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Monthly Archives: February 2024

Resolve to Write 2024 #51

I just opened a bottle of Meiomi, so I figured I better start on this šŸ¤£ Today was uneventful, on the whole. Just the way I like it. I ran through the Chickalay drive thru for some minis on my way to work. I ordered ten, but ate six. I probably could have eaten all ten if I had set my mind to it. Work was quiet; most of my coworkers were at a conference in Knoxville. I didnā€™t feel that the topics would benefit me, in my current role, so I just went to work. And good thing, I had some visitors and a few phone calls to return. I just wish those girls up front were what they advertised to our landlord. Oh well. I donā€™t expect them to last. Iā€™m not gonna waste time being mad about something Iā€™m not going to deal with. I am gonna tell Charlie all about them when he asks, though. And he will ask. Boy, this wine is good. Today is National Love Your Pet Day. When will these nonsensical holidays cease? Well, then I guess weā€™d just have a bunch of regular days and some people find it hard to celebrate on normal days. Not this girl. But Facebook memories have alerted me that I do typically celebrate the wonder that is Chester. So I guess I need to do something a little special for him. But tomorrow, as I have already put on my fleece…

Resolve to Write 2024 #50

I feel like I have done nothing but eavesdrop on people today. And itā€™s highly entertaining. First was at the bar at Firebirds. You wouldnā€™t believe the things people tell bartenders. Or each other at the bar. And just when it was getting good this dude sits down next to me hacking his guts out and Iā€™m immediately disgusted. So his wife was already sitting there and had eaten and evidently heā€™d had a job interview at the restaurant. Not for the restaurant. I understood it to be an acting job, but Iā€™m not sure. Heā€™d ordered steak and dessert. She said, ā€œWere you not planning on introducing me?ā€ And heā€™s like, ā€œNo, should I have?ā€ Which Iā€™m kinda like him, why would he? Thatā€™s kinda weird. And why did she bring him, anyway? Can he not drive? She says something about she should have gone over and given him a kiss. In the meantime, heā€™s still coughing very vehemently and Iā€™m thoroughly and visibly repulsed and thinking of moving down a stool but that would put me next to another character that I wasnā€™t sure about. I was stuck between a cougher and a thug. And the bartender, her name was Amy, too, had enough on her plate without me playing musical chairs. Sheā€™d already forgot my water twice. And weā€™re not gonna talk about how long it took me to get my food or…

Resolve to Write 2024 #49

Well, here we are. Or, rather, here I am, since itā€™s just me. There is no we. Unless I count yā€™all, which I guess I should, since youā€™re reading. Another weekend gone, but I get a bonus day, so that only means I procrastinated from Saturday what I will now need to do tomorrow. Namely, an oil change. Iā€™m gonna make it worthwhile, though, and treat myself to lunch somewhere good. So I come to you tonight, begging grace and forgiveness, because Iā€™m afraid yā€™all are gonna revoke my Southerner card. Because, look here now, I made instant potatoes. And they were goooooo-ooooood. Iā€™ve got no lies to tell. Theyā€™re already on my list for next time. Why did I ever spend time peeling, washing, boiling, draining, mashing, seasoning, and working in butter and milk for *real* mashed potatoes? For just me? These are real, too, it says so right on the bag. And they took maybe five minutes. I really donā€™t know what else to report on. I have got to finish my book tonight, it goes back tomorrow. White Noise, if youā€™re interested, by Don Dellio or something like that. Iā€™m too lazy to look. Iā€™m sure Iā€™ve got the spelling close enough and you could find it. Lester recommended it and I liked it at first but now itā€™s just weird. Iā€™m at 83% and truly nothing much has happened. It…

Resolve to Write 2024 #48

Good evening. Or good morning, I suppose, if youā€™re reading this tomorrow. Or maybe itā€™s good afternoon. Whatever you please. A simple hello would have sufficed, but I now have all that typed and Iā€™m not erasing it. I really just wanted to jump in with what Iā€™m wanting to ask yā€™all, but Iā€™m constantly reminding my coworkers of Teams etiquette and so I felt I should practice what I preach. Whew. Now that all that is out of the way, even though Iā€™m not following Southern protocols and asking after your health, and how your mommaā€™s doinā€™, and how the kids are coming along and if little Suzy is going out for soccer this springā€¦isnā€™t that the trending sport these days? Soccer? I just wanted to ask yā€™all if someone would please tell me with Bath & Body Works puts their 3-wick candles on sale. Because Iā€™m not sure if the online store follows the same sales as brick and mortars. And I sure as shit ainā€™t driving to Five Oaks once a week to check it out in person. Although I do need to go in Clarks. My black flip flops will not live to see another season. I made a balsamic roast in the crock pot today. It smelled so very delicious cooking. That is the trouble with cooking in crock pots while at home. I feel sorry for my dogs over the…

Resolve to Write 2024 #47

Do not let these warm sunny daysOf February Trick youIt is not summerIt is not yet springMy summer was filled withThree trips To two different rivers Where I did not fishSunflowers & morning gloriesBeer drank in the barn hallOver tearsAnd sleepless eveningsEndless conversations With friends I thoughtI already knewBut raw with emotionOne relaxing day on the lakePoetryAnd looking at the stars Because I couldnā€™t hold it inFire trucks at the fairAs we posed in our tiarasThere was coffee cornhole charcuterie and cavesThere were plenty of laughsAnd some really big surprises Summer was perfect as usualAnd unforgettable So February needs to get in lineAnd be winter Because I want more cozy daysBefore Iā€™m a sweaty messOn a sweltering dayParked directly over the air conditioner Set on 65I want to eat more chili and soupAnd roasts and meatloafBefore I turn to salads and avocados And ice creamI want time spent curled in my blanketWith a book on my lapAnd a candle flickering And the wind howling beyond my windowsFebruary should be itselfEverything else is takenJust like you…

Resolve to Write 2024 #46

To blog or not to blogā€¦there is no question. The question is what am I gonna write about? This was so far removed from my brain today, when someone asked me this evening what I was gonna blog about, I almost answered, ā€œwhat blog?ā€ At least, I donā€™t think I did. So I could tell you about how Iā€™m a snob. No, really. People truly think that. And I guess I am. I donā€™t go out of my way to talk to strangers (I just hug them). I am not going to tell you how I adore your {clothes/ shoes/ hair/ eye makeup/ jewelry/ food/ house/ car} to make you like me. You know people do that, donā€™t you? Theyā€™ll just gush and flatter and go on to make you feel good about yourself but itā€™s all hogwash. I will tell you if I truly do like whatever it is. Iā€™m also a snob about quality. I donā€™t want cheap toilet paper, Kleenex, or paper towels. I guess Iā€™m a snob about paper products. Funnily enough, I donā€™t like eating off paper plates šŸ¤” I mean, I get it, for cooking out and youā€™ve got a passel of drunks in your backyard plus you donā€™t wanna do a bunch of dishes. Or if I make a sandwich or get pizza, a paper plate is fine. But if Iā€™m eating a meal- meat and three sides- I want…

Resolve to Write 2024 #45

This should be fun, as I am still about 10% lit. So I was still mildly grumpy this morning: residual from yesterday. I was trying to just live in the moment, as Iā€™m constantly encouraging yā€™all to do. My commute wasnā€™t even strenuous; I came right on up the road, jamming to Whiskey Myers. I love me some Whiskey Myers. Anyway, I got situated at work, ate my breakfast, and as it goes, I started to feel altogether better about life. Itā€™s just a matter of prioritizing aggravations where they belong and knocking out chores. So after awhile I decided to return my steel voting box and see if I could get in to cast my vote in the primary, and even more importantly, the heat for school board. There arenā€™t many things I like better than voting. And since not a one of yā€™all jerks brought me cupcakes, I needed a boost. So off I went. The commission is forever friendly. They didnā€™t have much going on, and gladly relieved me of my steel box burden. The little feller who showed me to my machine was ever patient and knowledgeable about how to cast my votes. I told him I was very familiar with the process; I vote early and often šŸ¤£ but he was just doing his job, and itā€™s a lot to memorize, so I let him rattle on. He did ask if I was having a nice Valentines. Sure…

Resolve to Write 2024 #44

Today was Fat Tuesday. In other words, the pinnacle of Mardi Gras. And I would have MUCH rather been there than putting on an election here. I honestly got a call from a woman who was mad she couldnā€™t vote online. Because nothing could go wrong there šŸ™„ People vote BLIND. People came in, voted for one person, then asked what they were voting on. They asked what we did. A few asked these questions simultaneously while I was still answering the first question they had asked. I maaaaaaay have gotten a little short with one of Sevier Countyā€™s self-labeled ā€œeliteā€. A smartass is a smartass, I donā€™t care what you own or what youā€™re worth. Most of them Iā€™d like to buy for what theyā€™re actually worth and sell for what they think theyā€™re worth. 38 people is a lot for one day in my little office. Jake Right Now kept saying, ā€œI canā€™t believe weā€™ve had this many people.ā€ šŸ¤£ He was amazed. But then, it doesnā€™t take much. I shouldnā€™t knock him, he helped me with Annual Report folding and stamping the last two days. In other good news, they caught the cop killer. Iā€™m quite disappointed they took him in alive. So now weā€™ll be financing all his healthcare, food, and weight training for the next forty years. Unless they cook him. Iā€™d pay to see that. Iā€™m not very nice today…

Resolve to Write 2024 #43

Procrastination is the name of the game over here. Things I am actively not doing: Things I am doing: So more on that last part. Hereā€™s the menu. Can you blame me?! Iā€™ll brave the lovestruck crowds for crĆØme brĆ»lĆ©e! And yes, I am aware I could go by myself. And normally it wouldnā€™t even be a blip on my radar. But itā€™s VALENTINES. That would make me look pathetic. Even if anybody who bothered to meet me would quickly ascertain I am anything but. Iā€™m just a single girl with an appetite. And now Iā€™m out of things to talk about again. I refuse to talk about the rain. Iā€™m sick of the rain. I refuse to talk politicsā€¦ yet. I refuse to talk about the Super Bowl or Taylor Swift, because I didnā€™t watch it because I didnā€™t care. I met the new Agriculture Agent for our county today. I asked him if he was like John Dutton. He doesnā€™t watch Yellowstone, so he doesnā€™t realize what a compliment I gave him. He just shrugged and said thatā€™s what everybody says. And here I thought I was original. What a disappointment. Nice guy, though. I dunno. I donā€™t wanna talk about nothinā€™, I wanna go to bed. I think I will. This is all you get. Yesterdayā€™s was lengthy, they canā€™t all be Pulitzer material šŸ˜ Once upon a timeI was…

Resolve to Write 2024 #42

I have a friend who recently set sail on her first cruise. She was so excited, as I was for her. I was talking to another mutual friend and he was issuing all sorts of concerns and disbelief that she was going while news circulated of the murders and various crimes that were happening in the vicinity. ā€œWait, where is it, exactly, that sheā€™s going?ā€ I asked him, thinking I had missed something. After all, I donā€™t watch the news, but I do tend to get wind of major events one way or another. ā€œI donā€™t know,ā€ he admitted. ā€œWell, where were all these killings youā€™re talking about?ā€ ā€œI dunno, my wife was just telling me, she saw it on the news last night.ā€ I rolled my eyes and tried not to blow air too obnoxiously through my nose. ā€œWhen you go to these islands, they tell you itā€™s not safe to leave the resort. I donā€™t know how cruises work, but surely if thereā€™s a bunch of calamity, the donā€™t de-board. Or they take you elsewhere. They donā€™t want you killed, itā€™s bad for business. Word gets out.ā€ For the record, my friend had an absolutely FABULOUS time and wants to go back. There was no scalping, stabbing, or purse snatching, to the best of my knowledge. Almost all my life, every time Iā€™ve went on vacation alone, I had a naysayer in my life, telling me…