TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Chewlee was really funny today.  Her little tidbits weren't gut wrenching, just short little bursts like, when I objected to her coloring in the Christmas tree I had drawn for her, she said, *But that tree is for ME, Grandma,NOT YOU.  And I like it all black.*  Even Buttmunch almost fell into the room as she was walking by and heard that.  She had a whole bunch of little observations she kept throwing at us, here and there.  She thanked Sheepie for peeling her tangerine at lunchtime because she could only peel it in tiny pieces and it took her too long.  She then said, *When it takes too long, I don't even want it any more.*

I was brushing her hair (it was just messy because she had a bath just an hour or two beforehand), when she turned to me and said, *Grandma....you need to brush it HERE (as she pointed to the opposite side of her head from where I had started brushing).  My hair thinks you don't care how you are brushing it and it's going to get mad and tangle if you don't do it right.*

At one point, I got annoyed at the fact that she wasn't putting on her shoes before her mother got here to pick her up after work (early night for closing).  I said I was going to leave a note for Santa to tell him she wasn't being good.  She turned to me and said, *I'm going to tell him that you are just saying that to get me in trouble and then YOU will be in a LOT of trouble with Santa.*  When I told her that Santa only came to the houses with kids, she looked at me so sad and said, *Doesn't he like OLD people??*  What a kid....**smack!**

After Chewlee left, Buttmunch got some lights up on the front porch and we got some of the inside decorations going for us.  It feels much more festive now.  I was ready to throw out the old ham from the fridge when Buttmunch yelled at me to save the bone.  I told her I would have a bone with this new ham so she said, *Well, freeze it and I'll take it home with me.*  The Beast told her to come and take the whole section left, get it wrapped up and in the freezer for herself.  She was on her feet and it was taken care of in two shakes of a lamb's tail.  Guess the added meat with it will help flavor a soup or two.

I did Buttmunch's hair today.  It kind of surprised me how much gray she has in her hair.  You can check mine out and I don't have all that much.  I think it's the kids with the darker heads of hair that seem to head towards silver fastest.  She wants her hair to be totally gray/silver/white before she stops dyeing it.  I can understand that.  It's what the Beast's Aunt Donna did.  Once her hair showed up totally white at the roots, she no longer dyed it.  When it grew out several inches, she had it cut in a flattering style and never again was she anything but white haired.  I was born a blonde, I will die a blonde.  I hope.  Guess it depends on when and where I am when that happens.  If I am senile and in an old folks home, well, c'est la vie!  The best I can hope for is that it won't look bad.

Busy day tomorrow for us.  We'll be getting up early to put things together to get ready for the oven.  Boy, would I love one of those double oven stoves, even if it DID mean losing out on that storage drawer.  It would just make preparation a bit easier since we have so many things that need to go into the oven....and not all at the same temperatures.  *Sigh*  I know, I know....we all have the same things to contend with.  WE learn, we make do.  We adjust.

Buttmunch and I are sharing a nice bottle of sweet red wine that the BF picked up for us.  He forgot to get my Mudslide BEFORE he went to the family gathering tonight so his family could all see the ring he had given to Sheepie and congratulate the newly engaged couple.  I find talking to them about marriage easy since I am so matter of fact that it can't happen until he is out of college in a year and a half or so.  I think it's actually two more years with his schedule of taking the various classes he had to take.  You can't always take 16-18 credit hours a semester.  Some courses are HARD and you can't take more than one of those at a time.  At least, you try NOT to.

I told the BF, you sure don't want to have to move in with your folks as a newlywed before graduation so it's a good thing you two don't live closeby.  They both laughed but I am pretty sure they both knew how I meant that.  No surprises, guys....no surprises.

Love you all.  I'm exhausted and Baron's farting woke me out of a sound sleep three times last night.  I reached the point that I was afraid to fall asleep again because I came so close to barfing the third time.  I finally got up and read news online until it got light.  I slept in my recliner then for about 3 hours and had just woken up when Chewlee was here.  Sheepie was funny because she was so anxious to see Chewlee enjoy the pj's she bought her that she had wrapped them and then told Chewlee if she was good taking her nap, she could open ONE present afterward.  The present was, of course, said pajamas.  She was right.  Chewlee did and does love them.  I don't think she would have taken them off if we had begged her. 

 MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.....AND TO ALL...A GOOD NIGHT!!!!!! 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Sheepie was out finishing up her Christmas shopping (such as it was) today and I gather the BF had a surprise.  At one point he feigned hearing something wrong with his tires, pulled over at a safe spot and got out of the car.  He came around and asked Sheepie to get the flashlight and, when she got out of the door to give it to him, he was down on his one knee, asked her to marry him and had the ring in his hand.  She didn't know whether to laugh or cry but she just HATES surprises like that.  She did, however, accept his proposal.  The ring is modest but lovely.  Buttmunch is not happy about it all.  I know what it is.  She thinks Sheepie is too young and, of course, she is.  I have news for you.  Damn near any age under 40 is too young!  Okay...maybe 35.  But there will be at least two years before that marriage can take place so there is a lot of time for counseling and rethinking things.  Also more life experience.  Maybe not as much as you would like to see them have but better than nothing.  The fact that they live 5-1/2 hours of driving (or more) away from each other helps.  Absence may make the heart grow fonder but it also is a natural form of birth control, too.    I BAD.

We had Chewlee here all day.  Johnnycakes was supposed to come and get her after he finished sleeping and then doing his last minute shopping.  But, of course, he never did show up although the BF says he could have because his father ran into him and I guess he was just hanging around some bar or other.  I could be wrong about that.  It just shows that he really doesn't shive a git about me or anything *I* might want to do without her being underfoot.  Tomorrow is going to be very busy for us all here and we will, once again, have her all day.  I'm praying for good weather and that the batteries in her leap frog Ipad thingy don't wear down. 

I have to tell you that the Leap Frog (it has removable game *disks*) thing she has is absolutely adorable and educational.  She can even take pictures and videos on it.  As I looked over the one disk she had in it, I realized that it actually was preparing her for using Photo Shop later on down the line.  Incredible.

Time to wrap things up here and finishing wrapping things up for under the tree, too.  Oh, not MY stuff....that's taken care of but Sheepie has a few things she needs to wrap now.  Love you all.  Have a fantastic day and no swearing at any *forgotten* last minute items.  We all do that. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Chewlee got home around 3pm today and the Princess brought her right over so she could see and greet everyone plus spend a little time with us all.  Tara arrived around the same time so it was kind of a laugh fest going on here.  Chewlee came rushing into my room to give me a hug and a kiss and tell me she had missed me.  I told her I had missed her, too.  She also gave her mother multiple hugs and told her that she had been a *little* sad but her *Papa* (the paternal one) had been good to her.  She showed me the sneakers she had and informed us that they were *climbing* sneakers so she could climb really good now. 

She was, as I knew she would be, very interested in the gifts under and around the tree here.  Her mother informed her that she had two more days to wait and, on the second day, she would get to open ONE present before she went to bed and that Santa would come while she was sleeping to deliver her presents.  When she asked her if she had been good or bad,Chewlee actually stopped to think about it and then decided she had been good.  We just laughed.

After her mother left to go to work, Chewlee started nagging me about opening up presents and I told her NO...not until Sunday!  She got this sad look, looked out the window at our overcast and rainy day and said, *Grandma, I don't think I can wait until it's sunny!*  Guess she heard *sunny*, not Sunday.

She grabbed up this small box from under the tree and brought it in to me.  She was shaking it and she said, *Grandma, why did you put rocks in here?*  I just laughed and told her to put it back, that it wasn't for her unless she WANTED rocks.  When she put it back, she picked up another box and shook it.  She brought it over to her Aunt Buttmunch and said, *What's in here?* and shook the box.  Buttmunch took the box, shook it and said, *Rocks!*  I wish you could have seen Chewlee's face.  She knows that SOMEONE here is getting rocks for a gift.

She got really excited when Sheepie came in.  Sheepie wasn't here when Chewlee first got here.  The Princess didn't tell her that Sheepie was here and knew it would be a total surprise to her although she had been told over a week ago.  That's just how long kids memories can be except....she always asks about her when she sees her picture on my wall  That is HER cousin.  Sheepie had been running some errands for the BF's mother with him and she needed to pick up something for her mother, too. 

One of the first things Sheepie did was put Chewlee in the tub.  It looked like the grandfather hadn't washed her hair for the week he had her.  She got that taken care of, then she got her some clean clothes from the drawers, brushed her hair and semi-dried it, braided it and they were both happy as larks.  It's so cute to watch that interaction.  Sheepie will be 18 in January.  Chewlee will be 5 in May.  It's like Sheepie is her big sister.  Very cute.

It rained here all day so my house lights didn't get put up.  I still have hope if the weather clears.  I will keep my fingers crossed.  Chewlee just loves anything that feels like Christmas.  She saw some of my garland and wants to put it up with me.  We will do that tomorrow morning (her school is closed) when the Princess drops her off. 

Well, I have wrapped all the *rocks* now and found boxes for the things I have to mail off or send with Buttmunch when she heads home on New Year's Day.  Love you all.  Hope you are ready now for Sunday.  The Princess said she had a hard time finding places to hide Chewlee's presents that Santa will be bringing her.  She said she didn't dare leave them under the tree or she could see Chewlee driving her nuts over that.  I figure I will tell her that Santa only visits homes with kids, not old people and that's why I have gifts under my tree already.  I'll let her think about that.  Meantime, try to enjoy the next few hectic days. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

If there's one thing I am learning, it's that some of the traditions I started a long time ago, the kids just won't let me drop or *forget* about.    For example, my nut cups.  Now it's the grandkids that won't let me forget.  In fact, they volunteer to make them for me as long as I direct.  Hey, can't argue with that, can we?  Sheepie and her BF did the deed for us today.  We have to send some home to the BF's mother because she's hooked on them, too.  As I am writing this up, they are filling the *cups* and the oven is preheated and ready.  In just 28 minutes, they will be ready to take out to cool down before they get their dusting of confectioners sugar and are ready to devour.  They are NOT miniature pecan pies, trust me on that.  But, for people who aren't crazy about pecan pies, these are usually liked much better.  I know people have always asked me to bring them to parties.  They are labor intensive but sooooo delish!

I'm not sure at what time I will or will not get Chewlee.  I am hoping the Princess will at least stop by with her so that everyone can see her.  I've missed her sweet little face.  The Beast and Buttmunch were actually talking about putting the lights on the house.    I think Buttmunch might just have said she would do the job as long as he helped feed her the lights.  I told her the hooks for the gutter are on the lights already so it should be easy.  Won't that be a treat for Chewlee!  Isn't it kids that really make Christmas?  Why else do we decorate?  It's sure not for our neighbors.

My brother had this wreath made up for those of us that had homes from the pine cones off my dad's summer home after he died.  It's showing it's age now but still looks good enough to put up.  I will probably be co-mingling my own pine cones with it this year once Christmas is over where the pine cones have gotten a bit shabby looking.  I don't think Dad would mind.  That will be coming out of the attic and go up on my front door tomorrow when they take down the outside lights that haven't been used in almost five years.  I wonder how many of the bulbs will need replacing?

It got really warm today.  It was supposed to rain but didn't.  It felt much warmer than the 63 degrees that Weatherbug said it was outside but there was no breeze to speak of.  That may have helped.  Sheepie said it felt almost like shorts weather.    Good thing she didn't have any with her. 

Have to cut this short.  We have to go check on the first batch now.  Be good and have a little fun. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

In talking with Bratfink last night, she told me one of her long-time online friends had written to her and begged her to start blogging again.  If you were fans of her blog, you will understand why.  Bratfink has always had an unusual eye for the world and it's people.  She's naturally funny (often without meaning to be) and she made you feel grateful for the family familiar to YOU.  What she did was tell her friend a very definite NO and she gave her MY blog link.  She told her she is often mentioned (why not?  She IS my sister after all) and that is the best she can do for her.

I told her that I was sure her friend would be disappointed.  I am not naturally funny.  My blog is primarily about the foibles of the Beast, Baron the dog and also the chronicles of life with Chewlee (my great-granddaughter and love of my life).  To all of Bratfink's former readers, let me tell you that *I* have tried many times to get her to start blogging again.  We talk pretty much on a daily basis online and I know she has some funny things going on at her house.  Many are just the antics of the animals, some are antics of the Boy but she doesn't want it to ever seem like she is bashing him.  I can understand that because he is, after all, EXTREMELY good to her and worries about her constantly, poor guy.  He has witnessed the demise of his immediate family (brother, mother) in the past couple of years.  So very sad.  He and Bratfink have been the best and closest of friends for many years now and, if he lost her for ANY reason, I'm sure it would completely devastate him.  So *I* at least love him for how he cares for Bratfink. 

I am sorry I'm not one of those people with a comedic slant on life or easily amused.  I've lived with one of the worst types of men for many years now.  He's slowly drained away much of my natural joy.  At least my Chewlee does make me laugh with her odd way of looking at life and her opinions she's developed in her four and a half years of life.  She's funny without meaning to be and she makes me laugh.  How can you not love a kid like that, I ask you?  I wish I had a couple more of her around.

So I issue an apology to those that come here expecting me to be as funny as Bratfink was.  It ain't gonna happen, folks!  I am me and she is she.  But I will, occasionally, let you know what she's doing so you will know she is alive and (sometimes) cranky.  As for her, I have no idea why she would think this is a good alternative to HER blog but, thanks anyway, Sis.  I love ya!

Love you all and get the last of those gifts wrapped and ready.  Check your list.  Make sure you aren't missing someone on it (I found I was a gift short, can you believe it????).  Oh well.  I am ready now!  We did the shopping for Sunday's meal today and will spend the next couple of days getting things ready so we can eat early.  It seems a few of our guests will have more than one meal to attend that day...  Watch out while driving and don't drink and drive. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

While Sheepie was getting ready to go to the golf course with her boyfriend this morning, we started talking about gifts for others for Xmas.  While doing that I suddenly sat up straight and realized I slapped my forehead when I realized I had forgotten a couple gifts.  DUH!  Since Sheepie and BF were going to Walmart for me after the golf course (she had to go there for her mother, Buttmunch, too), I added what I wanted (and how much to spend) to my list.  I couldn't believe that I would have so many things in mind for months and still end up forgetting two gifts.  Sheesh.  Guess it's old age after all.

I've been a little upset with the stuff I ordered from Amazon.  Everything was supposedly in stock and I requested that they be sent in as few packages as possible.  Amazon said on their website that if I ordered anything in stock on that day, I would receive it within three business days.  Well, guess what?  I am getting them in FOUR different shipments, which ups the cost of what I am paying for postage.  I've received three of the four so far and, hopefully, will receive the last one from that order tomorrow.  And that package was shipped before the package I got today.  Go figure.  Nothing I ordered weighed a lot.  The two Pet Pillows had to be both the biggest and the heaviest of everything.  I ordered a few dvd's today as kind of *extras* for the family's enjoyment and asked for two day shipping on them so I can have them by Friday.  The shipping cost me almost as much as the (on sale) dvd's did!  Incredible!

The Beast (who always indulges himself) received his new Garmin today.  Let me tell you this.  They have REALLY come down in price and this one has lifetime updates included in the cost.  I have to admit, it was totally reasonable and, when he opened it, I said, cheerfully, *Merry Christmas!*  He just laughed.  I DID get him something as a last minute thought.  I told you he bought  himself a camo robe, right?  So, I had Sheepie pick up a pair of camo pajama bottoms.  I KNEW they would have them.  All the men (and boys) here love it so you can find it year 'round.  That will be my little joke gift to him.  I love to try to give him at least one since he's so *bah! humbug!* at this time of year.

Buttmunch got the little purple tree up today.  We will get the ornaments on it tomorrow after Sheepie gets my container of them down from the attic.  She volunteered to get the stuff up there down.  The Beast says he wants to get all the stuff up there moved out to the cottage/shed anyway.  I hope that Sheepie's BF will help move some of the boxes and stuff (after I empty them) out there so it's not cluttering the garage until after the Holidays.

It does look like we will have the house decorated for when Chewlee gets back home.  I only have a couple more of her gifts to wrap and then I won't have to worry about anything except keeping her from opening all the gifts.  I decided I am going to wrap all her presents in the same paper since I think I have enough to complete the job.  The BAD part of that idea is that she might think all of the presents wrapped with it are hers.  Hmmm.  Maybe it's NOT a good idea.  Oh well.  I'll decide tomorrow.

Sheepie and BF volunteered to make our Christmas batch of nut cups tomorrow.  That will keep them busy for a while.  I have to make out a list of things to buy for our dinner for the Beast so if I am short of any ingredients, he can pick them up.  Maybe I can talk Buttmunch into helping me make some of our spritz cookies that we use the *shooter* for.  Those are always fun and I have a couple different kind of sprinkles we can use, too.  It's beginning to feel a lot more like Christmas around here.  **Grin**  My only regret is that neither Mustachio nor Marcus Aurelius and his family will be able to join us.  Hopefully, we will have many other years for that.  Hopefully.

Love you all.  Hope you are not some of the unfortunates stuck in the heavy snows out west and in the great plains areas.  We went through that stuff twice early in our married years.  Scary stuff.  Try to relax and enjoy the Holidays.  It's a wonderful time of year. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Today Sheepie and Buttmunch arrived.  The Beast ended up going with Baron to pick them up from the bus station in Huntsville.  I had a very bad night and hadn't been able to sleep at all due to various *things* happening with my poor left leg.  I was exhausted and still tried to get a few things done to help the Beast out.  He moved out some of the wash that is still waiting to be done that belongs to the Princess and Chewlee.  I can't help out there because we are TOTALLY OUT of spare hangers and there is no more drawer space here either.  At least Buttmunch and Sheepie have room to move around in the guest room.  I told the girls that Chewlee had helped make up the bed and they laughed because they said the little Cinderella pillow and the baby doll were pretty much a clue.

They had stopped at Publix on their way back here.  No slippers.  The Beast said the store manager told him they didn't get any of them this year for some reason.  **Cry**  **Cry**  Oh well.  C'est la vie!  They also brought home a coconut custard and a cherry pie.  We pretty much decimated the coconut cream already and we sat drinking coffee or milk and talking at the kitchen table.  The Beast then even ate a piece of fruit cake .  Sheepie was in taking a shower because she was expecting the boyfriend to come to pick her up shortly. 

We spent a good hour and a half or more just catching up on things and telling Buttmunch some of the funny things that Chewlee had done or tried to do to Baron.  I hadn't gone with the Beast to pick up the girls mainly because, at some point in the afternoon, I had finally fallen asleep so the Beast didn't wake me.  He knew how tired I was (and still am).  Buttmunch was really tired because the ride here took longer than normal.  They ended up having an extra hour and a half layover in Nashville that they hadn't planned on.  And, like Buttmunch says, it's not like those waiting rooms are comfortable.  They say they were never told WHY the delay but they think that one of the buses broke down on the road and it was the one they were supposed to tranfer onto.

Time to gol  Love you all.  Have a great last few days before Christmas! 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

The Beast finished up the floors today and I cleared and cleaned the counter tops and the stove.  The poor stove needed some of the cleaner/polish you use for the new flat top stoves.  The Beast has seen me use it dozens of times but....does it mean he thinks of it when he has some spillover that has crusted and/or burned on the surface?  Of course not.  He's a typical man.

The floors look wonderful but the Beast was upset to notice that walking in and out of the bedroom had dragged some dirt and other *stuff* out of there and onto the living room floorl

I also kept wrapping presents and only have those for Marcus Auerelius's family to do now.My son, Mustachio, called and said he wouldn't be able to make it down because he still hadn't found a car he liked well enough to overpay forl  His current vehicle (Ford Bronco) is one step from a metal cube).  But he's not discouraged.  Every day he thinks he may find one that will work for him.

It's not enough that I have the foot pains, today my sciatica kicked up and is really making my left leg hurt from butt to thigh to knee.  Owie.  I'm still having problems with my internet connection because of the weather so I am going to post this shortie for you all.  Hope you had a great day.  Have an even better Monday everyone! 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Everyone should be happy to hear that I am much, much better.  At least as far as the tummy troubles go.  But I was able to grit my teeth and move around more and get a few things done.  The Beast got ambitious and decided he was going to move the furniture and get rid of any cobwebs, etc. and them mop and wax the floors.

I suggested he pull up the throw rugs and throw them in the washer.  They really need it even if it's just to get rid of the dog hairs.  I made us dinner for a change.  Not the greatest because both the Beast and I were egg hungry.  I fried up some sausage (we like the hot variety) and fried the eggs while the Beast took care of the toast.  The Beast has never been able to fry an egg without breaking the yoke.  At least, not unless there's a lot of grease in the skillet.  Has anyone else noticed that even BACON doesn't seem to have a lot of grease these days?  I know the sausage didn't have much at all but I fried the Beast's eggs first so he got the benefit of what grease there was.  He loves greasy foods, eggs included.  I had a nonstick pan so I had no problems with mine once I scraped the sausage *leavings* away from where I was going to put my eggs.  Anyway, dinner for us was very satisfying.  Baron was upset that we didn't leave anything on our plates for him, though.

I started wrapping the gifts I have for the family, although some of the presents won't arrive until next week but the girls gifts will at least be wrapped before we pick them up.  I got a box from Bratfink today and it almost made me cry.  She and the Boy can be so generous.  The Boy had found these sox at Walmart that are infused with aloe.  I've had so much trouble with dry skin on my feet that the idea appealed to me.  However, the Beast couldn't find them at our Walmart.  He hadn't gone to the one in Boaz that probably has lots of them and it's a good thing!  She sent me 8 pairs!    Plus two pair of gloves that are also infused with aloe.  Gotta love her.  It is such a sweet gift. 

She also sent me the complete collection of the Godfather movies.  It's just like the one she has so we may be watching it together even though we are apart.  We do that occasionally.  And....there was a nice gift of five kids movies she sent to Chewlee.  I am wrapping them for Chewlee to open on Christmas.  She will be so excited.  She loves her Auntie Bratfink because she sends her the movies because she loves her (that's what I told her with the first gifts she was sent by Bratfink).  She's never met her but she *knows* her.  She's seen a picture of her and can pick her out in other pictures but I wonder what she would do if she finally got to meet her in person. 

I sent for the Harry Potter game of Deathly Hallows part 1 so that I can give them to Tara's boys.  Since it has two parts and I accidentally bought the second one, I figured it should have both games for them to really enjoy playing it.  I just hope they like it.  I'm not going to say what I got for the others since they sometimes get online and catch up on news they missed.

My poor baby son, Marcus Aurelius, felt bad because I hadn't invited him for Christmas.  It wasn't that I didn't want him but his wife recently had to have a hysterectomy and is recovering now at home.  I knew he would have to take care of her and the household so I didn't ask him because I knew it wasn't possible.  He said it would have been nice to have been asked even so.  I apologized, of course, and told him he never needed an invitation to come.  He was always welcome.  I love you, son.  **Hugs**  **Kisses**

Oh, the Beast is now working on the floors.  I can smell the cleaner we use.  After the floor dries, he will use Mop and Glow on the floors.  I don't think you are supposed to use any waxy products but it does make the floors look fantastic.  If we pay for it down the line, Oh well!

Love you all.  Have a fantastic weekend.  Get things done.  Decorations up.  Tree in place and decorated.  Gifts under the tree.  All that good stuff. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

I have no idea what got into the Beast today but he decided to help me out with the wash today.  He actually FINALLY believes that my feet are causing me major problems and I need the help.  He got everything in the washer and then the dryer.  He hung up what needed hanging up but I got to fold everything.  Everything means I did the underwear (mostly his), the tshirts, the towels and dishrags, Chewlee's clothes, his mound of socks, sheets, etc.  He made one mistake but I can fix that and restore the white that is currently blue.    He washed all the new tshirts and underwear he had bought for himself.  He really needed that but now he needs to go through all the underwear in his drawer and get rid of the worst of it.

I'm still not feeling well.  But, I have only barfed once today so that's a plus.   But I am at least able to eat something and keep it down.  I've just been cautious about what I choose to eat.  Anything greasy makes my tummy revolt.  I expect that I will be getting better from this point.  I'm kind of grateful that I won't have Chewlee for a few days.  First of all, I don't want her to get sick if this is something *catchy*.   She wears me down when she's here just with how active she can be.  But I will miss her because she is so cute and funny without realizing it.  I love to talk with her and see how her mind works.  She has her own opinions about many things and you can't shake her convictions.  All you can do is say, *Well, wait and see.  You might find out differently when you get older.*

I've been thinking a lot about mortality lately.  I guess we all do when you've been suffering for any length of time.  Be it an illness or injury, it wears you down little-by-little.  It makes me angry that we don't have any control over when we die.  Our medical know-how hasn't reached the stage where it can prolong life except for curing various ills that were once fatal.  But, I know in my heart that we will reach for and actually reach the stars in the future and I want to be there to see it happen.  It angers me and also makes me sad that I won't be here to see it happen. 

I've seen so much technology in my short life and I saw when man stepped foot on the moon.  Amazing.  Incredible.  And just a first step.  Next stop....Mars.  After that, who knows what technology might uncover.  Using wormholes to move from one point in the universe to another?  If you can imagine it, someone might actually find ways to make it happen.  How I would love to be around to see it all.  The best I can hope for is that I will be reborn at some future date but I won't truly be ME.  I will be a new spirit in a new situation.  I can pray that I maintain this curiosity and the desire to be a part of it all.

But I am not gloomy, don't worry.  I want to outlive the Beast so that gives me the drive to keep going and try to overcome the pain and other problems.  I love my life minus the present problems I am experiencing.  I will heal, I'm sure.  IF the neuropathy doesn't get better, well, I will just have to make adjustments.  I don't have any endurance but I am working on that, little-by-little.  It took time for me to lose it when I first hurt myself so I know it will take time to get it back.

I'm having some problems with my internet today due to storm clouds so I think it's time to get this posted.  Love you all and I wish you a wonderful Holiday season.  Merry Christmas to all.