The Beast and I did some furniture moving while he vacuumed along the baseboards and got those darn dust bunnies that hide on you underneath furniture in the weirdest places.  I let him vacuum since he seems to enjoy using the Dyson extension hose.  Baron (the Wee Beastie) tries to sniff the end of it and the Beast lets him and it will grab his nose.  That causes him to jump back away from it and then he's right back, trying to sniff the end.

While we were doing that, we found a pigs ear treat that Baron had hidden and forgotten about, I guess.  He always gets so weird when he's given one.  He loves them but he makes me think of that dog in the Travelers Insurance Company commercials with his bone.  Baron worries it to death.  He runs all over trying to find a place to hide it.  He will shove it under a pillow and push it under until he's sure it can't be seen.  He will go away and then rush back to check on it and decide that hiding spot was not good enough. 

He also makes these terrible low whining sounds while he's running from room-to-room.  He's hidden one in my recliner.  He turned over Chewlee's Dora chair and hidden it underneath it.  He put it into my clothes basket and even lifted clothes over it and pushed them around until he was satisfied.  Then, a few minutes later, he is back, rooting out the ear and it starts all over again.  The poor thing sounds so agonized that you feel badly for him. 

Today, he decided he was going to take it outside to hide it when he and the Beast went out front for a bit.  He hid it underneath the small spruce tree out there and seemed very smug about it.  Then, when the Beast started into the house, Baron went nuts and ran back, grabbed the ear and brought it back into the house.  He then went into the guest room, lay down on the floor and actually started chewing it.  He didn't do it for long because he decided he needed to go outside again but out back this time.  He took it out with him and I guess hid it out there somewhere he feels it's safe because he didn't bring it back in with him.

Later, the Beast told me he DID bring it back in after it was outside for a couple hours.  That's when he gave it up and ate the whole ear up.  It's easier than trying to hide it.  I just can't imagine WHY he would want to hide it.  It's not like he's ever without food.

Oh, speaking of that.....here in the country, when it gets really cold, you are plagued with field mice.  They get into your garage or your house...sometimes both.  We tried plugging up the places we knew had to be their access (along pipes that come up into your bathrooms, for example).  We plugged those up with steel wool which is one thing that they will avoid like the plague.  It hurts them, so they avoid their usual wiggle past other things.  They don't chew it or try to pull it out.  It's worse than fiberglas to them. 

However, this year we discovered that the Beast made them a really cozy place to live when he wrapped the water heater in one of those *blankets* you buy to help conserve heat and then he built a box around it.  He had also built a platform to get it up off the cement floor.  Well, he found some of the *blanket* stuffing OUTSIDE the boxed in water heater.  He also found little droppings so there is at least ONE very snug mouse living in there, I am sure.  He got a couple different types of traps in an effort to get rid of it.  Now it's *wait and see*. 

When I was sweeping the kitchen floor the other day, I found some strange looking black pellets around the dogs dry dog food keeper.  Its one of those self-feeders.  I reserved judgment on what they might be until today, when I swept up some again and told the Beast, *We have a critter feeding out of the dog's dry dog food at night*.  He asked me how I could be sure and I showed him the pellets.  He thought they looked like dried dog food but I told him that they don't dry up more and certainly wouldn't in a day or two.  Maybe they would look like that in the desert after a month or two but I was pretty damn sure it was critter droppings.  So now I am picking up the whole thing and have moved it to the counter. 

I'm not exactly certain that's a really good idea since those things can climb and I mean CLIMB!  It may force it to look for something else that's accessible and there's lots to choose from in my pantries.  The Beast said he would just get another mouse *hotel* and we could put it down at night when it comes looking for the dog food.  I'm just not sure what is the best way to handle it.  But, for tonight, it's on the counter.  This is when I really wish we had a cat.  We've had several that were really great about catching mice and even rats.  I just hated how they wanted to *share* their catch with us. 

The Princess called me around noon to tell me that it looked like Chewlee had pink eye.  The school had called her and told her the eye was even crusted.  I was really ticked off because they have big pump bottles of those germicide gels in every room and at the front desk.  Chewlee just loves that stuff and will use it generously whenever she can.  BUT....there's no one to really make sure the kids use it.  I think it's really more there for the various teachers.  I'm sure Chewlee probably got it from the toys the kids all share at playtime but....it just ticks me off that this is the second time this year she's gotten it.

After the Princess ran to get her and picked up some over-the-counter medication until she could get the good stuff, she dropped her off here.  I put some of those drops in her eye because it made her more comfortable.  She didn't want to cooperate until I showed her they didn't hurt by putting some in my eye.  She was really good about it after that.

After the Princess got off work, she went and got the prescription medication and she and Johnnycakes went to pick up their Christmas tree.  Chewlee was so excited because the Princess told her she could help decorate the tree.  I know how much she loves that.    She kept an eye on the front door for them to return to pick her up (they had taken the truck to pick it up and drop it off at home before coming back for her).  She put her boots on and had her winter jacket handy so she could hurry up and go.

She spent the time from when she was dropped off here at my house until her mom got here to get the truck after work either leaning on me while we watched her programs and then a Harry Potter movie or else she was in my lap.  That is, until her lack of a nap had her laying on the floor with her head on her Dora chair seat and I put a small blanket over her.

  Oh, BTW, it looks like her *Tee-tee* is gone now.  It's gone to the heaven for all security blankets, I guess.  I think it's kind of sad.  I had a blanket that I had for my comfort for many years.  Well, until we got rid of the bunk beds at my house.  I didn't drag it around with me but it gave me comfort during many illnesses.  It was horribly ugly but it was MINE!  You can't say that about many things when you come from a big family with lots of kids.  You lack privacy big time and also anything you don't have to share.  Sharing is usually the name of the game.

The Beast and I are making a run up to Huntsville tomorrow to Sammy's Place.  The warehouse version of *Cheapmart* as Bratsis calls it.    I have no idea what the Beast has in mind but I need a couple cases of things like my chopped tomatoes, tomato sauce and puree, too.  I need some chili beans and I'll look to see what kind of meats I can get for the upcoming weeks.  The Beast said we need to get more soups but what he means is chicken noodle.  I have almost two cases of tomato soup, which we tend to have more often in the winter when we eat more grilled cheese sandwiches or just want something light and warming.

He wanted to get a case of Spaghetti-o's for Chewlee but I told him not to bother because she keeps changing her favorite things to eat and I think she's over that one now like she's over the *noodles* every day.  We went through a case of chicken noodle soup and had to buy more until she finally got over that.  Right now, I don't believe she's settled on any one thing other than salami.  She will also want peanut butter sandwiches...no jelly, no bananas on it (she likes her bananas plain with the peel attached)...just plain ole' peanut butter on bread.  BUT...it must be cut into four pieces.  The Princess said she was surprised she didn't want it squished down like she makes her mother do for her at home.  What she and I didn't realize was that Chewlee decided that squishing them was something SHE could do by herself.    I caught her doing it but didn't say anything.  I let her do it since she was eating it.  What was the harm?

The Beast is whining about the cold.  It's supposed to drop down to around 15 degrees tonight and the wind chill will be around Zero.  Whoop-dee-doo.  What the heck is the difference?  If it's cold out, it's cold out.  If it's too cold, I will tell him to forget taking that trip up to Huntsville.  Some of those roads are not only steep but get really icy.  He's dangerous on dry roads because he's always in a hurry.  That scares the chit out of me because I WANT TO LIVE!!!!  Let him take chances with himself, don't drag me along with him.

It has been a really strange day so far.  We woke up to rain and a temperature of 34 degrees.  That was at 6:30 am.  It got colder from that point on.  I kid you not.  The temperature started dropping and the rain turned into snow.  It started as a LOT of snow but soon stopped.  The weatherman said the snow had continued at the higher elevations but we have achieved the icy streets predicted. 

The worst part was the wind.  It was holding steady at 15 mph but there were bursts of 25-30 mph.  The temperature got down to about 22 and held there for the rest of the day.  Once the wind stopped, it DID climb up to around 25 degrees where it is right now.  However, I discovered when I went to shake out my dustmop that the wind was picking up again so I guess we will make our low of around 16 degrees.  The wind chill factor is supposed to end up around zero (that's fahrenheit) so the Beast has had the heaters going in all the rooms of the house and he will probably have the electric blanket turned on later when he turns them all off.

The Beast and I worked on cleaning the floors in the house.  We moved all the furniture, including our bed in the bedroom so I could vacuum along the baseboards.  I mopped before we put everything back and I am hoping that I won't have to mop again until AFTER Christmas.  That was a real pain in the neck job with the Beast and Baron both acting like they didn't have to wait for the floors to dry.  I will have to damp mop big areas again later tonight before I go to bed because of them.  **Insert mad and frustrated face here*

The deck area out back is very covered in snow and the lawns are all covered lightly.  Baron, the wimp, didn't take long doing his *thing* when he had to go out and he didn't prance up or down the stairs.  He's learned what it's like when that *white stuff* is on the stairs and doesn't feel like hurting himself.  We had gone several hours without any snow but it started again about an hour ago and looks like it's going to be going on for a while.  The skies looked like snow all day long.  No sun.  Gray and dismal was the look of the day.  A typical *snow is a-comin'* sky.  After growing up in Chicago, I have never forgotten what it looks, feels and smells like. 

So, I get my new purple (well, lilac) Christmas tree out of it's box so I can put that up.  My biggest problem is that I kind of envision it with deep purple bows on it and the small silver ornaments I have that I used on the little tree I used to keep on my back patio in Florida.  I really miss my house in Florida during the Holidays.  It was the house of our dreams...or, at least, mine.  The garage was the Beast's dream.  It was a 2-1/2 car garage that he set up just perfect for his woodworking projects and we had the storage shelves that were both high and deep.  We couldn't keep the truck in the garage because the shelves kept it from fitting (the Beast screwed up there...LOL) but that wasn't a problem with the long driveway we had.  We kept our boat parked in the driveway with the truck behind it.  Later on, when we got the pontoon boat instead, it was kept there, too.

I had wanted to decorate the boat(s) during the Holidays but the Beast put his foot down since he took it out a lot in Florida.  We had the weather there and used the boat all year long.  He didn't want to have to undo decorations when he took it out to fish.    He's such a Scrooge with *bah! humbug!* in his heart.  I saw other boats that were decorated but he thought they looked stupid.  This is what I live with and why he doesn't feel the least inclined to help me decorate here during Christmas.

I, however, won't let him know that it bothers me and I go ahead and decorate despite him.  That's just how stubborn *I* can be.   

Sheepie is anxious to come here for her Christmas vacation and, as soon as I verify when the Beast's buddy is coming and when he is leaving, I can go ahead and get her tickets purchased so she will come.  I know most of her eagerness is so she can see her boyfriend here.  I have no mistaken notion that she just loves spending time with US....LOL.  What young girl wants to spend her free time with two old people if she has a choice?

I figured I had better start getting my Christmas cards out this year or I wouldn't get them all done like I did last year....to my shame.  That is what I will be doing after I get this blog finished.  I try to put little personal notes on each of them because I only send to good friends and my family.  Chewlee was fascinated with the cards and kept trying to get me to take them out of the box so she could see them.  At one point, she surmised that they were really books that I was trying to keep from her so I showed her what they were.  She was disappointed, I could tell.  She loves to own books and to have them read to her.  Her mother always includes a book or two in amongst her presents every Christmas. 

I have to find my boxes in amongst all the stuff I save from year to year so I can get a couple things wrapped and put under the tree.  Chewlee saw one gift I have and wanted to know who it was for.  It's a beautiful necklace and earring set and she spent quite a lot of time telling me that *she* didn't have a pretty necklace.  When I reminded her she had a Dora necklace, she smiled and laughed because she had forgotten that.  It's probably buried in her toy box at home.  I wouldn't give her a good necklace at her age because she would end up breaking it.  She would be trying to get it over her head or pulling on it to get it off and that would break the chain.  I told her she wasn't *ready yet* for a good necklace so she would have to wait to get one from me and Papa.

She also wants a ring.  I told her when she gets bigger.  One day she decided she was *bigger enough* and tried to put one of my rings that she likes on any of her fingers, including her thumb before she finally admitted she wasn't big enough...YET!  But she assured me that she was getting bigger all the time.  I know that is one thing she won't let me forget.

We've been getting all kinds of advisories today from Weatherbug and Weather dot com so I guess we should brace ourselves.  First we will be getting hit with heavy rain and there's a very cold front behind that.  It's going to freeze the standing water and slick roads into ice and you know what that means!  Lots of slipping and sliding around with black ice over the bridges. 

We are also getting snow.  Up to an inch.  If that stays on the ground (beyond the sun rising), it will be more than I have seen here before.  The weather is expected to continue like that until later in the week.  Monday it's going to be down into single digits with a high of, maybe, 24.  Oh, I am excited now!  No respite until near the end of the week.  It will mean lots of accidents from the slipping and sliding that the cars will do.  I've seen it before here.  People here are just not used to really cold temperatures with snow and ice.  It means....hibernation for me!!!!!    Think I'm kidding?  I have enough coffee and other stuff that I need to keep going without going out at all.  I'll leave early to pick up Chewlee so it will be light out and I can take my time driving there and back.  Knowing the Beast, he will be going out and picking up extra milk tomorrow so HE will be set.

I didn't get Chewlee this morning because the Princess had an upset digestive tract and couldn't pull herself away from the bathroom for long, if ya know what I mean and I'm sure you do.  But, it seems to have passed by around noon or so and she and Johnnycakes went over to visit a friend this evening.  So I got Chewlee for a couple hours.

She was in a very quiet mood when she first got here and I thought she might have been upset about coming here but she told me she wanted to come to Gramma's house.  She might have been a frustrated Florence Nightingale because she tried to help out Mommy but I guess Mommy told her to watch her DVD's and that would help.  I say that because Chewlee started telling me what she watched.....Cinderella and Snow White.  She told me that there was a bad witch in Snow White and a good one, too.  The bad witch wore black and made these ugly faces (which she illustrated vividly in person).

Papa yelled at her today for being rough with Baron (she was hitting him a bit too hard) and she came in to complain to me that Papa was being mean to her.  Then she went out to tell Papa all about Harley and how he told her to shut her mouth.  Papa didn't hear the name Harley and thought she was accusing HIM of saying that until I explained what he HADN'T heard.  He did admit to me later on that he knows he needs a hearing aid.    I guess all it takes is a little kid. 

Chewlee wanted to watch the new Alice In Wonderland for some reason today and she got upset with me (and with Papa) because we both said NO to her.  Trust me, she's seen it before and it only kept her interested for about an hour and then she got busy doing other things.  The Beast and I find it eminently forgettable.  But, she then tried to bargain with me.  We would finish watching the movie SHE had picked that was on (Madagascar) and THEN we would watch Alice.  I told her I was not bargaining with her and she darn near cried because me AND Papa both said NO to her and she wanted to watch it.  So I told her (figuring it would work) that she could bring it home with her and watch it with her Mommy.  She brightened up and said, *I want to watch it on my Mommy's TV.*  Like it was her idea in the first place....ROFL.

She is totally fascinated with my snowflake ornaments for the front door.  She loves how it changes colors and will turn it on and off after watching it for a while.  She knows if she doesn't turn it off, I won't let her touch it again.  She discovered that my sleep pants have the same (looking) snowman on it  She thinks that's so neat that she constantly has to point it out to me when I am wearing them.  When the Beast came into the room to complain about the weather ahead for us for the week, Chewlee's ears perked up when he said *Snow*.  She got excited and said, *Snow?  Can I go out and play in the snow, Gramma?  Can I?  Pleeeeeze!*  Her face fell when I told her that she wouldn't see any snow until tomorrow so she could ask Mommy then.  But she clapped her hands and told me ... **I am so happy, Gramma.  We are going to have snow for Chewlee to play in.  Aren't you happy?**  I told her that I was happy if she was and I am sure she would have a good time playing in it with her doggy.  She's a malamute and I am sure the dog will enjoy herself for as long as they are allowed to play in it.

How long Chewlee plays in it will be a real eye-opener since she really hasn't gotten to play in snow since she moved here at a little less than 18 months old.  Before that, she was in Florida.  I think they visited Michigan once during the winter but I doubt she remembers.  I just know that Mommy couldn't figure out why anyone would want to live there in the winter. 

I loved the Art Linkletter program that featured kids of different ages and he would ask them different questions.  Their answers were mostly hilarious.  Some were embarrassing for the parents because kids are so honest, even if they do see things differently than it might actually be.  The result of listening to their point of view on things is really eye-opening. 

I've mentioned a lot of things that Chewlee has said over the past year when she's really started talking (and talking and talking.....).  Sometimes I just ask her things to find out what she thinks about it.  Sometimes she just pops up with statements that make me wonder where in the world she got THAT from?  If you have kids or have had them, I'm sure you know what I mean.

For example, Chewlee popped this one on me today.  She was sitting in her booster seat on our way to my house and she said to me, *Gramma, you got to be careful and watch for bushes in the road.*  I told her that bushes don't grow in the road.  When they make the streets we drive on, they make sure all the bushes and trees are gone.  She then said to me, *But, Gramma....bushes are sneaky.  In the winter, they like to surprise you so you gotta watch out!*  Her face was so intent, all I could think was *Where in the hell did THAT come from???*  I assured her that I would and she relaxed.

I knew where her pronouncing that she wanted a baby sister and not a brother came from.  There are two boys in her class that pick on her a lot.  You can tell they like her (and you know how inept boys, especially little ones, are about girls they like) by how they will run up and hug her when she leaves.  But Chewlee won't hug them back because they are always either hitting her or yelling at her.  I tried to tell her that sometimes  that's what little boys do when they like someone.  Her reply?  *Well, that's not nice and I don't like it.*  I told her to tell them that and she shot me such a look that I really almost laughed.  She looked so disgusted.  But, I'll bet you that she DOES tell them that. 

She already has a puppy (a malamute named Bailey) so I asked her why she put a puppy on her list for Santa along with a kitty.  She told me she wanted her OWN puppy because Bailey likes Mommy better than her.  Then she hugged Baron and said, *This is my puppy, too.  Baron loves me.*  I told her, *IF Baron is your puppy, why do you need another puppy?*  Can you guess her answer?  It made me laugh because it is so like any kid.  She said, *Because MY puppy can sleep with ME.*    Why is it that all kids want a dog that sleeps with them?

Today she sat in my lap and told me all about these two boys that kept telling her to *shut up* (and I guess she didn't).  They were on the playground and one boy came over and put his hand over her mouth and pinched her lips shut.  She said, *I know shut-up isn't a bad word but it's not nice.  The teacher made him sit in a corner at the table and he couldn't play.*  She had both her arms crossed across her chest and a really mad look on her face as she was telling me this.  Then she uncrossed her arms and she was happy again.  It made me really realize that even kids have a body language you can read if you watch.

When I put her into her pajamas since she was staying with me while the Princess and Johnnycakes ran some errands.  I wanted her to be ready for bed once they got her home since she was showing me she was tired with little things she was doing.  After hers were on, she told me I had to get MINE on.  I put on my sleep pants and top and then she said, *Why don't you sit in your chair, Gramma, and I will read to you before you go to sleep?  I will get a book out of my toybox amd read to you and then you can go to sleep in your bed.*

I told her that if *I* went to bed, she had to go to bed, too.  When she still wanted to do that, I knew I had her.  I also knew that her mom would be here to pick her up by the time she was done reading her story to me.  (Of course, I let her!  What else do Grandma's do???)  She ran and got her book and proceeded to tell me all about the pictures in the book.  She halfway remembered it from when I was reading it to her almost every day so she did a pretty good job of telling me the story.  Then she leaned back into my shoulder and said, *The end.  All done.*  If I hadn't heard the Princess's voice, she might have fallen asleep then and there.  I got up and sat back at the computer while Chewlee hastily sat in her Dora chair and pretended she didn't know her mother and Johnnycakes were there.  She said to me, *Daddy was mean to me.* 

When I asked her how he was mean, she said, *He told me to shut up and he said it in a mean voice, too*.  I told her that it sounded to me like she had a problem with talking too much.  She said that, when he said it to her, she shut up because his voice sounded so mean.  Having been around Chewlee almost daily, I know how her talkativeness can be annoying at times.  Sometimes, she talks a mile a minute and you can only make sense of half of what she says.  She gets so excited and will suddenly stop and say, *Don't you think so?*  You stand there, dumbfounded, because you have NO idea what she's talking about as she stands there, staring at you and waiting for you to agree with her.  I once said, *I don't know, Chewlee* and she came over, grabbed my head and said, *Say YES, Gramma, say YES*.  All the time she was saying it, she was trying to make my head bob in a yes motion.  So, of course, I shook my head NO until we were both laughing.

She told me today that we were going to have Christmas flowers because some of the flowers underground wake up for Christmas and then she and I have to go out in the yard with our flashlights so we can find them and pick them for presents.  When I said, *Oh, really?  That's a new one on me!*  She grabbed my flashlight, turned it on and grabbed my hand and said, *Come on, Gramma....I'll show you!*  She was all set to take me out in the yard to find the *Christmas flowers*.  I told her it was a little early for them to be out so she pointed the flashlight outside through the door and then said, *They aren't there yet.*  She brightened up a bit and told me that we would check tomorrow, okay?  So, I guess we check again tomorrow. 

Now that the Beast seems to be recovering, I thought I would talk about flu season.  It hasn't even hit fully yet.  As I recall, that will be in January and February.  Since those seem to be guaranteed cold weather with lots of dry heat in homes and close, indoor gatherings having taken place over the Holidays, it's the worst time to get sick but the most common.  That is why I really believe in getting a flu shot.  If nothing else, it helps make it last a much shorter duration and is much milder than it could be.  It doesn't mean you won't get it but so many people end up with pneumonia that haven't gotten one, I'll take the small discomfort of a shot.  This year they are also urging that children get them, too.  It's us old farts and young children that are the most vulnerable and fragile, it seems.

What has interested me is the articles appearing in magazines and in newspapers (I read various newspapers online).  I've read a lot of the health columns and articles about special foods full of good things that help prevent or lessen the effects of flu and colds.  Things like green tea (don't add milk) but do use honey to sweeten and reduce the bitterness.  Since I enjoy green tea, I was interested in the reasons why it's so good.  It seems it helps those good T-cells recognize unwanted *visitors* to your system.  I thought that was interesting and wondered if that was why I don't often get a cold.  I sometimes add green tea along with the normal dejong tea when I make my sweet iced tea during the summer.  I've always known green tea was good for you but, since I read all about it when I was very young, I've never given it another thought. 

If you read any newspaper regularly, you will notice, I'm sure, that more and more articles are appearing related to health in one way or another.  These foods are good; these foods are bad, etc.  Some include recipes that often sound interesting but, I'm sorry, they wouldn't appeal to the Beast at all.  He's still a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy and he likes to be able to recognize what he's eating.    Now we women are more open and adventurous so we will try many things because we are interested in good health.

Since I read most of my *papers* and magazines online, I save many of the recipe links and will try one here and there.  If it's something I like and enjoy, I keep the recipe.  If I don't, it gets deleted.  Right now, the delete is about 50/50 for my trials.  If I like I, I try to get the Beast to try it.  Sometimes he turns up his nose to things because there's rice used in it.  I have no idea why he's like that but he really only likes rice in rice pudding.  He doesn't even use white or brown rice when he has Chinese food.  He will use the chow mein noodles in a can (the crunchy ones) instead.  About the only rice he likes that is NOT pudding is fried rice.

I am happy to report that potatoes are back on the *good for you and healthy, too* menu.  Of course, it's mostly baked ones they talk about...forget the french fries.    What I have discovered that I really like is baked sweet potatoes that I use cinnamon butter on.  So yummy it could almost be dessert.  Actually, you can use margarine if you want to make your own cinnamon spread or *I Can't Believe It's Not Butter* is also good.  My sister's and I have used mashed cauliflower made with cream cheese as a potato substitute.  I found out my little cutie, Chewlee, likes that.  At least, she shared some with me one day when I had heated up some leftover from the previous night for myself.  She doesn't seem to care for mashed potatoes but she sure ate a lot of my mashed cauliflower.  It's very tasty by itself with some salt and pepper or add a little butter or margarine.  I've seen people use them just like mashed potatoes and put gravy over them, too. 

To wrap this up, there are a lot of things you can add to your diet right now to help your body fight off various germs and viruses that will be making the rounds this winter.  Read some of the articles and make sure you add them to your diet if you don't already eat them regularly.  Most are things we use and eat, but some I have used mostly in the summer.  I'll add salmon patties to my list of things to make and even make more tuna salads for us since they both have valuable, even essential. vitamins and antioxidants that we also need.  It's easier (and cheaper) to eat foods that are good for us than to load up on a mess of vitamins and minerals from the health food store. 

Love you all and I wish you a great day because it's FRIDAY!!!!!  HURRAH!!!!!  The end of the normal work week and precursor to the weekend.  Just remember to stay warm.  They are claiming we will have snow showers on Saturday afternoon and early evening then snow that sticks that night as the temperatures drop into the teens. 

Oh, one cute thing I have to tell you (and I relayed it to the Princess so she will see it tomorrow).  Today the teachers helped the little ones make out a list of eight or ten things they want from Santa and it's posted on the walls of the hallway just outside their classrooms.  I read Chewlee's today and had to laugh.  Nothing on her list was a toy....she wanted cereal (??  she must have been hungry when they made the list up), a kitty, a phone (yes, she IS a princess after all) and....get this!....a baby sister!  ROFLMAO!  We talked about that in the car and I asked her why she wanted a baby sister.  She told me she didn't want a baby brother because boys are mean (she has a couple boys in her class that are always pulling her hair or other things that piss her off) and she didn't want to be the baby any more.  I told her if she didn't want to be a baby any more, that was easy.  All she had to do was start going potty ALL THE TIME and get her big girl pants and NO ONE would call her a baby any more.  She looked at me and said, *I think I just want a little baby, Gramma*.

Be careful driving.  Watch out for the other guy, especially on Friday because of those *executive lunches* some people have.  Get some Christmas shopping done this weekend.  There are lots of sales going on right now.  Take advantage. 

When I asked the Princess if she had given notice, she said her manager knew she was leaving when school starts but she will continue until her vacation time kicks in since they owe her for that.  I guess she no longer trusts that they will reimburse her via check for what she is owed after everything that was said earlier (prior to her enrolling in school for the new semester). 

She's been busy, handing out her resumes and not just to other cellular companies, either.  She applied at the hospital for some of the desk jobs offered (no blood involved...LOL).  I guess she's just a teensy bit squeamish about THAT.  Who can blame her?  It's not something she ever considered doing or being around.  She figures a receptionist or other office assistance would work.  She's certainly capable of typing or using many of the programs around.  She's also eminently teachable for even a new system that might be used there. 

She's also applied for sales in other types of retail businesses.  One's she would enjoy, of course.  Like clothing.    And, hey, a discount in an upscale shop for good clothing....sheesh!  It's a dream for a young, attractive woman that likes to look good.  And especially in college.  She loves to shop for bargains on good, name brand clothing as it is.  She amazes me at times how savvy she is that way.  Me?  When I was young, I had four kids and did most of my shopping at resale shops in upscale communities.  Bought myself a great Chanel outfit for just $40 and felt like a million bucks in it, too.  Since I had a job at the time where you were judged as much by your clothes as your knowledge, it was a definite asset. 

That's when I found out a rather sad fact.  In talking with a woman at one of the resale shops that I frequented, when I asked her how come so many of the clothes still had their original tags on them, she told me this:  many of the *rich* women don't ever have CASH on them.  They have plenty of credit cards and their husbands don't care how much they spend on clothes or lunches, etc.  but the lack of cash means the husbands have a type of control you never think about.  They can tell by the bills they get just what their wives are doing and where they are going ALL THE TIME.  It's a type of control that makes many women bristle and buying clothes and then reselling them at a resale shop is their way of feeling THEY have some control.  Sad, isn't it?  I thought so but I helped out by buying many of the said clothes at VERY discounted prices.   That was back in the days when I made big checks but we were buying our first home and doing extensive revamping of it as we had the cash to pay for it all.  Having a mortgage was bad enough without having bills for new carpeting, bathroom remodeling, new appliances, etc.  But, I managed very well and it was fun.

That was when we lived in Southern California (San Diego) and we loved it there.....well, except for the earthquakes.  Those gave me nightmares.  It's a terrible thought that the ground under your feet can't be depended on to stay there.  I had lived through a tornado and a couple hurricanes and I really prefer a hurricane to any of those things, thank you very much.  Why?  Because you have plenty of warning and can get the hell out of Dodge if you want.  Tornadoes?  Nope.  Those you don't have any warning before they hit you...or at least, not much.  You are lucky if you can get into a safer place in the 10 or 15 minutes TOPS warning that you get.  It's even worse for an earthquake.  They hit with NO warning.  At least, not to the public.  Some tech somewhere might have a clue or think one is going to hit but you never hear about it because the chances are so wild and unpredictable that no one wants to stick their neck out. 

Ahhh, those were the days!  I was young, more pliant, very healthy and happy.  But, life has a way of taking much of the joy out of you at times.  You have kids that fight and argue with each other.  You love them all and just want them to be happy but it bothers you when they do things like that.  Especially because family is always there....friends come and go as you go through life.  You should never fight with family.  It just upsets everyone. 

I always try to give my kids their *space* and let them live their lives without any demands.  I don't *demand* that they call every week to check and see how we are doing or if anything new is going on in our lives here.  I don't call them all the time to check on them either.  Mainly because I know they HAVE to live their own lives.  If things get really bad for them or really good, I know I will hear from them.

I also try not to expect them to do *this* or *that* just because *I* think they would be better off or happier.  It's not true and just makes them reluctant to talk to me about anything then.  But do I worry?  Almost constantly.  The only two I don't worry about these days is the Princess and Markus Aurelius and his family.  The Princess because I see her all the time and Markus because I know mostly what is going on with him AND his family.  We chat online a lot and he keeps me informed, as does Cleopatra, his wife.  Although with her, it's mostly stuff I read on her facebook pages.  She also will send me links via an IM for any new pictures of the kids and I enjoy those talks with her because they are usually more informative about the things we *mothers* are concerned with.    Men just don't understand the difference.

Its very cold out here and we've gotten severe weather warnings.  I guess because of how windy it is, the wind chill factor makes it feel like 16 degrees.  That's fahrenheit, not celcius, just so you know.  As the temperature drops here during the night, it will only get worse.  It's going to go up to a high of 45 tomorrow so go figure.  Weird, weird weather we all are having, isn't it?

Love you all and I will close this now and get it posted for later.  Have a wonderful day, ya hear?  If you see someone without a smile today, give them one of yours. 

I'm a bit upset so first, let me say this...this is MY opinion but I think it's important.  AT&T is the Princess's employer.  She has been a top producer for their wireless services for over a year now.  They have sent her to train other employees of stores that have poor sales in how to close sales.  When they need someone to help out in a store with sick employees or a sick manager, they send her to help out until the assistant manager comes in.  She's been a valuable employee all around.

Now AT&T supposedly encourages their employees to further their education and has a tuition payback policy in place. The Princess has been eager to return to college full-time since online courses just don't hack it for her and it's too slow working towards her degree.  She sat down with a counselor at the school she's been attending here since her move and figured out a way she could return full-time and still be able to work at least 32 hours per week.  AT&T considers that part-time and she would lose some of her benefits (like medical) but she was prepared to deal with that. Her manager, who was the past assistant manager, told her originally when approached that she could deal with the Princess's schedule (some of the Princess's classes would be at night after work since they start at 7pm and the store closes at 6pm).  It might have meant giving up her vacation time hour by hour (it's allowed under the new union contract), but it would mean she could work towards her degree faster.

AFTER the Princess had registered and paid her tuition, her manager told her that she couldn't do it after all.  Since she was hired as a full-time person, she would have to remain full-time or find another job.  She even told another management person (I forget who) that the Princess would just have to *reassess* her priorities. 

Now, what she doesn't know is that Johnnycakes and the Princess had already sat down and discussed the situation together.  They figured out that Johnnycakes could manage the bills and the Princess could go ahead and find another job...a part-time one....to pay her car payment and the preschool and it would be workable.  So, what will happen is the Princess will probably go to work for another wireless company and become a star and AT&T will lose a valuable asset.  The Princess has decided she wants to be a teacher of social studies and it's a subject she loved herself in school so she's very motivated. 

It's may not pay as much as other occupations would but I think if it's something she enjoys and looks forward to, she should go for it.  Don't you?  She always found it a fun and challenging subject in school and she always got good grades in it, too.

But....I am just incensed at the blatant misrepresentation of AT&T to their employees.  On one hand, they encourage education but then they refuse to work with good employees to make it possible.  She would be able to be at work at the busiest times and not too long after the store opens by the selection of her class times.  She would be starting school at something like 7 or 7:30 am.  Then working all day and doing homework at night except the one night for the class she has her lab.  SHE is willing to go the distance to make things simpler for her boss on scheduling but they won't budge....even an inch!  I think that sucks and that's the reason for this rant.  Thanks for putting up with it.  I needed to get it off my chest for the Princess's sake and my disappointment with a company I worked for (and believed in) years ago.

Love you all.  More later.

It was cold when I went to pick up Chewlee, the temperature had dropped down to about 30 by then.  But I had the car nice and warm by the time I got to the preschool.  The few minutes it was turned off didn't change that much.  She, as usual, was happy to see me and the teachers think it's so funny how excited she gets.  The teacher was giving the kids some water to drink in little paper cups but Chewlee had told her she didn't want any because she would get chocolate milk at her grandma's.  I laughed and said, *That's what we make as soon as we get to the house.  It's her special treat*.

So, we are driving home and we go over the *Whee! hill* as we call it because I drive fast over the railroad tracks and there's a hill on the other side.  It's not big but it always makes her laugh because it makes your stomach feel like it's lifting inside you.  We pass the *big kids school* (high school) and get to where we turn but it's a red light.  Chewlee knows that a red light means stop and green light means go.  We were sitting there, waiting for the light to turn green when I hear Chewlee say, *C'mon dammit!  Change to green already!*  I really had a hard time not laughing out loud and I tried very hard to suppress even a smile but it DID make me wonder who it was that says that when she's in the car?  Her mother or Johnnycakes?   She made it sound so cute but I told her that *dammit* is not a word that little girls should use.

So then, we get home and I am cutting up apples for canning with Chewlee's help and the Beast is talking to me.  Without thinking, he says *How the hell....* and Chewlee pops up and says, *Papa!  Don't talk like that!  It's not nice.*  He stops and says, *Okay.  I'm sorry.* and gets this smile on his face and I could almost read his mind.  He had really forgotten about her being there (she was so quiet) but she was also so adamant about it.  Later on, when he said, *Dammit....(he was yelling at Baron)*, she just yelled out *Papa!  I told you.....don't talk like that!*  She then looks at me and says, *Papa isn't being nice.*  I told her he was just mad because Baron wasn't behaving.  So she yells out, *Baron!  Be a good doggie!*

She was feeding Baron a few of the apple slices, as well as herself when she dropped a couple of them on the floor.  She looked down where she dropped them and said, *Dammit!  I dropped them.*  I raised my eyebrow and said to her, *What did Gramma tell you about saying that?*  She quickly put her hand to her mouth with a surprised look on her face and said, *Oops.  I forgot.  I sorry, Gramma!*  When I smiled and laughed, she knew she was forgiven and she told Baron to go ahead and eat the apples.  Since he was already over there, doing just that, it was kind of unnecessary but she was happy.  She patted Baron on the head, hugged his neck and gave his head a kiss and told me that Baron was being good now. 

When I put the apples on to cook, we came into the computer room so she could watch her programs while she had her chocolate milk.  When Johnnycakes came to pick her up, she ignored him at first because her Dora program was only about halfway done.  When we finally got her into her jacket, she told me I had to turn OFF Dora and she stood at the door to make sure I did.  I guess I can't watch HER programs unless she is here. 

The Beast seems much better today than he has been.  At least he was up more than he was sleeping although he fades fast but that's kind of normal for him.  He actually made some great Northern bean soup and later, some corn muffins.  Add some nice chopped raw onion and it was an incredibly filling dinner.  I think we are going to be very gassy tomorrow.    I can hardly wait!  I told the Beast to make sure he didn't give any to the dog because HE doesn't need any.  His farts are AWFUL as it is.

The apple pie filling came out really tasty so all I have to do is can it tomorrow and put it up until I use it.  I have more apples to get ready but I told the Beast I will probably make either apple butter or apple sauce out of it.  I have to wait and see how I feel.  They are both easy and we like both.  It just makes a difference in whether I can them in pint or quart jars.  Apple butter goes in pint jars, just like jam and jelly.  The pie filling is going into quart size.  If it doesn't fill a pie well, then I'll just add some of the regular apple I normally have in the house or use the plain canned apple I canned a couple weeks ago.

But, when we got back to my house and she was settled in front of the TV in her Dora chair next to mine, she looked at me with a sad face.  She said to me, *I'm not a princess, Gramma.*  I asked her why she thought she wasn't a princess and she said to me in a sad voice, *I don't have ice skates.  I only have shoes!* as she lifted her foot to show me that's what she had on.  I laughed and told her that she could be a princess without having ice skates but I don't think she really believed me.  I had to give her a hug and some kisses and tickles before she stopped being sad over her loss.    Gotta love how kids can think!

I'll bet, however, that the next time she watches one of the Disney *princess* movies, she will look to see if they are wearing ice skates.  Knowing Chewlee, that is when she will finally believe me. 

Today I woke up feeling very energetic.  I even made breakfast....hash browns, eggs and toast.  The Beast, who thought he was feeling better, ate about half an egg and half a piece of toast and started looking green.  He apologized as he made his way back to bed because he felt, if he didn't, he was going to barf.  He laid down and slept another two and a half hours.    He did make an effort to do a few things around here that needed doing but just wasn't up to it.  The only real thing he accomplished was taking the dog to the park and letting him run (while he sat in the car with Baron nervously running back and forth because he probably was afraid the Beast was going to drive off without him...LOL).  The Beast is back to feeling chills but he has no fever.  His coughing is less frequent, however, so I do think he IS getting better, albeit slowly.

In the meantime, I got the guest bedroom back in shape after changing the sheets and pillowcases when I noticed Baron had been on the bed again and it was just full of dog hair.  Ticks me off when I have a white spread on it.  I yelled at the Beast about keeping the door shut if he wasn't going to keep Baron from jumping on the bed when he went into the room.  I showed him all the hair and told him I had washed it all after Sheepie left and thought I was done with it until Christmas but, NO!    This time I was smart and didn't have the comforter folded down.  I made up the bed fully and then put a lightweight comforter OVER it all to keep it clean.  I was really annoyed because he can't seem to make Baron stay off the bed and that is HIS constant companion.  I'm not going to be constantly jumping up and down to check on just where the dog is and what he's doing....not any more. 

So, I wash the spread and the pillow cases (again!), remake the bed and then try to take a little nap.  Ah, but such was not to be.  I actually had to put my phone next to me because I started getting phone calls.  The doctor's office to remind me that the Beast has another appointment to see the doctor and when; my eye doctor's office to relay the message that I need to set up an appointment for my eyes (the surgeon needs to check on the state of my implants); the Beast's insurance agent who wants to come over and check on his supplemental insurance needs; you get the picture.  I finally gave up the idea of a nap entirely.  *Sigh*  I guess I will just go to bed early tonight.  Won't hurt me any, that's for sure.

Baron got very nervous last night a short time after I went to bed.  The Beast raised up and said, *Did you hear that?* just as Baron started barking and growling in a very menacing way.  He didn't stop and I finally said to the Beast, *Think I should go and turn on all the outside lights?*  The Beast said, *No need.  I have the rifle right here.   If it's something other than an animal, and they try coming into the house after hearing Baron, they deserve to be shot just for being stupid.*  I laid down and went to sleep.  He was right.  Baron kind of wound down his barking to different pitches of growling and finally came back into the room and lay down on the bed again.  I was asleep shortly thereafter.  When I got up this morning, I told the Beast, *If you go outside at any time today, take a look around just to see if there's any sign that someone was prowling or up to something.*  I don't think he did because it was so cold and extremely windy today but there's nothing obvious.  I'm assuming it was an animal prowling around.  Lord knows we have enough of those around here.  Raccoons, possums and rabbits are most abundant, along with field and those kangaroo mice.  We used to see deer on occasions but that was mostly during the spring.  I think they are all hiding right now.  "Tis the season, after all. 

Oh, and so far, the Beast has not gone hunting so what was the point of all this expense.  I swear, he got sick so he would have an excuse NOT to have to get up before the crack of dawn.