Did you know it hasn't stopped snowing here? I get that it can be difficult to shovel. If you're out-of-town or elderly, it may not get done to the same degree that an able-bodied person would do.
I walked down to a friend's house this morning. The sidewalks were passable. Until I got to the house that is owned by the bank. Those sidewalks haven't been cleared off for weeks. (Or days, it's snowed so much here.)
I didn't realize that though until I stepped off the hill on the corner down into the two feet of snow. At that point it was too late to turn back. I forged ahead, climbing through the deep snow until the next property where the sidewalk was back to mostly clear.
Fortunately, it was so cold and the snow was so light, that it didn't really stick to me. Once I got to Trina's, I dried off pretty quickly.
I'm thankful for cleared off sidewalks. I'm also thankful for my long underwear and three layers of socks.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
doing good
I watch "Ellen" every day. If I'm not home to watch her, I record the show.
Today, she welcomed back a young woman who opened a charter school in the poorest neighborhood in Detroit. The last time this woman was on the show, Ellen (and Shutterfly -who don't know me) gave the school $50,000. Then, because of this story, viewers have sent the school art supplies and more money. It's an amazing story.
Ellen has given so much to deserving people. Individuals, families, schools, rescuers, the list goes on and on.
She ends her show with the phrase, "Be kind to one another". It's contagious. Whether you pay it forward, or share something as small as a smile with a stranger we can make this a better place.
Maybe that's a small part of what I'm trying to do by being thankful every day.
Laugh, have fun, and be thankful.
Today, she welcomed back a young woman who opened a charter school in the poorest neighborhood in Detroit. The last time this woman was on the show, Ellen (and Shutterfly -who don't know me) gave the school $50,000. Then, because of this story, viewers have sent the school art supplies and more money. It's an amazing story.
Ellen has given so much to deserving people. Individuals, families, schools, rescuers, the list goes on and on.
She ends her show with the phrase, "Be kind to one another". It's contagious. Whether you pay it forward, or share something as small as a smile with a stranger we can make this a better place.
Maybe that's a small part of what I'm trying to do by being thankful every day.
Laugh, have fun, and be thankful.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
I could have been...
Today was a rough day at work. The internet wasn't playing nice which meant I couldn't connect to the printer. Eventually, through a convoluted solution, I was able to print.
Then I called and whined to our IT guy (ha! I just realized he's our "it" guy), who came in on his day off and the minute he walked into the building everything worked like normal. He went home and approximately thirty seconds after he left, my internet went out again.
There's not a lot I can do without internet or printing capability.
Then I came home and read a post on Facebook. It's about having a bad day at work, purchasing a rectal thermometer (made by Johnson & Johnson), taking it home, reading the instructions which (apparently) state that every thermometer is tested before being sanitized and packaged. The gist is that at least I don't work for J&J. Har har. It made me laugh and whether true or not, at least I don't test rectal thermometers.
For that, I am thankful!
Then I called and whined to our IT guy (ha! I just realized he's our "it" guy), who came in on his day off and the minute he walked into the building everything worked like normal. He went home and approximately thirty seconds after he left, my internet went out again.
There's not a lot I can do without internet or printing capability.
Then I came home and read a post on Facebook. It's about having a bad day at work, purchasing a rectal thermometer (made by Johnson & Johnson), taking it home, reading the instructions which (apparently) state that every thermometer is tested before being sanitized and packaged. The gist is that at least I don't work for J&J. Har har. It made me laugh and whether true or not, at least I don't test rectal thermometers.
For that, I am thankful!
Monday, February 3, 2014
share the wealth
My mom and I were talking yesterday and she had (we think) a brilliant idea.
Michigan, at least around here, has a lot of snow. So much snow that our city is removing it from parking lots and dumping the snow into unused parking lots (and probably other places). We also have a snow "dragon"(check out the news story here) to help with snow removal. Our streets are narrower. The city has spent it's budget for snow removal.
The good news is that the lake is freezing over so our lake effect snow is diminishing (I swear our weatherman was exclaiming that with glee).
At the other end of the spectrum, our nation's sunny California is in a severe drought. So much that Hoda and Kathy Lee have started drinking less wine to help protect the reserves! I know, shocking.
How can our two states get together to get the snow that we don't want, and don't have room for, out to their state that is in desperate need of the melted stuff? Sure it wouldn't be safe for human consumption, but if it's gray water, wouldn't that at least help their crops?
If someone in California wants to send me the money, I will find a way to ship them snow. We have plenty of it. As in, I could scrape off a two foot layer from our entire yard (why not go all the way down the street) and we would all still have a foot of snow left. Look toward the street where the plow has stuffed our snow, there's a good four feet that we could scrape down.
I took pictures yesterday while Bill was out clearing the snow from the plow. They're still on my camera, and my camera is over there (I'm pointing across the room). I also happen to have a sleeping kitty on my lap. I don't want to disturb her. I'll get the pictures off the camera another time and post them. I don't want you to miss out. Unless you live here, then you understand and don't want anyone else to miss out seeing them.
Oh, so I'm thankful for my mom's great idea. We just need to figure out how to get it to work.
Michigan, at least around here, has a lot of snow. So much snow that our city is removing it from parking lots and dumping the snow into unused parking lots (and probably other places). We also have a snow "dragon"(check out the news story here) to help with snow removal. Our streets are narrower. The city has spent it's budget for snow removal.
The good news is that the lake is freezing over so our lake effect snow is diminishing (I swear our weatherman was exclaiming that with glee).
At the other end of the spectrum, our nation's sunny California is in a severe drought. So much that Hoda and Kathy Lee have started drinking less wine to help protect the reserves! I know, shocking.
How can our two states get together to get the snow that we don't want, and don't have room for, out to their state that is in desperate need of the melted stuff? Sure it wouldn't be safe for human consumption, but if it's gray water, wouldn't that at least help their crops?
If someone in California wants to send me the money, I will find a way to ship them snow. We have plenty of it. As in, I could scrape off a two foot layer from our entire yard (why not go all the way down the street) and we would all still have a foot of snow left. Look toward the street where the plow has stuffed our snow, there's a good four feet that we could scrape down.
I took pictures yesterday while Bill was out clearing the snow from the plow. They're still on my camera, and my camera is over there (I'm pointing across the room). I also happen to have a sleeping kitty on my lap. I don't want to disturb her. I'll get the pictures off the camera another time and post them. I don't want you to miss out. Unless you live here, then you understand and don't want anyone else to miss out seeing them.
Oh, so I'm thankful for my mom's great idea. We just need to figure out how to get it to work.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Where in the blogosphere?
I didn't write the last two days. Which isn't to say that I'm not thankful for anything. I have my reminder set to go off in the evening, and both nights I was not home.
Friday night I was with our Confirmation students at a Funeral home. No, no one we know passed away. Instead, as part of the year-long class, we take field trips to different houses of worship. We've been to Temple Emanuel and St. Nicholas (Antiochian Orthodox). Somewhere, from someone (I think Greg M.) I got the idea to also visit a funeral home. Why not? If we're going to churches to learn about them, why not go to a funeral home. At some point in our lives, we'll all go to one.
I asked our parish nurse for a recommendation and she gave me the name of one in particular that had been very kind and helpful when her mother passed away.
Lee (the funeral director) was great! He isn't much older than me and he had tons of great stories. Our students asked great questions. We were there for an hour and a half and we probably could have spent another hour. We didn't get much of a tour, but that's okay.
Last night, we went to Glenn and Nancy's for some euchre. Bill declared it would be guys against girls. Usually we have played Bill and Nancy against Glenn and me. Bill and Nancy have won. Last night, the guys beat the girls. Bill is the one to beat apparently.
Today I'm thankful for gray skies (with no snow, seriously our streets can't handle anymore snow). I'm thankful for fun games and dinner with friends. And I'm very thankful for those who are called to be funeral directors because that is definitely a gift.
Friday night I was with our Confirmation students at a Funeral home. No, no one we know passed away. Instead, as part of the year-long class, we take field trips to different houses of worship. We've been to Temple Emanuel and St. Nicholas (Antiochian Orthodox). Somewhere, from someone (I think Greg M.) I got the idea to also visit a funeral home. Why not? If we're going to churches to learn about them, why not go to a funeral home. At some point in our lives, we'll all go to one.
I asked our parish nurse for a recommendation and she gave me the name of one in particular that had been very kind and helpful when her mother passed away.
Lee (the funeral director) was great! He isn't much older than me and he had tons of great stories. Our students asked great questions. We were there for an hour and a half and we probably could have spent another hour. We didn't get much of a tour, but that's okay.
Last night, we went to Glenn and Nancy's for some euchre. Bill declared it would be guys against girls. Usually we have played Bill and Nancy against Glenn and me. Bill and Nancy have won. Last night, the guys beat the girls. Bill is the one to beat apparently.
Today I'm thankful for gray skies (with no snow, seriously our streets can't handle anymore snow). I'm thankful for fun games and dinner with friends. And I'm very thankful for those who are called to be funeral directors because that is definitely a gift.
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