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It's the time of the year that I rarely looked forward to. I never dated much and didn't run with a party crowd, so I often ended up staying at home and made stuff for the next day - like cookies or fudge. My Mom and I would share a bottle of champagne, and at midnight we'd open the front door, bang pot lids together and yell "Happy New Year" to any and all who could hear. There was the year, 1968 perhaps?, that it snowed like it did this December, and blew 5' drifts in my n ext door neighbor's front yard. I was at her house, and we were, rather, she was drinking, and got it into her head that running into a drift that was taller than she was would be fun. So she did, and it was, apparently. A saner person, I didn't follow suit. One year we had a family get together (thinking back, I'm amazed that so many of my cousins actually made it) and it was a LOT of fun. It was the first year that I was with my DH to be, and together we actually got everyon...

This is my Christmas 2008 : I am going nowhere; I am doing nothing; No one has called me, so I don't much feel like calling anyone else (I am talking relatives). There is a big part of me that says, "Fuck them. Fuck them all." I feel sad and forgotten, and wonder why this is. I can't write any more. I just want to sleep.

You're right if you guessed more snow. Another 1 to 3 inches is predicted for the lowlands. DH has been able to get out to get wood, but he said the roads were pretty slick. It doesn't help that we have two bald rear tires. My cousin, who lives a few miles from me said she went to get groceries yesterday, and all was fine until she returned home. She got stuck turning into her driveway! Someone helped her by giving her a push, and she got the car out of the street and off the sidewalk back into the driveway - and this is on level ground. Then, when taking the groceries into the house she slipped on a patch of ice and landed softly in 10" of snow. She said she just had to lay there and laugh for a minute - that it brought back memories of her childhood. Because of the icy road conditions, everyone is staying home this year. DH's brother canceled Christmas Eve dinner because he's come down with a cold -- not that we could have made it there anyway. Cousin won'...

I'd like to hear about the experiences of those who have taken Low Dose Naltrexate (LDN). From what I have read, it sounds promising and has a low to no side effect profile. I see and feel myself getting weaker and want to try something that goes with Copaxone. Please post in comments. Thanks. Good Night, TTYL and Be Well

Which is exactly why I've been safe and snug in my home all day. The wood stove is still burning, and now the snow is falling (3 3/4" on the patio so far), and I ain't goin' nowhere. Not that I would if I could 'cause I don't like to be cold. However, a small snowman is requisite for the first real snow accumulation in 18 years, don't you think? The local news station has been following the "December Storm" avidly all day, going from one traffic trouble spot to another with glee. Now, I hear that Chicago is the next to be hit with severe weather, with that storm then moving east to the coast to include NYC and Philadelphia. I'm sure Seattle's storm will be considered small potatoes by comparison - but here's the thing: We. Don't. Get. Snow. Like I said - first time in 18 years. Also Seattle, Tacoma, and the eastside are all hilly! Cars + ice + snow + un-practiced drivers = One Big Mess. So I'm staying safe and comfy at home. He...

Friday, the day of my SG was rainy (in showers) and very windy. It was the day I missed the inurnment ceremony. Saturday afternoon the temperature took a nosedive into the low 30s daytime and 20s overnight. We had a little snow, but just a little. You could still see the grass. Sunday morning brought snow, big fluffy flakes of snow in the early afternoon, but a friend whom I haven't seen in two years was in town and wanted to get together for coffee. So we decided to meet at Panera, a bread, sandwich, pastry and coffee shop. Since it was snowing and the streets were covered with black ice, DH decided he was driving and came along. That was good thinking on his part, because I wasn't thinking about the driving conditions at all, and surely would have gone too fast or done something really stupid and crashed the car, or worse yet, crashed into somebody's car. We had a pleasant visit which didn't last long enough, as she is headed back to Yakima Monday morning. She's h...

Friday the 12th was the day of my SILs inurnment. I missed it. I had assumed it was settled the last time I talked with my local brother [J] that he was going to pick me up at 2 PM and we would go together. That was my understanding . However, at 2 PM I was sitting here with my coat on, having just returned from my SG meeting, waiting for him. He never showed up and I missed the ceremony, but called my niece and explained that I wouldn't be there. It turns out that J's understanding of our conversation was that if it turned out that I wanted to go, I would call him during the week. Apparently what he remembered was a comment I made early on during our conversation, while I was still angry about missing the funeral, that maybe I would just skip the inurnment. A spiteful comment I made out of my anger at being forgotten. That was what stayed with him, and not that he would come by at 2 PM to get me. Now, after J and I hung up, J called my brother [B] whose wife just died...

Directions: Once you have been tagged, you have to write a blog with 21 random things, facts, habits or goals about yourself. At the end, choose 10 people to be tagged. Don't forget to tag them in the note. You can't tag the person who originally tagged you. 1. I went to Catholic school from Grades 1-10, then I talked my folks into letting me go to public high school. I don't know if that was a good thing or no; I think I benefited by having the experiences of both high schools. Catholic school was definitely tougher. When I made the switch, I was at least a year ahead of my classmates. 2. I took private piano lessons the whole time I was in a Catholic school. I was pretty good, too. Chopin, Beethoven, Mozart, Bach - oh yeah! 3. I met my husband through a personal ad I placed in the Seattle Weekly; best $25 I ever spent. 4. In the Fall/Winter of 1985-86 I took the massage licensing class at Brian Utting School of Massage and got my license in Feb. 1986. I never used my ...

Keiko's Memorial Service was Saturday, Dec. 6, and nobody called me. They were all, my cousins and family friends and my brothers, there saying to each other, "Where's Webster?" Is she feeling all right? Didn't anybody call her? Well, no. No one called me. And I am pretty upset about missing the service. My brother who lives here should have taken the initiative to call me, as we live in the same city - but he assumed my brother from Japan was going to do it. And he said he called, but got the machine, and was going to call back, and must have forgotten. He apologized, but it just pisses me off that I missed seeing the relatives who came from farther away, because they won't be at the ceremony at the cemetery which will happen Friday. Sometimes I think my family doesn't call me because if they do, they might have to deal with my disability. Accommodations have to be considered - the walker, or the wheelchair. Oh hell, I don't know. Maybe it was just a...

I have just passed on the Gratitude with Attitude award to Perspective is Everything. http://mgerber.blogspot.com Congratulations Michael! You deserve it. Good Night, TTYL and Be Well

My SIL Keiko flew in from Japan to spend the holidays with her daughter and grandkids. She arrived Tuesday. All was well. Saturday night she complained that she wasn't feeling well, but refused to let her daughter take he to the hospital. At some point on Sunday afternoon my niece noticed that Keiko had collapsed in the bathroom. Called 911. Ambulance decided to take her to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle (from Anacortes). She'd had a hemmorragic stroke. She was not showing any brain activity, but they were going to repeat that test as soon as her body was warmer and her blood pressure stabilized. The test at 7 AM Monday showed the same results. Hospital labeled her DNR in case her heart stopped. Niece stayed with her until her father (my brother) could get here from Japan, which wouldn't be until 7 AM Tuesday morning. This is what my brother posted on his site: I got a call this morning about 5 a.m. (I think 2 pm Seattle time) from [daughter] . Keiko passed out. They...

'Tis November 30th and all thru the house not a creature was stirring not even my mouse NaBloPoMo was waiting for my final entry, It's in my brain somewhere requiring some mentoring. There are no holiday packages waiting for wrapping, Just a blue eyed kitty Silently napping. DH spent many hours searching online for deals to buy all the parts Cause it's cheaper than Dell. Once packages arrive he will build a computer with a 20 inch screen and four screws leftover. But despite the aggravation He will have what he wants And I can tell him to shut up whenever he taunts. Okay. That's it. Good Night, TTYL and Be Well

I'm not walking very well today. I don't know if it's due to my crazy fucked up schedule, or that my Ms is getting just a little worse. Since I sleep well, if not too well, my guess is the latter. I have so many things I want/need to read, I'll be glad that NaBloPoMo is over in just another day. And I will make it, dear readers. I will have posted for 30 consecutive days. Then I will post my reward! But first, I have no leftovers, which sucks, and I feel like I have a bladder infection which wouldn't surprise me because I haven't been drinking as much water as I should be. But I haven't had any leakage symptoms, or achyness, just this lethargy. So, who knows? It's not like I can do anything about it right now except drink water and take my cranberry pill and macrodantin and hope for the best. DH's family members are going to see ZooLights on Sunday. I haven't decided whether or not we'll join them. It's supposed to be a nice day, but nev...

The final Thanksgiving at my BIL's house is over, and it went off without a hitch, unless you consider getting there an hour and a half late, and eating after everyone was finished a hitch; But even that wasn't a precedent as I have mentioned before. The turkey was cooked very well, it was moist and almost juicy. The stuffing was St0ve T0p, beaten together then crammed into the bird; flavorful but dry. The candied sweet potatoes may well have come from a can, then covered with marshmallow cream(!), which FYI doesn't melt down through the potatoes but remains on the top. The flavor was meh. The mashed potatoes didn't taste like there were any potato peelings in the garbage and were too smooth, too soft and not seasoned very well. The gravy was from an envelope, but had some pan juices added to give it that je ne sais quoi. The ubiquitous green bean casserole was present, but without the onion rings. There was a Waldorf salad, made with Granny Smith apples that were tar...

We have been invited to DH's brother's house for one last Thanksgiving there. They are splitting up and SIL is moving to Vegas with their grown daughter and her two boys. Their son has been on his own for awhile now. The house has been sold but will not close until 12/10. After that I don't know where BIL will be living. So it will be an interesting (to say the least) afternoon/evening. DH is depressed, and is hell bent on buying a computer for a good deal with his $500 windfall. In my opinion he is not thinking clearly, and I have said as much. That's all I can do. This isn't something over which I have any control. You know, if he'd just get over his "needle phobis" and go sell plasma, he could make nearly $300 A MONTH, and I don't think you have to report that as earned income. Hell, it's how many people manage to supplement their incomes. Then I would have no problem with what he did with the money. But speaking as the sole "breadwin...

Kmilyun, so named after her car with the fancy paint job, likes a cheese called Schloss. I looked at the Schloss website and was dismayed because I can't even afford to try Schloss. It looks like a Brie. I do like a little brie on a cracker with a cranberry. But having Crackers & Scloss just sounds so much ta stier, doesn't it? I'd serve it on a silver tray with a cheese board inset, with a silver canape knife, and a freshly made cranberry sauce made with orange zest and a touch of ginger still warm on the side in a small lead crystal bowl, and TLC (tasty little crackers) artfully arranged next to the Scloss. I'd add a chilled bottle of wine; a nice Riesling? or a soft Chardonnay? Perhaps I should go red with a Merlot. I'd use my crystal wine glasses, each big enouth to really give said wine a good swirl, and a sniff, then a taste. Then I'd oh, so carefully, set doen the wine and prepare my canape of Shloss on a TLC topped with a berry, and pop the lo...

My name Inigo Montoya. You killed my fa- -ther. Prepare to die. Okay okay - that's from The Princess Bride. I'm just warming up here. From kitchen I smell garbanzo beans and spices - Hubs making dinner Early morning hours are when I am at my best it's no time to sleep I miss the daylight but that's when I sleep the best what's a girl to do? I have tried changing time and time again, no luck Only when I must Need to go shopping Great Harvest has a loaf of Pumpkin Swirl waiting. Will go tomorrow no matter what, I want it. The bread calls my name. That's it for haiku which should be about nature not hungry yearnings. Good Night, TTYL and Be Well

Why no, I don't think I have. The forum over at www.MSKurmudgeonsKorner.com is one of those places that I go to visit for "just a little while," and before I know it three hours of my life have been sucked into a wormhole. And it's not that I have all that much to say, because I am, after all, " Sarcastica, Karmic Arsonist and terse Goddess of the most reread threads ." Most of my comments are short and sweet, terse and/or sarcastic, and I can never remember where I have posted, so to see any responses I have to go back and reread threads, and like I said, it's a direct path to a wormhole. So, there went my last several hours. Once I read a few blogs, I think I'll maybe make some coffee, finish the Sunday paper, do a daily crossword puzzle (in ink!), and even though I got up really late yesterday, maybe go to bed. BUT, if it doesn't start raining, I might round up enough gumption to go to Trader Joe's and Great Harvest (for some Pumpkin S...

... if I have to write it one more time. I have hit the little read X and deleted it twice now by jumping from tab to tab, so I will try to be more mindful this third try. Besides you all know what they say about third times. Charming. No? It seems that my mind has gone blank - so give me a minute ----- Okay --- Lisa was right as usual, even though I can't say that definitively as I have only known of her for about two months, but my comments aren't working again - or should I say are still not working; They have not worked since 11/12, even though I have gone over the Settings in detail: Comments can show, in a pop-up window, anyone can comment, even on new posts which can have backlinks, and backlinks can show; [WTF is a backlink anyway?], timestamp formatted, I will always moderate comments, and you will give a word verification on them (what fun), and your profile pic will show. Have I covered everything? I think I have. Now DH insists we have all this virus protection c...

I was reading a blog that showed some very interesting and pretty art that was created on the styrofoam lids that Copaxone comes in, but I can't for the life of me find out where it is! Does this sound familiar to anyone? And would you please leave directions to it in the comments? Damned MS! Can't seem to remember anything. I KNEW I should have made a note to myself. Good Night, TTYL and Be Well

Actually my eyes are tired, I've been reading blogs and forums most of the day. I wanted to listen to This American Life on KUOW at 7 PM, but apparently it won't be on Friday nights for a few weeks. I guess I can always listen to it online at my leisure, because God knows I won't be awake at 11 AM on Saturday morning, best plans be damned. I still have a few options: watch a Netflix movie, try to get this computer to log on to ABC and watch Ugly Betty which I missed last night, or read- either the paper or a book. Remember, ALL SIX of the books I had on hold came in at the same time and are stacked at my side. (And No, none of them are in the Twilight series.) So, another (very) short entry. Good Night, TTYL and Be Well

About the only thing I did today was make it to my ESA meeting. As I have said, my sleep schedule has been totally irregular lately. I'm not getting up during daylight hours, rather, I am going to bed at the time the sun gets up. I know, silly me. On top of that, I've been sleeping a lot, lately. I don't know if this is a SAD thing, an MS thing, or just a me thing. But it is an annoying thing. Still, I seem to do what I need and am able to do on any given day. My only "need to do" thing today was to be at my meeting at 6:30 PM, as I am secretary. So I got up and layered (because I always seem to be cold lately), had half a cup of strong coffee, and drove to the meeting in the cold and windy dark of the evening. Nearly everyone was there already, but they saved a close parking spot for me (Thank you all so much for that!), and got settled before the meeting began. Later tonight, if I can get Hubs to switch laptops with me, I'll type up the minutes and once the...

My sleep schedule is that crazy tic I just can't seem to manage. When I sleep, I usually sleep quite well. I don't have trouble sleeping from caffeine, oh no!, but I do from the 'roids when I am on them (I have come home from IV infusions and dropped right off for a good nap, then stayed awake all night, too.) So the difficulty I am having now must be just due to my biorhythms being heavily established toward the nocturnal. Say Hoo Hoo anyone? I'm a night owl. For three days in a row, I managed to get up before noon. Yesterday I had to get up "early" because of our lunch being at Noon. The two days before that it was just because I was trying to make this change in my life. So it gets spoiled once again when I came home from lunch and took a nap in my chair, wake up after an appropriate 90 minutes, but go back to sleep because I was cold ! I will use any excuse that is convenient, it seems. In the end I finally went to bed at 7 a.m. this morning. That being ...

I went to lunch today at Uncle Thurm's finger lickin' good Chicken and BBQ (or something like that), and had the combo plate, which consisted of fried chicken (two small wings?), a BBQ pork rib that was finger lickin' good, a piece of catfish that was great, some mac-n'-cheese that was tasty but cool, some rice and red beans that was also cool, some greens that were (to my taste) salty and bitter, and a very small corn muffin that was meh. The place is SMALL, so bringing in a foursome, one with a walker and one with a wheelchair was squeezy, but doable. Would I go back? Actually, I think I would. I'd like to try some of the other things on the menu, and the prices were inexpensive, which is a major deciding factor, given my budget. I also made it to the library and, of course EVERY thing I had on hold came in at the same time, so I have my reading cut out for me. Will fill you in as I go. Good Night, TTYL, and Be Well

I woke up at 9:00 this morning which was a little too early because after I signed off last night, Hubs woke up at 12:30 a.m. and I stayed awake until 4:00! I was tired, but I asked him to heat a burrito for me, and had to wait a bit before lying down. Punima was asleep on my bed because I left the door ajar when I was getting ready for bed, and since she looked so comfy I couldn't bear to move her. I didn't close the door tight (so she could leave in the middle of the night if she wanted) and let her sleep with me. This morning she was nestled by my legs, but not so close that I couldn't move, which has been a problem in the past. Still, however much I like to hear her purring whenever I reach to touch her, I don't think I'll let her in again because I woke up all stuffy this morning. Sounds like a low-grade allergy to me. I've also had a light headache all day. Tomorrow a few friends and I are going for lunch at Uncle Thurm's Soul Food restaurant that was...

I know I have to get this entry written because the day is nearing it's end. I woke up around 10:30 a.m. this morning, which is a good thing. My husband was still up working on the Dell 8000; I asked him what he was trying to do, and got a terse "the same thing I've been doing since yesterday." I don't know what that is, but a few hours later (around 4 p.m.) he got up, locked the back door, locked the front door, ignored me when I asked if he would build a fire, and disappeared into his bedroom where he's been ever since. Apparently he's sleeping. I accomplished a very few things today. I took a shower, and used this new (to me) shampoo that smells like Oranges! Me like it. It's supposed to make my hair shiny. Funny, I thought just washing it did that to straight hair. Then I finished reading yesterday's paper. I still have the crossword puzzle to do because I fell asleep early in my chair yesterday before I got to it. That's a good thing beca...

It's Saturday morning and I have been up all night. This is nothing new if you have been paying any attention to the times of my posts; the difference is that today I am not planning on going to bed any time soon, but will try to stay awake, perhaps with a short nap, until a "normal" bedtime; perhaps midnight. I foresee both problems and benefits with this plan. THE PROBLEMS I. My husband is not trying to do the same thing, which means I will have to do many things for myself that he usually does for me. A. He usually takes care of Radagast's messes; I can't, so if there is one I will have to put up with the smell. Yuck. Poor doggy. B. If I want to heat with wood, and I do, I'll have to build the fire myself as I did last year. This will take planning to make sure there's enough cut wood and kindling in the house. Also, I will need to do a bit of rearranging of a chair and some newspapers so I can sit to actually build said fire. ...

I once cut a cartoon out of the New Yorker that showed two ladies sitting at a Bistro table having cocktails, and one said to the other, "My support group told me to go to hell." Now, that's funny! I thought. I laughed because that's my sarcastic style of humor. And it unveils an unspoken grain of truth: that for many, many people support groups just aren't that supportive. The speakers may be informative (or not), interesting (or not), inspirational (or not), but members don't always reach out to bring in the new member into the fold. One that I have attended has formed a lovely little clique of four. When I last attended just as I was about to take a seat, next to one of the four, a newish member who suddenly said "Oops, sorry, these three chairs are saved." It was one hell of a welcome. Turns out that two of her "buds" are women I have known for years, one's husband is a friend of my husband. As the months have passed, I've ...

I have two beautiful blue eyes gazing up at me and a lap that is not suitable for napping as it is filled with laptop; Slowly she slinks off to the food dish. Day 13, and no ideas. none. zilch. nada. I am stuck with my "old" circa 2001 Dell Inspiron 8000, which gets too warm on my lap, and weighs a ton compared to my "new" circa 2006 Dell Inspiron 1705. The old one ran so hot it fried the processor. Hubs eventually ordered a replacement online, and voila it works. But he also loaded it up with Linux and Firefox (well that's on both) and it's not the same animal I purchased years ago. However, it works, and it is good to be a two computer family. [BTW the newer one was a birthday gift from my brother when the other one was dead.] It took awhile to figure out the problem and find cheap parts. I can't decide whether or not I should get a flu shot this year. Typically I don't get sick, and my neuro says it won't make my MS worse. However, I know that...

This everyday blogging business is getting a lottle bit annoying. Yes I noticed my typo, but it seemed to work within the context of the sentence. Sooo, I haven't mentioned Radagast in awhile; he's my brown retriever, who is dying. He's taking his sweet time about it, too. I see him shrinking day by day; he's a bag of bones. He basically sleeps all the time, and since it's so hard for him to move my husband turns him over every couple of hours to try to prevent pressure sores. He's incontinent, but that started early, when he was still walking around. Now that he lays down all the time, and he's not really eating much, it's not much of a problem. [He sleeps on many layers of papers which makes cleanup easier.] Sometimes he does get up on his own, because when we wake up he's not in the same place we left him when we went to bed; he doesn't move around when we're here. I think I have (lousy) pictures of him in his younger days. This was Ra...

Happy Veterans Day Thank you very much for your service to our country. Long may it be remembered and commemorated. My Father and uncle served in the Navy in WWII; My older brother and cousins served in the National Guard in the late 1950's, My younger brothers served in Vietnam; one in the Air Force as support personnel and the one in the Navy on a river patrol boat (think Apocalypse Now). My AF brother chose to make the military his career as did my father, as NCO's. My Navy brother, oh, so fortunately, made it home with his life, after three tours of duty on the river. Enuf said. For all who perished in their service: May you rest in peace. Good Night, TTYL and Be Well.

It has been well over a week since I have been bothered by muscle spasms in my legs. Tonight it's my left thigh, Jump, jump, jump.......Big twinge. Take 40 mg. baclofen. Jump, jump. jump. Move laptop, stand up, stretch, cuss, sit back down, take another 20 mg.; straighten leg. Etc. etc.; continue for an hour. As I said, I've actually been fairly comfortable for awhile - maybe more than a week. I'm going to go for another 20 mg. and if that doesn't work, I'll call it a nig ht. Laying down will quiet these restless legs. Tomorrow, my husband tells me, I must go to the grocery store with him because the list is long and he is mindful of our checking account balance. He refuses to use my EBT card, and also refuses to go to the DSHS office to get one of his own. Bastard. So I guess I'll be dodging raindrops tomorrow. I've been having a lot of fun with the laser pointer - playing with my kitties. Purnima as a little girl Purnima never paid any attention to it an...

I have been so lazy. When it rains like this I don't feel like going ANYwhere. So I guess it's a good thing I don't have anywhere to go - Ha. I finally finished Unaccustomed Earth , which I enjoyed. I have started Pomegranite Soup - and we'll see how it goes. I splurged on my last trip to the Fred Meyer - they had Halloween stuff on sale, so I just couldn't resist the half-off price of two tall orange coffee mugs. I think they also look summery. I remember looking at them when they were first on display, and actually liked the short ones better - mostly because they were more practical e.g. more stable. These tall ones are wider at the top that=n the bottom, and therefore are a little top-heavy. For a clumsy oaf like me, it could present an issue on a bad day. But so far, so good. And I don't regret spending the $7 at all.

As if I'm not challenged enough, my husband usurped my laptop for the last two days and Nearly made me miss posting, which would have failed me at NaBloPoMo. It hasn't even been a week, and the challenges abound. Swear to God. But just for shits and grins I'm going to try to keep posting - no guarantee that I'll make it, though, even knowing some of the tricks of the trade. My spirit has been damaged. It's late, I feel like going to bed early. I'm dog tired. Good Night, TTYL and Be Well

The image that is. The shirt itself is plenty big, and pretty cute for a costume party. Sorry about the photo size, but they only had thumbnails left over at Woot, and when you enlarge it, you lose all the great detail. I'll happily wear it next year. Good Night, TTYL and Be Well

I was just over at Bitchypoo.com and in her comments someone posted this link http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/default.asp?p_size=350 of all the front pages the day after the election. I admit that I just glanced at a few, but I was sorely disappointed to see so few pictures of our new President and/or first family. My own Tacoma paper had a photo of polls workers counting ballots with a headline complaining that out new ranked voting system was taking longer to tally. Well, really? Do you think? The result of this election, NO MATTER WHICH SIDE WON, was headline banner news. Our nation's FIRST Afro-American President - or our FIRST FEMALE vice-president; either way it was precedent setting. After spending some time glancing the 672 front pages, I was still annoyed and confused in some cases. Like, why does Iran have Obama facing away from you? Why do so many papers have the announcement in a sidebar with no photo at all? And why is some of the best front page coverage from ...

OBAMA WON !!!!! This day is truly historic .

Good Night, TTYL and Be Well

Anticipation Makes me wait for a T-shirt For next Halloween After I ordered it on 10/20, this is what has happened with it: Read from bottom up. Status: Sortation Center Departure Est. in Home 11/05/2008 Date Time Description Location November 3, 2008 7:47 AM Sortation Center Departure KENT, WA November 3, 2008 12:00 AM USPS Electronically Notified TACOMA,WA October 31, 2008 5:08 PM Sortation Center Arrival KENT, WA October 30, 2008 10:58 PM Sortation Center Departure SACRAMENTO, CA October 29, 2008 12:12 PM Sortation Center Arrival SACRAMENTO, CA ...

On September 20, I ordered a T-shirt from Woot hoping it would arrive for Halloween. Alas, it didn't. It went from Texas to Chico, CA to Sacramento to Denver to Kent, WA and finally it will come to me. The tracker from Fed Ex said to expect it Nov. 1 - but that was Saturday. Oh well, there is no charge for S&H, so I shouldn't complain; I'll have it for next year. By the way, it's a great white sketch on a black shirt of an American Gothic Ma and Pa Frankenstein. American Gothic by Grant Woods I have been staying up all night, and sleeping all day again; And I mean all day. But tomorrow I want to go to the store, and Tuesday I get my cath. changed and that appointment is before Noon, so I guess I should try to turn in early. Heh, It's 4 a.m.! But despite just having had a cup of coffee, I've yawned a few times. I hope what happened last month doesn't happen again. Feeling that weak and helpless is frightening. Good Night, TTYL and Be Well

In my frustration I send out an SOS, and a loving, caring reader answered it for me. I did what you suggested and happily posted my award. I am, however, befuddled at why the comments are all on the one post way down the list, because it wasnt always that way. But I think I have corrected that too. So my THANKS go to Lisa over at Brass and Ivory. Good Night, TTYL and Be Well

I received the Gratitude with Attitude award and I would like to put it on my sidebar in a permanent place of honor, instead of having it buried in a post. Trouble is, I haven't a clue how, and reading around is just making my eyes glaze over. Can anyone give me step-by-step simple instructions? I tried adding a personal gadget, but it didn't work. Help Please?

"Welcome to National Blog Posting Month! National Blog Posting Month is the epicenter of daily blogging! People who want to set the habit of blogging by doing it every day for a month, including weekends, can come here for moral support, inspiration, and the camaraderie that only marathon blogging can provide." Quoted from the NaBloPoMo website. Yes, you read that right. I am taking the challenge, and what a challenge it will be for me. I doubt I have ever, in my entire life, done something (like a task or hobby or a diet) for 30 days straight. So expect many terse entries. Trick-or-Treaters lucked out in my neck of the woods last night, with no rain or wind. Tonight was a different matter indeed - raining hard enough at six PM to keep even the more stalwart ghouls inside. I remember going out a a kid, and it was so much fun. It was also a lot safer, or seemed so, back in the 1960's. Of course we went in groups of at least three, but sometimes as many ...