A blustery winter day

The temperature is in the teens - before the wind chill factor. The wind is fierce. I went out with Shelly for lunch - she drove - and declined to get out again.

I don't know what we'll do Christmas Day - it depends on the weather. If my mother won't get out, I'll take stuff over to her place then go to Joe's myself later.

Tomorrow, I'm baking pumpkin pies. With heavy cream, not evaporated milk. Have to patch up one of the pie shells. I hope the pie shells taste ok, as they use vegetable oil, not lard or Crisco.

Got Joe his Boston fern. A really big one. And a large poinsettia for my mother. Checks to Annie and Jessica and Katie. Used the wrong zip code for Annie, but she got mine. Now, if she will only get the check I sent from my mother. When I copied the zip code into my address book, the pen skipped on the loop in the 9, so I thought it was a 1. Had it right on the notepad, but apparently checked the wrong one.

Haven't been to church in ages, so have been playing Christmas carols on the organ. Hope that does it.

Christmas shopping

All I have left to get is a Boston fern for Joe. Baker Floral is trying to order one for me. All Mother wanted was a poinsetta, so got her a real nice one at Baker Floral. Cost a lot more than one from Wal Mart, but it's a lot nicer, too. Have left it covered up so Boots doesn't get into it. Will take it over tomorrow.

Sent checks to Jessica & Annie & Katie. Got a copy of a picture of Jess when she was 10 and sent it to Steve.

Jessica is getting a second horse - Calabar - a former race horse with Thoroughbred hooves. She says he and Lena are both brats, which is what she likes.

Winter

Winter has arrived. It gets down in the teens overnight and stays in the 20's during the day. There is some snow on the ground with more expected today. I didn't get plowed out until Monday afternoon as there was ice as well.

Everyone in California laughs, of course, but they are getting heavy rains, which can be dangerous.
Tomorrow, I am taking my mother for a hair appointment after my hair cut. Saturday, we are scheduled at Marjorie's Tea House for lunch with friends celebrating birthdays and Christmas. Mother's sidewalk and driveway have not been shoveled, so getting her to the car is a problem.

So much for the start of winter.

Digital camera

My Canon PowerShot arrived by UPS Wednesday. Pam and I got the batteries installed and the picture clip, and I took a couple of pictures of her, but still have no idea how to use the camera. Joe is supposed to help sometime today.

Once again, my blogspot went off the short list on Mozilla, which aggravates me to no end. I guess I'll have to add to the blog every couple of days.

Yesterday I substituted at John Adams Middle School, but it was easy. A student teacher in many of the classes. All were co-taught. Monday I will only be there in the afternoon, for another teacher, but the one with a student teacher.

Have yet to find a time for an interview for the new December Home of the Month. Hope to get that straighted out today. May have to cancel more appointments.

That's the news.

Blog address keeps going off list

I'm not quite sure what is happening with my brief list of web sites and blog sites, but mine keeps going off and I have to type it in again. Jessica's stays on.

Jessica pretty well has me convinced to use some birthday money on a digital camera. Will have to ask how that would work out with the Globe Gazette.

Did an interview today at La' James College for an article that will come out Dec. 2. They teach cosmetology, massage therapy, esthetics, and nails. Took some pictures, and on the way home realized I had not put down the last name of the instructor in the pictures. So called and got her and got the info.

Mother took a tumble yesterday while she was hanging onto my right arm. Fortunately, a kid came along and helped her finish getting to her feet, as I couldn't have lifted her. She wasn't hurt, just shook up.

Furnace acted up and had to call Mike of Brass Heating and Plumbing in Rudd. Practically called him out of bed, as it was really cold in here. He got here around 8:30 and fixed it and then ordered the part to have in his truck.

See my therapist at 2:00. Not exactly an award-winning day.

Writing Exercises

Just got off a long article for the November Home of the Month. Worked on the notes yesterday, did draft today, edited it, then sent it off by email. Called the home's owner a couple of times over details. Think I covered the house pretty well.

Have two assignments due Thursday for writing class. Have an idea for one. Not sure how I'll tackle the other.

Counsin Jim-- and the email he forwards--can get downright obnoxious. Haven't figured out what to do with him again. Fortunately, we never get off on those subjects when we talk on the phone.

Cousin Jim's wife, Joyce, may look up Great Aunt Audrey at the Taylor County Museum and the Bedford library. Hope she finds some stuff. Then there's the possibility of checking at the court house for transcripts of the trial.

That's mainly the news for today.

Katie

My granddaughter will be 17 November 24. When Jessica and Ed divorced, Ed used my diagnosis against Jessica. Tammy, his second and third wife, was a pathological liar and psychotic to boot and did a masterful job of fooling the counselor. Ed got custody and later on Jessica had to run up a large legal bill to get the visitation straightened out.

Now Katie is ready to move in with Jessica and Ed is destroying his relationship with Katie, which leaves Katie heartbroken and Jessica heartbroken for her. He and Dayna, his fourth wife, refuse to acknowledge how intelligent and responsible Katie is and even think they should dictate what she does when she's with Jessica.

There's nothing I can do except be there for Jessica. I will get a letter off to Katie soon, but I don't know what to say to her.