2015 - Day 332/33 - Saturday...

While walking the girl dog this evening, I was wearing two coats (one with a hoody), a pair of farmer insulated gloves and a very fashionable pair of turquoise colored Crocs. It is cold as the dickens (cool) here, but at least the girl dog was not unusually embarrassed about my outfit. Earlier today, I was laying on the couch and she decided to use me as a stepping stone to look out the windows and survey the situation. I am an adequate lump for her, and she does not hesitate to make use of any immovable she may happen upon to patrol for cats or chickens or other species that she may feel superior to. She does a good job!

I went in to Austin this morning to get my haircut, and took a wee-bit advantage to do a wee-bit of shopping at my friend Jill's shop in downtown Pflugerville, Ruffles and Rust. If you get a chance, stop by and support your local shop keepers.

Work around the property tomorrow, and back to work on Monday.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, GIRL DOG, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 331/34 - Friday...

The day after Thanksgiving has proven to be cooler (I would say colder but,if I put it all in perspective, it is really just cooler), rainier, windier and just over all less attractive than the previous day. It has pretty much rained all over night and all day today. We have about an inch-and-a-quarter so far, and more is expected. Throughout all that, there are a couple Iris blooming here and there in the yard. This one is a pretty little one, blooming itself in to a stupor outside the garage. With all the rains, next spring should be a good one (for the Texas Wildflowers as well).

It took a combined week (or more) to successfully change the GFCI plug in the garage. Many attempts and conferences with those in the know led to our neighbor Jim coming to the rescue and wiring it up properly. I SWEAR I had it wired properly at least once during the week, but he must have magic fingers or something, because it is now working as intended. I will, however, keep my eye on the night light to make sure it continues to operate properly.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, IRISES, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 330/35 - Thanksgiving Day...

Jody and I are thankful for all of you...

It was a really calm and slow day. I went and delivered a pie to some good friends, and then it was down for a nap for a little while. Maddy the girl dog is thankful for all her blessings as well, and we are the luckiest family in the world.

Enjoy the calm, tomorrow is black Friday, all hell will be breaking loose soon.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, THANKS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 329/36 - Wednesday...

Must. Remember. Today. Is. Not. Friday.

I'll try, but I have an overwhelming urge to go see if Sharktank is on later. The Pyracantha has been having an excellent season, and the sage is getting it right this time. The red berries on the Pyracantha are lovely against the backdrop of the sage. The Pyracantha (also known as the 'firethorn' for very good reason) has been bursting forth with berries for a couple months now. The sage has it right; we had a trace of rain today, supposed to have up to 3 inches between now and Sunday night. Good sleeping weather I hope.

I ha lunch with Emily and Hudson (I think he is four, not sure), and that was fun. The three of us played hide-and-seek, and it was fun to see a mom do her thing with her child. Very cute.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, THORNS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 328/37 - Tuesday...

This is what is wrong with America. Too much crap. Too many choices. Our heads are in a constant state of spinning from trying to decide what kind of tooth paste we should buy. Then what type of allergy or cold or flu toxin to purchase. Then it is on to cereals. What happened to corn flakes and rice  krispies? And don't get me started on dog food and cat food. But this...THIS is the GFCI aisle at Lowe's. Why are there so many freakin' different GFCI plugs in the store. I get there may be two or three different ones, depending on the voltages etc...but a whole freakin' wall of GFCI related stuff. Not necessary. This was my second visit to a big box retailer in about four days to find a GFCI plug for the garage outlet. It seems the one I bought on Saturday is defective (and of course I threw away the box and the receipt, how can a GFCI that I just bought be bad?), and so I needed another one. It is now sitting in the garage happily awaiting my electrician skills to install it...but not until Thursday morning.

I bet Donald Trump has never been in the GFCI aisle is EITHER Home Depot or Lowe's. But he did see people protesting about them in Jersey City!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, TOO MUCH CRAP, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 327/38 - Monday...

Monday, Monday, Monday...what're we gonna do with you? I am absolutely, positively, 100% certain that none of this is up to code, but we have had the refrigerator and the freezer (in the garage) plugged in via an extension cord, because the plug that generally serves those units are on a GFCI breaker, and we cannot get the breaker to hold. I have replaced the GFCI itself, and the offending tripper plug (outside the garage) has received a new water resistant cover (all new insulated bits) and we caulked about the cover for extra water resistance, but this freaking GFCI plug in the garage will not work. The little tiny green 'pilot' light thing on the plug is glowing green, but if I plug the night light into the plug directly (we use the nightlight in the GFCI plug so we will know if the breaker has tripped and (hopefully) won't lose everything in the refrigerator and freezer), and there is no power. NOTE: Two parentheses in one parenthetical anecdote, not a record (for me) but worth mentioning. I am at a total loss as to how the pilot light thing can glow if there is no power to the plug. Whatever. So today I was on a mission to find an electrician that would journey to the edge of nowhere, but no luck. I kind of think everyone is already observing the Christmas Holiday (they sure can't be thinking about Thanksgiving), and no one returned a call.

It will all get corrected in time, and I expect we will get the issue corrected without loss of 1) Limbs, 2) Lives, 3) Food stuffs from either storage unit, and 4) All of the above. Feel free to pick one.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, GFCIs, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 326/39 - Sunday...

Well, at least it didn't rain overnight, but it did go down into the mid-30's. Last night was the Austin Empty Bowl Project Preview Party, and today was the actual event. I am TRASH-MAN! TRASH-MAN! People remembered me from last year, and that was fun. I did not (to the best of my knowledge) run anyone off from the event, and it was a lot of fun, even though it was chillish. I was able to keep warm by walking around and harassing people. Carrie kept warm by drying folks bowls after they were washed and before they filled up with soup. A great event benefiting the Capital Area Food Bank, Meals-On-Wheels and the Kids Cafe. Thanks for everyone that attended.

We got home from the event about 3 o'clock, and then I went down for a nap. Pizza for dinner, and probably another nap before I can it a night. This is a short week, office in the morning, teaching two classes in the afternoon, and that is pretty much it for the week.

I think there are pies in my future.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, TRASH-MAN, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!