Freaky Friday Already...

Man, I seem to be losing track of the days more and more. Probably because I have restarted the never-ending search for a good way to make some extra money on the net. Takes a lot of weeding out and a lot of reading to see if any of the millions of opportunities available online are for real!

I'm a little different than a lot of folks because I won't pay for something unless I truly believe it is worth the money. I've watched with a lot of interest some of the newest programs that have come out as of late. Not being one to jump in...I rely a lot on the blogs of people I trust to get some good information to help make up my mind. But in the end, it's my decision and my money...so I have to take the responsibility for any moves, good or bad!

If I run across any really good sites, I'll certainly pass them on and then you can go through your own process of checking them out and making the decision of what to do.

Good or bad, the final choice is yours .....kinda like life in general, huh?

Wednesday again...

Not sure what happened to yesterday...seems to somehow gotten away from me! That happens more than I care to think about lately. Must be the weather...cause I KNOW it isn't due to my memory getting up in years, right? Right!

Now that the weather is pretty again, I guess that I should get on with the decorating on my Mom's house. It seems to me that the first weekend in Dec. should be soon enough, though. I'm not much on decorating up the house and yard. It has a tendency to turn into a contest with everyone on the street, ya know?

It's around the holidays that both my sisters really shine in the decorating department. Guess they got it from Mom...All of the women in my immediate family can work wonders in making a room more festive and more holiday-ish! Glad someone can do those things cause I certainly can't get into it...Must be a hermit thing!

Monday Again...

Monday seems to come each week at the same time...funny how that works! Even though I'm retired I really don't care for mondays that much. Reminds me too much of working days, I guess. Who knows?

My baby sister came over today and we took a trip down memory lane with my Mother. Ever notice that when you get 3 or more people together talking about the same thing, you get as many different versions of the story as there are people? Makes for an entertaining afternoon, let me tell you!

It's always a hoot to look at old photos and to read some of the old letters from so long ago. Even more amazing is to notice the post-mark on the envelopes. Read one today with postage of 2 cents for a first class letter...quite a difference from today!

Anyway, a day well spent, a good visit from my baby Sis, and a pleasant way to spend to spend the day. We should do that more often....famous last words!

Sleepy Sunday ...

With the rain still here and putting my plans for decorating Mom's house on hold, I have the perfect excuse to read a new book! Not that I really need an excuse...but it sounds good.

Reading is one of my true pleasures in life! I love to read new books, old books that I've read before, and even some of the books that I have found online. I have even tried to learn to enjoy the audio books...but there is something about holding a book and reading that seems more satisfying to me than just listening to one. I think it's because I can go back and read certain passages again...or maybe because I can refresh my memory about a certain person in the story without having to rewind, or maybe it's as simple as being able to hold onto the book like hugging an old friend!

Whatever the reason, I do love to read! So, with the gentle rain coming down I'll get my new book, pour another cup of coffee, settle in and start reading. It will be interesting to see how far I get before my eyes start getting heavy and nap time is called for.

One good thing always seems to lead to another...right?

Soggy Saturday...

Fall in Houston usually means a LOT of days like today...cold and wet! Not hard rain, but the kind that the garden loves. Very slow, very steady, and very soaking.

I don't mind though, because I actually like the rain. Makes a good cup of coffee seem to taste even better! And it also seems to an ideal excuse for some of us Old Coots to take an afternoon nap and assist us in that endeavor.

Tonight I should sleep well, listening to the sound of the rain on the window unit. Tomorrow the decorations start going up on my Mother's house. That should make her smile a bit...... She still likes the holidays!

Crazy Friday...

This is the busiest day of the year in the retail industry all over the country. I know...I spent the last 20 years or so working in it! Never did see what would make anyone in their right mind get up at 4:00 in the morning to go and stand in line at a store.....but that's just me!
Like a lot of folks, I spent a lot of the day putting leftovers in the freezer and eating more than I should....again. I have to admit to no guilt at all in having pie and coffee for breakfast, and more than my share of Ham sandwiches with my coffee today. I think I'm through eating for today...but I'm making no promises! Hey, some shop...and some eat! A real no-brainer for a Hermit, huh?

Seriously, I hope all had a safe and pleasant holiday...and wish you more of the same for the rest of the season!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I think we all look foward to the family traditional favorites this time of year. Favorite main dish, favorite sides, and of course....favorite desserts! One thing bothers me, though....whatever happened to Gingerbread?
You just don't seem to see gingerbread much anymore...no cookies, no bars, and saddest of all, no gingerbread men with raisin eyes! Gingerbread is definitely one of those dishes that scream for fresh, hot coffee or cold, cold milk. Natural partners....like biscuits and gravy, peanut butter and jelly, cold bedsheets and warm quilts. You get the idea....
I really miss gingerbread, fresh from the oven and spread with butter! (no calories there!) I think I'll take my coffee cup to the patio, sit for awhile and maybe if I try hard enough I will get a whiff of someone baking some cute little gingerbread men with raisin eyes.....maybe!
Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate...and don't forget to say a prayer of thanks for all the soldiers that are unable to be home this season, ok? ok!

Birthday Wednesday!

Guess what? Today was my birthday and I almost forgot! The nicest thing about having a birthday at my age, is having another birthday! I mean, it certainly beats the alternative...
Trying a different coffee today. Well, different for me! One of the Folgers Gourmet Dark. I like the stronger coffees more and more. I was stuck for years and years with the same coffee and then, about a year ago, I was introduced to some different types and brands. It has really made having a cup of coffee more of an occasion each day. Now I have 3 main goals to achive before I move on...finding the perfect Chili recipe, the perfect Brisket recipe, and the best tasting coffee!
I have tried a LOT of coffee based on comments and suggestions from friends. But the final choice in the end will be mine , so I will continue to try different ones until suddenly one day...EUREKA!
Doesn't seem to take much to make me happy these days...and that's a good thing!

Thoughts for Tuesday

Certain smells in life just ring my bell....fresh brewed coffee, oven warm homemade bread, baking vanilla in the kitchen (which usually means something good in the making), certain after shaves (Old Spice comes to mind) and the wonderful smell of my Mother's antique roses! These are only a few of my favorites, along with freshly cut wood and new Christmas trees. You get the idea, I'm sure.
The only reason I bring this up is that nearly all my favorite smells seem to show up every November and linger long enough to help get me through the hustle and bustle of this busy season. It's sort of like having vitamins for your soul! A lot of help arrives later in the month with the sounds of long unheard music and even my poor old neighborhood seems to look a little better with the addition of twinkling lights and decorations that start showing up in abundance the day after Thanksgiving
Sitting on the patio with a fresh cup, watching the hustle of the squirrels in the yard and the never-ending traffic at the bird feeder can almost...almost...bring a smile to even this self proclaimed Hermit and grouchy Old Man! May be help for me after all!

Coffee thoughts for Monday

This is a story that my sister sent to me. I found it very true!

"Coffee in a different cup

A group of alumni, all highly established in their respective careers, got together for a visit with their old university professor.
The conversation soon turned to complaints about the endless stress of work and life in general...
Offering his guests coffee, the professor went into the kitchen and soon returned with a large pot of coffee and an eclectic assortment of cups: porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal - some plain, some expensive, some quite exquisite.
Quietly he told them to help themselves to some fresh coffee.

When each of his former students had a cup of coffee in hand, the old professor quietly cleared his throat and began to patiently address the small gathering... ''You may have noticed that all of the nicer looking cups were taken up first, leaving behind the plainer and cheaper ones.
While it is only natural for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is actually the source of much of your stress-related problems."
He continued...''Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In fact, the cup merely disguises or dresses up what we drink.
What each of you really wanted was coffee, not a cup, but you instinctively went for the best cups... Then you began eyeing each other's cups....''

''Now consider this: Life is coffee. Jobs, money, and position in society are merely cups.
They are just tools to shape and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not truly define nor change the quality of the Life we live.
Often, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee that God has provided us...

God brews the coffee, but he does not supply the cups.

Enjoy your coffee!''

The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of all they have...

Bad Karma Sunday

Have you ever noticed that if you carry a negative attitude for long, bad things are going to happen? Well, once again I have been my own worst enemy. Most of the time I don't dwell on the negative, but for some reason I turned very negative yesterday (as seen in my post) and never got back into a balanced, peaceful state of mind. Today I paid the price. Went to the store too early, found them closed, and when I went to start my truck the battery was completely dead. The store clerk tried to give me a jump, but his battery was almost as bad as mine. With the rain coming back in from the coast, all I could do was sit there and wait for help from someone, or to call a wrecker to get a tow back home. I used the time to think about the bad thoughts I had carried to bed with me and to try and cancel out the effects from this. I noticed the coming rain clouds were beautiful in color against the blue sky background as is so often the case here in south Texas.I realized how the store clerk had left his store unattended to try and help me without me asking. Sort of reinforces your faith in people again! I couldn't help but smile. I decided to follow the smile with a silent request for help from whatever Higher Power was with me. Funny how more times than not you get what you ask for if you ask in the right way! Almost before I had finished asking, an old friend I used to work with came by with his larger truck and brand new battery, hooked up the jumper cables , and my truck started up immediately. After heartfelt thanks all around and a couple of handshakes, I drove home before the rain started. I am now spending the rest of the day making sure that today ends with good thoughts about how things worked out . Fresh coffee in the pot, good thoughts in my head, and a lot better outlook on my neighbors than I had yesterday!( I might mention that my paper wasn't even borrowed this morning! )Just gotta love it!

Saturday Night in the Big City

Ah, the joy of weekends in the neighborhood! Another gathering of some sort across the street, which of course means 5 or 6 extra cars on the street blocking driveways. Another unwanted concert is being furnished by the next door neighbor to my left. Their dog is apparently trying to learn to bark in time with said music(?) and has been practicing for quite a long time. The rain has put an early ending to the illegal ATV races up and down the fenceline at the back of my house. Tomorrow morning comes with the Sunday harvesting of empty beer cans from my yard, the trash wraps from local fast food havens, and the useless hunt for the Sunday paper. Needless to say, the move to the country cannot come soon enough!