Hurricane force winds

Florida, Texas, and the whole South and East coasts can now laugh at us

I recognize that 70 mph winds are a baby hurricane, but let's be honest, we just don't get them around here very often.  We are several states away from any coast!  So when the TV news started telling us to put our patio furniture and trash cans under cover, and consider taking the Christmas decorations inside for today, well!

A lot of people are doing just that.  I checked with my son and his girlfriend, and they have taken down some, those that are not secured with stakes.  I'm worried about those with the stakes, even.

The Omaha and Lincoln public schools announced they would be closed today.  Other area schools followed with early closure announcements.  Somehow the thought of kindergartners walking home with winds that high did not appeal to the administrators!  They weren't crazy about the thought of school busses in that wind, either!

The big event of this sort around here is caused by the low temperatures, coming through on a cold front, and confronting the high temperatures we've been experiencing.  It's 58℉ out there now, and predicted high of 70!  If it reaches 70 that will be a record for the date.

My own activities will be advanced in timing.  I shall check up on Sister #1's cats early, before the worst wind warning hits.  Thank goodness for the high tech weather forecasting that gives us an approximate time deadline:  get stuff done before... and of course, they keep updating the forecast, and now our city is in the "enhanced risk" area, as shown in the map above.

The Pep Talk

Don't know about you, but challenges in my life lead to one of two responses:  retreat and hide, or "rise to the occasion".  Here's to making the choice, this one and only Wednesday, December 15, 2021, to rise to the challenge, and take care of ourselves, to do what we CAN do, and to breathe and trust, and pray to survive those things we cannot control.  Be safe, whatever challenges you're facing today!  You are worthy of it.

Life is good.  Spark on!  🎄🔥🎆💖

Winter is almost here, at least on the calendar

One niece married off, another off her feet

One of the most important aspects of living life is being useful!  Sister #1 called me on Wednesday to give me a heads up... her daughter had taken a bad step off the stage at a concert (she was conducting, being a music teacher).  Well!  The doctor told said daughter to stay off her feet for ten days.

Seems like slipping and falling is running in the family.  My son's mishap was in October, requiring the lending of crutches, at least for a couple of days:

A couple of weeks ago, on the walk in the nature preserve toward the end of November, my friend slipped and fell.  She didn't need crutches, thank goodness, but she did need to rest, ice, compress and elevate!

The niece makes three!  If these things happen in threes, are we done?  I still think it's a good idea to be cautious of footing  as winter wears on.

Meanwhile, sister #1 being off to Kansas to help her daughter with two active sons... I get the joy of checking in on her kitties!  I stopped by Sunday morning to clean litter boxes, greet and feed the two of them.  I shall continue this drill daily, not sure for how long, at this point.

I'm hoping my niece heals completely and quickly, and that my sister has dry roads and safe travels as she serves as mobile grandma!

Weather woes

While we've been enjoying a dry, mild lead up to Winter here, the Southland has had record heat, and the sudden drop to cold north of them led to these strong, destructive storms that we have all been seeing on our television screens.  It seems as though "tornado alley" cut across several states, all in one night.  My heart aches, remembering of course storms past:  the flattening of Joplin, Missouri, for example, in 2011.  A lot of the photos and videos remind me of images from that storm.  

In 2004, a tornado flattened Hallam, Nebraska, just to our South.  The most touching thing from that storm, besides of course the rebuilding of the town, was that a piece of wood from the little church down there was used in crafting the Paschal cross of the church I go to here in Lincoln.  Resilience, resurrection, faith, tying the two communities together.

Pep talk:  pick yourself up, dust yourself off... move forward

Did you have a good weekend?  Overindulge a bit in the celebrations of the season?  How are you handling your holidays?  Is there a good balance of traditional treats and stress-relieving activity?  Are you cutting yourself a break, in terms of expectations?

Remember:  YOU ARE ENOUGH!  Perfectionism is all very fine and good, BUT... we're human and it is OK to be human!  Slow down enough to take a breath and cherish the good amidst the chaos, whether that chaos is up close and personal or on the news!

Breathe, nourish, appreciate, this one and only Monday, December 13, 2021 we'll ever get.  Because each and every one of us is not only worth it, we are needed in this world... to give one another a smile, a prayer, a kind act... one day at a time!

Life is good.  Spark on!  🔥💖✨

Good morning snow dust

 

Pawprints melting on the sunny deck, 

reception in about two hours, 

yuletide presents waiting to be wrapped up, 

and pebble jar festive in its flowers...

Sung to the tune of Merry Christmas to You... for kids from one to ninety-two.  Yes, I know there are no flowers in the wreath around the pebble jar, but you know, rhymes!

Oh, you tripped over the word reception in my knock-off version?  Well, in pandemic times, folks don't seem to be doing big formal weddings... but a niece and her "husband like person" are making it legal, today.  "Eloping" is the word used in the invite to the reception.

I managed to find a card that I could get with curbside pick up, and I will head over to meet the groom for the first time.  Oh, I've heard his name in conversation, and I added him as a FB friend last week, after getting the invite... but this will be the first time we meet in person!

Considerate young people that they are, the bride and groom have requested that everyone, regardless of vax status, mask for the indoor "open house" style reception, and I'm hoping to get in, meet and greet, drop off my card to them, and mosey on out, without ever doffing said mask.  I mean, after all, the local numbers do NOT look good, and even though the youngsters run with a bright crowd who pretty much are at least not vaccine resistors... the mix of folks, the aging of the doses, and of course the local case load bespeak being "careful".  But the event itself?  A reason for joy!

Navigated the event, home now, posting after the fact

A photo of the OUTDOOR in COLD December Wedding under a canopy went up on the FB event, so I drove on over.  Looks like several others were arriving similar time, but I navigated my way inside, met the happy couple, wished them well, and the groom welcome to the family... left my card with well-wishes, chatted with a few folks, and left, mask intact.  

In other news, a running friend just gave birth to her first child last week.  She's about to be sprung from the hospital to go home with the baby.  See?  Life does go on!

Here's hoping you all are staying safe and healthy, and celebrating in ways meaningful to yourself and your traditions!

Life is good.  Spark on!

Night sky in the seasonal spirit

 Remember last year, when we were looking for the Christmas star?

Astronomically, it was an alignment of planets, mind you, but one night this week when I stepped out the door just after dark, Venus and the moon were putting on a show above the roofs of my neighborhood.  It was quiet, not too cold, and we haven't had snow yet, but the view got me to pull out my phone and snap what looks very seasonal.

Snow is predicted for overnight Friday, which would be our first of this season.  When I cast my thought back to 2020, I recall that we had snow as early as October!  This year, we've had highs well above normal, and even next Tuesday (the 13th of December) they are predicting high 60's maybe even making it to 70℉.

Sunrise Friday morning

I headed out to pick up a prescription this morning, before the front comes through, but really loved the pink and blue sky as the sun was coming up.  This time of year often brings such spectacular skies, day and night!

Shopping blind

Ever see the ads for these guys?  Two Blind Brothers?  You send them money, they shop for you;  you do not know what is coming in the package.  It's a matter of trust; they ship it to you.

Looks like the box is a little the worse for shipping wear, but they sent me an e-mail link to show me what's in it.  In a way I was looking forward to it being a surprise when opened, but when I saw the colors and fabrics of the items in the e-mail I'm kind of glad 'cause I have an idea of "to whom to give the blind package"!

Anyway, I'll let y'all know how it turns out after the Christmas to-do!  

Oh yes, the two brothers are indeed blind, and the proceeds of their business go to sight research.  So it's three fun things bundled together:  surprise gift, tags in braille, so you have something new to learn... and a donation to charity!

I have just one more shipment expected, and my notification says it is out for delivery today.  As notified.  Woo-hoo.  All that's left is the wrapping, and on Christmas eve, the baking.

Pep talk time!

Now let's head out and live the best Friday, December 10, 2021 we can manage, right where we are.  After all, it's the only one we'll ever get!  And each one of us is worth the effort to take care of our health and well-being!

Life is good!  Spark on.  🔥💖🎇✨

Speaking of naughty and nice lists

 

Rubia stalking the Prisoner puts her on the naughty list.

She compounded that by knocking my gym bag to the floor this morning.  Sigh.

Workout with the trainer is earlier today than usual, due to a couple of cancellations.  I started writing this before heading over because of the photo!  It will not get posted until after.

Christmas neighborhood

Yesterday brought Winter temperatures to our town, after having been spoiled for most of the Autumn.  High was under 0℃ yesterday, at 31℉!  As I walked down to check the mailbox, the configuration of the moon and two planets reminded me of last year's line up that had a formation that mimicked the Christmas star.

Here is last night's version, over a house that has a nativity in its front yard (not mine):

There are lights up all over town, but I don't get out much, so am appreciating those in my own little neighborhood.

It was balance day with the trainer

Balance day is one of the "modified for pandemic social distancing" exercises.  The foam square, so he doesn't have to stand close by in case I bobble, as he would with the so-called balance board, that is a round thing, much less stable.  He lets me put a toe down during the exercise that involves standing with weight shifted on one foot on this less than perfectly stable surface.

Balance is so important as we age, so working on it is a good thing for me.  He only makes me do it every second week, but trainer knows best.  He had Christmas music playing for today's workout, so we are getting in the season.

And the pep talk

Here's hoping that we'll all keep in mind that this is the only Tuesday, December 7, 2021 we'll ever get, and that we'll be kind to ourselves and to others in it.  Nourish your body, mind, and spirit with food that makes you feel physically good and supports your immune system, with activity that encourages the fitness of heart and lungs, and with sights and sounds and story lines that fill your soul with peace.

Life is good.  Spark on!

The December experiment

 

I canceled Hulu Live TV

The last day was November 29th.  What I'm mainly lost is the live news of CNN and MSNBC and their commentators.  If I really want to see what they had to say, there is always a YouTube clip available the next day.

I do have a digital antenna and can pick up the local CBS and nearby NBC stations live over the airwaves.  I have Prime.  And I'm an "extra" on my son's subscription to HBO.  He dropped the YouTube TV he had me on as an extra and I put Hulu plus live on back in September when he did that.

Prime just started airing a production of The Wheel of Time.  I have started streaming The Lord of the Rings on that HBO access.  The deal with epic movies is that you have to give them several years rest between viewings, or at least I do.

Speaking of the news

Here we go again with another variant of the Covid-19 virus.  It didn't take long from first identification in Africa to show up right here in Nebraska.  Six cases of Omicron variant confirmed two counties south of me were identified by Public Health on Friday.

I was already being pretty careful, looks like we keep on that careful drill for the foreseeable future.  Sigh.

Christmas shopping

Despite all the "warnings" about supply chain, I have done all of my shopping on-line.  At least other than things I can get at the grocery store (as in ingredients to bake, etc.)  Three of my online purchases for the season have already arrived.  Two more are expected next week.  Still have to wrap, including a few things bought last Summer.  

Blended on-line Church

This Sunday morning, I'm watching the on-line church service, and there's my sister #1 toward the front on the sanctuary, in person, amid the congregation, socially distanced, wearing her mask, but I recognize her outfit, her glasses, and her posture and gestures.  This is one way to be together even when not physically together.  

It's advent season, the preparation of the heart for the coming of the Christ child.  In my own mind, the Thanksgiving season is also a part of this preparation, for what better preparation to receive God's great gift than being thankful for all we already have.

Now, being thankful for the gift of life, which is indeed good, let us go about LIVING it, today, taking care to nourish body, mind, and spirit!  What is a Spark, but letting our lights shine?  Spark on, my fellow graduates!  🔥🎆✨

Time to drag out the Christmas season coffee mugs

 

Some of my coffee mugs are truly seasonal, and I only bring them out for the month of December (OK, I might sneak them a little early, as in after Thanksgiving, USA).  I did my first Holiday mug cup yesterday morning.

I have three of this sort.  Two of them were gifts from sisters (this one, and the reindeer one, which will show up sometime in a blog this season), and the third was a race "swag" mug (swag = "stuff we all get").

One of the challenges of being old-er is that this kind of thing accumulates over the decades, and so it may not all come out every year.  Eventually, I shall have to down-size, and the other challenge is that things with memories attached are hard to let go!  How does one choose among the mugs if one only has room for one of them?

And what if a new shiny one shows up under your tree?  You've only just compounded the "stuff" problem.

My social appropriateness antennae went on high alert this year, as I've been invited to a Christmas eve gathering with my son's girlfriend's family.  Of course I immediately accepted, but then later, "Yikes!"  I needed to find out what their gift exchange traditions are, as we gave that up on my side of the family years ago.  

One reason for giving up gift exchanges in the broader group is, we are a mixed family, some Christian, some Jewish, some claiming to be atheists.  Another is that our generation's children were no longer children, and we'd already gone to "kids only" for gifts.  However, this is new family, and a new generation hosting, so social expectations may be different.

OK, time for a conversation with the mythical son... data mining for appropriate behavior!  Turns out smallish gifts of the consumable variety are appropriate... sounding a lot like shared cultural heritage!  Social appropriateness antennae are all comfy again.

Meanwhile, Rubia has reclaimed center stage on the dining room table.  When I first changed the table cloths, she retreated to the kitchen, beside the microwave, ears back.

But within less than 24 hours, she's back on the table with a glare that says "I dare you to move me!"  In other cat news, on Tuesday I spotted a gray tabby back snugged up against my door, so I slid it open, expecting the Prisoner to come inside, but it wasn't the Prisoner... it was Ferrel, the visitor, who of course skittered off at once, turning to stare back at me.  

This morning (Wednesday), Rubia was particularly insistent on getting my attention.  She's a little helper anyway, but vocal, head-bumps, etc.  I'm slow before my coffee... checked the pet dishes... sure enough, the bottom of the dish is showing.  Refilled, she ate three bites, then asked to go outside.

"Are you going to tell the Prisoner breakfast is served?" I queried.  No answer... just prancing across the deck.

Well, that's about enough to post for now.  Here's hoping you are having a good start to your December, remembering to take care of YOU in the midst of taking care of others.  Because you are worth it, and the world needs you at your best!

Life is Good.  Spark on!