Random Thoughts and Photos V

I know that you can buy pistachio nuts that are already shelled, but I really like that feeling I get when I find a random one mixed in with my in-shell nuts.  Not willing to give that up. 1

I think that if you reach my age and don't already have a 'nickname', chances are pretty good that you probably won't be getting one. 

Costco shopping is just not that much fun any more. 2

I had peanut butter on my left big toe the other day.  It was chunky so I am pretty sure it was mine. 

Revolving doors terrify me.  I honestly turn into a clod when I enter and exit.  I just can't seem to do it gracefully. 

I wish that when you order something online you can specify that you want the "Big" bubble wrap.  Small bubble wrap is lame. 

Yup!  That's a real cat in her backpack!

When you carry a bunch of balloons, everyone will smile at you.  

I have lived a long time but I still have to stop and think about how to spell "quiet" and "quite".  3

I have never tried cottage cheese. I don't want to try cottage cheese. 

Missy is the funniest dog I know.  Seriously, this dog is a hoot!

You know that moment when you are on a roller coaster and the car is slowly climbing up the hill and you reach the top and just before you decline?  That moment?  That is exactly why I don't ride roller coasters.  4

When you are at a flea market backing out of a spot, and an older gentleman stops to guide you, you let him. 

When I reach into my pocketbook and get a lip balm on my very first try! 5

And this....she is adorable!

  

1. I call it my "Pistachio Jackpot"

2. No samples

3. Every. Time. 

4. I do not like being scared for that same reason - that terrifying anticipation

5. I call it my "Lip balm Jackpot" 5a

5a. Of course, when you have 174 Lip balms in your pocket book, the odds are pretty good.... 

 

Angie

Did you smile? I bet you smiled! This is Angie and she was the very first friend I made when we moved to South Carolina in December of 2011. I had only been here for a few days when I asked a woman who cut her hair. She told me about Angie and I went to see her a few weeks later. Almost ten years later, and I have never been to anyone else since.    

Angie reads my blog and she told me that she likes my writing, my style and my observations. When I told her that I wanted to write a blog about her, she gave me a funny look and said something like, "Why on Earth would you want to do that?". I told her that it was because I appreciated her and wanted to share her.  

Angie is awesome in so many ways! She is kind, loyal and respectful. She is gentle with her older customers and patient with the squirmy ones. She's honest but never unkind. She is pistol smart and quick-witted. She remembers how each and every client likes the chair, their shampoo and whether to use hair spray or not. She remembers every little detail. I asked her once to not put the cape too tight around my neck or I'll gag, and she hasn't forgotten. Not once in ten years. 

She is a skilled hairdresser and knows how to cut my hair exactly the way I like it.  And she does this while we get caught up on all the activities of the past month. I am in awe of people who are able to talk and do complicated tasks at the same time. I am good at doing one thing at a time. And definitely not two if one of them requires me to hold and use sharp scissors.  

I know all about Angie's family; her husband, her two boys, her parents, her in-laws and her dogs. I've been through Angie's oldest son playing baseball in high school, going off to college, getting married, and most recently, welcoming a daughter. Angie is a Southern gal through and through and it sure tickles this Yankee just to hear her talk. Especially about her granddaughter!

Angie has met my mom and my sister Leah, and she knew all about Miss Ruth and Emil. She's seen my work published and she reads all my blogs. No matter what it is that I make or do, everything seems to delight her!  Angie has been the grateful recipient of all my creations through the years and she cheers and supports me in every endeavor. How awesome it that? To have such cheerleader on your side!

I did the math and I figured out that I have seen Angie approximately 100 times over the years. That's a lot of time to spend with someone. I've seen Angie handle her elderly clients with the utmost care and give sass to the ones who needed to be sassed. And she does it all with a pure heart and a big smile. 

I sure do appreciate you and your kindness Angie. Thank you for being my friend.    

My Friend

This is one of my favorite pictures of Emil and Missy. I believe that this picture shows exactly what Emil felt for me.  I can see it in his face - the love and the care that he gave me.  April 11th is the first birthday without Emil and I wanted to take a minute to write and share him, again, with you.  

Last year at this time, we were one month in the COVID lock down and I couldn't visit with him. He was in the category for high risk and I wouldn't take the chance of passing along the virus to him. For his birthday, I ordered sidewalk chalk and I asked my friend Mike, who is a manager at a grocery store, if he could get me a cake for Emil's birthday. It had to be chocolate with lots of frosting because Emil had a tremendous sweet tooth! 

That morning, before the sun came up, I got to work writing Emil's birthday "card" on the street in front of his house.  Even though we couldn't safely visit with him, he still went out most mornings and had coffee on the front porch.  I wanted him to see it as soon as he went outside. 

When he saw this, he couldn't get over it!  He called me and kept saying "Well, I'll be."  "You did that for me?".  Yup.  Emil, I did this for you. 

Emil was such a good friend and I miss him dearly. We used to talk every day - just to check in with each other. He was a fine man and he exemplified every good trait that you would expect and want in a friend.  Emil was kind, thoughtful and extremely loyal. He treated everyone, every single person he met, with respect. He appreciated and recognized the little things that people did for him and he told them and showed them. It didn't matter who they were, or what they did, he appreciated and acknowledged kindness. Even after his death, I learned of the incredible selfishness of my friend. I know how much his friendship meant to me and the fact that he felt the same for me, is something that I will always treasure. 

While Emil was teaching Missy new tricks, whether he knew it or not, he was also teaching me as well. I will forever be grateful for his kindness and love and for all that he taught me. I still reinforce the tricks that Emil worked so hard and diligently teaching Missy. Whenever she has a good lesson, she gets an extra treat and loving. I tell her that Emil would be so proud of her. 

Happy Birthday dear Emil. 💓💓💓

 

Random Thoughts IV

Even if they stopped publishing books right now, I will never get to read all the books on my list of books "to read". 

What exactly is the "end game" involved with traveling to Mars?  Are we going to start sending construction equipment so we can try again?

I have a sweatshirt that I can wear inside out or backwards and it basically looks the same.  I have had this sweatshirt for about 25 years and I believe I shall cry when it is no longer wearable. 

I know how to cook.  I just don't want to. 

"Some friends are for a season, for a reason and for a lifetime" 1 

Why does medication tell us to avoid "heavy equipment operating"?  I'm pretty sure that 89% of the population no longer uses "heavy equipment". 2

Besides having the funkiest piano playing (listen for it around 2:20 minute mark) "Call me the Breeze" has the best quote:  "I ain't hiding from nobody.  Nobody's hiding from me.  That's the way it's supposed to be".  Yup. 

Judge Judy is a smart gal, but sometimes she can be really mean. 

Missy is not a cuddly dog, but there are the rare occasions when she will lay with me when I take a nap that just melts my heart. 3

"Dear God, Your will, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else." 💓

I hate worms. But if I see a worm struggling across my dry driveway, I will pick him up 4 and transplant him to the grass. 5

Why do they say that something was "caught on video" when they purposely taped it?  What they should say is this was "captured on video". 6

And why does the news report that companies/people are "cooperating with the Federal investigation".  I'm pretty sure that if Federal authorities are investing you, you gonna cooperate. It's just a 'filler' statement. It would only be news if they weren't cooperating with the Federal investigation. 7

What do robots do when they get to the security box that asks you to verify that you are indeed, not a robot? 

How does my underwear 8 turn itself inside out in the washer?  And how come when I turn it inside out first before I put it in the wash, it doesn't right itself?  I have spent a lot of time correcting my underwear situation. 8a

My lip balm says that it "refreshes".  Okay. I have never put on lip balm because my lips were feeling fatigued.

Why is 'Grilled Cheese' usually only available on the "Children's Menu"?  We need to bring 'Grilled Cheese' to the adult menu. 

Telling someone you appreciate them is like giving them gold.  Try it and see if they don't light up.

Missy will come off her bed, out of her room and down the hall just to bark at the vacuum. 9    

When we were growing up, whenever my parents wanted us to clean out the car, they would tell us we were going to the drive-in that night. 

Missy doesn't like Provolone cheese. 10

How is it that in 2021, there are still bathroom stalls without hooks to hang your purse? 

I don't have to get up to change the channel on the TV, but it takes me 3 different remotes to operate the TV. This is progress. 

1) Read this somewhere. 

2) Vacuuming is the extent of my heavy machinerary usage. 

3) And then she immediately goes and does a bratty thing. 

4) By scooping him up on a piece of paper because I still hate worms. 

5) Crawling across dry pavement seems to me to be extreme torture for a worm.

6) Just one of those little things....

7) See #6

8) I have to say it's mine because Bill doesn't like it when I talk about his underwear in public. 

8a) Same

9) She is either very brave or very dense.

10) True. She will literally spit it out on the floor.