Blackberry Winter

It has gotten almost fall-like here these days. Lows in the upper 40's and highs only in the mid 70's. Here it is called Blackberry Winter as this only occurs when blackberry bushes are blooming. Usually the heat has already been turned off and the air conditioners are going strong or the windows are up. The blankets have been put away for the summer and of course, you wake up freezing with only a sheet and/or a bedspread for cover. So, you put a blanket back on the bed and that's good for a few nights. Next thing you know you wake up sweating as the tempearture has gone back to normal. This, along with enough pollen in the air to choke a horse, and it's life in the south.

Chipmonk Hunt

Here's the scoop. I have spent almost 30 minutes chasing a chipmonk around our bedroom. Our cat brought it in as he has several other animals. I finally caught this one in the trash can and let it go outside. I have had only one other cat in my lifetime and am constantly surprised and amazed at what this one bring to us. It's incredible! He's so proud and we are so shocked! Sometimes I think he thinks it's all very amusing. I don't.

Another Week Down The Tubes

Not a bad week, as weeks go. Things went pretty well for me at home as well as at work. I only hope it stays this way. One of my deep reservations is whether we will be able to go anywhere on vacation this year. With gas prices increasing daily it's really doubtful at this time even though I could use some time off drastically. What really pisses me off is that we may not be able to take a vacation while Exxon is paying one of their executives $400 million retirement. I think it's time our congressmen and president did an all out investigation of all the oil companies. They're ripping us a new one and don't even feel any guilt. In fact, they seem to be flaunting it!

Easter Sunday

There are two holidays which I have problems with, to a certain extent. Easter and Christmas. As both of these are supposed to be religious days how did the Easter bunny and Santa Claus get involved. Neither of them had jack diddly to do with the actual reason for the day. Don't get me wrong, I don't oppose either. I just don't understand it. True, I haven't done much homework in regards to either one, but just logically I am confused. How do we keep getting things like the Easter bunny and Santa Claus attached to what is supposed to be a religious day and eventually they come to mean more than the actual reason for the day? This has always been a question in my mind.

Saturday Shopping

As it was raining yesterday and I couldn't do my soon to be usual weekend mowing the lawn, I went shopping with my wife. That is an experience in itself. It's incredible to me how we can go on vacation somewhere and she gets tired of walking or doing but shopping there's no limit to the amount of energy she has. By the end of the day my feet were killing me and just to sit down was like a pleasure like none other. She can go from store to store look and re-look and re-look again and never tire. Meanwhile, I am wanting to cut my legs off below the knee as my feet are killing me. I wake up the next day with sore muscles I never knew I had. But, I try to be the good sport as I know she's enjoying herself and that's what matters.

Tuesday Lunch

Attended a luncheon today for a coworker who's leaving. Thing is that she won't be missed. This is one of the most loud, obnoxious, inconsiderate, people I have even known. She thinks her comfort is all that matters regarding the heating and air conditioning and thinks her position is much more important than it really is. This woman is not in touch with anything like reality. No one will miss her and that in itself is sad. She thinks the world revolves around her.

Lazy Sunday

I haven't gotten much of anything accomplished so far this weekend and likely won't. There are many things I need to do but I find at times that it is quite difficult to work all week in a pretty stressful job and then want to come home and work all weekend. I need the time to unwind and regroup. This is nice in theory but in reality there aren't that many weekends I can do that. Owning a home with a nice sized yard takes care of my Saturdays during the Spring, Summer, and at least part of Autumn. The Winters are not quite so bad and there isn't a lot to be done, at least outside. And people wonder why the latter part of Autumn and Winter have become my favorite seasons of the year.