Foolish Folly

High temperature today was: 21 degrees

Partly cloudy, very windy

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The Outer Banks of North Carolina when we were there

The Outer Banks of North Carolina a day ago 

I could not post a thing on here yesterday--I was exhausted!!!

2:00--appointment for deep tissue massage and chiropractor
          When I got out of there, I hurt so bad I just wanted to come home, but-----combining all the things I had to do, I drove back into Brighton.  Drove past my other stops to make it to the post office in time.  On to the Meijer store for supplies.  It was sooooooooo cold!  Then I noticed that their gas station had gas for $3.11 a gallon and my gas gauge was less then 1/4, so I stopped and filled up.  Of course I had no hat or gloves on, so I just stood there as the gas was going in and thought about something else to pretend I wasn't so cold (12 degrees).  Then back up the road to the Rich People's store for cake, croissants and two salads.  As I was pulling into a spot, I noticed there was a shopping cart in the way--in fact it was out in the lane.  There was a young man (40's) walking by and he walked between me and the cart and NEVER PUSHED THE CART OUT OF MY WAY as he walked by.  I mumbled to myself, as I am prone to do, "You silly son of a .....", got out, pushed the cart to the front of the handicap spot and parked.  GEEZ!!  

Finally, got on my way home and stopped to get a Subway for supper.  The massage therapist had given me a treatment on my neck and ears, trying to calm down the Tinnitus I have--it has been so "loud" lately AND the chiropractor had done some adjustments on my neck, shoulder and arm and then I had ultra sound treatments on the same area.  When I got home, I toted in all my groceries (8 trips), put them away, had my Subway and by 9:00. I had rubbed down the pain area with the best pain rub in this world and went to bed.

8:00 this morning.

     Woke up feeling great!  Neck and shoulder not paining at all and lower back feels great.  Tinnitus is pretty quiet too.  

8:40 this morning:

     Off to the doctor's office to get my blood drawn.  (10 degrees and super windy.)  Had three vials taken out.  I prefer to get blood drawn at my doc's office rather than the lab up the street.  Michelle, his nurse is the best!!!

It doesn't matter who draws my blood, it still hurts and my arm will ache for the rest of the day--it just always does.  I needed the tests done for my visit to the cardiologist's this next Wednesday AND I wanted the report too--just to check my numbers.

I think I told you, last fall, when I was last in the doc's office, Melissa Gilbert (Little House On The Prairie) was in there too.  I kidded my doctor about being "doctor to the stars" and it cracked me up because he had no idea who she was.  Apparently he is too young or never watched the show.  I found out today, that he makes house calls to her!  She called in the other day, back from her trip to some talk shows in New York and she had a migraine...so he went to HER house to help her.  NOW--as I reminded him today, I was his FIRST patient when he started his new practice about 8 years ago.  So I said to him, "If I called and didn't want to come in, would you make a house call to me?"  and his reply was, "No.  I'd tell you to take two aspirin and call me in the morning!"  Fame does have its privileges!!
Melissa’s Mid-Life Musings.


I got out of there and headed toward home.  Stopped at Wal-Mart to get Diet Pepsi--a buck a piece for 2 litres, and when I reached up to get my blue handicap card to hang on my rear view mirror, I couldn't find it! It must have fallen under the seats or something because I had it yesterday, but I couldn't find it.  I had the best spot too--the first spot right across from the door.  So--I backed out and moved down the line to another parking space.  CRUD--it was sooooooooo cold walking into the store. (Mumble, mumble.)

Thankfully, they had a nice display of Pepsi right at the front, so I didn't have to walk clear back to the back side of the store.  Back out to the car--trunk is frozen shut, load it into the back seat and start home.

Half-way home I remember, I was going to stop at Discount Tire and get my soft tires aired up.  Discount Tire is right across from my doctor's office.  I pulled into the parking lot of the Midway grocery store, out the other drive, back toward Howell.  

As I'm driving along, some idiot decides he wants into my lane and he pulled over right in front of me, no turn signal, no nothing.  I hit the brakes, they squealed, slipped a bit, but I didn't hit him.  My perfect driving record intact, I proceeded along. (Mumble, mumble--out loud curse words directed at him.)  

Got to Discount Tire, they aired up my tires, checked the treads and off I was, back on my way home.

Got home, tried to get stuck backing into the drive, revved it up and dang near backed into the Maple tree--unloaded the five bags of Diet Pepsi and got into the house.  It was now 9:56.  Did it all in just an hour.  WHEW!

Got on the phone and called the chiropractor's office to leave a message for the massage therapist, "Please tell Nichol that my ears are nice and quiet this morning.  Tell her I said, thank you soooo much!  and please tell doctor Janis that my collar bone, neck and shoulder aren't throbbing today.  See ya Monday."
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2:00 - 21 degrees
     I decided because it was warm(er), I'd fill up the bird feeders, because--we are expecting an inch of snow tonight and...4 to 8 or more Saturday afternoon and night.
My Foolish Folly--or--another hare-brained idea of mine...

You may know that I have this "farm" theory of, survival of the fittest.  BUT--after I saw the bunny tracks AND have watched the squirrel try and get food from the bird feeders and being repelled by the "hot sauce" on the food, I decided, that because this is such an  unusual winter, they are going to find it very difficult to find food.  SO--I bought corn and peanuts--more than I could afford and was even going to buy rabbit food pellets, but realized I do not need a 40# bag (and that is about the size they come in) AND, while I was outside, I made a feeding station for the little furry animals.

I have a really sturdy cardboard box, and it just happens to be coated with some sort of plastic.  I put in a dish of peanuts and some ears of corn and put it under my Lilac bushes and put a heavy plastic jug of Niger seed on top to keep it from skittering on the snow when the wind blows.  If I get any action, or see any activity and think it is worth while, next fall I will have Merle build me a wooden box for this purpose.

This feeding station is non-denominational and anti-discriminatory.

Squirrel, bunny, chipmunk, skunk, raccoon.  

Whoever is hungry may eat at this place.

I feel so, sort of, St. Francis of Assisi.

It is outside my living room window--where the cats can watch the show--if the critters come during the daylight hours.  

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Did you see that mess on I-75 in Atlanta?  I agree with the meteorologists--they had plenty of warning.  The government/mayor just didn't realize what a bit of snow would do to them and didn't react.

2 inches of snow?  Look at your ruler.  Do you realize how little that is?  Around here, the plows wouldn't even come through the park.  Dan, my snow shoveling man would not show up.  If we get an inch or two tonight--nobody will even be out shoveling tomorrow. 

Of  course snow, blowing across a highway, with the cars traveling on it, will cause ice and slippery areas.  At least, the governor stepped up to the plate and took the blame, quite an unheard thing from a politician.  I'll bet if it ever happens again, schools will be closed and people told to stay home from work.

I can't even imagine being trapped in a car for 12 or more hours.  I have to go potty about every hour--how would you accomplish that?

Well my friends--if we get 1/10th of an inch of snow tonight and tomorrow, it will set a record for the snowiest month--EVER.  We already have much more snow just this month, than we get in a year!  

All I can think of is something an old Japanese gardener once told me. "The more snow the better.  It sets the spring bulbs  for better blooms and it nourishes the bushes and perennials for larger and more prolific blooms."

We shall see, Grasshopper!