Black and Blue Friday

While folks were out and about at midnight doing the Black Friday thing, I curled under my quilt, and slept the night away in my bed. A cat planted against my leg. OK. Sure, there was 40 inch TV for $248 bucks and a laptop for $198 I wanted--yet it would mean I would stake my claim in a line of hundreds of people. We would wait for the clock to strike midnite, so we could dash away, dash away, dash away all thru the store to get the goodies. That is, if we made it to the spot before all the goodies were gone.

I had to work today. Everybody else, unless you were in retail, had the day off. Yep. Eight hours I won't get back. I was curious if any of what I wanted was left at the stores. Once I got off work--at my regular time, I headed to the big box stores. Optimistic am I. There could be a chance the TV and laptop were still available. That perhaps the store could have put out MORE.

Alas, no such luck. My goodies were gone.

Black Friday was pretty blue for me.

Stay tuned.

Thanksgiving Eve Thought

Searched my memory for Thanksgivings past as I looked in my cluttered fridge and got bummed. No green and red peppers. I love green and red peppers. I got unbummed because I remembered the grocery store cashier informed me earlier that the store would be open on Thanksgiving until 4 pm. So if I needed green and red peppers so bad, I could get them--by 4pm anyway.

Back in yester-century, NOTHING was open on Thanksgiving, save a gas station--maybe. I thought about my parents staying up, what seemed like all night cooking. I fell asleep listening to them talking back and forth. Made me feel safe. If my mom ran out of some ingredient, she was on the phone calling my aunts if they had said ingredient. Or over to the neighbors and vice versa. None of this running to the store for that last bit of ingredient. If you didn't have it or somebody else didn't have it--you wouldn't have it.

NO grocery store was open. My Iowa hometown literally did shut down. A national holiday would soon dawn. The grocery stores my town did have all closed closed their doors and turned out the lights early. Family and company were comin'!

In yester-century the day before Thanksgiving stores would not open their doors again until the day after Thanksgiving. That day is now called Black Friday (that's a whole nother post!). The time away from stores gave folks plenty of time with their loved ones.

Yea. OK. Although I may stop at the grocery store tomorrow before 4 pm to get my green and red peppers, I do ponder about now simplicity of Thanksgivings past:

I miss them.

Friday Finally...

..and I got me some Tina Turner on the mind....Simply the Best!

No more needs to be said...

...and so you say

It's FRIDAY?

No more needs to be said!

Just JUMP!

Friday

Made it thru my first week of new job training and I ENJOYED it. No joke! Sure, there's some bumps in the road--and some bumps for co-workers--yet I ENJOYED it. There are 40 of us in the room--so for me to say this, it's gotta be good!

Also my education path is gets smoother. Juggle some and kinda got the routine down a bit better. My course is all online. Although, I do admit to missing face to face interaction, I'm OK, to work on the PC, while a cat sleeps on my desk as I do the work,(on a little blanket just for them), then log off my PC and take said cat with me.

Like I'm gonna do right now. because Chinese take out, said cat, and today's Young and the Restless episode await. .

Friday. All good. No need for more to be said.

Friday Snow Update

The official snow tally in the DFW area: 12.5 inches. Most snow EVER in the history of weather keeping...

And I have to go to work. Yep. The entire city, including my former company,is shut down, --my work is not. Even tho I play the IOWA card every chance I get when it comes to Wintry weather and just GO-I do draw the line at a foot of snow. Especially, when the city has never experienced such a sight--so I have no desire to be a warrior to rush to get to my desk.

Hence, I delayed myself, as I know alot of other folks did.

The snow is already beginning to melt. Yet, I gotta admit, the snow has been pretty. All in all, it should be gone by weekend's end---and my Blue Bell Ice Cream remains to ease the Winter Woes. :)

12.5 inches of SNOW.

What state do I live in?

Week Before Christmas

It's Friday. So glad. A cat hollers--which means some kind of attention needed Cats need to get a job. Their litter doesn't grow on trees--well--hmm.

I could go on about work. How I still wonder how I grew to be one of the older statesmen on my team. Just when did I cross from the Eternity Lake of my 20's to Put on Reading Glasses to Read Ingredients on Food Carton Pool? More angry at myself I'm in this situation. Which I just need to crush the cycle. I do think think I disappointed one of the young ladies today that I didn't want to thrust the peace sign with my fingers and say, "Peace out, yo." I choose not to be the cool mom who hangs out with her daughters' chums. When did the grown up stuff really begin?

Tish tosh. That's a topic for another day.

Hey, it's a week before Christmas. And I want to hear Nat King Cole sing a song that so reminds me of Christmas memories with my Dad. I've not been back to Iowa, for Christmas, since 2001. Two months after his passing. I miss it at times--yet I went home to spend that time with him. Now his spirit spends Christmas in my heart--everyday.

Cue up Nat.

Friday Feel

And really, is there anymore to be said? End of the week. Closer to Christmas.

And my thoughts of the late, great Luther Vandross version of O Come All Ye Faithful.

Heard this first in 1996

Gave me chills

And still does.

We miss you, Luther.

And the Heavenly Choir just is bit more heavenly with you in it---

December Kinda Like

Christmas.

The temp is at freezing. No snow. Some folks have lights on their homes. Alas, I don't. Though I smile at the memory of Dad stringing up the lights. And the years of our flocked turquoise Christmas trees. Trust me it worked!

So since it's almost Christmas and I'm thrilled it's Friday too boot--I will cue up one my favorite songs by the late, great Luther Vandross. My eyes still mist up as Luther tell me about Christmas Time. Wonderful, wonderful song.

Reminds me how much I miss Luther.

Doctor It Up

It's Thursday. 5:55 pm as I write this and it's midnight black outside. Yea. Not feeling that.

Downed my 74 ounces of water today. Wish it had been a cherries, pecans and cream malt from Braum's Ice Cream store. Alas, it wasn't. More healthier...whoppee.

Also at work today, I sauntered up to my racquetball chum Maria, even tho we've not racquetted any thing for months--I digress--and asked her if she had a snack. Maria munches healthy snacks, so I knew that was better than the bag of peanut M & M's I desired about 4302% more. Maria didn't disappoint. My chum handed me a pumpkin pie flavored granola bar. I figured at the most, a tad of sweetness, would tie me over.

Wrong.

To swallow a mouthful of sawdust would cause a sugar over dose compared to this bar.Didn't even finish it. When I walked to my car, I threw the remainder on the ground. I figured the birds might get healthy...might...

In the meantime, it's almost Friday. I smile at Gene Simmons, decked all in his KISS gear, in that soda pop commercial. I like the song "Calling Doctor Love"--I even had it on a 45--and got it here right now!

Friday Feelin' It

Just because I choose to remember how it was...

So Good Thursday

Just cause it's so close to Friday. You can feel it. So Good.

I really could go on about the 4th Grader asking President Obama why people don't like him or Rush Limbaugh NOT a potential buyer of a NFL team, or how Donny Osmond and Michael Irvin survive to dance another day or why do so many care about Jon & Kate or Miley leaving Twitter or how I'm not too keen on Twitter and couple chums can't even believe I would think such a thing or or how my body aches from aerobics or how I can still can't believe Michael Jackson is gone and he did it to himself or how I want make enough money to update my house and go on a vacation or how most of the current Young and the Restless storylines make me restless and I FF, or how I bought my now last watermelon of the year and it was literally empty inside or I could go on, alas why?

It's almost Friday.

Al Jarreau tells us in one of my all time favorite songs how things can be So Good.-reminds me how some things still can...

Friday Frost

Three columns in the Dallas Morning News caught my eye.

President Barack Obama is to speak to the school age children soon. I didn't realize how big a deal this was until yesterday. Is it like this everywhere? OK-so the White House messed up on some lesson plans and/or question--however COME ON. Other presidents have spoken in front of school kids while garble being hurled at them up until they did so.

I guess I don't really get it because President Obama, nor any of the former presidents, said to go start wild fires to burn up California or steal somebody's lunch's money--nope--just stay in school and do well--so I'm lost. Part of me wants to use the race card--because everything the President does is so scrutizined-which I've endured all my life. President Obama doesn't look like any of the others presidents on the schools' walls. Some folks still don't like that. Alas, I wonder how much those same folks wouldn't like if he sat in the White House and did so much less than he is now?

Even if some of the President's actions winde up being futile--at least he tried. He didn't get us in this mess--He's trying to get us out. The bad part is--it'll take awhile. And I'm impatient too--just like everybody else.

I also know folks (even tho I'm close too) mutter 'nigger' under their breath about President Barack Obama. They just don't know and possibly afraid of whatever eats them up. I'm sure of being compared to Hitler, socialist, and whatever else, 'nigger' is being used too. I'm kinda curious what folks hurled about the first Catholic president who announced man should land on the moon before decade's end. What they did call him? It's sad.

Yet I have faith as steps taken forward fall back.

The beauty is you can always move forward again.

Stay tuned.

Finally Friday

Rain pours from the sky. Could go catch enough rain to make my daily 74 ounces of water intake. :) Even with the rain, it's still muggy. And still August. And still Summer.

So on this Friday, I just felt like doing a smile or twelve when I think back to the August 1978. Way before DVR's, mortgages, and where cable was about HBO and that's it. That August I spent alot of the time at the moving picture show. For one movie, and really one movie only.

"Grease" was and still is the word.

Cue up Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta and Jeff Conway. In the time Before.

Week Off The Wall Done

What a week!

All this Michael Jackson stuff. My GOODNESS! More questions in death than in life-the kids not being biologically his--OK, I always hoped some how they were. Even tho Michael turned lighter over the years, pigmentation for his natural offspring would not. However the babies could still be lighter--so I was in denial. All this mess about drugs. Folks knew. Family knew. Michael new. Just sad. Michael had it all. Yet didn't know it-which to me, goes back to family. What really happened?

Stay tuned.

For me-had to work today. Yes, while just about everybody didn't. Got off at 2pm though and figured I'd make it to the rec center to bike and tread. Wrong. As I drove home, I noticed trash still remained by the curb. Uh-oh. Holiday. No trash pick up. And the rec center is a city deal--so alas no rec center open. *sigh*.

Done well on my diet. Can see subtle changes. So because the rec center is closed and I don't feel like mopping the floor, I'll go splurge on the best burger in Dallas at Burger Island. Been awhile.

Cue up Michael Jackson and Diana Ross with "Rock With You" around 1981 on her TV special I don't ever remember. Honestly, I also don't recall Michael even looking like this! Very attractive. Seem happy. Too bad he never saw it. RIP MJ

It's Friday and World Still Moves...

Still in shock on Michael Jackson. Wow. A chapter of life ends. Yet, the world does go on. To cut to the chase--it still is Friday which means we need to cue up some music. Click on Michael Jackson's name to see my all time fave-O-rite dance tune of his.

Oh MAN! You talk about strut the stuff to this song! And for me, there was a particular guy, name Wayne--that --well, shook his groove thing just so EXCELLENT to this song. Even tho it was 30 years ago-a smile comes to the face. Don't Stop Until You Get Enough--so much truth there!

And another song I loved from all the Brothers who ask: Can You Feel It?

Always.

Rest Now, Michael. Rest

Tis Friday Eve!

As I pulled into my driveway tonight-a bit tired and sweat drenched from my bike & treadmill jaunt at the rec center, the radio began to play a song. Not really one of my all time favorites, yet brings up a memory from a time far, far away--basically, the '80's, in yester-century.

Ya know, big hair--on men and women, with alot of mousse and gel. In my case, I still held remnants of my jheri curl--just in different styles. I digress. Anyway, by 1986, I'd moved back to Iowa from my second (and so far, last) habitation in Kansas City. Yet, I still kept in touch with my KC Chum who had introduced me to crepes, Bloody Marys on a Sunday before lunch, and the Village People.

This particular time in 1986, my KC Chum, drove to visit me in Iowa. If I remember right, his car was about the size of the Love Boat. I was amazed it the 'ship' made the 250 miles, without a life raft nor Captain Stuebing! I digress again.

The whole point is: that weekend a wonderful time was had my all! Partied like it was 1999, and it was just 1986. And this song was one we danced to. When the DJ began to spin it at the bar, I recall my KC Chum jumped and announced must dance. And we did.

So every time I hear this song, even 23 years later, I smile. Forget about the senior rec center I belong to and put the trash by the curb and that bedtime is usually 10:30pm.

I smile about a time when 10:30pm was about the time I went out and STILL went to the work the next day. :) Let's cue up alittle Peter Gabriel on this Friday Eve--he's gonna tell us about some "Sledgehammer!"

It is...

Finally Friday!

Got out of work early (a BIG thumbs up on that!) We all had to skip lunch to be able to leave early. So needless to say I was starved when I exited. Wound up doing lunch with a chum, who just moved back to Dallas. Upon return to Dallas, she actually worked at the same place I did.

After 10 days my chum quit.

It was the right decision. Anyway, we chatted for about 3 hours. Long overdue. And alot of fun. When I left work, I'd pondered going to a movie--but heck, you can always do that. So to lunch I went. Made me realize I'd missed our get togethers, plus time has flown. Her daughter just turned 20.

* sigh*

So, on this Friday after the yummy burger I munched and dee-lish onions--which I gotta admit weren't at the best burger place in Dallas: Burger Island-and quite tasty on the tummy--gotta go tread and bike.

The scale didn't scream as much this morning. I can tell some inches have slid on off. Gotta like that.

If you will excuse me, gotta get the tennyrunners on and go do my thing.

Friday and Robin Williams

Robin Williams appeared on Letterman the other night. First public appearance since his open heart surgery. Robin had his aorta valve replaced and mitral valve repaired. So we have our mitral valves in common--sorta. Mine was replaced--still--simpatico. Robin spoke of the blood thinner he now takes to prevent clots around the mechanical valve especially. Robin pops the generic of the brand name I take. Wow--Mork from Ork and I more simpatico! Which is great, because I may have been the only one that liked Robin in Moscow on the Hudson! Anyway, Robin looked great--even showed his scar. Mine should look that good! :) So when I pop my Coumadin, I'll think how Robin has to pop his warafin and get his blood checked--just like me. Simpatico--that's what we are!

Outside of that it's Friday.

Nuf said.

Enjoy!

Finally Friday...

Tis the weekend.
Just glad.
Let's cut right to the chase
Cue up Three Dog Night
For a few moments to
Celebrate!
Don't get any better than this.
Always loved me some Cory Wells!