Random STufF from DonnaB

At around 6 a.m. this morning, I sat straight up in bed and determined it was time to throw my clothes on and be ready… for… I wasn’t sure! I just knew I didn’t want to be half-naked at the moment cause the wind was fierce! Ed was already up for he is an early riser and when he realized I was awake, let me know we had lost a tree. From what we could tell in the darkness, it was across the road in front of our home. The lightning was just plain scary, but in those moments when it was illuminating the neighborhood, we could see the damage and the tree that had gone down. While we were deciding who to call, a car approached and we quickly saw that it could indeed pass. At least one lane was open to the traffic. The Department of Transportation arrived shortly after we called our friend who in turn called her husband who is an employee with the D. O. T. Ed and our neighbor started cutting the tree and a big limb from another one to get them off the road. Ed’s brother also arrived and within a matter of minutes, the road was clear and the D. O. T. employee let us know they would carry off the debris. What a relief that was! Especially to those guys’ backs!

Let me tell you, as far as I can remember, that is the second time in my life I’ve ever and I mean EVER jumped out of bed and gotten dressed in record time. The other instance before this morning was in the midst of an ice storm during the days before satellite television. Our antenna iced over and the weight made the pole supporting it bend in half and come crashing down on our roof…. right over our bedroom! Needless to say, that was a rude awakening!

Here’s hoping you all were safe and I am never again alarmed enough by the weather to get dressed before daylight! Because that, my friends and family, is not something I normally do… for anyone or anything! It is quite alarming how ol’ Mother Nature can change your mind!

I was a teenager and a young adult in the 70’s and 80’s. Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” was and still is a favorite song from that time period. American Idol’s Adam Lambert IS a rock star… and that’s all I’ve got to say about that!

A note to my Aunt Mary, you won’t like it, so don’t waste your time.

Sandy deposited 10 puppies last night. I’m so thrilled…. NOT! We had her in a pen during this last heat cycle. She stayed in alright, but our male Lab climbed over and ahem… helped himself. Five yellow and five black babies later, “here we go again”. Seeing how our method of puppy control didn’t work, she definitely will be seeing Doc after this litter. On the plus side, they should be easy to give away since they are full blood. Wish us luck in five to six weeks!

I’m meeting Cathy’s daughters this weekend. They want prints of the memorial I created for their Mom and I just couldn’t be happier about seeing them. Since they have mostly lived away from this area and have adult lives of their own, I had not gotten to know them other than to meet the older daughter once. I only knew the younger one through photos and the recent funeral. I’m hoping this will give me a bit of closure and at the same time a new beginning and lasting friendships with her cherished daughters. I think Cathy will be pleased, I know I am.

I haven’t commented at all about this season, but just let me say, I haven’t missed a show and we’re nearing the finale. I like this group, I like them a lot and I don’t care who wins this time around.

I think Matt (the guy that left tonight) is super talented and would have won the whole thing had he competed in earlier seasons.

Allison is AMAZINGLY composed for her age and that gal can sing!

Adam is a bit theatrical for me some weeks, but I won’t deny his talent for entertaining.

Kris has surprised everyone - but me! I love his quiet nature and his “mad skillz” as Randy would say.

And then there’s Danny… sweet, beautiful, Danny. His story of losing his wife just four weeks before he auditioned pulled at my heartstrings along with the rest of the viewing audience. He will go far no matter the outcome of the show. Losing his wife and taking the risk of auditioning made us fall in love with him, but his talent has kept him in the running.

I’m anxious to see what next week brings! Considering it will be rock week, Allison should shine, but as already stated with this final four, I think any of them can walk with the title.

I came home today to find the the deer, sleigh, lighted packages and spiral trees were already in the shed. The lights had been removed from their temporary homes in the shrubs and were waiting on me all over the lawn to determine where the next 11 months will be spent. Oh… I’m just being silly! The husband wasn’t sure what storage containers to pack them in and wanted me to be happy. I’m a little bit of a control freak… oh wait! I’m a whole lotta control freak, but I’m workin’ on it!

That is all…

… and they make me cry… every… single… time.

There are many versions by various artists of this song, but I do love The Eagles. And, just for the record, I’m not lonesome or longing for someone this Christmas although I would love to have some dearly departed relatives with us once again to celebrate Jesus’ birth. Enjoy!

Just when I think I can motivate myself to post every now and again, I have once again failed even that piddly goal. Two posts last month and so far NONE this month… until now that is.

I am enjoying keeping the baby girl. She has been good for my spirits. I mean, really, how can you not have an enjoyable time with a sweet one who thinks you hung the moon and is constantly grinning at you? She is a good baby, easy to please, quick to smile and yes, she has already wormed her way into my heart. I already loved her cause she belongs to Brad and I’ve loved him for 26 years now. But, seeing her daily has increased that love ten-fold. I made the comment to my friend last weekend that I guessed it was official, I am attached for I was missing her since it was Saturday and I was not getting to see her that day.

In other news, we have outside Christmas lights, but nary a one is burning indoors. I love my decorations and want to enjoy them this year, but I’m also thinking at this late date, I just might not take them out of storage.

And even more Christmas related news… I have one… ONE… present purchased! I’m only typing this so I can really believe it! I’m not actually sweating it though. I’ve found I do better at the last minute thing and have actually bought better gifts the closer to THE day I need them cause of the sales.

To stop this rambling mess and in case I don’t manage to post again…. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy New Year!

I’ve started a new chapter in my life this week. Long ago when I was still a young chicky wanting a family of my own, my neighbors and long time friends started a family. I ended up keeping that first baby until he started school and his baby brother too. That older kid is now a grown man with a baby of his own. And yes, you’ve guessed it, I started babysitting his daughter while they work. She is not yet six months old and her Mom has recently returned to work. I may only keep her until January as they are on a waiting list for a local Christian Academy/Daycare facility, but I have been told if I want to continue keeping her after January, they will be pleased, most especially since they are expecting again! I have told them we will take this a day at a time and see how things go. I am traveling to their home since it is literally a zoo here at mine. The noise level when these dogs are barking will wake the dead… and most assuredly wake a wee sleeping babe. I absolutely enjoyed her yesterday and I’m certain however long I daily see her, it will be an enjoyable experience. Her grandmother kept her today since she was off work for the holiday. Strange how things tend to come back around, isn’t it?