Perky Jerky Turkey-Wedesday Hodge Podge

1. Give us three rhyming words that say something about your Thanksgiving holiday (or your most recent holiday gathering if you didn't celebrate Thanksgiving). Cranberries, Calories, and Batteries.  The first two are self-explanatory (another rhyme) batteries come in to it as the battery is dead on my car and would not jump.
  
2. When did you last say, 'the more the merrier'? Did you mean it? A couple of  week ago, when I had 3 extra dogs on the property, Here, I believed I used the phrase, when I let Boomer's and Sammy's mom know that they were here and she couldn't pick them up until after work.  Boomer came by again on Sunday night, a neighbor brought him by, because her neighbor, said I knew the dog. I texted his mom again. She has a hard time keeping him in the yard. It had been over a week since he roamed his way over here. I do worry about his wanderlust, that is why if I see him coming, he is going in the yard.  The more the merrier.
 

3. What's one piece of advice you'd give someone who is your same age? Any one as old as me...69....doesn't need my advice. Except, maybe avoid moaning about how things were better or smarter, when back then.....and Kids weren't really any different/better.....when they were raising them. Don't worry.....be happy.
 
4. You're ordering a veggie plate, what four veggies are on it? Mushrooms, onions, green beans and sweet potato fries.
 

5. Shop til you drop! Did you? Have you ever? Will you between now and Christmas?  One year my bank was merging with another one....and it wasn't going well.  I was working 10 and 11 hours a day, trying to take care of atm disputes, that were a mess. I was making a lot of extra money during the holidays, but no time to shop.  I did all of it the 2 days before Christmas. I have shopped online so far this year, and I might finish it there if I can.  I do not like the mall for shopping....only for walking.
 
6. What's your favorite chair in your house, and why is it a favorite? The recliner in the living room, where Mr BC is currently napping.  I am so glad that he is here to sleep in it.

7. Share an early memory of faith, religion, or spirituality. I went to church, from a very early age, but I was a little unorthodox. When I was a youngster, a dear friend of the family, who was my Sunday School teacher, really enjoyed telling the story on me....of how she asked if any one would like to sing a song.  I am sure she was hoping for a loud rendition of Jesus Loves Me or This Little Light of Mine.  I raise my hand and proceeded to sing a Beer Jingle.  I am sure my mother was really dismayed the first time she told it.
 
As an adult, I have never been particularly spiritual and have always had difficulty with organized religion.  Aristotle—one of the first known Western thinkers to demonstrate that morality, virtue and goodness can be derived without appealing to supernatural forces—even arguing that "men create Gods in their own image" I am humanist-thinking, in nature and belief. But, I would never push my belief or lack of it off on others or ridicule others for their religious beliefs.  Except for the odd meme question, I usually stay quiet about what I think. My friends are always praying for me and I say thank you.
 
8. Insert your own random thought here.

Come to the Caberet-Saturday 9

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Liza Minnelli encourages you to put down "the knitting, the book and the broom." Which of those three were you most recently doing: knitting, reading or housework? Housework is eternal, but I was reading last night before bed. I don't knit any more because needlework is just too hard on my eyes and my knuckles.

2) She sings that we shouldn't allow "some prophet of doom to wipe every smile away?" Do you know anyone who reliably looks at the downside of life?   Not so much, but when I was working, there was always someone who was negative.  I try not to let those folks into my life.

3) In 1972, when this recording was popular, so was The Brady Bunch. In the two-part season premiere, The Bradys went to Hawaii. Do you have any warm weather vacation plans this fall/winter? I am going to Santa Barbara in January and February, it is usually pretty mild in the winter....but, isn't always reliably nice in the winter. Seeing the grandsons is great no matter what the weather. Their birthday is just one day apart and Caшa, was born on his Mom's birthday, it just make sense to go and celebrate the fun.

4) Though not her uncle, just a friend to both of her parents, Liza always called  Frank Sinatra as "Uncle Frank." Is there an older person in your life who isn't a blood relative, but who refer to as "aunt" or "uncle?" No, but my mom was Auntie Jeannie, to a lot of kids when I was younger.

5) Liza collapsed onstage during a Christmas concert in 2007. She says she'd been nauseous before she went on and simply fainted. Sam has never fainted. Have you? I have been nauseous before but I have not ever fainted. One time my mom fainted from heat, in line at Blue Bayou restaurant at Disneyland, and we got right in thanks to kindly patrons.
 
6) People are often surprised when they learn Liza is good friends with Gene Simmons -- the KISS member with the long tongue. Tell us about one of your good friends.  I have been lucky with friends, one friend is special, as she is the wife of Mr BC's best friend from school. We have been friends since we first met, so many years ago, she is my mall walking buddy too, so we see each other a lot.

Maggie and Jigs BFF

7) Liza told US Magazine that she loves to eat at Olive Garden. Do you? We have only been there once or twice, several years ago. I don't think it is truly authentic Italian, I was raised in a very Italian neighborhood, growing up in our southern CA suburb. Christmas was delicious.

8) She keeps apple juice and yogurt in her refrigerator at all times. Would we find either in your refrigerator right now? Yes, if Apple Cider counts as apple juice.  This time of year I have a bottle of it in my fridge.  I have some cartons of yogurt, but they might be out of date. I mix it as the liquid in spiced Chai concentrate, instead of milk and.... poof.... spiced cider.

 
9)  Random question: Which would be a more frustrating dinner companion -- someone who won't shut up, or someone who won't say a word? Both are not a great thing at dinner.  I guess someone who won't say a word, would frustrate me more, and probably make me uncomfortable if it was just us at a table. 

 

Friendly Fill-Ins and Friday Fragments

http://mcguffysreader.blogspot.com/

1. One Thanksgiving tradition I have was to watch the Macy's parade, go to my folks for dinner and football all weekend (Mr BC). Now we are very quiet, have a much smaller dinner, with the usual trimmings, and Mr BC is not much of a football fan any more. 

2. Black Friday is left overs for me and a good book, I have never gone out shopping on a Black Friday and never will.

3. The best part about Thanksgiving Day is turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie.

4. One Thanksgiving, the first one after my father died, my cousin invited us to her house for the holiday. TG was always my dad's holiday, so I went over early to help, we were relative novices. She had the turkey sitting on the counter ready to stuff. She tried to move it, to her pan and she dropped it on the floor....she had a galley kitchen and it slid all the way down to the back screen door....where her dog was surprised with a potential bounty....but was disappointed when we snatched the turkey up, to give it another bath!  We giggled about it all afternoon.

The past week has been all about stray dogs.  One rainy day I found these guy wandering the streets and invited them into my yard to sit on my wrap around porch. A city worker recognized them and we got them home the next day......however, they came back again the next week, they are wanderers, they were back again today.  I have become friends with their mom and texted her that they were safe in my yard she picked them up not to long ago. They live in the country so they are not fenced.  They seem to like me and I think they are lovely. I just don't like them wandering the highway to get to town.

Last week, this guy followed us home from our walk, and he has been around on and off.  I bring him in at night and he has been here for 3 days, today we found out from the mail lady where he lives, so we are going to get him back home, if we can. Keeping him in the yard is harder than the other dogs as he is tiny and can get thru the space in the gate. Today with my dogs I had 5 in my yard.....a regular doggy daycare....Mr BC was in heaven.

More dog fun:

Happiness Is-Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Let's all think happy thoughts...share one of yours here. I am the constant  optimist in this house. I try to keep a smile on my face all of the time. Which is a challenge when you have a resting bitchy face.  I use to get tired of folks telling me to smile when I wasn't really unhappy. So I try to smile every time I look up.

2. There's a Chinese proverb that says, "If you want happiness for an hour take a nap, if you want happiness for a day-go fishing...." What say you? If you want happiness for a day, have a full body massage and a pedicure.. 

3. Where do you go to decompress from the world around you? Walking the dogs is stress-less. I have to do it every day as the dogs can tell time, but once we get started it is very relaxing, especially when we get out of town.

4. What song never fails to make you happy? Don't Worry, be Happy.

5. Wednesday is National Fast Food Day. Should that be a thing? Apparently it is, so tell us what's the last 'fast food' you consumed? If you were putting together your own version of a 'happy meal' what would you include? I had a Culver's butter burger and sweet potato fries, for late lunch, early dinner, yesterday, I can't even imagine the calorie count of a butter burger! My happy meal would be lasagne and salad.

6. In a few sentences tell us why you blog. I wanted to have a project where I could talk about my family, retirement and write.  I started out writing short stories and posting writing memes.  I go hot and cold about quitting but I do enjoy reading and commenting on my bloggy friends, posts.

7. List seven things you're feeling especially grateful for today. I am grateful for:
Mr Bankerchick for 49 years.
Two fantastic grandsons.
That I am friends with my kids.
I have my health and my mind, so I can take care of Mr BC.
My dogs, who love me unconditionally.
Good friends.
Roku....streaming video, because regular TV is boring and the news is depressing.

 
8. Insert your own random thought here. Two thoughts today, a random and a happy one, my brain is heavy with the thinking.
Let's think about: Happy corgi and happy grandsons, trick or treating. 

Friendly Fill-Ins and Friday Fragments

 

http://mcguffysreader.blogspot.com/

Week 27: November 11, 2016

1. Cursive handwriting should be taught in schools. I know that many schools do not have this as part of curriculum any more. It will probably become a lost art.

 
2. The last item I donated: was a box of clothes and small household items to Goodwill. I always have a box or bag of items ready to go.  I am trying to divest this house of all the miscellaneous and duplicate items of my MIL and mine.  We inherited her house and contents and there are a lot of things that need to be  cleared out that we just put in boxes in storage.

3. My (personal) song is: Devil With a Blue Dress, because it is Mr BC's song for me when we were dating.

4. Three things I am thankful for this week are: Took the dogs to the vet this week and Gwennie's heart was strong and was taken off of Lasix, she is still on a diet, Totum got some allergy medicine for his intense scratching,  and the weather is beautiful, although we could use a freeze so the grass would stop growing.

Today is Veteran's day, where we remember and honor America's Veterans.  I want to specially honor my veteran.....Mr Bankerchick.

 

If you don't care for political conversations I suggest you don't read on. I usually don't talk politics but this election has been particularly problematic and maybe not so Friendly. 

My Friday Fragments pieces will be mainly about what every one is talking about....and not necessarily a fragment. It would be incorrect to say I was happy with the election results. Not because I was crazy for Hillary so much, but because I don't like Trump at all, and I am deeply disappointed and worried for the country.

DD1 and DD2 are of the same mind and were Hillary fans, acknowledging the same feelings I had with her opposition, and DD1 shared a lengthy text with all of us when DD2 asked about the boys. And the discussion she had with the 7 year old.  I have excerpted a bit of it since she had taken the oldest with her to vote on Tuesday, so he was aware of who his mom was voting for.  I think she had a great discussion with him, even though she was having a hard time Tuesday nite.

 

"Caшa,is pretty blissfully oblivious at this age, but  Лука, has been talking about the election the past few months since the US political process is a classroom discussion item. I explained to Лука,  that a big reason I don't support Trump is that he represents the polar opposite of everything I'm trying so hard to teach them about being a decent and good-hearted human beings. Лука, was disappointed when I told him that it looked like the man I have described as a bully will probably win, but I pulled myself together and let him know that this country has enjoyed good presidents and survived bad ones, and we can be grateful that the sun will come up in the morning and we'll get through this like we do any other challenge."
 
I sincerely hope that she is right, and the boys, (and the rest of us) will not be impacted negatively, by his administration. The news indicates that all is not well out there already.