lives in the corner heard it all.   Yesterday, I had an e-mail from Amazon stating, "We think you might like this."

A few days ago I read something that had me corkscrewing myself into the ceiling.  Now, I should have just taken our Governor Ivey's advice: "If you can't say anything nice ...." and gone about my way.  No, I had to stew.  All the live-long day.
   

I felt it's tone condescending, but that's my perception.  Ever hear anyone say, "Perception is everything"?  That was a favorite of my former boss -- until the day someone challenged her, "Whose perception, Michele?"  Ha!

My personal Trifecta arrived Wednesday afternoon:  The email from American Airlines began, "Your flight has been canceled."

No, I'm not going anywhere.  Rather, Tom's daughter was to fly out yesterday for her dad's 80th birthday.  They've not seen each other for four years, and I've planned a party.

Given the winter storm advisory, no-one can fault the airlines for erring on the side of caution.  But neither should he have been so upset that after 90 minutes on hold, no reservations agents were available. "Your call is very important to us, please continue to hold .... ya-da-da-dah."

The only viable option was, Nanette would have to wait and fly a day late, travelling from Arizona to California, Texas to Alabama.  But nooooo!

When her dad broke the news, she informed him she didn't want to spend 10 hours travelling.  

I canceled the ticket, thanking God Tom had the presence of mind to buy a fully refundable fare.

Again, I should have taken a page from Governor Ivey.  Instead, caught up in the emotion, I sent a short, strongly-worded e-mail.

Ready for this?

Nanette responded, letting us know she booked a new ticket and is supposed to arrive Montgomery tonight at 11:01PM.  (I almost feel guilty, realizing she paid more than double for the last-minute airfare.)

So, our home's been deep-cleaned within an inch of its life; and God willing, tomorrow we'll be fixing to welcome friends and FAMILY for hickory-smoked brisket, pulled pork, camp stew and banana pudding.

Let the good times roll!

Hugs, Myra

 

Rapid Roy (Saturday 9)

.... that Stock Car Boy!

Unfamiliar with this tune?  Hear it here.

To paraphrase 'Crazy Sam' --
We've committed to our readers that we will post 9 questions every Saturday ... some will have a theme, others will be totally unrelated.  Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice.  We hate rules! ... but we love to answer questions.  Here are today's.

The lyrics tell us that every Sunday afternoon we can find Roy at the racetrack.  What are your plans for Sunday?

No plans, really.  I prefer to leave the running around to those folks who still work weekdays and only have the weekends to accomplish their 'get-r-done' lists.

Roy is fearless behind the wheel of his '57 Chevrolet.  But it's just natural to feel fear every now and again.  What scares you?

Becoming infirm, totally dependent on others. 

Right now, this is near and dear.  One day in early October Jean and Bob came for dinner; we were making plans to BBQ at their home.  The next week, she suffered a debilitating stroke.

Realizing her time here on earth was short, after Sunday services another gal and I drove to the rehab.  It's a beautiful facility, but oh, that peculiar aroma!  Jean was unresponsive.   Yet, when Sally turned on Andrea Bocelli's The Lord's Prayer and lay her cell phone on the pillow it looked like Jean was trying to mouth, 'Amen.'

Her husband and best friend claim they 'couldn't bear' to visit, but Pastor Janet was by her side when Jean passed Wednesday evening.  I'm heartbroken.  And scared.

Roy's been photographed grinning with a toothpick in his mouth.  Do you often use toothpicks?

Nope.

Legend has it, Roy learned to drive fast when he ran moonshine out of Alabama.  Moonshine usually refers to illegally produced whiskey.  What was the last alcoholic beverage you drank?

Gin and diet tonic.

This week's featured artist, Jim Croce, attended Villanova University, where he played in a band that performed at fraternity parties.  When his band was chosen to tour Africa as part of a cultural exchange program, he was excited to learn his host country's customs.  Have you ever traveled overseas?  What did your trip teach you?

Gosh, there's so much to learn!  I've been fortunate to travel through much of Europe, but here's a couple snippets:

1957, Paris:  7 y/o Myra's disappointed to learn the hotel room's bidet is not, in fact, a doll bath.

1997, Rome:  Contrary to my naivety, there's nothing remotely romantic or mysterious about gypsies.  Thankfully, we'd listened to the hotel clerk and secured our valuables in the safe before going sight-seeing.  (I kept a credit card at the bottom of my boot.)  That didn't stop a swarm of gypsy women/pickpockets from approaching, then surrounding us with 'hugs.'

.....that is, until I lashed out with the oversize safety pin I'd kept in my fist, pointy-end sticking out between my index and middle fingers.  Looking back, I was lucky they didn't try and retaliate!

Jim met his future wife, Ingrid, at a party.  They discovered that they both loved Joan Baez and Woody Guthrie.  Tell us about one of your friends and what you bonded over.

My first love and I played in the high school orchestra:  He on the upright bass, me a reluctant violinist.

Early in their marriage, while Jim was working hard to launch his music career, Ingrid helped make ends meet by baking bread and canning fruits and vegetables.  Do you have any frugal cooking tips or 'cheap eats' recipes to share?

'Fraid not.  I've done my best to forget the lean times, living in dumpy collegiate housing where we bought day-old bread and drank powdered milk.  Even my parents scrimped.  I'll never forget when, at a Denver restaurant, my mother exclaimed "Real butter!" 

 

In 1972, Mark Spitz became a sensation, winning 7 Gold Medals for swimming.  After making money in endorsements and TV appearances, he settled into a career as a Los Angeles realtor.  Are you contemplating a change in residence anytime soon?

I hope not!

Random question:  Which of these "Top 10" lists would you prefer to be on -- the sexiest, the smartest or the richest?

Let's go with the richest!  Sexiest sounds burdensome, Smartest exhausting.  Richest means I could not only provide for those I love -- but be able to make a difference in the lives of those on the receiving end of worthy charity.

🤗

Thanks for visiting!  I hope y'all have yourselves a wonderful weekend!

Hugs, Myra

The Heart of the Matter

Photo credit: Judd Davis, WSFA

Happy Friday eve!

So, while putting out our coffee service it occurred to me -- I'm not so different than my former boss.  A collector of unusual glassware, she confided: "Each night I choose which one to hold my wine, depending on my mood."

In my case, I'm thinking my coffee mug collection.  Last year I made a point of reducing their number, keeping only those which evoke emotion.  Memories -- whether it be a gift from a friend or a memento I picked up on a particularly enjoyable getaway.

When I hold this, I still feel the warmth of the Orlando sun on my face, the surrounding noise, happy chatter.  How every little thing felt delicious.

Perhaps this is a phase I'm going through ... but I've little interest in the utilitarian.

This goes both ways, of course.  For instance.  These pretty little whatchamacallits were a wedding gift from my SIL -- the woman who professed to dislike me before we ever met.

 They're so not me, but I keep them in the back of a dresser drawer until they have occasion to visit.

Something else.  I don't think of so often anymore, but back in 2004 I threw away the outfit I was wearing when my mother passed away.  Every time I saw it hanging, the grief felt anew. 

Inanimate objects.  Physical substance.  It's all just matter.  That matters.

Where I'm going with this?  Truly, I've no idea.  I can't recall the names of my schoolteachers, the date of my graduation.  Even my first marriage.

On the other hand!  Almost every article on which my gaze falls, I recall its origin. 

A vintage pillow from my first estate sale .... 

..... the bulletin board discovered at the back of resale shop where I took 'me- myself-and-I' for a solo birthday excursion.

Even this armoire.  Single, at the time I could only afford the dresser.  Then, a co-worker's husband volunteered to pick it up at the resale shop and deliver to my apartment.  Stunned, when I opened the door to find Will had purchased both pieces.   I still chuckle remembering the look on his face when he realized I wasn't grateful in quite the manner he'd presumed.

Of course, our home's not all unicorns and fairy dust.  This 'only' child still struggles with the notion of compromise.  I may not be a fan of Tom's aircraft memorabilia, but he might say the same about my pottery collection.    

In the end?   Without consciously thinking about it, I may have finally achieved what's-her-name's end game: Surround yourself with only those things that bring you joy.   

Now, I'm going to go pour myself another cup of joy!

Thank you so much for spending a part of your day with me!

Hugs, Myra

       

Of Cords and Chicken

 

Happy Friday, y'all!  'Jus stopping by with a couple updates from Chapman Road.

I'm so happy to show off my new-to-me computer nook!

Gotta give a huge whoop(!) to Tom for tackling the ridiculous pile of cords which lay, entwined -- largely ignored -- for the last 4 years.  A lesser man would have taken a look, shook his head and walked away.  As it was, it took him more than half an hour.  I was too humiliated to take a picture. 

I'm guessing this desk pre-dates computer technology.  That didn't deter him from improvising!

I can blame conditions on the movers ... on our haste to just get everything put in place.  Stuff shoved out of sight.
But no.  Not until circumstances made it impossible to correct.

Not unlike Tom's back.

Almost 4 years now, he's complained of pain.  We've tried every patch and salve. Doctors ordered x-rays, CT scans.  One even ventured, the pain most likely was originating from scar tissue being stretched from radiation therapy in 2013.

My regular readers may recall when, 6 months ago, Tom fell on his way to the bathroom.  I had to call 911.  I'm not going to rehash that nightmare, except to say it took an MRI to finally realize what was going on.

At yesterday's follow-up appointment, his surgeon reiterated, Tom was very close to having had a vertebral collapse and being confined to a wheelchair the rest of his days.  Dr. Doan kept saying how good he looks and has given him a green light to resume all activities.  Within reason, lol.

Now I've got to go online and find him new jeans.  With all our heavy outerwear this season, I didn't realize how saggy his jeans have become.   A 40-lb. weight loss will do that!

😛

So I got my panties in a bunch the other night.

Unnecessarily, it turns out.  Tom didn't mean what he said to sound ungrateful.

I was all set to make another batch of chili.  Or soup.  I forget.

Holding up his hand, he asked that I stop.  Just what crowd I was planning to feed?  Oh, and unlike yours truly, he enjoys having a variety of food.

Temporarily mollified, I changed my game plan.

I slow-cooker'd 3-1/2 lbs. of (unseasoned) chicken breasts in low-sodium broth, then shredded the dickens out of them.

Separating into individual portions, most were put in the freezer.  No secret, he and I rarely enjoy the same kinds of food.

He doctored his with hard-boiled egg, onion, celery, etc.

... while I took a spicier approach, using SIDS 'Gunpowder', curry and Alabama White Sauce.

Next, I want to try and recreate some of the varieties from Chicken Salad Chick.   Love that place, but their prices are a bit, well pricey.   (If you're unfamiliar with CSC, you can't read about their offerings here.)

Who all has plans for SuperBowl?

Valentine's?

I'd enjoy hearing about them.

Hugs, Myra

 

  

 

Welcome back to Wednesday's

HODGEPODGE!

 😘

Besides the predictable name-rank-serial number, what's something you know by heart?

Aside from the Pledge of Allegiance and liturgical creeds?
  
This probably sounds bizarre, but!  The Employer Identification number from the CPA firm where I worked (mid 70's-80's) is hard-wired in my consciousness.  Those being the Dark Ages, we typed every tax return  -- in triplicate -- containing that EIN.
   

Something recently that had you tickled pink?

Watching Brad Williams' comedy routine (Prime) the other evening, I'm sure my faced was flushed.  Tickled, yes! We've not laughed that hard in a long time.

How do you define the word romantic ... and are you one?

Gosh, I left 'romantic' behind many birthdays ago!  I don't rightly know.  Perhaps an unexpected-but-thoughtful gesture ... a favorite melody played on Tom's keyboards ... his undivided attention.     

Writing these, I realize I need to step up my own game.

Finish this verse with your own, original thought:  Roses are red, violets are blue .....

Our pups make my heart sing,
And a rib-eye would, too!

5 little things you are loving right now.

1. Our mornings are still chilly enough I can still wear my beloved collegiate hoodies

2.  The aroma of Tom's pipe tobacco

3.  Seasonal greeting cards in my mailbox

4.  The grocery store's audio playlist, and

5.  My childhood blanket that's endured so many years.

 

Insert your own random thought here

TTFN!

Hugs, Myra

Currently?

 

It's wet!

I've been loving our chilly weather.  That is, until yesterday morning when I thought the atmosphere felt warm ...syrupy.  Sure enough.  Mid-afternoon the weather radio began going off; I readied our helmets.

{Personal aside: I wonder if growing annoyed v. panicked means I'm finally a real Alabama-ian?}

So thankful!

Allowing myself the luxury of being a slug!  Rather than leap into the day, this morning I brought my coffee and notepad back to bed ... where I sat with my copy editor.

Sleeping on the job!

Meanwhile, out back ...

Tom's enjoying the new propane heater he rigged up in his clubhouse workshop.

Stand too close and you'll deep-fry your fingernails!

He recently completed another plane he's dubbed the 'Covid Special'

Made from scratch -- entirely from scrap materials.

In the kitchen 

Our slow cooker's getting a workout!

Still observing hoodie/comfort food season, the other night I made Chicken Green Enchilada soup

*Stock Photo*

..... but even with the addition of a few tablespoons fresh Hatch

It was disappointingly bland.

{To me, anyway.  I suppose you can take the girl out of New Mexico ... but not the other way around.}

So glad while at Target Tom insisted, we get these Pyrex containers ... I'm in love!

Finally ...

I can't recall where I found this image, but find it oddly comforting.

Perhaps it will do the same for you?

 

Wishing y'all a wonder-full day ... and weekend, too!

Hugs, Myra