PJ and the Nativity Scene

We lost the Baby Jesus from our tiny Nativity Scene years ago.

I chose to replace Him with a teensy Santa Claus. I feel it apropos to both my own celebration, and the typical modern American holiday.

Grandson PJ feels that Santa residing in the manger is just not right, so he periodically hides the little bearded elf.

I have much respect for Christian beliefs, and love the religious cards (and e-cards) I receive.

What I do have trouble with, is forwarded religious prayers... especially when you're told to forward them on to others, or else!

As you may know, my own son is a Hindu priest. He absolutely never forwards Hindu prayers or Krsna (Krishna) themed e-mails.

I've heard numerous jokes about the Hare Krishna bothering people at airports. Well... how often are you at the airport; versus how often are you online?

This past year, I've written two Christian friends of mine, asking they not send religious forwards. I explained to them that I'm Agnostic, bordering on Atheist. They both responded and said they'd lay off...

Just yesterday, they each sent me several...

I come from a loooooong line of Christians. Mostly Protestants, but also Catholics and French Huguenot. My 4th great grandparents (on my mother's side) are most likely Jewish. I'm open to religious diversity.

So why are the Chrisitans in my life so adamant on pushing their beliefs onto others?

If one is a blogger, they can write about anything they'd like, after all its their blog. If I'm offended or bored by the subject matter, I can back out of the site. I'm sure many have backed out of my own site due to boredom. Really!

Anyway, please, for 2009's sake, be a little more careful about forwarding e-mail.
Not everyone likes dirty jokes. Not everyone likes religious 'stuff.' Not everyone is thrilled to have a new e-mail download for 10 minutes, to find kitty and doggie pictures on the screen. If they're your animal photos, then okay. If they're the forwarded stuff you've received three times in the last 24 hours... then no thanks!

Really!

Recent Conversations Overheard At My House...

idea stolen from Sylvana


So, I'm working out on the property and feel the need to call my daughter.
"Hey Smurfette, its mom... did you see that baby deer leg about 50' from your door?"
"Mom, that's not a deer leg, its a goat leg!"
{silence}... "Oh, okay..."


The grandson loves to pop out of nowhere and try to scare me.
"Jesus PJ, don't do that! You'll give grandma a heart attack! What would you do then?"
"I'd get a hammer!"
"Why would you get a hammer?"
"To make sure you're dead!"


PJ is aware his PapaDon was cremated, knows that is my wish too, and claims he wants the same.
"Grandma, you know how I want to be cremated too?"
"Yes???"
"Well I have a question... what kind of cream do they use?"
"Oh honey, they don't use cream. They put you in a box and shove you in an oven."
{unbelieving stare and silence ensues.}
"Its okay honey, they make sure you're dead first."
"Do they use a hammer?"

Dog Tired

Mojo

About a month ago, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. The doctor ordered some lab work, and on May 29 I was also diagnosed with high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes.

Although I had no symptoms, this didn't come as a surprise. My Murray family has had the same troubles for over 160 years. Two of my three younger siblings already had all three diseases!

The new medications have truly made me dog tired (for now,) but I'm hearing that things get better.

Diet-wise, the only big change has been that I'm forced to eat more frequently. I'm not a dessert person, thank goodness, so avoiding sugar is no big deal.

I get exercise working out on my property, but have added some fast walking to my daily routine.

I'm reading up on the subject, and trying to familiarize myself with new terms. I'm getting prepared for my next doctor's appointment, where I'll hopefully get myself a prescription for a tester. So, other than being tired, this hasn't yet become a big lifestyle change!

Oh, and the puppy pictured above? He's my grandson's 6th birthday present!

Its been a long time...

debris piles

Fire season is once again looming. I've been lucky enough to have a friend cut down a few trees, limb up others, and attack the underlying brush.

This has left lots of debris piles strewn across my property.

Originally, I was going to use my little wood chipper (barely visible in front of the barn,) but quickly found its just not able to do this much work. (Neither am I.)

The debris pile in the rear of the above photo is about 8' tall, and there are many more piles surrounding the house which are equally as high.

So... I ordered a debris bin, which should be here a week from Monday.

The last time I ordered a bin, was when my husband and I decided to clean out the junk the previous owner had left in and around the barn.

A day or so before retrieval, he decided we should take down the old light fixtures and throw them in too. He cut himself badly doing this, and I had to take him down to the local hospital for stitches. (He ignored my warning to wear gloves.)

After getting home, he ripped off his bandages declaring air was good for the wound. Wrong!

Several days later, he began feeling ill.

A few days later, I had to call 9-1-1.

He died of septic shock.

You can believe I always wear my gloves, as well as safety glasses, when I do anything "handymannish."

Anyway... I'm keeping busy, but wanted to wish a Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there!

Merry Christmas!

me & my brother, a looooooong time ago

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday!

Sears Sucks!

You piss off my grandma and you piss off me!

Obviously the title of this post isn't original. When I Googled a few minutes ago, there were 4,540 English pages to be found.

I've been buying from Sears since 1971, the year I graduated high school and snagged my first job.

I've purchased (and note the plurals) refrigerators, stoves, range tops, water heaters, wall heaters, washers and dryers. I even had my kitchen remodeled by Sears.

The last water heater I bought is possessed by the devil. The contractor (hired by Sears) installed the thing less than four years ago. He turned on the heater before it was filled, burning out the element. Sears repaired it, days later, and I had to pay for the repair! WTF?

A week and a day ago, the thing began spewing water. Sears sent a repairman who found it was indeed spewing water (when he turned the valve back on) and placed a call to his people, which I listened in on. Hooray, the warrantee covers the problem!

I was to be called back within two to four hours...

To make a long story short, I've called Sears at least five times, speaking to at least eight different representatives. Emailed their customer service, and was given yet another telephone number to try... to no avail.

I've been without hot water for a week and a day (so far.) Sponge baths just don't cut it. I'm hosting Christmas this year. Trying to clean house with water heated over the stove truly sucks.

I threatened to blog this, and here it is. Don't be afraid to chime in, the more the merrier.

Oh, I won't have time to visit my blogfriends for a while. I'm busy heating water.

Thanks a fucking lot, Sears.

Update: I was told yesterday there are no available units at my local store, and no contractors in the area. It was suggested I order one and go down and pick it up when it arrives! I went to my local hardware store (not Sears) and bought one this morning, and it is in the process of being installed as I type. A very strong letter is in the mail, heading for Chicago. A copy of today's bill will be coming right behind it.

Artistry

Bad picture

The grandson is here once again!

Now that he's 5, we like to occupy ourselves with both educational and fun activities. One of his favorites is photography, more specifically; using Photoshop to correct some of grandma's bad attempts at picture taking.

The photo above was a try at capturing PJ in his Darth Vader (Halloween) costume in a darkened hallway, sans flash... duh.

Upon seeing the resulting bad shot, he went to work, both redoing the photo and creating the caption. This is his creation:

Uh oh
Ghostly door indeed!