THE "KEY" TO A GOOD DAY....

Whenever Pep lets me sleep past 5 am for the first wake up call, my day seems to go a little better.    You see, she eats at 6:30 am & 6:30 pm. So when she first wakes up, she thinks it's time to eat, so she keeps trying to get me to the kitchen.  We get up, she goes out & then we go back to bed cause it's not time yet.  Yesterday was no exception but she slept til 5:30 & I was happy altho we still went back to bed hoping that she'd sleep til 6:30.  She made it til 6...so out again we go & this time Kiki followed.  Still half asleep & no glasses on, I was concentrating on keeping Kiki from sneaking out in the garage because from there she tries to sneak outside & that freaks me out (another story). Although I was able to keep her inside the house, what transformed next I couldn't just put in an updated post...belive me, I tried 3 times last night & "facebook wasn't responding". So I went to bed at 9, because this is the way my day started & ended, I was just too exhausted to try a 4th time.
Pep went out & did her buisness & we proceeded to come back in to go back to bed again.  But low & behold, the door to the house was locked...reached for the spare keys & remembered they were in the basket in the house.  Great...I didn't have my glasses.  I didn't have my phone.  I DIDN'T HAVE SPARE KEYS. & I didn't have a vehicle.  AND NO COFFEE! Britt had my car cause she had a cleaning job & her truck is in the shop waiting to be fixed & she was a her boyfriend's house for the night. Another Great!  So I started to brainstorm...couldn't go to the new neighbors at 6 am for help...besides, I was in my sleepwear & hadn't brushed my teeth.  Being alone most of the time I keep things locked up pretty tight around here (no pun intended), so I knew the windows were all locked.  Oh wait, the kitchen window MIGHT be unlocked. I figured I could crawl in there, no problem...no sweat. I shimmied & shimmied but to no avail.  If I could just squeeze just another inch, I'd be in there.  Then I had a frightening thought....WHAT IF I GOT STUCK HALFWAY?????  Scratch that idea...(note to self, start exercising more). So I went back in the garage & starting coming up with a new plan....I keep bottled water & jugs of water in the garage fridge & I keep Peps extra dog food in a bin in the garage.  I also keep my Christmas serving dishes in a cabinet in the garage.  Soon Pep was drinking out of a snowman dish & eating off of a patriotic plate.  Because of the heat the past week or so, the garage is stifling, so I opened the man door & the double garage door.  At least there was a breeze.  Ok.  Got my new lounge chair down & opened it up & began to think.  It was still too early to go to the neighbors.  However the other neighbors that I know very well, had gone out of town.  So I know their farmhand will be coming around soon to take care of their animals & I'd just watch for him.  He would be a skinny young man that could climb in the window & unlock the door for me....or, he could call the neighbors & they in turn could call Britt before she goes to work. (You see, I still don't know her number by heart, so I couldn't just tell the farmhand to dial it.) So I waited, we waited.  I watered my garden. I got a water bottle.  Then I thought of all the stuff I had to do before going to a pool party with some cousins I haven't spent time with forever.  I had clothes in the wash to dry.  The litter box needed done.  The kitchen needed cleaned up. The fruit all needed to be cleaned & cut up for a fruit salad.  Oh wait, the fruit's in the garage fridge! I can have a banana! Still waiting, I decided to crawl halfway back into the kitchen window to check the time on the microwave.  Omg, it was 10 am already! I mean, we'd survived 4 hours out here already!  Pepper was anxious to go in...she loves her ac (& with her health issues, the heat wasn't going to do her any good). Ok, so it's 10 & I know that Britt will be home by 1/1:30.  If the farmhand doesn't come or no one stops by that is skinny enough to shimmy through that window, we'll just wait it out.  Another water bottle & more cold water for Pep.  As time goes by, no one comes, not the farmhand & not that skinny friend.  It's starting to really get oppressive.  Pepper's pacing & barking cause she wants in... I want in.  At least there's still a breeze.  I walked out to the road to get the trash can which was starting to inch it's way onto the road cause the breeze picked up. Wow, was it hot.  Poor poor Pep.  I honestly thought she might not survive this.  What should I do?  I tried to get her calm & perhaps to sleep & I went to check the time again.  It's now after noon.  Thank goodness! Oh wait, I told Britt if she didn't get back til 2 it would be fine...I'd just be ready to go to that pool party when she got here.  She said she was supposed to do a more intense clean at this house today so that probably meant she wouldn't be home til 2.  I'm starting to get panicked about Pepper's breathing & barking & pacing & refusal to calm down.  Finally she did & I was now pretty much drenched.  So I got out the hose & gave myself a misting...however, Pepper wanted no part of it (guess it was too much like getting a bath?).  But, finally, I see the car pull in & Britt gets out & sees us sitting there & says are you ready to go already? Thinking I was ready to go & waiting on her, she bent down to pet the now excitedly barking Pep.  I said, "Can you just open the door & let us in?"  She seemed confused as I was folding my chair & moving closing the back door.  She said, "It's locked."  I said, "Yes, we're locked out & you need to use your keys."  The look on her face was even more puzzling.  Then I realized...."Please tell me you have your keys?"  "No! My house keys are with the truck key down at the truck shop!" "SHIT SHIT SHIT"!!!!! Now what. I couldn't think. I was on exhaution overload (if there's such a thing).  Ok, "well, I hope you can fit through the kitchen window!"
When I came in & realized it was 10 til 1, I was ever so thankful that she got home early. The next hour was a blur.  I now had to pee so bad that that was first on my list. Then put the clothes in the dryer. Then clean the litter box.  Then wash & cut up the fruit & find a container to put it in (which is another chore due to the fact that I'm short).  I had to gather up the chips & dips & the fruit dips & a spoon & some bowls for the salad & beach towels & what else...I was rushing & I hadn't had coffee but it was too late for that & heck, I was too hot for it.   Britt gave Pep her pills while I took mine, both of us hours late for them.   Then she went & got cleaned up or something (I don't even know) & her bf  picked her up & off they went.  I was alone again, but in a nice cool house. Pepper was already sleeping.  I checked my phone which was still under my pillow & amazingly no one had called or texted.  I quickly showered & got dressed in the clothes I was going to swim in.  Decided to skip the makeup (IKR???)...left my hair wet & put on my visor....let Pepper out to pee one more time...texted my cousin to say I was going to be late & I needed an effin drink when I got there!  Oh, wait, I have to stop & get that too.  So I loaded up the car, with each trip making sure the door wasn't locked, & then stopped, took a deep breath.  I rechecked everything including the keys now hanging back on the hook in the garage.  You can be sure this will never happen again.  Getting another spare key made for that special hiding place asap. 
The pool party was waiting & I wasn't so late afterall.  First thing on my agenda (after unloading the car, with the help of my cousins) was to open a smirnoff & get in the pool.  It was the most relaxing time I've had in a long time & it was sooooooooooooo nice to catch up with my cousins.  But most of all, it was nice to come home about 7:30 to take care of my sweet Pepper who was ready to eat again & go out again.  After a long, long, long day we went to bed at 9 & the first wake up call was at 4am...not bad :)

what i know

Depression....I could look it up, but I know what it means.  It means that I get the brunt of it because there are some who apparently feel that when one gets old, you have no time for them.   You never call just for the heck of it or even return calls.  You don't just visit, ever.  You do your duty when it's convenient for you.  You didn't use to be that way.  You used to call everyday when you worked at that one place.  You are now retired & it's gotten worse.  Ah, depression...it means the world sucks & everyone in it.  It means no one can say or do anything to fix it.  It means a great big giant pity party.  It means silence...or not.  It means take sides.  It means dragging out bits & pieces of conversation like pulling teeth.  It means things will get better...until the next funk. It means bringing one down along with you is inevitable.  It sucks.  There's not an app for it. There's no magic potion for it.  There is a happy pill, but refusal to actually take action is mute.  Depression....I could look it up, but I know what it means.

CRAZY (AS IN, IS THERE A FULL MOON) MORNING

It started about 5 am when Pepper (our 12 yr. old beagle mix) decided it was time to go out...or eat....or something. You see, we think she has dimentia or the onset of it. Of course, that's not what it's called in canines...it's called canine incognitive something or other....same diff.  So we get up & go out after putting her harness on, which she now needs to wear when she goes out on her chain so the chain isn't pulling on her arthritic neck & causing her left front leg to "go out of place" to a 45 degree angle.  (Yes, getting old, sucks.)  Being that it's only 5 am & she doesn't eat "breakfast" until 6:30, I said, "we're going back to bed, it's not time to eat."

She was restless, knowing, somewhere in her mind, that it would soon be time to eat.  Kiki (our 8 yr. cat) didn't come back to bed with us...not even sure where she was.  I was restless, knowing that Pepper was restless, waiting for "breakfast".  Then Kiki appeared out of nowhere...jumping right onto the bed, over Pep & landing next to me meowing....like she does when she wants me to know someone else is here...yeah, she makes a great watchcat.  But not wanting to crawl out of bed yet, I told her to go away.  And of course, she woke Pep up from a sound sleep, which might have gone on way past 6:30 due to her dimentia.  So Kiki leaves the bed & in no time, is back crawling above my head, over across my pillow, but every so delicately.  Ok...now what...MEOW!!!! I said, "LAY DOWN"...& to my amazement, she did.  Of course, Pep raised her head again & I said, again, "it's not time to get up yet!"  Actually, I hadn't looked at the clock since our initial rising, but I was sure it wasn't time yet. 

So now, we're all quietly laying there & it's been no more than 2 min. since Kiki joined us for the second time, when she sits up & starts meowing again...OH FOR PETE'S SAKE!!!! Pepper jumps off the bed, Kiki's still meowing & I look at the clock...7:15????????? Are you kidding me! What happened to those 2 hours???? Pepper missed "breakfast"! Kiki's watchcat attributes suck, cause there's no one here!!!  I need dry clothes for "mom day"!  OMG....I hate waking up in such a disoriented state!!!!

Ok, time to breathe...feed Pep...take my morning meds....make a cup of coffee...turn on Facebook...wait, why is Pep not eating....is it because I'm standing in the kitchen making coffee instead of heading back to bed like I usually do?  Does the crunchy food hurt her teeth/gums?  Is she going to have a seizure?  Now what....she's just acting weird.  So I go put clothes in the dryer & wash my face & brush my teeth & here comes Pep....apparently she was confused because I was in the kitchen while she was having her "breakfast".  Ok...so we head back upstairs & she can't quite seem to get settled...she paces, she barks, she flaps her ears...so I put medicine in them.  Kiki is running from window to window "chasing" the birds & squirrels.  Pepper finally settles on her bed, as I'm sitting here trying to catch up on Words With Friends...but not totally.  She starts whining...cause she needs covered up...uh huh.  I get settled back in my "happy place" with my hot coffee & Facebook. Kiki plops on the floor in front of me & starts taking a bath.  All of a sudden she rushes to the back door & lets out this blood curdling, hair raising MEOW/GROWL/SCREAM & coughs up 2 huge hairballs!  That gets Peppers attention & she's up & investigating. 

So all is cleaned up & calm now.  I still have coffee to finish....which is now cold...get my face on & head out for the second part of my challenging day...MOM. (you know I love her & am very thankful to still have her with me...but Friday's are butt busters for sure) She will be 91 in June.  She's sharper than Pepper most of the time....she even has more energy than Pepper...most of the time.  She still loves to shop, til I drop...& I wouldn't have it any other way.  But knowing that my morning started out at 5 am & has been non stop crazy...let's just say, it's going to be a looooong day...jus sayin :)

SOME DAYS ARE DIAMONDS

I had to look this phrase up, cause I say it all the time but couldn't for the life of  me remember what song it was from...& i was positive it was song lyrics....John Denver.  Well, there ya go...he was one of the greatest song writers ever (in my book).  Then it hit me...another JD :) ! Oh did my mind start to wander...whenever I see a pic of Johnny Depp, I croon (gosh, is that a word anymore?).  Friends post pics or sayings by JD & well, those days are diamonds...lol.  The other JD wrote beautiful lyrics to so many great songs....but, well, to be honest, he wasn't that great looking.  Now, I try not to be judgemental, but I think of John Denver as a human Kermit the Frog with glasses....(& yeah, you know you see it now, too.)  So it got me to thinking...if JD, aka Kermit, looked like the other JD & still wrote his beautiful words...well, I'd probably own every cd of his & play them 24/7 & live in a fantasy world...lol...call me crazy....
Ok, so this is NOT where I was going when I started to write this....but I've been so busy the past week or so getting the yard & the house & the garage in tip top shape to have a party, that my brain (& most definitely, body) is tired & when I'm tired, I tend to stray, ramble & yes, get silly. Anyways.....party day (this past Sunday), was a diamond day...everything went well, the weather turned out to be beautiful, friends showed up that I haven't seen or talked to for awhile, things were bought & sold, food was devoured, & chatter & laughter filled the garage for hours.  It was an exhausting week of work but all worth it.  Then yesterday was a real gem!  I did nothing but crochet & rest...which my body was screaming for.  Today, the weather is crappy but it's going to be another diamond cause I get to spend it with one of my best friends ever, running errands & having lunch...& it will be another productive day!
Since, my coffee isn't completely gone, I think I'm still rambling a bit...but here's my point....some days ARE diamonds...but they can't all be....we have to work hard for them & treasure them when they sneak up on us...sit back & take a deep breath & enjoy them...life is too short to work ourselves into the ground...all work & no play....you've heard them all.  Just wasn't sure you'd heard this one, so I wanted to share....SOME DAYS ARE DIAMONDS, wear them well! <3

When Carol Comes to Town (part B)

I forgot to mention some really important points in my las blog....when Carol comes to town...in fact, I think I even forgot to title it that!!!

I had gotten my great niece & nephew 2 of those "I Spy" Christmas books...ya know, where there's pictures & then there's hidden stuff in the pictures that you have to find.  Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought their mommy & daddy would be so into those books...we all literally spent hours looking & searching for thimbles, sleds, angels & more.  Lil Matt also read a book to me after I read one to him...he's 7 & in the first grade & he new the word EXTRAORDINARY!  And he sounded out enormous & mischievous.  I was astounded!  Little Marissa, who's 4 is as smart as well...she was talking & playing & said to me that make & bake rhyme....I love those little kids.  They are sooooo well behaved & good eaters too! 

Of course Pepper was in her glory, cause Marissa would cover her up with her "blankie" all the time & there was more people to pet her...Pepper, that is.  And Kiki...well, we didn't see much of her cause she did her usual disappearing act until everyone went to bed at night & then left today...she is now relieved to be able to rome the house without watching over her shoulder.

But most of all, the conversation that Carol & I had after they left (texting back & forth, while her hubby drove & they rocked out to Adele was heartwarming...lil Matt was in tears as they pulled out of the driveway...he was sad to leave & Carol said they are all so comfortable at my house...it's like their second home. <3

Carol, my youngest brother's daughter, & her family, hubby Matt, son, lil Matt (7) & daughter, Marissa (4) came up from southern Ohio Friday night & just left about an hour ago.   I am saddened by their departure, so I thought I'd blog about our wonderful weekend together.  They try to come up the day after Christmas every year, but couldn't this year...& I was bummed.  I always leave the Christmas decorations up for them cause they love it.  I just couldn't bring myself to leave them up inside, tho....got them down & reoranized, but I left up the lights on the outside of the house.  So when Carol texted me all the way from their home to mine to let me know how close they were getting, I kept telling her I'd leave the lights on for them...ya know, like Motel 6.  Carol's brother Roy is staying with me right now & he's been a terrific help around here with things I never thought I'd have to do. (anyway, different blog...jus sayin).  It's always a joke with her hubby about what their exact location is all along the trip...one time, they texted me & said they were stuck in traffic in Columbus & would be about 2 hours later....they were actually sitting in the driveway....and this is what I love about our time together...the ribbing!  So when Carol texted Wooster, Lodi Outlets & then Youngstown...I knew they were getting close....so I plugged in all the outside lights & Roy came out to "hide" & "scare" them....& so it begins....
They arrived about 7:30 ish & altho we made no affirmative plans, other than picking my mom up about noon Sat. so she could spend the day with us all, we were busy the whole time....doing nothing but visiting, playing games, eating, coloring, ribbing, eating, yawning & eating.  Did I mention eating?  Yeah, we did it alot....Roy made eggs & toast for Sat. morn breakfast after everyone slept in a bit (also, unusual for them)...I made a pot of chili for lunch  with grilled turkey & pepper jack cheese sandwiches & chips & dip...ice cream & snacks in the afternoon & then we ordered pizza, cheesey breadsticks & cinnamon breadsticks for dinner.  We played paper dolls, colored, euchre & the wii....did a lot but also a lot of nothing but relaxing...especially for them...we didn't HAVE to be anywhere or DO anything & they were grateful...Matt works 6 days a week & sometimes has side jobs...Carol's a fulltime mother & wife & makes beautiful cakes for extra money....they are quite busy & treasured the downtime! Mom (Honey) had a great time too...she got down on the floor with Marissa to play Disney Princess paper dolls & really enjoyed playing euchre after dinner...she even beat Matt's arm for keeping her from a loaner!  He was still whining about this morning...lol!
This morning we were all up a bit earlier & Carol & I made scrambled eggs, bacon, potatoes, toast & fruit salad for breakfast...& Scott joined us...a bit late, a bit tired & prolly a bit hungover & of course, not real hungry.  We ate & he drank coffee & nibbled on what was left.  Then we all played a game on the wii, along with more ribbing & laughter until Matt uttered the words, "ready Caol?"  (no, I meant to spell it that way...he has a southern accent & that's how "Carol" comes out & even tho we all make fun, it's very endearing.)  Last minute gathering up of "loose" items all over the place...goodbyes to the dog & cat & then hugs all around...it was time for them to take off...too soon...always, too soon.  We have such a good time together whether the time is spent cramming in a party/get together & other activities or just plain chilaxin...I can't wait for them to come & I am saddened when they have to return to their busy lives down south.
It will be my turn next...I will travel 4 hours south to spend a weekend or more with them & already, I can't wait! :) / :'(

What Christmas Means to Me

10 years ago, Dec. 3rd, my dad passed away after a short illness & suffering from dimentia for a couple of years.  I've been thinking about him alot lately....especially when I started getting the Christmas decorations out of the basement & putting things up.  Christmas was always so magical when I was growing up, because my parents made it that way.  We were not a religious family, even tho we went to church & Sunday School for awhile & I'm sure participated in their Christmas pageants.  But as far as "the reason for the season", that wasn't the focus in our home...at least not the way I remember it.  Oh yes, we had the manger scene, which I think Mom still has & puts out every year, but that part of Christmas wasn't something that was instilled in me.  Christmas was full of decorations & gifts & parties & snow...a trip to downtown Akron Polsky's to see the magical Christmas windows...& Dad swearing putting up the huge 8 or 9 foot live tree.  When I think back on it, it probably was very stressful for my parents even tho they seemed to love it & it probably took weeks to get it all done. My great aunt always made Santa Claus cookies & when she passed away, we took over the tradition.  They were the best & that was Christmas morning breakfast...usually only one, cause they were the biggest cookie I'd ever seen!  My little brother & I got to decorate the tree in the "rec room" (which would be a family room today).  That was such a treat! Then there were the huge windows in the living & dining rooms that, when old enough, I was allowed to paint Christmas things on them...like wreaths & reindeer & Santa & trees...THAT was a treat.  We always had tons of decorations outside too...like a real red sleigh that was filled with "fake" gifts & a lifesize Santa (I think)...lights all over the house & spotlights & garland & lights on the fence. Then the parties would begin...the family parties & the "adult" parties. To me now, it must have went on all December, which means we started the day after Thanksgiving.  I don't remember shopping, but I remember Mom wrapping & wrapping & wrapping & wrapping on a cardtable set up somewhere... & I remember not being allowed in certain areas of the house cause there were things "hidden".  Christmas Eve was so exciting, getting my jammies on & the milk & cookies ready for Santa & the anticipation of hearing his reindeer on the roof if sleep didn't take over as soon as I hit the pillow.  But Christmas morning, coming down that long staircase, with the bright "spot" light on dad's movie camera blinding me the whole way, I knew the magic was REALLY about to start.  As soon as I turned the corner at the bottom of the steps & saw my grandparents & great aunt & uncle anxiously awaiting & the half eaten Santa cookie & milk gone, I knew the gifts under the tree would be overwhelming....cause that's the way my family did it....even when times were tough, I never knew it...there was always plenty of decorations to put up, gifts to open & food to eat...I was blessed & most definitely spoiled, but that was my parents way. Mom, at 90 stills decorates her place herself, inside & out & if you saw it, you wouldn't believe it....it's still magical & still her favorite time of year.  It has become my tradition to do the same but since this Christmas is going to be different in so many ways, I decorated a little more than usual...not knowing why, but realizing now, that Dad's memory pushed me along & early at that.  It's now all done & I can relax & enjoy it all & remember all Christmas' past...from my childhood through my own kids childhood & know that Dad is watching down over me with a smile on his face,
 saying "that's my girl".  Merry Christmas Dad, I love you & miss you <3