Gingerbread Men

Yep, I'm still amazed someone got me a little Android tablet for a present. And, it works online AT the house! Apparently it's a starter model, n that's cool because it is still way smarter than me. I hate how the buttons change all the time, n on the first game I downloaded, I can't yet figure out how to get the guy to jump the first barrier. Duh!

I did figure out how to comment on blogs finally, n have watched many cute cat videos on Utube. Luckily the battery runs out after a few hours because it's been a big time waster while I don't know what I'm doing yet.

Around Xmas time I may have caught a bug going around, n got very lethargic not being very hungry  n just wanting to sleep n sleep, which I didn't get to until my Day Off, because of course I still went to work.

But getting up n discovering I was lying ontop of my now flat reading glasses didn't dissuade me from trying to get my normal errands done. 

As Usual I hit the Dollar Tree first. On the way out with bags a little, older, lady offered to help me out opening the door, n kind of bumped into me a little.

Then I walked down to the supermarket. I made good time, found bargains, n found a short line. When looking for the store card for savings, I discovered my wallet I'd had at the previous store was missing. I searched n searched all pockets repeatedly n had to get out of line when I couldn't find it in time.

 Then I went to the Customer Service desk n explained What was happening. I freaked out a bit thinking the little, old lady may have pick-pocketed me.

I took everything out of my pockets, searched thru all the previous, tied shut bags, with no luck. The guy who works there is a really nice guy who has seen me many times. So he let me leave my market items by the desk n go back to the Dollar Tree to retrace my steps n come back after. He also said he would make calls if needed for me, because yep, I'd forgotten to bring my cell phone...

After a fast walk down there again, I described what I'd lost, n the manager picked it up off a crowded counter by a register. Intact - Yay! I hugged him. It had fallen instead of going into my pocket- The money was still there! I told him I owed him a very big favor.

I was so relieved the little old lady was innocent, n not to have to file a report or give a description.  I trium-
phantly went back to the market, got back in line n paid for my stuff. What a relief!


Plus, my faith in the good of human beings was restored. When I'd thought I'd been robbed it was the worst feeling. Everyone there was very kind when I needed some one to listen n help. I learned that I shouldn't leave cash plus the bankcard in the same thing, either.

 Now I'm thinking I need a retractable wire on a wallet would be a good gift for me. After all that wasted time I'm back on track n things are ok. Next time I'm on cold pills tho, I should skip the errands!

The original altered cut of the above square ones.

Which Gingerbread guy did I do?

teeny hint:

The one saying; 

"You can't catch me, I'm the GingerBread Man!"

Reindeer Games

The wild, last few days ahead of the big retail holiday are flying by. You got it or you don't- think I only need one more small thing, whew- Cards will be out a tad late, just doing them today. But a package mailed USPS priority  on Tuesday late afternoon made it there in about 24 hours. That's amazing!

I have been avoiding Large Department Stores like the plague recently. Even the supermarket lines are crazy. Also the Dollar Tree has been featuring heaping checkout orders infront of me.

Xmas Eve is an unpaid Day Off for me, n I'll have visiting time To deliver a few things. I'm hoping to get to some home baking. Xmas Day- Night I have to work, n I will bring in some candy, peppermints, n a few other things for everyone. After years it has still been tough to get other folks there to bring in things to share. I think everyone should.

When it's all over after New Years n school vaca time, I'll be very relieved. Those will all be busy order days too.  This extra rushed holiday stuff on top of working is stressful. I don't really get to enjoy much  holiday time. I long for the old days that had more free time to relax on long vacations.

Seems like life's gotten too complicated to keep up with it all. Probably most folks would give up long before I do.

I always play the game as long as I can. Even if it seems a bit futile...

Have a Happy Chanuka and/or A Merry Christmas!

All the above were made from this version.

This was my Dollar Tree bargain window dec this year. I do like glitter, tho zoologically the deer is more a Whitetail than caribou ...

Winter with a Vengence

At long last, with a sudden arctic blast - it has arrived. Went home from work in this snow the other night. The front porch little tree with the flashlight on it is todays pic.

It is so cold outside here now, two layers of long johns n 2 coats may not be enough! I'm skipping the Library this week. Still have a few errands tho- I am scaled back from usual this week.

Had some teeth pulled the other day, n had been on some drowsy pills. I'm still pretty sore n hungry.

Not much left to do for holiday present shopping. Still haven't done cards- maybe tonight. Still lacking energy for it, n still need stamps. I use so few now.

Hey, at least I found some red n green to play with before Xmas. I forgot all about playing with last week's pic! My brain must be suffering from winter freeze this week... Then there's a b-day card I carried to the post office n forgot to mail on time- Yikes, I'm really slipping-

The snow has melted but now it's well below freezing wind-chills n gusty too. Hope it warms up a tad before I leave for work tomorrow.

10 days left alert...

Bedazzle the Neighbors

We have a neighborhood winner for Best n Earliest light display!

I got lots of fuzzy pics of this in different color combos, as it flashes, changes,  n rotated colors so fast I couldn't get the one I aimed for last week.

I had zero altered image time for it today tho, as my paint program crashed twice trying to crop it. So I just used the MSPaint here at the Library. Stay tuned as I try to get some of this altered for next week. Nope, no rotating mirrors here...

So much to do before work n on Days Off this week, it's amazing I have any time for this.

We are expected to get that "Polar Vortex" making news out West by Friday here. I'll be ready, layering 2 coats, lined double hat, n scarves.  Still not done getting stuff for young folks- n will hit another store before work tomorrow. Hopefully after that I'll be okay if I don't get back there.

Next week when I post I'll be visiting for a Bday dinner instead of going to the Library.

This week I had to spring for a little TV so I could watch shows. The one I had crashed down to a 1-inch-tall, horizontal picture driving me nuts all week. It had been coming n going if turned off, then back on repeatedly. Finally I couldn't get it back... so a week later, I got a little 19-inch one that can also be a monitor, n cleaned all around the big, old, tube one. The cable box adapter wire is very bad, n it kept cutting out n back as I cleaned around it with the sound on. Then I got the new one on-top of it ready to set-up, n what do you know- The  picture is coming in again, only occasionally cutting out, n back with a full screen! (it really needed cleaning...)

It's great to know there's a back-up if the old tube gets cranky again! Last week I missed all my shows n mostly the news n weather were tough without video. The experience did leave me wondering how to make a film in a 1-inch by 25-inch format...

I'd love to have time to figure that out! Meanwhile, I will enjoy seeing character faces n locations, n what happens on that Soap Opera before leaving for work - Because you do really miss that stuff with only audio to guess by.

Fire up those Holiday lights!

Rock Star Rooster

What's funny about this loud guy who often crows all day long, is he's located right in the back of the Library. That can make it tough to read in there some times. I went to get this pretty tree pic a couple weeks back, n I saw him strutting about the coop where usually you hear but don't see him. I've attempted his pic many other times n didn't get any passable results.

I'm so proud of myself finally getting a glimpse of his eyes thru that shaggy, spiked hair-do. He is a looker.

All these pics have something in common besides subject n location. I altered all of them exactly the same way- n cropped the same direction, without texture or color change.

... Except for the one with the rooster-head in it. That went thru the mirror at a different angle to get the head, which I cropped into one siamese-twin head, Then I changed color, put thru the mirror again, n cropped again.

We are still awaiting normal winter weather here. My Thyme plant is still alive for picking outside. It's in my turkey soup today. We are enduring several days in a row of downpours- so TG it's not snow yet. I'm still digging for my winter supplies. Still haven't found my fave scarf. Got some others, hats, n gloves washed at least.

Trying to figure out how to fit in present shopping n still don't know what to get. I was ahead last year- Only that rooster is today!

Happy Holiday Hunting everyone - the chase is on!