The Deadline Approaches...

Yes, the deadline for all of the mania to be at its peak is quickly approaching. So much needs to be done and if it is not finished by Dec 1st...well, it is just not finished. Augh!!!! That sounds scary indeed. I have today and tomorrow or at least portions of those days. It kind of feels like one of those timed tests in school where they say, "Time!" and pencils must go down. I never liked those tests.

The inside is basically done. The outside seems untouched. The roof is all done but that is about where I have gotten to. The pool is still open. My, my my! It just seems there is so much to do and I am here blogging about it. Oh well. What is worse is that I have to work tonight and tomorrow night. So that means I will have to get naps on both days to enable me to stay up all night. That kind of cuts into my time...I know...STOP WHINING!!!!!

Very well then. All is well. I will persevere and live to procrastinate again. I will unless I fall from the roof. It is done, but there is one more thing I would like to go up there for. I can't wait to get it all done and photographed! Is there a support group for people like me? Hopeless addicts! Well, I gotta go untangle some lights. See ya!

Rehab...

My name is Jason and I...am a Christmas addict. I am such an addict, in fact, that there are some 15-16 trees in our home all fully decorated. I have hung well over a thousand ornaments and there seem to some left over. Oh, my. Perhaps I need help. The inside of our Christmas grove is now at or near completion. The outside is a totally different story. I put in several hours on the roof on Thursday in the cold. I am only partially there. I am sure it is to the disappointment of my season fans that expect it to be finished already. There really are many that drive by to see the display. I could have done some today but we were among the crazed, sleep deprived people who were out and about before 4 am.

Yes, that is correct. There were many others out there as well. These folks are devoted. We braved thick crowds, hot tempers. Our battery died on us before 5 am. Who do you call at that time of the day? Thankfully there was a man that responded as I dragged the booster cables out. That is what the season is all about, after all. Peace on earth, goodwill to me and all. He told us to have a blessed day. I thanked him for all of his help. A blessed but but bushed day. I slept the afternoon away to catch up, I normally have to take a nap to get ready to work all night any way.

It was a trully blessed holiday and thus far a blessed weekend. I pray the remainder of it is the same. I am so excited that it is on now. Christmas is on! The music plays from every speaker, the smells permeate the air, augh...yes, thre air. It has that cool, crisp feeling (30 degrees here, feels like 23). It is finally time. My addiction is okay. Now, I am like everyone else and not the person who has a tree up in October. Just a little while to be "normal." Is there such a thing?

DISCLAIMER: I am unable to spellcheck from the terminal I am at. Forgiver me for any miskeys, etc.

Happy Thanksgiving...

What a busy day this will be. Tomorrow we will be so fat with overindulgence. But today is the planning, working, cleaning, etc day before. I am such a procrastinator. I really am. But it is raining today so that means I am stuck inside with nothing else to do. Let me just take a moment to wish all of you a very happy Thanksgiving. I must get busy!

Oh That Cat...

As if it were not enough that the grandparents outgrew our home it now seems that the devilish feline who stays in our garage has decided that he should lay out all night, too. Wasn't that a long sentence and a very long story. He is of course a tom cat. He seems to have this needless desire to roam and roam defending his territory and of course hunting rodents.

I think the rodent part is great. We did not have any cats last year and the attic and garage were filled with mice. I purchased some "Shake-Away" online for $10. This product is scented like the...um...well...urine of a mouse's natural predators. One of which they had listed on the label was a bobcat. Now tell me how a city mouse knows what bobcat...um...well...urine smells like. I don't exactly live in town but not too far from it. There are no bobcats (that I have ever seen). But, the stuff seemed to work so I am not knocking it.

There is one ferocious light orange tomcat. You may have seen the picture I posted of him taking a nap by a mouse he had caught. This morning after Mushu did not come home, I went out looking for him. I just knew I would find him dead on the side of the road. I know that is how you mom and dads feel out there. There he was, not on the side of the road, rather he was in some tall grass at the edge of the field with his bum all up in the air shaking from side to side. he was getting ready to lunge on some unsuspecting animal. I allowed it and controlled my already brewing anger and went back inside. Moments later, Tabithia looked out and Mushu the Mischievous had once again brought his prey inside. I hate that. Were it dead, no big deal. This was a live rodent who was eager to escape its sadistic captor. He released the beast only enough to make it feel it was free, then would pounce on him. This went on only briefly when I heard a lot of pawing noise. Once again the cat lost a mouse in the junk in the garage. Augh!!!! Last year I had mice because there was no cat. This year I have a cat that brings them in and gives them a home. Is there "Shake-Away" for tomcats!

I had to go out and finish the job once again. I left him with the intact mouse which he later disemboweled. That is a beautiful feel good story. I know. I was so mad at him for being out all night. I provide him with a good home and he just lays out where ever in the cold. Kids these days have no respect, nor do cats. I could not help but pet and love on him though, especially when he starts that purring thing. He is so going to the vet for a little procedure though. Soon, very soon.

Empty Nest...

It is always sad when they grow up and leave your once busy halls silent, lonely. Sad it is indeed. Okay maybe our figurative children have not left us, but Tabithia's grandparents have returned to their repaired/cleaned house after the fire. After a week and three days I guess I will again be responsible for my own dishes...terrible! I guess I will probably have to start folding laundry again...fooey! Life is so unfair. You raise them up right, teach them, train them and they leave you. This is just so hard to cope with.

We all knew the day would come that their house would be inhabitable again. The day would come when they would not come in late at night. They just didn't come home. All of this after we worked so hard to clean up a mess we had created getting ready for them. All of the Christmas trees have sprouted from the floor (no I do not live in a dirt floor house, albeit I do live in Arkansas. My neighbor's house was supposed to be dirt floor, they are tearing it down so I sneaked a peek, no dirt floor.) There were enough needles to think we had real trees. There are two in the living room, one each in the four bedrooms, one in the kitchen, one table top in each of the three baths. There are others awaiting placement. It is like a forest really. Our trees in the living room are HIS and HERS. It is a little friendly competition. I will try to post some pictures once the elves come and finish it all. Wouldn't that be great!

Well, I must get off here and get something accomplished. There are no elves and no grandparents gonna do anything around my place today. I need to adopt some homeless elderly people. Must be able to cook, clean and put dishes away in the proper spot (that is another story). Anyone that flies with an umbrella need not apply. I find that a little creepy with or without a spoonful of sugar.

Overdue...

What a retched word! When it comes to bills it is particularly uncomfortable. We seldom ever experience that unless there has been some gross oversight (or misplaced bill). I am really over due to shed my joyful presence over blogville like glorious morning sun as it casts its first golden rays dispelling the darkness that was. So here I am. Feel better? Nyak!

A lot has transpired since last post. Last Friday, Tabithia's grandparents house caught fire. That was an intense moment when I received the phone call. It was disheartening to imagine plumes of smoke chased by the intense heat of years of memories engulfed in flames. I am so poetic today. What is up with that? I went over there and to my pleasure and surprise, no obvious flames. The fire department was on the scene and never had to sop down anything with their hoses. It began at the electrical meter and was primarily contained there. Someone was outside at the neighbors and caught it early. I fear that her grandparents who could scarcely hear a summer's thunderstorm would ever have a clue as to what was occurring. Everyone and virtually everything was safe. There was very minimal damage even from smoke.

For the past week, though, the house has been powerless, and thus the grandparents have moved in with us, only at night. They sleep at our house. They are so afraid that they will inconvenience us. They don't like to use our water. I actually like the dish washing situation. I despise to wash dishes. I don't even like to load them in the dishwasher. Blah! Well, Christine, her grandmother, is all about washing dishes. It is pretty nice actually.

Revival...What can I say? God has really blessed me as well as those there. Wednesday night was an awkward night for me. I did not feel I had the liberty needed. It was not any one's fault but perhaps my own. We had nine present the first night. Last night I believe we were up to about 11. It is a very small work and I am glad o be of service to them. The pastor apologizes unnecessarily because I am not discouraged. The Lord gave me a wonderful liberty last night. I was amazed by God's ability. I started and finished with the same intensity without any throat problems or loss of voice. Lately, I grow raspy by the end. My voice is nearly always gone by the end of the night anyway. the message was entitled, Isolation. I began talking about super staph and was able to put a plug in for hand washing, then on to the Levitical terms of isolation discussed in chapter 15, straight on to the woman with the issue of blood. We do not have to feel isolated. Our High Priest is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, whether physical, spiritual, emotional, mental...We just have to press through and reach out reach out in faith. only three members including the pastor have been there and four family members of one of the song leader. I am looking forward to tonight.

I should be wrapping this up. I still have to cook for Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday. I will have no time tomorrow. I need to let the dogs out. I need to change the ducks' water. I need to take a nap not to mention finish studying for tonight's message and have my things ready for work. What am I doing on here? See Ya!!

The Lighter Side...

Being a Sanguine and all i prefer the lighter side of life. The same applies to the four letters that represent my personal make up that I posted a couple of times ago. I can't remember all of that alphabet stuff. I know the CPMA, WMB, VLB...That is really all the alphabet I can handle, not to mention all of the abbreviations I use at work. Really though, I like to type out some of the big words anyway. There is just something about typing out cholecystectomy. I can do that word so fast. Love it. See there I am on a lighter subject today although I am so stressed. Why should I be stressed, really I don't know. I am in revival next week for three days. I look forward to that. I also have so much yard work to do. I have bought all kinds of shrubs and bulbs that need to be planted. I also have things I need to move. Now is the time, if I only had the time. On the inside, boxes are already flying open and Christmas has found its way into our house again. The mantle is done with stockings in place. Yes, I know if Becki is reading this she will strip a gear. Some people, me being one of them, skip right over the beautiful season of Autumn. I have had that lecture before. We have a fall display int he kitchen, although not for long.

I have a couple of prayer request before I close this out. The first of course is the revival next Wednesday through Friday. It is a smaller Church and I pray hey are truly revived and encouraged. I do not want just a series of meetings, I want the presence of God. My second request is for me. My neck is hurting me so badly as well as my shoulder. I cannot raise my arm up very high. I had the hardest time shaving. My neck messes up a few times a year while my should either could be a result of my neck or a condition that I have in my shoulder as well. Please remember these requests.