Thanksgiving...A year later

Now that we are getting ready to celebrate another year, I can laugh about last year. I spent Thanksgiving last year with my son in Fayetteville, NC. He had just had surgery and wasn't getting around well. Therefore I did most of the shopping and preparing. He really wanted a fried turkey, so we bought a turkey fryer and oil. The night before Thanksgiving, I made the traditional pumpkin and pecan pies. The pumpkin pie turned out beautifully. But the pecan never set. I think maybe the altitude difference. Whatever the reason, we had soupy pecan pie. That's not too bad. Preparing the fried turkey was a problem. Two college graduates and we had trouble figuring out how to get the fryer put together. Then on Thanksgiving morning discovered that we had no matches or lighters in the house. So I got to drive to a convenience store buy a lighter. Once I got back, we couldn't get the dang thing to light. Once we figured out how to light it, the fryer wouldn't stay lit. Finally, we figured out how to keep it lit and got the turkey cooked. Thankfully his friend brought over a bottle of wine. I know that doesn't help cook a turkey, but it sure did help the turkey cooker. :)

What people reveal

Some people will post just about anything on Facebook. Tonight I read a post in which the poster was upset because she had to wait all day for her food stamps. Really? I don't think I would put that out there for the world to see. People post how much they hate their jobs...when their bosses are on their friend lists. I've seen huge fights between people on my friend list and people I don't know...but the whole fight is right there on Facebook. I don't know that social networking is as great as some people seem to think. At least people should think twice before they submit.

Decisions

Getting old sucks. Really. My stepmother is now 80 and because of her alzheimer's doesn't know anyone except my dad. She doesn't know where she is. She can't dress herself or do much of anything to care for herself. This is very difficult for my dad who has been trying to care for her. The stress has caused him to lose weight and put his health in jeopardy. That is why he has decisions to make. He is looking at nursing homes, but having a very difficult time of it. He knows that she will have better professional care in a home and that he will have less stress. But in his heart, he doesn't want to put her somewhere where she will not know anyone. It's difficult for him and all I and my brothers can do is support him in whatever he decides.

It's cold

I know, I know. Winter is supposed to be cold. But to have 62 degrees one day and 15 the next with windchill around -15 is crazy. I can handle cold, but having the wind blowing like that really blows. (Pun intended) I was driving to court in Levelland today and the snow drifts were brown. Only in West Texas. Well, I guess we just batten down the hatches and ride it out. I can't wait for my next cruise!

Neglect

I have neglected my blog. I could say I've been busy...and I am busy. But am I really so busy that I can't spend a few minutes occasionally on writing down my thoughts, ideas, happenings? No, I have to admit that I've simply been lazy. There is no excuse. It's true that I've been working, traveling, spending time with my grandbaby girl, but I also have time when I have nothing to do. So, I will try better. This is not a resolution. I don't do resolutions. They just get broken. But this is a goal that I will work on this year. We'll see how well I do.

Time marches on

My dad asked me to come over so he could show me some papers. He showed me where the life insurance policies and wills are for him and my my stepmom. He also showed me the burial plans they have made and paid for. He said he didn't want to add any more worries to me and my brothers when they pass away. Dang, I know these things are important, but I don't want to think of my dad and stepmom as being fragile. Time marches on, but I sure wish it would slow down for the parent generation. I'm not ready for my daddy to not be here.

Whew

Sooo...I'm zipping back to Lubbock from Amarillo this afternoon in my rental and pass a DPS car. I'm only going 72 and nobody gets pulled over for 72 on I27, so I don't slow down. Lo and behold, on come the lights and over I go. I can't believe it. The officer approaches my car and says, "Good afternoon, ma'am. I'm pulling you over because you don't have a front license plate and they are required in Texas." Whew! I quickly told him that I was in a rental and showed him the contract. I told him where I work and why I was traveling today. He smiled and asked me to do him a favor. Of course I said, 'Sure." He asked me to tell the rental company that they need a front license plate and then told me to have a good day. What a nice officer!