Too Much...

I know I got older and maybe a bit grumpier.
Why?
Had to walk at least two blocks this morning,
From my car to the door of my work
And this is from the job's parking lot.
You see, a few thousand other folks who also work there,
I am not one who gets to the job 30 mins before need to--
More folks have moved in, from other sites, hence the
Way out parking. There is no shuttle. Just feet.
Yea. Sure. The walk is good for me.
Somehow when it's 19 degrees F.
I don't feel it's so good-like it was today.
I could get there earlier--why break a 30 year old of NOT?
So I'm a little grumpy. Wide awake after the trek.
And don't say I'm not grateful because
I'm glad I DO have a job I can walk two blocks to
However, the flesh does come alive at times--
It was 19 degrees. Walked in colder when still lived up North
Realized I don't want to do it much more--
This cat card business better take off
Or I win the lottery,
Which of course I would need to first play the lottery.. ..
Where ARE my gloves?

Winter Still

Granted my Dallas weather has not been as harsh as for my Midwest and Northeastern chums, yet I'm ready for winter to exit, With the warm days, Dallas has had, parts of my lawn started to turn green. Hence, I caught myself checking at starts of blueberry and blackberry trees for my back yard, plus different bulbs withstand the Texas heat and the shade of my front yard--I shock my head to clear it and remembered it was still February. I realized I had a green thumb about 2000. Shocked even me I actually LIKED plants and the green thumb to boot. Chums who have known me awhile will say, "Hmm, I thought the only plant you ever liked was plastic." Times change.

OK, the weather folks say Ol Man Winter isn't thru with Dallas yet. We are to receive rain, sleet--and maybe some snow late tonight. However, it's suppose to do this ALL DAY tomorrow and rush hour is to be horrible. Sure, the temp will be a smidgen below freezing--but folks in Texas only know how to drive in wintry conditions when they ain't from round these parts---like me.

So in the meantime, as I wait to see what Mother Nature has in store--if she's ticked at Ol Man Winter enough, so he dumps his cold mess on Dallas, I gotta heat up pasta and get ready for the rest of Hollywood Week on American Idol.

Oh yes, I AM addicted to American Idol and I like Ellen, so far, as a judge.

Thank goodness Blue Bell Cookies n Cream Ice Cream will ease my wintertime woes...*

Ahh...

It's Friday.

Rain and a chill fills the air.

Not as cold as it was a few weeks ago.

Friday, none the less.

And that's enough to be said.

Enjoy!

Christmas Eve 2009

And this picture is the view from my front door here in Dallas. Just like Iowa--almost. :)

On this day of all days, as I always do, I recall the spirit of Christmas Eve Past. Especially when I was a kid and didn't know my parents 'helped' Santa out during this night. Just could never get why they seemed to be so tired on Christmas Morn and why sometimes the milk I left out for Santa would smell like that funny stuff my dad drank: SCOTCH.

Or that first Christmas after my mom's death three months prior. It was iffy Dad and I would have any kind of celebration. Both weren't feeling it. Then I remember one day, Dad pulled the King Edward Cigar from his mouth and said, "Dammit, we're having Christmas." The next thing I knew, we had a tree and goodies under it. It wasn't the same, yet it was. The next Christmas Eve, I woke up to a beautiful piano in my house. Dad was shining it up. I hadn't heard anything, when it was delivered that morning. I still have it with me on this Eve.

Or the Christmas Eve, my boyfriend at the time--we'll call him Comic Book, due to his love for them, especially Superman, and Thor--and etc. Anyway, it was our first Christmas and we'd dated pretty much all year. Since his family, which we was not that close to, was in Louisiana, I invited him to my parents house. Our relationship was shakier than the Titanic when it met that iceberg, however on this night, Comic Book was a true little boy as he realized some of the presents under the tree--for HIM. He'd never really had such a thing. Considering my dad could NOT stand Comic Book, the gesture was grand.

Or the Christmas Eve I drove to Iowa from Dallas when I had sinus stuff, plus pain from my sciatic nerve. I'd already put off the trip a couple of days because I was miserable. Dad called me the night of Dec. 23, to check on me. I was stuffy and lie flat on my back to ease the sciatic nerve pain. Dad suggested--quite firmly-maybe I shouldn't come and plus the weather, blah, blah, blah. Of course, I blurted out, "It's Christmas!" Dad tried to sugar coat it how I could come back later in the year--when it was nicer. Then Dad, being the man he was said, "Well, you're gonna do whatever you want to do anyway." So on Christmas Eve morn, I didn't leave as early as I wanted to-still ached and sneezed. However I piled my stuff, desktop computer, two cats and me and up I-35 for a 750 mile trip, I went. Arrived around 9pm Christmas Eve night. Dad said I was his best Christmas present. And he mine. That was our last Christmas Eve together.

So on Christmas Eve 2009. I'm not back in Iowa, eventho friends opened their homes to me in Iowa and in Dallas. Earlier this morning, a chum was at the airport to fly to his parents' home. He'd text'd how there was a delay, so he sat. I called him at 7:15am and coughed and sneezed from sinus stuff and frog voice. We chatted until he got on the plane. Later he text'd his arrival was safe and sound.

Although both my parents are gone, I realize on Christmas Eve 2009. their spirits warm this house.

Some things aren't the same, yet they still are.

I am blessed.

Thursday Thought

A chum from Iowa sent me photos of her yard-well, really of all the snow they have. The windchill earlier there was 35 below zero. I just shook my head--and shivered. All are safe and warm.

And to think I use to live there. Born and raised. Been gone from the Midwest since 1988--when I moved to Dallas over the 4th of July holiday. My first intro to Dallas heat. I got use to it tho. Drink lots of water and wear light clothes.

Folk have asked me which I is better--the heat or the cold. Well, with the heat, you're not layered and covered head to to stay warm, like you need to be in the Midwest winter, because you ARE warm. Now, snow does need to happen for Christmas. That was the beauty when I journeyed back to the Midwest for the yuletide. It felt like Christmas.

Then the snow can melt and Spring can hurry up and get here. That's how I felt when I'd get back to Dallas, from the Midwest, and toss my winter coat aside. Not to see again, until the next winter journey to my home state.

So all in all, I'm glad everyone is safe and warm.

And I'm also glad because my cup o' hot chocolate renders of memories of how it was and now how it is...