These Pretzels Are Making Me Thirsty

To be honest, I am not feeling too cheery but maybe that makes sharing a holiday card all the more important. I will send out cards this year again. If anyone wants one, please drop a line. Comments screened for privacy.

I called for service on my furnace. I didn't expect them out same day, but they had someone available. I was, however, at work. I remembered I hadn't locked my garage door, so I asked if they were comfortable letting themselves in to the basement, where the furnace is. That was fine. I said, "Oh, and I have a dog that will likely bark his fool head off..."

Cue about an hour later, I get a call from the tech. He says, "I was told your dog wouldn't bite..."

Yiy! I had failed to think of the possibility they would go up into the house, so I did not clarify that the barking would be true while the tech was outside and/or in basement but that entering the home would be a bad plan since Walter is a Jack Russell/Dachshund mix with a very strong "I WILL KICK YOUR ASSSSSS!" drive.

Yep. Guy got bit, but thankfully he had on thick boots. I left work early to meet up with him, and usually when I have visitors, Walter is a freakshow at first, but then once the folks are in he's fine. Nope, not this guy. Walter said, "I know you. I don't like you!" so he had to be tossed in a room. LOL.

Oh, and there's nothing wrong with my furnace. It felt to me as though it has been blowing lukewarm at best air. The tech was all, "This is hot air, what are you on??" So now I feel like I am a bit off my rocker, because it still feels too cool to me! Lawdy lou, is this part of The Change? Is it starting?

Moral of the story: be more thorough when having service people enter your home at all. In my defense, since they were there to service something not connected to the living space, I did not anticipate the need to warn them off of my little monster. All bases will be covered from here on out!

Oh, and I finally ordered Christmas cards. I don't know why so late, it just does not feel holidayish yet. BUT, I am still sending them, so drop a note if you want one.

Speaking of holidays, the company has a new decorating policy: we can decorate public spaces like the lobby as long as it remains tasteful and non religious. Oh, and also? We can't decorate public spaces unless we run it by the big bosses first. The agency has become riddled with these rather silly and contradictory and sterile policies. People can decorate their cubes, but if they share a cube, they can't leave the decorations up when they leave...like. Really? We now have three people sharing one cubicle. Please, please explain to me how this is more sanitary and safe than just having adequate cubicles for all staff?

Well, this got long. Okay, byyyyeeeee.

I'm tired of being tired. I walked 4.5 miles today in the rain, hail, rain, rain and sun. And I was tired before that. Oh, and the dog who three years ago was just as likely to chomp someone's hand now drags me toward people so they can give him treats. He was always a good boy, it turns out, just misunderstood.

Now I am trying to get up the gumption to address Christmas cards. Zzzzzz.

Going to my PCP on Tuesday to get tested for either psoriatic or rheumatoid arthritis. When the weather shifts to colder, I experience a sorta rash on the joints of my right hand, plus stiffness. Not pain, really, but they swell a bit and get hot. And it doesn't read as psoriasis to me. For years I thought it was eczema. Then I thought maybe herpes. I don't know. It's finally time I figured out exactly what is the issue so I can start to deal with it. If it's arthritis I can try to limit the damage to joints. The idea of having to take routine meds makes me feel as old as the demarcation line of my hair where I am growing out the henna. I can't remember what month I'm at with that but it's really very noticeable now. It'll be two years before I have a cohesive head of hair, unless I go in for a pixie cut. I don't have the features for that.

Okay. Cards. I can do it. Message me if you want one.

Today I did a spot paint to my kitchen counters, due to dings and stains. I shut the door for a time, then when there were no cats in sight and the paint had mostly dried, I left it open a crack. "What are the chances of all the spots they'd pick, it'd be the one spot with tacky paint?" I thought.

Cue Ms. John. who, yep! Sat her sweet keister right. on. the. tacky. paint.

The other thing I have done today is apply a fresh coat of polish to the hardwoods in the main room. They see a lot of wear and tear due primarily to dog nails. Try as I might I cannot get W's nails to a decent length! He goes every other week for a trim, yet the quick remains long, therefore so do his nails. Anyway, the floors. Again, nary a cat in sight. The actual SECOND I put down a coat and turn my back for another second - Ms. John strolls across the floor and sits casually.

ARGGGGGGHHHHHH!

I don't care about the prints so much, as the potential toxins she'll ingest when cleaning her paws.

Speaking of toxins, W has vomited thrice today. Why? Because the numbskull ate a plastic lid the cats must have knocked onto the floor. Now he sits here looking for me to give him popcorn. Fat chance, boyo!

What a world.

In other news, got my holiday cards in the mail today! They are very cute. Scroll down a couple of posts and leave your name/address in the comment-locked post if you'd like one mailed to you in December.

Well, the time's almost upon us and I haven't even considered holiday cards until just now. I think this year more than ever getting a bright piece of silly paper might be just what we need. If you agree and are still around any of these spaces, drop me your name and address and I will drop you a holiday card.

No card required in return. Doesn't matter where in the world you are. Comments will be screened for privacy, and your names and locations will be safe with me.

And here we are again, my fine few friends. Anyone wishing to receive a custom photo holiday card from me this year - drop a comment below with name and address. Comments screened and personal data used by me alone, to do the envelopes. Where you are in the world is not a concern.

I'm sad that the paper cards (for me) have dwindled so much in the past couple of years, but I am not letting it stop me. I think in this age of instant gratification and social media, getting a festive piece of actual mail during the season is a treat. Call me old fashioned or just old. ;)

Oh, and cards sourced from a company that plants a tree for every order, so I do try to do it at least somewhat sustainably. If that's a worry of yours.

Finally got my eyes examined and, as happens at this age*, some tweaks were made. Awesome. Well, instead of spending $180 on frames, I usually go online to buy glasses these days. Why spend $180 when you can spend $20, amirite? My go-to has been Zenni Optical. No more. Now they're charging me an extra fee if I choose a frame that "requires extra work." In fact, I selected my frames (not dissimilar in size or shape to my current pair. which I got from them. which did not come with any surcharge.) and got an email from them saying they'd prefer not to make them as the lenses will be thick. Uh, okay. I'm severely nearsighted, my lenses are ALWAYS THICK no matter how lightweight I go. They suggested several other frame options that would be less thick for me (their concern is for my vanity, apparently), all of which were butt ugly and not at all what looks good on my face or what I want.

So, I'm done with Zenni. Who charges extra because someone's prescription is high? Who tells someone that the frames they want aren't good, try these instead and thinks that's customer service? Making glasses is literally what they do! It should not matter... I ordered them to make what I wanted, but then I went to a different site (39dollarglasses.com) and found virtually identical frames for only $12 more. I wish I'd told Zenni to take a flying leap.

Vent over, picture time. This first one kind of encapsulates my mood with Zenni.



( Three more )


*We need to expunge this qualifier and any like it. See: she looks good ... for her age. It just makes people feel lousy.

Got my Christmas cards back - reminder: get thee here or here to request a no-strings-attached piece of holiday mail this year. Comments screened, so your info won't be public.

Here's the problem with starting things: people expect you to continue. At work, years ago, I composed original haiku - a different poem for each person. I reused these haiku at a different job, my current, and now have had feedback implying how much coworkers look forward to that bit of my holiday cards. Gah! Haiku itself isn't hard, at least not when you completely toss out the rules and focus only on syllables, haha. Holiday-themed haiku are becoming a stretch, even taking last year off to do lune instead (5-3-5).


Haiku is written
Cards have arrived in good shape
Do flisters want one?


Original DW screened request post

Original LJ screened request post

In other random news, I just got hit with an intense craving for an old fashioned chocolate dipped doughnut*. Good thing I don't have any and the nearest bakery is 2+ miles away - too close to drive, too lazy to walk.


*what kind of world do we live in that computers want to change this word to donut or tell me it's spelled incorrectly?! #donutisdonot

Like, for a greater chance at a post office being open. I am going to get my holiday cards all set to go today, but since I work all day, walk dogs at lunch (which I know I could skip, but then I feel bad for the pooches), and don't get off in time to go to the PO, I had to mail order my stamps. Wah wah, I know.

The Walmart we fought so hard against is finally going up. People say there's no impact, the land is there, why not build on it? I see dwindling elk herds and a pair of mallard ducks that used to paddle around in the marshy area by work every year have not been seen once this (I named them Franny and Zooey and I miss them, even if they were a different couple every year). So, to me - that's an impact and I'm of the highly unpopular opinion that just because the land is there doesn't mean we have to raze it for human consumption. And Walmart killed many small businesses in my hometown, so I'm also biased there. A colleague, as conservative as they get, says that because her parents' appliance business survived Home Depot coming that means that Walmart won't kill anything. I find that highly simplistic and, well, not likely.

Wow, didn't mean this to turn into an anti-Walmart rant. I just get frustrated, because the same people crying to "make America great again!" are the ones most likely to shop at a place that gives them the lowest prices on foreign-made products... and don't even get that their words and actions are contradictory. Yes, I buy crap from China. But I also realize the likelihood of those jobs coming back to the US is slim, and not worth stripping environmental regulations to do it. I don't get the idea that giving breaks to already very profitable businesses should be a priority.

Whoops, there I go again. LOL.

I almost decided against doing cards this year. I'm not feeling terribly jolly. However, I then thought: that's the exact reason I should! So, as in past years - plop your name/address in the screened comments below if you would like to receive a holiday card from me this year (I even got some snow shots last year). If you've received them in the past and haven't moved, I should be able to track your address back to prior years' posts.

Return cards are NOT required. Do not feel you can't ask for one if you can't swing sending them yourself. Ask for one if you'd like a little holiday cheer.

And, no, I won't use your names or locations for nefarious purposes.