Neither Gone nor Forgotten, Thank You

Thanks for your various inquiries into my well-being, etc. I truly appreciate those who have missed me.

I'm posting this from my church's computer. Someone, who unfortunately is anonymous, has sent me something that contained a Trojan Horse virus. I suspect it was through my Outlook email, which is currently unavailable to me -- blocked off completely by my antivirus program. Where was this wonderful program when the nasty thing came into my inbox? Inquiring minds want to know. I've run a complete virus scan on my hard drive twice, and something is still sitting there, gloating over my distress.

Although my computer has not "crashed," all is NOT well. I'm trying to preserve those of my photographs which had not yet made it to the flash drive, and can only hope that is successful. Unless some computer guru (which I cannot afford to pay at present) can successfully remove the whateveritis, I fear that my hard drive will have to be reformatted. I HATE THAT! (please excuse my shouting, but I feel it is warranted in this particular case.)

Other than having computer problems at home, I've been busy with year end church work which will soon come to an end.

I'll try to post to the blog when I can have access to someone else's computer, so posting will most likely be sporadic until my mess is cleared up.

As a famous general once said (and I DO know who it was) "I shall return."

More, later... probably much later.

When Icicles Hang by the Wall

When the weather gets really cold, some of the first phrases that come to my mind  are "milk comes frozen home in pail," and "greasy Joan doth keel the pot."  Some English Lit. teacher in my long ago past must have caused these particular words to take up (what seems to be permanent) residence in a deep recess of my brain, only to be called to the fore when the temperature drops below a given level.

No doubt about it, it is bitterly cold, but here in central Arkansas it's almost balmy compared to other parts of the nation and the world.  Where are my English/Welsh/Scot genes when I need them?  They kick in ferociously during the summer when I go into melt-down when it hits 80 degrees, but do they lift a (figurative) finger to assist me when it gets cold?  No!  I'm wearing enough layers of clothing inside the house to add another 10 pounds to my frame, and I bundle up like Nanook of the North when I venture into the yard to refill the bird feeders. 

Despite some precautions (not enough, as it turned out) to keep my water pipes from freezing, I had no hot water in bathroom, kitchen or laundry room until around noon today.   Why is it that hot water pipes will freeze before those carrying cold water?

Since I do not relish making my morning (or any other time) ablutions in water just above the freezing point, I shall face the prospect of having a higher water bill by leaving water running at more than just a drip, drip, drip tonight. There are other preventive measures I can take, also, and those will be done. Let's hope it works.

I leave you with these words (they had just as well be stuck in your brain as mine):

 

"When icicles hang by the wall

And Dick the shepherd blows his nail,

And Tom bears logs into the hall,

And milk comes frozen home in pail;

When blood is nipt and ways be foul,

Then nightly sings the staring owl

Tuwhoo! Tuwhit! Tuwhoo! A merry note!

While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.

When all aloud the wind doth blow,

And coughing drowns the parson's saw,

And birds sit brooding in the snow,

And Marian's nose looks red and raw;

When roasted crabs hiss in the bowl

Then nightly sings the staring owl

Tuwhoo! Tuwhit! Tuwhoo! A merry note!

While greasy Joan doth keel the pot."

---- Love's Labour's Lost, V, ii - Wm. Shakespeare

Not My Fireside, I'm Sorry to Say

I took this photo on the evening of New Year's Day last year at Gardening Daughter's home.  I could have used some of this pretty, warm wood fire last night since my cold has reactivated itself -- or I have a entirely new affliction. Bah!!  I can't seem to get warm, despite the consumption of hot beverages and wearing both a sweatshirt and a sweater with my warmest jeans.

I had been invited by Gardening Daughter's husband to join the family for a traditional black-eyed peas and cornbread  supper,  but rather than spread germs, I stayed at home and nursed myself with a big bowl of extra-spicy chili con carne.   In the making of the chili, I used some of my hot New Mexico chile powder to stoke up the heat a bit, which I hope will be effective in relieving some of my symptoms. I absolutely believe in the germ theory of disease, and I was in the company of several folks who had colds earlier this week.  I should have known those pesky critters would take up residence in my airways (the germs, not the folks.)

While under self-imposed house arrest, I did manage to get a number of necessary chores accomplished, such as finally clearing away all the Christmas wrapping paper, tape and ribbons from the kitchen table (the largest flat surface I have). It's nice to see a clear table top again.   In addition to making the pot of chili, I also employed my bread machine to turn out a loaf of Portugese White Bread, which will make dandy toast to have with my tea this morning.

Although I'm not gainfully employed anymore,  I think it must be nice for a legal holiday to fall on a Friday, thus giving most folks a three-day weekend. 

New Year's Day is also my baby sister's birthday.  Her husband always makes it an extra special day, and I know that both of their children were there to celebrate the day with her;  I wish I could have been there, too.

 More, later.

Happy New Year, Earthlings

I bring you greetings...

... and heartfelt wishes for a happy, peaceful and prosperous new year, blogging friends.  May your blessings be beyond measure.

A Happy Christmas to All

Sending warmest wishes for a wonderful and joyous Christmas Day!

I have put up a small tree and a few seasonal decorations in my living room. Amazingly, the cats have left them alone, for the most part. The tree is on a small side table by my reading chair.  Each morning, I expect to see it on the floor, but it has stayed put.  Perhaps they are on their best behavior, waiting for Santa Claws to bring them some treats.

Rain, rain, rain!  Since midnight, December 23 (only yesterday), the official weather service has recorded over 7 inches of the liquid sunshine.  My own rain gauge is FULL and running over, and it tops at 8". We're on our way to setting a record for the wettest December since the Weather Service started keeping records. 

On the bright side, it's supposed to turn much colder tonight, so perhaps when I leave the church after our Christmas Eve service, which starts at 10:30 p.m. and lasts until after midnight, there will be a few snowflakes in the air and on the ground.  Snow on the ground would make Gardening Daughter happy. For some unfathomable reason, the child loves snow!

I'm off and away to take care of last minute details, of which there are more than I care to admit.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

If You Treat A Cold, It Will Last About...

...seven days.  If you don't treat a cold it will last --- about seven days.

My seven days are up, and except for a few residual coughs and a slightly stuffy nose, my cold is over.  I will admit to "treating" it, although I didn't seek professional medical attention. In addition to my throat and chest, I did rub the bottoms of my feet with Vick's (a remedy suggested by two blog commenters and my son), took a couple of antihistamine tablets during the worst days of my streaming eyes and nose, and followed up with about three doses of dextromethorphan and guaifenesen (also a suggestion by a commenter.)  Along with those tried and true remedies, I drank many, many cups of hot tea, most of it of the spiced variety such as Chai and my favorite "Constant Comment."

For the most part, I just took it easy. Between frequent visits to a steadily diminishing box of tissues and sipping my tea, I managed to read four books: an Aaron Elkins' "skeleton detective" mystery Tiny Little Teeth, and two forensic mysteries and one very informative non-fiction book (Death's Acre)-- by the same authors, Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson.  If you're a fan of gory forensic stuff, I recommend the Bass/Jefferson books; I found them fascinating.  If you are squeamish, those are not for you.

I'm also about one-third through Three Cups of Tea - One Man's Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nations... One School at a Time, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.  It's a fascinating true story about one man's determination to build schools for desperately poor mountain children in Pakistan and Afghanistan.  I understand that Mortenson has been getting some TV exposure lately (which I missed), although I first read about his book in a monthly book review magazine at my local library. I'm sure you could find a wealth of information about the book and Mr. Mortensen on the Internet, should you be interested in doing so.

Gardening Daughter's husband helped to supplement my food requirements during my self-imposed confinement, bringing me a huge container of chicken and dumplings from my favorite "chicken place," cornbread muffins, and a slab of pizza -- not all at the same time, of course.  He also made a run to the pharmacy to pick up the cough syrup after I discovered that the bottle I had tucked away in the cupboard had an expiration date of 06/2007.  It seems I need to perform a cupboard-wide check on the expiration dates of  OTC medicines. I don't know if expired medications get stronger or weaker, but I'd hate to either overdose myself or waste my time taking something that is completely ineffective.

Now that my semi-annual cold seems to be on the wane, and my energy is slowing rising,  there is much I need to accomplish: more Christmas cards to make, address and mail; gifts to wrap and ship; last minute gifts to purchase, etc., etc.

More later.

Achoo!

I have a bad code!  I sneeds alod, by dose id rudding, by eyes are weeping, by froat id sore and by chest id tight!  I am floading from dringing so mudge hot tea. 

Exactly where or when I picked up the germ/virus that caused all this discomfort I don't know, but I wish I had left it where I found it.  I don't often "catch" a cold, but generally will have one major episode during the summer and one in winter. My winter cold doesn't usually hit me until after Christmas, but it's come early this time.  It began last night during our church service when I started sneezing and my eyes started weeping; I hate to do that in church!

I will drag out the Vick's Vap-o-Rub and apply copiously, and suck on some mentholated throat lozenges.   I have things to do!  I can't give in to a cold.

Later, with dryer eyes and nose.