I really hadn't given Daylight Savings Time much thought in the past few years.  It's just *one of those things" that we all live with because the POWERS THAT BE dictate that stuff and we can't do much to change it.  So, you just shrug and change your clock.

Back when the Princess was in school, it DID mean that she wasn't standing outside in the dark, waiting for the school bus during the winter.  That was a good thing.  The Beast hated it because it meant he was coming home from work and it was dark already.  He couldn't get outside to do any yard work.  That wasn't really a big problem because we just hired a company to do it for us.  That was when we owned our own AC company in Florida.  They kept things nice and the Beast had one less thing to be concerned over.  We both worked together but he spent most of his time out in the field with customers or helping out one of our guys.  *I* was the one closing up the office....alone....in a so-so area of warehouse type offices....in the dark.  I hated it.  The only good thing was that I got to park my car right outside the window in the front office and I could keep an eye on it and the area before I left.

Once the Beast had his strokes, that kind of ended my time in the office.  I spent most of my time with the Beast because he demanded it.  Hell, if I wasn't there by 6 am, he was constantly calling me.  It was like he hated to know I might be sleeping and not spending all my time worried about him.  While he was in rehab, it was really stupid because his days were full with various therapists, all working on getting him up on his own feet and moving.  I couldn't go with him to any of the sessions so that the other patients weren't disturbed by my presence.  It took some doing before he finally realized that we had a child at home that needed attention, too.  I wanted to be there when she got home from school.  I wanted to make us both dinner so she had someone to share her day.  The poor Princess was there when the stroke hit the Beast and she was very traumatized over the whole thing.  He was the closest thing to a father she ever had and, to see him felled and helpless, was not fun for her.  It was two years before she would even let him hug her and she used to hug him a lot before that.  Thinking about it, I don't even think she hugs him now.  Sad.

So, I was on my way to pick up Chewlee yesterday.  It was the first day since we changed time that I had to do that.  I always pick her up by 5pm at the latest.  It was about 4:45pm and I am driving there and it's damn near dark.  It was definitely ALMOST dark and it kind of startled me to realize that.  When I picked up Chewlee at 5, she made the comment **It's almost dark, Gramma.  Dark is night-night time!**  I wasn't sure if she was accusing me of coming late or she was just making a comment on the situation.  When I turned on the car, the GPS went into night mode.  Anyone that owns a GPS knows what I mean.  The screen looks very different.  Chewlee thought there was something wrong with it when she noticed the screen.  I told her it changed so that Gramma could see it better in the dark. 

What really struck me was that Chewlee actually was much calmer with it dark outside.  What she DID want was my flashlight.  Since I always tell her it's for using when it's dark out, she figured she had me now because it WAS dark out.  I had my desk lamp on so she turned off the room light and then played with the light on the ceiling for a while.  However, the low lighting seemed to be making her a bit tired so she gave the flashlight back to me and turned on the light.

THEN came the real question from her.  She came over and leaned on my lap and asked, *Why is it dark out, Gramma.  Where is mommy and daddy?*  I knew what she was thinking.  It's dark out and she is usually home with mommy and daddy when it gets dark.  She then smiled and said, *I am staying at Gramma's?*  I told her *No* and that both mommy and daddy were still working.  When I told her that her mommy would come to get her as soon as she was done working, she just said, *I know.* and that was that. 

But it bothers me that it's darn near dark so early.  The Beast said to me today that he was having a problem adjusting to the change.  He said he was ready for bed by 9pm and he feels that's WAY too early for him because he woke up at 5am when he went to bed at that time.  It is true.  He has this *thing* about being up early.  The earlier, the better.  At least he's learned to leave me alone and let me sleep because my *time clock* is different than his.  I stay up much later than he does.  But even *I* am finding it difficult to adjust to.  When I mentioned it to one of the girls at the front desk at the preschool, she said, *They say it's so the kids aren't outside, waiting for the buses in the dark so I guess we shouldn't complain.  I hate it, too, but what can we do?*

My thought entirely.  I DO have a couple great-nephews that are in high school here and they take the bus.  I don't think I would like for them to be out in the dark so I have to suck it up and put on my big girl panties over it.  The Beast and I will adjust.....eventually.  But nothing says I have to like it.  It means that my son, Marcus Aurelius and his family, if they DO come for Thanksgiving, will have to drive home in the dark.  At least he has a GPS now.  The Beast gave him one of ours that we had when he bought himself a new one that had MP3 capabilities.  Him and his gadgets!  At least where they live now, they don't have to take this one route that you can get easily lost taking.  Now that they live in Nashville, it's all main roads for the most part.  Not scary at all.

The good thing is the sun now does not shine directly in my eyes in my computer room in the late afternoon.  It's moved more southerly so I don't have to close my blinds now when the sun starts to set. 

What a surprise to wake up to 36 degree weather and then it warms all the way up to 74.   The Beast decided to go ahead and spray his trees instead of waiting until he got back from his trip to his brother's house.  Me?  I washed clothes so I can pack his bag at my leisure instead of letting him know how quickly I can do it. 

The Beast then started putting his rifles in the trunk along with some of the targets he has and the ammunition.  Some of the new powder he found came today (just in time!!).  I agree with him that it's worth the little bit more he pays because you don't have to swab after each shot, you don't have to immediately clean the gun when you are done for the day and it's non-corrosive.  That's great for a black powder rifle, trust me.  He got the bullets for it yesterday because the company packed them in separate packages.  Probably for safety reasons.  Who knows?

I started putting some of his nicer long sleeved shirts aside for him to pick from and also rooted out his nice sweatshirt.  The weather where he will be traveling has been around 15-20 degrees cooler this past week and, since we are supposed to have 70+ degree weather this upcoming week and weekend, he might be able to get along with just a fall jacket (which I discussed with him.....hint, hint).  I think he's planning on coming home on Sunday but you never know with him.  It could go either way with the amount of dog food he's put in the trunk.  I guess he figures he'll wait and see when he gets bored or aggravated.  His brother can do that to him since their world views are so different.  His brother is an optimist and the Beast, as we know, is a pessimist.  Never the twain shall meet.  But, they are brothers and they love each other.

I will be buying Sheepie's ticket tomorrow....have to wait for the SS to come in, ya know.    That's also why the Beast isn't leaving until Thursday.  He'll be doing his running around (fill up the tank, get some cash from the bank, run to the PO for some stamps, etc.).  The stamps are for me so I can mail the bills out.  On Thursday, I have to run out to UPS to mail a package to Baby Brat and Sister Cee and then drop off my package for Bratfink.  I have to grab a couple of the mail packs from the PO while I am there...you know, like the commercials have been advertising.  I can even get them picked up by my regular guy and just give him a check for the amount of each one.  Now that they don't have to be weighed (unless it's over 70 lbs) but they have to fit, I figure I'll give it a try.

Chewlee wasn't here all that long today but...TA DAH!!!!.....she used the potty twice while she was here and only called me in to show off and have me wipe her butt!  She was annoyed that *I* pulled down her pullups the first time and she told me that when she went the second time.  It was one of those, *I will do that, Gramma.  Not you...*, as she brandished her finger at me for emphasis.  She was nibbling on an English muffin with some jelly when her mother, the Princess, got here to pick her up.  After some *high 5-ing* over the potty issue, her mother asked her if she wanted to go get some pizza.  You wouldn't believe how quickly she gave me her English muffin but she DID tell me NOT to eat it!  I told her I would save it for her for tomorrow and she almost ran out the door.  She does like pizza! 

Time to get this to the launching pad.  Bad news!  The temperature is going down into the low 30's tonight.  Good news!  It will be in the 70's again tomorrow.  **Grin**  I can stand it.  Hope you have some great weather, too.  Love you all and try to smile a lot today.  It will either make someone happy or confuse the hell out of people.  Either way, it's fun! 

The Princess didn't have to work today so I was able to just be lazy and not get out of my sleep pants and shirt.  Since it was just me and the Beast (oh, and Baron......mustn't forget him) and there was no need for me to leave the house, I figured what the heck. 

The Princess stopped by to make sure she remembered how to make homemade noodles correctly since she was planning on making chicken soup for dinner.  She remembered everything correctly.  She's helped me make them enough times that I'm sure she will do fine with that.  She just gets a bit lazy on her cutting the dough up in nice sizes.  They vary A LOT when she does them.  But it's all edible so who cares?  Chewlee loves them and one day we might even get her to use a fork or spoon to eat them instead of her fingers.    I'm sure the Princess put her right in the tub after eating because she's so enthusiastic about eating them that she's very messy.  Too messy to deal with it with just a washcloth.  Oh well, that's part of the joys of childhood.  You can really get *into* your food and enjoy it immensely. 

Today the Beast told me he's going to leave for his brother's house on Thursday.  ***Doing a happy dance!***  I managed to keep the smile off my face and just said, *Oh, you should enjoy spending a couple days with him.*  I left it at that.  The Beast said, *It's been running 15-20 degrees cooler there than here so it will make me appreciate how much milder our winters are.  Besides, he's had one good snowstorm up there already.*  I just shuddered and went over in my mind the warm clothes the Beast needs to take with him.

His Aunt M called from North Carolina to let the Beast know that his sister and her husband were coming down to visit her for a few days.  I wish I could really be happy for M but, unfortunately, his sister's real reason is the hope that her aunt is going to leave her money or at least valuables when she dies.  I kid you not.  All the stuff the Beast's brother gave to his sister after she went ballistic over what *he* was keeping she didn't want for sentimental reasons at all.  She wanted to sell it on EBay and that's what she did.  When his mother died, she actually kept her wedding rings and sold them, too.  I've never seen anyone so materialistic.  It's sad because the religion she professes preaches against that.  But she drives a fairly new Corvette, they have an SUV and she owns wave runners, snow mobiles, a motorcycle (and I think she also owns a scooter but don't quote me on that).  She and her husband bought a really pricey 5 bedroom house and all new furniture and they can barely afford it all.  They manage but her husband is getting old, fast.  She kind of plays at working.  I say *plays* because she works for the city she lives in and takes a lot of time off.  I gather it's something she's allowed to do either because she's part-time or it has something to do with the union she belongs to and benefits she earns after so many hours.  I'm not sure and I'm really not all that interested.

What has always bugged me about her is how she thinks we should envy her and it pisses her off that we don't.  It also bugs her that we own everything we have and still have money in the bank.  Although the Beast might succeed in changing that if he gets into another expensive *hobby*.  **Shudder**  When I told her we have everything set up in a family trust for our kids, she stopped trying to suck up to her brother.  I'm just grateful she never had any kids.   Although I wonder if she might have turned into a different person with a couple.  Probably but we'll never know now.  She's past that age.  LONG past it. 

I picked up some Banquet pot pies for the Beast when I shopped on Sunday.  We had stopped buying them when they changed them to microwaveable and they didn't taste or look the same even.  They were awful and the only way you could cook them was to microwave them.  Well, they changed them again.  This time you can cook them up either way and they look like they used to with a normal uncooked crust (and it has an undercrust, too.  The crust is thinner, which I actually like.  I was amazed to find out that it actually cooks up pretty good in the microwave, too.  So I guess they are back on our shopping list since they make great lunches.

They also now have fruit pies, the small, individual size.  Those are really good.  I've only seen two kinds so far, Cherry Berry and Apple.  Delish for just a buck.  Great with coffee in the morning and still slightly warm.  Yum!  Although I DO have to check my blood sugar afterward because they are a bit on the sweet side.

Sheepie is going to come visit us from the 20th through the 28th.  I know her dad knows about it because he was making comments about it while we were talking.  He tried to give her a hard time about what time she was going to come in on the return trip but then he backed off and said it was fine.  So Sheepie will be here to help me get things ready for Thanksgiving.  I guess I'll be making up some of my nut cups and we might even get out some of the Christmas stuff to start getting up.  Actually, I am going to take down the lights from the attic while the Beast is gone and check them to make sure all the bulbs are working.  The outside lights I have are the larger ones so I need to get any replacements early since the stores seem to run out of those first.  I might even ask Tara's boys over to help me put them up so that's done when the Beast gets home.  *Grin*

The Beast decided to surprise me and bought me a deep fryer.  The kind you can deep fry a turkey in is the kind of deep fryer I mean.  We had a deep fried turkey one year when we had some friends over for the Holiday and our friend brought his set up and another turkey (along with a seasoning that was really scrumptious).  We've actually craved it ever since.  Especially the Princess.  Today we did a trial run but we are used a 5# chicken instead of a turkey.  We mainly want to check how good the suggested time is and try out this one seasoning you inject.  I have a feeling we might be trying out a couple in the next two weeks. 

I really didn't want the Beast to be the one that put the chicken in the fryer but he wanted to play hero and he wouldn't hear of it.  As it was, I ended up having to help him (and my hand and arm were closer than HIS) by holding the lid up because of where he had placed it.  At least he read all the instructions.    He wanted this first attempt to be successful.  Later on, he will get cocky and disregard half of what he read but only time will show that.

I decided to make a couple nuked potatoes and some asparagus to round out the meal.  I have to tell you that we used a Cajun seasoned butter seasoning on it.  We also sprinkled on some Cajun seasoning (per instructions in the book regarding such).

First, let me tell you that when we first had a deep friend turkey, our friend overestimated the time needed to cook the turkey.  It was really overdone when he took it out but we pulled all the meat off it and ate it anyway.  Heck, we had one that was roasted so it really wasn't like the day would be ruined.  But, when we tasted the meat, it was so incredibly tasty that we ate it all between Thanksgiving day and the day after.  Gone!  It was so good, you could nibble on it all by itself and it was so tasty, you just craved more of it.  I'm having the Beast contact our friends and see if Diane remembers which seasoning she used because what I got wasn't it.  But it was still tasty.  I would just like to get the same seasoning if I can find it locally.  I'm willing to travel to several stores to get it even.

The chicken was very moist (which surprised me although it shouldn't have) but the spices in that particular seasoning was on the *light* side.  It could have used just a bit more.  I told the Beast if we get it again (or the next time we use what is left), I am going to add some of the creole powdered seasoning I have.  It sure can't hurt.  I'm going to be watching for more seasonings now.  I bought a turkey already....a 12-1/2 lb. one since it was just about perfect in size for deep frying and I can also get a ham for Turkey Day.    That's just in case someone isn't feeling *into* turkey.

The Beast is one lucky SOB, let me tell you.  I mean besides having me.    When he went to the range today, he actually had an event happen that convinces me of that.  The barrel of his gun should have either exploded or the cap on it (I forget what it's called now) should have gone smashing into his face from the explosion in the barrel.  I'm not kidding.  I told him that he is definitely lucky because after having two brainstem strokes, he shouldn't be walking and talking today.  So it's luck.  He told me I should buy him a lottery ticket because he would probably win but Alabama doesn't have a state lottery.  *Sigh*  Oh well.

Love you all and I hope you enjoyed your weekend.  The Beast told me he's thinking about running up to his brother's for a few days (tra la!) this week.  I'm sure he'll wait until we get our SS deposit on Wednesday and go for the weekend or some such thing.  I'll enjoy that and I hope your upcoming week has something good that YOU will enjoy, too. 

It's not bad enough that I had some real problems (again!) posting last night but we had a power failure a little bit ago that wiped out my post that I was almost done writing.  It's really tough to rewrite a post you had pretty much finished up.  If I keep having problems like this, Xanga is going to end up losing a premium customer.  And, from what I hear, probably a lot of us.  However, I can't blame the power failure on them.  That was a lot of people, coming home from church, that turned on their heat when they got home.  *Sigh*  That's a real problem here in the Bible Belt on Sundays.  At least during the summer, they left on their air conditioning because the days started out hot and just got hotter.  During the winter, however, there's only so long you can do without your heat, no matter how good your insulation is. 

The Beast actually is at the gun range as we speak.  He's going to miss that unless he finds some gloves that allow him to fire the guns and keep his hand warm, too.  The ones he has are waaaaaay too bulky to allow that and his naked hands get cold fast.  He's also going to need one of those Russian hats that has the warm ear muff-like flaps that come down to keep your ears warm.  I told him that the hunting and fishing stores he visits are sure to have them so he should look the next time he goes to one of them.  I'm sure he will be making the trip up to Gander Mtn. supplies mid-week or so.  He's predictable.

Yesterday was my full-day of Chewlee and it was kind of funny.  She arrived early and was in a loving mood.  She spent most of her time in my lap while we watched TV.  My legs actually started going numb at one point and she *helped* me massage them when I made her get down when it got really painful.

She seemed happy to watch her usual TV fare even though the Penguins of Madagascar was on more than any others.  She does love the lemurs on that program (and they ARE funny!).  She finally decided she wanted to watch a monster movie.  She spent about 15 minutes going over all *her* monster movies and just couldn't make up her mind.  I told her if she didn't pick one, *I* would.  So she got up and told me, *Pick one, Gramma*. 

Since she's had this *thing* about snakes lately, I put on Tremors because she calls it the *snake monster*.  If you've seen it, you will understand.  We watched it for about 45 minutes with her grabbing my hands and putting them over her eyes when the *monsters* were going to get someone.  Either that or she would make me tighten my arms around her and melt back into me so that I was *protecting* her.  She's really fun to watch monster movies with sometimes. 

But, after the 45 minutes, she got up and went back over to her movies and started fussing with them.  She started calling out different ones to me and asking me if I wanted to watch them.  I decided to mess with her a little so I told her, *No* each time she mentioned one.  She finally decided that Mechagodzilla was the one she wanted to watch.  She calls that one *robot Godzilla* and she said she wanted to watch a *robot* monster.  I told her we were watching a movie already and I didn't like the robot Godzilla.  I think, however, that SHE thinks *I* think it's scary.    It's actually one of my least favorite of the Godzilla movies because it is just SO lame!

She, however, pulled it out of the group and came over to me, set it down on her little table and patted it while she told me, *I'm putting it over here, Gramma.  Don't touch it.*  After she put the others back in place, she came over to me and said, *When YOUR movie is over, then we will watch MY movie, all right?*  When I didn't reply right away, she then said to me, *We share, Gramma.  Remember?*  That alone made me laugh out loud and I told her, *Yes, we share, Chewlee.*

Why that is so funny is we have been working on her sharing things and it was her cute 3-1/2 year old way of reminding me that it works both ways.  Very astute for someone so young.  A very cute way of negotiating to get her way. 

Sheepie called me about coming up here for Thanksgiving.  She told me, when asked, that Gina was back with her Dad and she really didn't understand why.  I told her that it was kind of complicated why women do that and we could talk about it when she comes here for the Holiday.  I have to check it out but she says they get 10 days off (20th to 30th) because they are going to lose a week for their usual Christmas break due to when it falls or something (her words).  So the school has given it to them during the Thanksgiving break so that the school year works out the way it's supposed to by the end of the school year.  So, I don't object to having her up here for that Holiday as long as it's not just a 2 or 3 day visit with her having to travel all that way and return so quickly.  I'll talk to her tomorrow about the best day and time for her to come.  She said her dad doesn't care and, since he's not working right now, the time won't matter.  I guess it's a good thing Gina works, even if it IS only part-time.

There are days that I swear I am trying to go into a hibernation mode and today was one of them.  I just could NOT wake up and I got enough sleep time.  I had to push myself to get the normal straightening up things done around here (make the bed, dust mop the floor, etc.).  All I wanted to do was get into my recliner and snooze.  I did, finally, give in and lay down around 2pm.  I usually only nap in the chair for an hour or slightly more so I wasn't worried about picking up Chewlee on time.  Well, at MY usual time. 

So I was stunned when I woke up at 4:15pm.  I usually leave the house around 4:30pm to pick up Chewlee, especially on Friday.  That's candy day at preschool and the kids get to pick out a candy treat from the bowl in the foyer as they leave.  If I leave any later, it usually means that all the bubble gum (Chewlee's favorite) is gone.

She surprised me last week and again this week by picking a pack of Smartees.  When I said to her, *What?  Not bubble gum?*  She smiled and said, *YOU have bubble gum at home, Gramma!  Right?*  Smart little stinker, isn't she.  She knows her grandma all right.  She figured out that she can get TWO treats now that she knows I have bubble gum at home for her.  It's actually what I give her when she uses the *big potty* and doesn't wet or poop in her pull-ups.  You go with the rewards you know they want as a way of helping them learn, right? 

She was really funny while eating her Smartees.  She counted them as she ate them.  She ate only 3 of them in the car and then told me she was going to hold them in her hand until she got to Grandma's house.  When she got here and pulled up her *table* (the box I keep for her use that's the perfect size and height for when she's sitting in her Dora chair), she picked up the count from where she left off.  That kind of surprised me but it pleased me at the same time.  She had to stop and think when she hit eight and, I swear, she was going over the numbers in her mind just by the way she looked up and tapped her finger on her chin.  It was adorable. 

She just loves the lemurs on Penguins of Madagascar.  When the crazy king starts his dancing around, she just has to dance and wiggle along with him.  I enjoy the half hour TV show about the same as I enjoyed both the movies.  Maybe even more because the penguins are so nutty.  They don't play a huge part in the movies although their parts are important in both (just for different reasons).  Then it's **DORA TIME!!!!!!**  Did I mention how she loves Dora?  It's really a good program for her and she really gets into it.  She even repeats the Spanish word that featured every day.  She does the same thing when we get to watch Diego.  What's funny is how she will put her hand over MY mouth when we watch Diego so that only SHE can say the Spanish word, whatever it is.  Don't ask me why since she doesn't do it for Dora when I say whatever the word is for the day.  Actually, I will say the word after Chewlee does just to help her say the word correctly.  She will watch my mouth and repeat it as best she can and doesn't mind doing it more than once.  We clap and high 5 when she says it right.

More cold weather ahead for us.  Of course!    I had to finally bring in my hummingbird feeder.  I think they have all left the area and are headed down to Florida and other warm places.  Lucky them.  Bratfink told me they got snow today.  I don't know if it stayed around or not since she hasn't been online much.  I'm really hoping that she gets better rest after her surgery.  That has to be preying on her mind even if she says not.  We know that it's really not a bad surgery and, of course, our Baby Brat underwent it many years ago when she was in her mid-20's.  Okay...so we ARE older now.  Don't remind us...LOL.  It will still be better when it's over and done with and she's recovering.  I just wish she has a speedy recovery.

For a man that has never registered to vote so he's never voted, the Beast has been following the voting results across the country.  He seems totally fascinated by the Tea Party and the members of it that gained office as well as the areas that the democrats lost seats in the House and Senate.  Trust me, his conversation makes my ears bleed.

It's not that I am uninterested.  It's just that I don't let it consume me.  But then, that is kind of the Beast's personality, isn't it?  He is obsessive to the nth degree.  He's like a dog worrying a bone.  He makes me nuts and then he wonders why I close the door to my computer room when he starts in on that stuff.  I take as much as I can and then .... I leave with the excuse that I need to catch up on my email and check the news in the world.  Actually, I DO do those things but, if his conversation was interesting, it could wait.

I have to admit, however, that Obama's vacation to India or Pakistan, whichever it is since it's one of those conversations that I shove in my mind closet, does really upset me.  To invite so many people to go along with him that it's taking multiple jets and a whole hotel at the cost to the tax payer (early estimates) of $2 BILLION dollars!    You have to include the 52 Navy ships that will be pulled along the coastline as partial protection since the area being visited is an active terrorist area, as well as the additional security people.  Add the food, drinks and tips to the staff of the hotel, transportation and it becomes incredible.  I believe it comes to almost 600 people, not including the Navy or the helicopter personnel, etc.  People....!  We are paying for this in one form or another.  $2 BILLION dollars.  All money that could be going to help people in our own country.  What the hell is he thinking?  That he's our KING???  We are all just serfs to him to cater to his every whim?  OMFG!!  I actually had to check a few different places to really believe this is his idea of a vacation.  A Muslim country; known terrorists are active and he's bringing his family and friends and God knows who else along?  WHAT IS HE THINKING?? 

We got a little bit of sun today that peeked out from behind the cloudy skies.  It did nothing to brighten up the day but it did give you hope.  The Beast got a haircut and I think it's the worst one he's ever gotten in his life.  He looks like a duckling with how it sticks up all over the place.  As I was giggling, I told him that he could go a lot longer before another haircut at least.  He said that it was the only good thing he could think of when he saw it.  His *greasy kids stuff* won't even hold it down because it's THAT short.  I told him to just spike it and go with the idea that he's being more modern. 

The Beast actually was up and about early today.  He was almost out of his tobacco so he made a run to the tobacco store we use and replenished our supply of tubes and tobacco.  I could actually have gone another two weeks without it because I don't smoke as much as the Beast does but he figured if he was making the run, he might as well get us both enough to tide us over for a while.  I didn't check to see how much he got himself but I should be good for the whole month now.  I'll make you a bet, his supply runs out before mine does.....again!  I wish the man would admit he's smoking too much.  That was part of what led to his strokes.  He was smoking more than four packs a day....and he smokes them all.  I used to constantly take a puff or two and then let the rest of the cigarette burn down in the ashtray because I would get busy doing things.  Now I won't light up unless I intend to really have a cigarette.  I'm using a lot less cigarettes because I've been doing that.  Nothing would help the Beast except his quitting entirely.  That'll be the day!

It was overcast and cold this morning.  Another one of those days when you just KNOW it's going to snow if there's any precipitation at all.  However, it never did get cold enough to freeze the mist that was coming down a bit later in the day.  Our high today was a glorious 54!  Okay, so I'm being sarcastic there.  The only plus was that it wasn't accompanied by any real breezes.

When I went to pick up Chewlee, I got to the room door just as she let out the most god-awful scream.  When I got into the room, she was sitting on the floor, just crying like her heart was broken.  The teacher was embarrassed because she thought I might have thought SHE did something (but she was about 10 feet away from her).  I told her not to worry and went over to Chewlee, thinking she might have been hurt by one of the other kids around her.  Tears were streaming down her face and, as I hugged her and asked her what was wrong, was she hurt?  She said, *I want my candy!* 

I know it wasn't really funny but the teacher had given them some Smartees and then, when Chewlee was stuffing them all into her mouth (or so it seemed), she took the ones remaining away from her and THAT is what she was upset about.  She knew she had been good so her heart was just broken to see them taken away from her.  What she didn't know was that the teacher was afraid she was going to choke on too much hard pieces of candy.  When the teacher gave them to me, I put them in her hand and told her to just hold them until we got into the car and she shook her head yes.

She then brightened up and acted like nothing unpleasant had happened to her and chattered like a magpie to me about sleeping in mommy's room.  The secret is out now.  When she gets all cold because she's kicked off her covers, she just goes and climbs into bed with mommy! 

When we got back to the house, goofy Baron damn near got himself hit by the car by running right out in front of me.  If I had been going just a little bit faster, he would have been toast!  The Beast, who was getting the mail out of the mailbox across the road from the house, was totally pissed at Baron.  That's the bad part about having a dog raised out in the boonies.  He has no fear of nor awareness of how dangerous a car or truck can be.  The other day, he ran in front of the Beast on his scooter and the Beast damn near lost it avoiding hitting him.  I swear, that dog sometimes acts like he's brain-damaged. 

Chewlee was SURE that Baron wanted her candy so she was really ticked off that he kept trying to find out what she had in her hand (the candy from school still was in it).  Later on, while she dined on a couple pieces of rolled up bologna and some chips because her *belly was empty*, Baron barged into the room and started sniffing around her food and THAT upset her.  I told her he was just curious and she said to me......are you ready?........*I don't want him sniffing my food.  He likes to sniff my butt!*  ROFLMAO!!!!!

Johnnycakes came to pick her up since the Princess had a class up in Huntsville this afternoon that didn't end until 5:30pm.  With rush hour traffic the way it is up there due to the Space Center, it made the most sense for him to get her.  She kept telling me it was going to be him but I just said, *Well, let's wait and see.*  I told her that she won when he got here and she thought that was funny.  She just said, *I told you!* as she walked out the door yelling goodbye to me.

I really have more on my mind but can't really discuss it now because it's still very jumbled.  It all has to do with the further problems with Sheepie.  I feel kind of bad for her on several levels and I hate the thought that things might be going from bad to worse there.  But, when I can discuss it without being overly emotional, I'll bring you up to speed.

Love you all and I wish you a bright, sunny day wherever you are.  Stay happy. 

I get the feeling at times that this blog is going to end up more a document on the growing up adventures and foibles of Chewlee.  A sharing of the little things that help you see the personality develop as she gets older.  It sure isn't how I thought this would turn out but such is life.  It's not that I mind because she's more interesting than the Beast is, that's for sure!  But, don't worry.  You'll still get all the information on the *farm*.  I almost wrote *funny farm* because it's how I feel life is for us at times.  All because you find out that kids are forever.  No matter how old they are, you still worry about them and can even get involved in their problems whether you want to or not.  *Sigh*

I started thinking a lot about Christmas.  We aren't going to be able to be as generous this year as we were last year, mainly because the Beast has almost spent us into the poor house.  I guess I am going to have to do the shopping/layaway thing and let that be enough.  The Beast is so *bah humbug* anyway.  Personally, I really think it's because it's not all about him.  It can be a downer at times but I try to shake that off.  I go ahead and do my decorating without his help because it brings ME joy!  I won't be giving out the cash that I did last year.  I kind of had that feeling when I gave the kids what I did.  Call it an inkling of things to come that lays just below the awareness of your mind.  I get that a lot.

One of the things I love about Chewlee is her unique view of pretty much everything.  She notices things that make you shake your head in wonder.  Today she told me that the sun was hiding.  When I asked her why the sun was hiding, she told me because it was sad that winter was coming and all the flowers had to go to sleep.  When I told her the sun would be out again, she looked at me and said, *I know that!* like I was treating her like an idiot or something.  So I asked her why the sun picked today to hide, she said she didn't know.    I told her I thought she knew everything and she told me, *Not yet....but I will when I get to go to big kids school.*  That's what she calls the high school we drive past every time I pick her up.  It actually made me shudder because she really didn't know how right she was.  I've never known a teenager who didn't think they knew everything.....or at least more than *grownups* did.

Our next door neighbor is pregnant and due in January.  She hasn't really gained a lot of weight yet and is excited because it's a boy.  What happened to just being surprised?  No one wants that any more.  They always say, if asked, it's so much better because you can decorate for a boy/girl and get the right clothes.  Most babies under two years old pretty much look kind of asexual, if you know what I mean.  I see mothers go out of their way to make sure everyone knows it's a boy/girl with bows on elastic bands for their girls or very boyish clothing on boys because, if they don't, people often guess the wrong sex and it annoys them. 

I do the Trivial Pursuit game on Pogo every day and am still amazed at things that surprise me.  Do you know what century the term *politically correct* came into use?  17th? 18th? 19th? 20th?  Would it surprise you to know that the term was coined in the 18th Century?  Because it's a term flying around the television so much every day, we tend to think of it as our own but it isn't.  How's that for a kick in the head? 

I do think that politically correct has been carried to the nth degree, however.  I'm so sick of hearing it and it making people afraid they might be using an incorrect term in conversation.  Screw that crap.  I'll use whatever terminology *I* am comfortable with and the hell with what other people might think.  Let them think I'm not too bright.  I know what I am and am not and that's all that matters.  Unlike a lot of people, I'm very comfortable in my own skin, tyvm!

Why do people get uncomfortable with silence?  They feel they have to fill any gap in conversation no matter how inane the subject might be?  What's the old saying?  Something about keeping your mouth shut rather than opening it and proving you are stupid.  I just know that I've met a lot of people that could have learned a lot from that phrase.  Haven't you?

I really feel terrible when I want to use a word and can't think of the right one.  Makes me feel like I might be getting Alzheimers or something at my age.  Then I find out that people a lot younger have the same problem and it makes me feel better.  For a while, anyway. 

I'm finding that I am refusing to allow certain things to have room in my mind if I don't care about them or feel they are unimportant.  Or if there's nothing I can do about them.  I'm not sure how much more room I have left in there so I try to save any left for important things.  (Just kidding, folks!  I just lock those things away in a special room so I don't waste time worrying over them) 

Okay...on to more mundane things.  Today was really bleak and cold.  The sky was overcast and, if we had been up North, I would have thought it signaled snow not far off.  It was cold and windy here, too.  Our high was 62, which is sweatshirt weather but it tells me that we are definitely in the countdown to terminal cold (from my point of view).  I just HATE the cold.  I have lots of cold weather clothing and an L.L. Bean down coat that could probably stand up to Arctic cold but I still will never get used to it.  There's a cold freeze in our near future, for sure.  That's when the Beast will be sure to start making definite plans for his trip down South.  It won't bother me because the only thing that will get me out of here will be going to get Chewlee from preschool.    It's also my excuse for not making the trip with him.

I am hoping for a return of sunny skies.  The Beast took it upon himself to make the 30 mile trip to Publix to get the Chicago Italian bread we love and some great Boar's Head lunchmeats, too.  For a couple days we will pig out on sandwiches made with the bread and enjoying it a lot.  Even Chewlee loves the bologna and would eat it until she was sick if you let her.  Kids can remind you of puppies at times, can't they?