"Do You Want To Build A Snowman?"

We are nearing the end of the second week of the New Year. As statistics go, we are currently averaging one snow fall a week. Our first snowstorm, of the year, was minor. By that I mean, there was snow covering the ground, but nothing sticking to our miles and miles of city streets. However, the second storm was a big whoop!

Snowplows, sand and salt on the streets, car crashes, multi vehicle pile-ups and below freezing temperatures. I just saw a photo of a car stuck in a creek, in my neighborhood. It was a major snowfall, for sure. Hundreds of businesses and homes are currently without electricity, due to heavy snow on elevated wires. As I type, another major drop in temperature and multiple inches of snow are due, in a little over 24 hours. That new storm is going to mess up our "once-a-week average".

But. look folks. It's winter. We live in the Midwest, for gosh sakes. None of this weather should be a surprise. My best advice, as a seasoned weather survivor, is to just "RELAX". Hunker down for a day or so, if you can. Don't go anyplace. Frankly, one day of staying home, won't hurt anyone. Cancel your appointments and your scheduled lunch with a friend. Pull some mystery meat out of the freezer, warm it up and eat it. Step outside and build a snowman.

Snow melts. Spring is just a couple of months away. 

Just let it go. Take a snow day. 

                                                 ..............................................................

Good and great God. Weather is part of Your plan. Worry doesn't help. Snow and ice do not melt with worry. We are in Your hands.

Silence is Golden

 Seriously, I had the best visit to my closest Chain Pharmacy, yesterday afternoon. The parking lot was pretty crowded, perhaps because of the closing of the Chain Pharmacy store, that was much closer to me. I didn't mind the extra drive, and apparently a whole lot of other people are reacting in the same way.

The store was crowded. I found what I wanted and spent a little more time just trolling the aisles. There were a few "after Christmas" sales, that caught my eye. However, I resisted all of the un-sold chocolate and holiday paper goods. I told myself that I had enough Christmas stuff and buying anything, just because it's on sale, is not prudent. Then, I made my way to the Check-Out area. The lines in front of the two clerks were pretty long, so I opted for one of the two Self-Checkout stations. No lines there.

The Self-Checkout Machine and I are fairly close. I've interacted with her (I believe it identifies as a female), or her cousin machines, at a whole lot of stores. Sometimes I get a bit agitated when we chat. She is, in my opinion, way too cheeky in her demands. And, sometimes she makes me repeat my scans or tap my card several times. I'm often not quick enough for her! Last night, our silent exchange was civil and without incident. I silently thanked her for her service, gathered up my self-packed bags and left the store.

I have to admit that I did miss the personal human contact, last night. I missed saying Happy New Year, to a clerk. I really enjoy talking, you know. However, that was remedied when I got into the car and turned on the radio. Singing along with Patsy Cline's, "After Midnight" CD (it's my favorite), can lift a girl's mood, anytime.

                              ...................................................................................

Dear Lord, Thank you for this beautiful new year. We have so many blessings.

Hey You Guys

 I think that most folks have a personal DOAT (Dumbest of all time) word. Mine happens to be, the four-letter word used by, according to my annoyance level, more than any other word in the English Language. 

This word appears in speech, every time a person addresses a group of people. It can be prefaced by the word "you" or not.  In former times this word was used in the presence of a crowd of men only. Now, and that's what annoys me the most, it is used for mixed company or even when addressing a group of folks who identify as female. 

Sometimes, I find myself using it. When that happens, I almost always gag and apologize. Seriously, I think it's use is common and rude.

This four-letter word, sometimes preceded by YOU, is the group word, GUYS. When did we commonly start referring to a group of men and women, or just women, as guys? Where are the flaming liberals on this one? Guys has always been gender specific. While we have been pushing the use of gender-free pronouns, we've pumped up the use of the word GUYS. 

I am not a GUY. I have never been a GUY. And, I do not want to be addressed as a GUY, anymore that I want to be called a Gentlemen or MAN (which we old folks were once taught to mean....humankind.) 

I want it stopped. It's not that hard to use "Ladies and Gentlemen", folks, attendees, participants, guests, students, or whatever group-word is appropriate. Heck, you could even say "Good Morning Humanity". Furthermore, if you are caught up in the LGBTQ-plus movement, the word GUY, should be offensive. 50% percent of the people in this world do not have penises. Give us some credit!!

                                                        ...................................................

Dear Lord. A whole bunch of your folks have causes. Humans care and we strive to be heard. Remind us of the purpose of life. Remind us to do your will, to be kind and above all to be aware of all God's creatures.

Happy New Year????

Well, how about this for a downer? Someone just sent me an opportunity to join a new group.........It was called, "EVERYTHING Vintage and Shabby". Who sent me this?? Were they hinting at something? Oh, My Golly. 

I ran to the full-length mirror. Standing there, I checked out the reflection. Yes, I think I would agree with vintage. After all, the calendar and the mirror, don't lie. Mid-seventy doesn't resemble mid-forty, does it? But shabby, not so much. Only about half of my wardrobe, I estimated, is showing a bit of wear.

Time for a change. Beginning today, I am going to start a major overhaul of my personal clothing collection. I am going to eliminate any possibility of shabby.

        #1. Anything bought before 2000, has to go. (that's 24 years old folks) Anything that old just              smacks of VINTAGE, which is a Fancy Nancy word for OLD.

        #2. Greys and blacks are probably not the most attractive colors for seniors. If I can't jazz it up with     Red or Hot Pink, it's gone. Anything that screams dull, just doesn't work. Dull is absolutely SHABBY.

        #3. If I haven't worn an article in 5 years.......OUT. (And that goes for shoes, too.)

It's a New Year, and instead of old and drab, I'm aiming for Mature and Marvelous. Or how about Elderly and Elegant? Do any of my readers want to join my new group......"Seventies.... Sensational and Savy!

                                                 ...................................................

Dear God. Faith is necessary for a complete life. Change is inevitable. You are our Constant.

  

"Caroling, Caroling Through the Snow"

 "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year", or so the song goes. It's that time of year, when I expound on Christmas tunes. I've written before about my unmarketable talent for recalling song lyrics, and of course Christmas Song Lyrics are some of my favorites. I've gone on and on about how I dislike anyone singing any version of "O Holy Night" and that my favorite Christmas Song is "Here comes Santa Claus". Especially, when it's sung by one of my childhood heroes, Gene Autry, the Singing Cowboy. 

This year however, I'd like to focus on mis-quoted or humorous interpretations of these classic songs. The Internet is great for this kind of thing. Yesterday, someone sent me a photo of one lonely reindeer peering out over a fence, at hundreds of other frolicking reindeer. The caption read, "Proof that Rudolph was not allowed to join in any reindeer games." Then, I received another picture of a bowl of tater tots, each sporting neon green alien eyes. "Tiny tots with their eyes all a glow, will find it hard to EAT tonight." I laughed. 

Well really. Who can remember all of the 12 days of Christmas Gifts? And, just who would want to receive any of them, anyway? Birds are downright messy. I'd like a show of hands for every high school holiday band concert you've attended, where the cracking whip sound in "Sleigh Ride" was played on the right beat! Did Frosty really have a "broom stuck in his head"??

So folks, whether you sing "round yon Virgin" or "Round John Virgin", or belt out "Up on the housetop, reindeer PAWS or pause", just remember to have a very happy Christmas and a joyous holiday season.

                                                            .........................................

Lord you are the reason for this season. Let us all be in the spirit of joyfully giving and graciously receiving. Remind us to sing a little.

Winners??????

  I am a proud graduate of the University of Kansas. I follow Jayhawk Basketball, fairly closely. Kansas has been a winner, on the court, for ages. After all, James Naismith, the inventor of the game, taught and coached at Kansas for decades. Kansas Football Teams have been much less successful. Since the early 1970s, they have rarely had a winning season. 

Recently, things have been looking up for the Hawks. I mean, they have actually won some games. They finished their 2023 regular season with 8 wins and 4 losses. Definitely an improvement, but not spectacular, in my opinion. 

Now, imagine my surprise when I heard, via radio, that in spite of such a mediocre record, the Jayhawks are scheduled to play in a College Bowl Game. The school will be in the post-season "Big Time", along with long-time rivals, K-State (8-4) and Mizzou (10-2)

With that snippet of knowledge, I decided to do a bit of Bowl Research. After all, I have, in past years watched parts of the Sugar, Rose and Cotton Bowls. Those bowls have been around, forever. This year, there will be approximately 20 major Bowl Games. They'll be played from December 16th to January 8th. And, yes, you can have a losing season and play in a Bowl Game. Do the math, folks. You have to have 40 teams, to play in 20 games. Some of them are bound to be losers!

All modern era Bowl Games include the name of the "big money" sponsor, in their titles. Kansas State will not play in the Tony the Tiger Bowl, but instead will play in the Pop Tarts Bowl. Kansas will play, December 26th, in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl and Mizzou will play in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, not the Cheeze It Bowl. The other bowl games include the Chick fil a Bowl, the Isleta Bowl, the Famous Toastery Bowl, and the Scooter's Coffee Bowl.

That's the truth, folks. Congratulations to all the teams. I hope all of the players get free samples.

                                           ............................................................

Lord. Show us the humor in our life's journey. Bring peace to our souls. Be our strength and our salvation.

I'll be with you, Shortly.

As I look up at them, I often amuse folks by telling them about a mistaken belief of mine. Well into my adult years, I thought I was a tall person. After all, in school pictures, sometimes I was on the second row. Many of my classmates were much shorter than me. No one teased me about being a shorty. Adults, by the time I was around 14, looked me in the eye.

When I left my hometown, I realized the truth. I was vertically challenged. Because no one, from where I was reared, was tall. Most of my classmates, if they were Southeast Kansans, born and bred, with first generation American parents, were the grandsons and granddaughters of European coal miners. Deep shaft mines were abundant in that area, and miners tended to be on the shorter side. Therefore, with the exception of a few outsiders, we were all a bunch of shorties. 

Well, five foot, two inches isn't tall. I soon learned that. However, being short does have its advantages. I can easily reach down and pick up dropped stuff. I'm good at finding lost articles, stored away on bottom shelves. Short people are great at tying shoelaces, their own and those of others.  Decorating the lower branches of Christmas Trees, has always been my specialty. Tall people are normally eager to reach high things, for me. Crawling on my hands and knees is easy, getting up, not so much.

I do, unfortunately have a couple of very tall, cheeky friends who make a habit of resting their elbows on my head. Just part of the "short people" experience. As Popeye always said, "I am what I am. and that's all that I am." Some things can't be changed.

                     .............................................................................................................

Lord, I am thankful for who and whose I am. I will strive to be the best person I can be, within a few physical limitations. I am blessed. You are my strength.