I am pretty sure that I will be the only person interested in what I have to say... I guess I am truly jealous of anyone that has their 15 minutes of fame (read: reality television shows), but I cannot be edited by big corporations to fit their story lines. I would say or sell their products, but maybe I can get a sponsor.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
I Don't Feel Very Good
Just like Napoleon says... I don't feel very good and my lips are chapped. I feel like I have a fever, but alas no fever. It's good, but not so good. Today was a really good day, but it didn't seem as though it would start that way. While en route to a meeting, I spilled about 4 ounces of a 12 ounce cup of coffee down the front of my coat (Dan just washed it too) and all over my gloves... so there I was, hot coffee and all freezing to my gloves. If I would have thought about it, I would have said "I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good very bad day." But I didn't think about it and it wasn't it was a very good day, because at least I didn't spill on my shirt.
I feel unsure about a number of things... Stability for one in any way you can think of. I know that there are things that I can count on. Faith, hope, Dan, family and friends. The rest is pretty much up for grabs isn't it? You know that the dice will always roll, but you can't always be sure that they will roll your way. I have learned to be a control freak. I haven't always been that way, but I have learned that I don't want to leave things to chance. I always need to be sure that I have done all that I could possibly do. That's a characteristic that can be positive and negative. When I get to feeling this way, there isn't much helping me. The uncertainty and worry run their course and stop when something or a series of somethings happen that drown out the uncertainty and worry.
I am always cold... especially lately. My very core just doesn't seem warm. I am cold from the inside. Comforter, sweatshirt, big socks and still cold.
In other news, we have a great deal of the holiday shopping done, but still more to come. Only a few folks left, those who are the toughest. Like the Moms... always a tough deal. Got a start on the Christmas cards too, at least addressing the envelopes. That's the least glamorous part of Christmas cards, addressing them. So we will do the rough part first, then the fun part.
The brisket was good, unfortunately I ate a lot of potato chips before hand... Darn you Wavy Lays!
Today we will enjoy a fine meal courtesy of two fuzzy friends. Genuine Texas Brisket... and I will get the biscuits and the beans and the other good stuff that goes with it. YUM. Today will likely be a day of football and food spent with our friend Mike.
We spent last night watching Paul's band. I will tell you this, they were hot last night. Lots of people have friends who are in bands, but my friend's band is GOOD. That's GOOD with a BIG OLD G.
Today we will have warm weather, in the 50s compared to in the teens. The drag is that it will likely rai for quite some time and then perhaps turn to ice overnight. But maybe not. Oh, who knows...
I am looking forward to December for two reasons. Christmas and vacation. I know that there will be a lot of fun things happening.
I will say this, I am STUFFED. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, veggies and of course, pecan pie. Today we took a Thanksgiving dinner to Aunt Rose and Grandma. It was great to spend time with them and then surprise! The kids and Mike showed up... fun! Then we spent time at Mom's house. Thanksgiving dinner tastes pretty good when someone else makes it.
It's WAY cold here in Wisconsin... 13 degrees without the windchill. With the energy deal the way it is, Dan and I are wearing our muckluck socks and sweat pants and I am wearing a sweatshirt. Now we are enjoying the James Bond marathon on Spike TV. Goldfinger is on next, one of my favorites... 007 movies are comforting to me because they remind me of my Dad, M*A*S*H is the same way. I miss him on days like today, miss him every day but on holidays perhaps a bit more. Those are kind of expected. Mostly it is on the days when I acheive something, or the times when I need advice or when the nieces and nephews are up to good things.
Debating on the great shopping caper... should we or should we not? If so, perhaps not until later. They just played the best scene as a promo for Goldfinger.
James Bond: "Do you expect me to talk?" Goldfinger: "No Mr. Bond, I expect you to die."
I have a great deal to be thankful for today and every day. First, I am thankful that I will be able to spend the day with people that I love. I am thankful that I have people that love me. I am thankful for Dan, family, friends, my job, my home. I am thankful for humility and forgiveness. I am thankful for children's' smiles, for good health, for being better off than 95% of the world. I am thankful that once in awhile, I realize that fact. I am thankful that I have the luxury of being able to do things that I do... like things that really don't matter. I am also thankful for doing things that do matter. What are you thankful for my friend?
It is here. It was 5 degrees this morning when I rolled into the work town. Winter is most certainly here. Last week it was nice for November. Now, it's like we went on warp drive to January. I'd like some bacon right now, but I don't have any... maybe another hot sauce and cheese quesadilla. Maybe spaghetti.
We have an exciting event forthcoming... we will be at the FROZEN TUNDRA of LAMBEAU FIELD for the big Monday Night Football match up between our Beloved Green Bay Packers and the HATED Minnesota Vikings... Honestly, people in Minnesota call us Sconnies... the rest of the world calls us Cheese Heads.
I am looking forward to the holidays. It is a great time of year... it wasn't always that way for me though. Holidays used to be very difficult. Now I have realized that you get out of it what you put into it. I like putting up our tree. I like hanging the ornaments all the while the Rock & Roll X-Mas tunes cranked up. I get a special feeling... a time of renewed energy... renewed love... renewed peace. I like that it is a time to blatantly show people how you feel about them. It is a time when it is okay to go all out and lavish people with love and gifts. It puts an exclamation point on my relationships with people. And I will tell you what, there is nothing like the song "O Holy Night." I don't care who is signing it or what style it is in. It is my favorite Christmas song.
Not Tabasco Sauce, but Hot Sauce... pepper sauce with vinegar. I love it. Put it on chicken tenders, pizza, garlic bread, whatever. Bring on the chicken wings! Best with an icy Coke, but it was a bit too late for a soda pop tonight. It's good with milk too. Thank you Hot Sauce inventor!
I spent some time in Green Bay this weekend. I met my friends Chris and Leah on Friday night... had a lovely dinner and some lovely time, albeit too short... it should work out though, more time to come. Chris and I went to Lambeau Field on Saturday and did the Hall of Fame tour, then to a Green Bay mall. The place was packed!
Then a bit of relaxing and over to Brett Favre's Steak House for dinner. The 8 oz Sirloin Burger is still in my system. Of course a trip to the casino was in order, and we wasted an hour and $7.00 on the nickel and dime slots.
This morning a lovely breakfast with Judy... I am glad that I was able to see her. She's a great person.
I am looking forward to the next weekend. And now Bud Light is saluting the football fans of Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Quite frankly, I would be insulted if I were a football fan of Cleveland or Pittsburgh.
Peanut Butter Toast, a freaky Garlic, Pepper and Parmesan Cheese Toast and lots of guitar playing. I feel better. It has been months since I have picked one up with any seriousness. I need to remember not to forget to play. I asked an old friend via e-mail if she would want to try a little side project. Here's mud in your eye... maybe she will say yes. If not, I will be content for a bit in the spare room with my headphones... then I might need a bass.
Well Friends, last winter I began building a telecaster type guitar. It still sits in two large pieces and several small one in a box. I need to finish it. Just get it done with. The trouble is I want something unique for the headstock... just haven't found it yet.
In other news, all of my Fantasy Teams are down the drain... gave up baseball before the pennant race, pro-football? Forget it. College team was a casualty of inattentiveness. You can't miss two weeks in a Pick 'Em league. It's starting to get cold here in Wisconsin, 36 degrees a few minutes ago. No preciptation please! That will just be a slow ride to snow.
I have to admit I am fairly distracted as I write this. It takes me some time to settle down and in. I should have waited about an hour to write this entry, but here you have it. (Not "it is what it is," the most popular cliche out there right now. Don't want to comment or elaborate on something, simply say "It is what it is.")
So I will tell you what, friend. Golfing in November in Wisconsin is truly fun. Fall golfing has its challenges... but I wouldn't know any different as I haven't golfed in the summer at all. Dan and I went once in October and it was still warm. But I will tell you what else too. If you think you have challenges finding a ball on nice sunny summer day on a course where things are lush and green, it is even harder to find a white ball on course covered with pale leaves. Enter the PINK GOLF BALL. While I was not really thrilled to be using a pink ball, it made chasing and searching a great deal easier.
My game went up by two strokes, but I will say that my drives and fairway shots were greatly improved. The chipping wasn't so good, I was hitting a it too hard... and putting... well there is room for improvement.
We had a great deal of rain on Saturday, so that made it interesting for a bit.
Big Mike drained a 7 foot put and cut 7 strokes off his previous score. I am glad that we went.
Yes. It is true. I bought pink golf balls. Only because they came with yellow and orange. I haven't golfed much but I do know that it is hard to find a white ball among a bunch of leaves.
In other news, I am working on doing nice things for people (and kitties). Hope it works out that way.
Big Mike and I are golfing tomorrow. Maybe he will want to use one of my pink golf balls.
Chicken Dinner and a tip of the Hat to Theo Epstein
C- that's the way you begin H- that's the second letter in I- I am the third And C is the fourth letter in that word Well, O - K I'm fill'in in E- I'm near the end. Yea, C-H-I-C-K-E-N That is the way you spell chicken
I am preparing four drum sticks for din-din tonight. That's me. Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner! Hey, I could be Theo Epstein. He decides he can't be the GM of the Boston Red Sox and he can't get away. I am not sure what is really happening in Boston, but I am watching the highlights of his press conference. Let him be. Obviously there is a reason he wants to go. Let him go. Theo, more power to you. You have already accomplished great things with a whole life time ahead of you. If you need an assistant in the future, you know where to find me.
