Dallas Summer Day

Watermelon kitty chill...

Kinda says it all, huh? 

Summer Read 1997

OK.

Although the Summer of '97 was 16 years ago, this book is brand new for me:

I love Sandra Brown. 

I admit not being much into Ms. Brown's (or really anybody else's) romance novels, yet her mystery/suspense novels have been favorites of mine since--well, maybe a bit before 1997.  Ms. Brown's stories are great page turners--which engage my long dormant love for reading and I pray continues to ignite my even longer dormant zest for my own writing.

Stay tuned.

Monday Mash

Hello everyone! Been out of pocket for a few days--mainly due to my central air conditioning on its last gallop. And, I live in Texas where 100 F temps have made their annual return. I knew the a/c was going, yet not this quick--the a/c guy  confirmed this the day after Memorial Day. He pumped my unit with three pounds of Freon at 70 bucks a pound--hoping it would last the summer. Then I could replace the whole system--which costs more than $29.99. The thought of going into more debt just right now, on an item you use to think OLD people plunked down cash for--I wasn't feelin'. My financial situation was now on the rise, and did not feel like saddling myself with this--just not now, unless of course, it was a black Mercedes C300--I digress, Back to the $210 worth of Freon--it has been a yes/no situation. My house can me sorta cool, yet not the ice berg it could be at 80 F degrees. The a/c guys says I have a leak somewhere, so  with the thought of Freon 70 bucks a pound I jimmied with the thermostat, figured I had it figured it all out. Thought I could make the hot so cool house livable.  
*Wrong.
**Last Thursday night I got home from work. One step into the house, my house was a sauna. Over 90 F degrees.  The outside temperature was close to 100F. I have cats who I instantly felt guilty for. They had to endure the roast. Had enough of this.  
*****A co-worker had suggested I get a couple a/c window units just to last me through summer. I poo'd poo'd it off--until Thursday night. Up to a big box home improvement store. Purchased a  Frigidaire 5000 BTU air conditioner window unit just for my bedroom--to see how it would do.It is for small spaces up to 150 sq ft.  A young lady helped demonstrate how to install. You could do it she said.
*Yea, by Friday night I got the sucker in. Weight of it, was not a problem. I lug heavier cat litter bags. Nope. My first issue was getting the screen OUT of the window. I would have had the unit in, if I could get get the screen OUT. Night had fallen and I afraid some bat, affected by radiation and be 18 ft wing span would swoop through the open window. I would wait til Friday.
**I did not even stop to get a Starbucks Mocha Frappucino on the way home Friday night.  I wanted to get this puppy in my the window. I got the screen out, fiddled with the unit and finally--FINALLY got it in. Secure in the window. Friday night, my room was so cool, I needed to put a cover over me.
Tis wonderful!  My cats decided they loved me more too. 
**I will purchase a bigger one for my living area. I should be able to put that unit in alot quicker--because I am so DIY and know how. The house is lots, LOTS cooler, even with this smaller unit. We'll be fine for the Texas summer. Gives me time to budget my dollars. 
**I was going to post a picture of  the window unit, however how cute really is that?  Instead here is  the kitty in who refuses to let me throw away the packing and the a/c box. She's claimed it as her own---for now.
Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go relax in the cool of 5000 BTU...

Saturday Done

Heat has made its way back to Dallas. I guess the not too hot not to chilly weather could not last forever. And of course, my house's a/c decides to not work like it should over a holiday weekend. So the a/c guys won't be here until 7:30 Tuesday morning.  I do have some cool air coming out, just not as as cool as it should be. Got a ceiling fan in just about every room, plus a Starbucks on just about every corner.  
The tabby cat in the photo is named Noir. He gets to savor the last bit of whipped cream from my  Starbucks White Chocolate Frappucino.
Yep. Summer is bout here.  After Tuesday and the a/c guys do whatever they need to do, bring Summer on! .... :) 

Tis Wednesday

Good day. Felt like my job was sliding into a good place. Still don't care for all the boss' techniques. Yet, our team is producing--and it is all about the numbers. "We're 'makin' our jelly" as one of my team mates says. Tis good.

As I right this, it's 10:45Pm Wednesday evening. It's still a sticky 88 degrees F. Summer isn't officially here yet it decided to come on in early.

So on that happy note. I'm off to snooze under the ceiling fan.

Like I said, tis good.

Still Sunday Stuff 3

Well, for about 10 more minutes anyway. Usually blog this late--cause usually, this time on a Sunday, I'd be in bed because Monday would be a work day. Yet, Memorial Day it will be. Who doesn't like a holiday fall on a Monday?

The a/c is still runnin'. Geez, it's going to be a long summer, even tho summer isn't quite here yet.

Mainly, the deal in these last 8 minutes of Sunday, I've pondered a bunch of stuff. My weight and how the 41 pounds I'd planned to lose did get lost alright. I think it just itself all over my hips. So yes, some of it has to go. School--and how I feel to start applying to places before I even get my degree, and then my parents. How, if I were back in Iowa, I would visit their graves, with roses in hand. I'd reminisce of Memorial Days past. Those days we'd spend the whole day together, either with other family members or just our family of three fishing and picnic-ing.

I'd also search for my paternal grandparents, buried in the same cemetery. I never knew either one. I'd let them know I know the names of my great-great grandparents, who were slaves in Loudon County, Virginia. But my paternal grandfather may have known all that since he was born in 1876, and his grandmother didn't pass until the early 1900's. History I want to uncover.

OK, two minutes left. And wouldn't you know I have a quick 30 minute school write up thingy to do? The school is two hours behind me and it won't take long. I am getting tired. And my bed awaits.

It's been a good Sunday.

Hot One

Another hot one here. What did I expect? I've been in Dallas since 1988. In fact, my 21st anniversary of changing my address from Iowa to Texas was a couple days ago. It's July. It's Dallas. Of COURSE, it's hot. Ugh. Yet, now I know to really drink lots of water and if it ain't worth leaving the a/c for, then anything can wait.

Kinda like in the deep freeze of the mid west during, oh--January. Is it worth to bundle up to head out in a windchill of 50 below. If it's not, then curl up with a book and cat and a cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows.

Like today, I did leave for about a half hour. I craved fresh strawberries, plus I was out of watermelon. Finally found a sweet batch of watermelon---and dang it--I wanted MORE. Too bad it wasn't on sale anymore--but I got it just the same!

So, I look at my cluttered house, dream what 25 grand would do to assist a house stuck in the 1970's to up to 2009 and take a sip of water. Now gotta tear myself from the PC, check on the cats--they are quite quiet-make my salad, pour my lemonade, check what movie I'll watch later--it's something what movies are found in a box you never got all the way through-for one reason or another.

And now it's time for the 80's band, Living Colour. For the moment their star shone bright, I thought they were GREAT! Wonderful to men with my skin tone, rock the house DOWN with "Cult of Personality!"And I bet when this was on TV in 1989, it was probably another cold day in Iowa or a hot one here.

You just deal and now where is that lemonade?

Friday

Finally

Friday

Tired.

Ache from the rec center.

Suppose to be a good hurt.

Sure, OK, when I'm stiff in the morn-

I'll think how good it is.

Was gonna delve into my Blue Bell Groom's Cake Ice cream, yet

Chomped my watermelon instead.

Was 10:30pm and still 86 degrees.

My ice cream will need to wait another day.

And I'm calling it day for this one.

Finally