tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83113277682671647322024-03-18T07:09:23.804-06:00A Time For EverythingJen FitzGeraldJen FitzGeraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746163660525324335noreply@blogger.comBlogger1988125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8311327768267164732.post-75075797329034493362024-03-18T07:05:00.288-06:002024-03-18T07:08:29.862-06:00A Whirlwind of a Road Trip...<p> </p>
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<p>This is my first picture ever of Buc-ee. I was introduced to the beaver at the Madisonville (TX) store by my dear friend Michelle. I don’t think either of us expected things to turn out this way—me dragging DD all over the southern United States to visit every Buc-ee’s there is. :0) But I think she’d get a kick out it.</p>
<p>Any who, day one (Saturday) was mostly about travel. But we planned a visit to the Memphis Zoo to get some physical exertion after seven hours in the car. And the Memphis Zoo is awesome. So if you’re ever in Memphis and have the time, visit their zoo.</p>
<p>DD and I had an awesome experience with a lion... We got to hear the lion roar! And it was just the most amazing thing to watch him and to hear him as it echoed and vibrated in the air. It was just more incredible than I can really describe.</p>
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<p>Check this out...same critter, two different perspectives:</p>
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<p>On Sunday, we hit the first of two Buc-ee's locations with lunch with a friend sandwiched between beaver sightings. We also traversed the bottom section of the Appalachian Mountains which was both a surprise and very beautiful. We weren't on roads with any kind of steep drops, but they were very windy and very narrow and so just a little anxiety inducing.</p>
<p>This doesn't do the scenery justice, but here you go...</p>
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<p>We also got to experience Atlanta traffic at rush hour and, yowza, it was more harrowing than cutting across the Appalachians!</p>
<p>We passed the Olympic Torch Tower which was actually not <a href="https://www.atlantahistorycenter.com/programs-events/public-programs/olympic-paralympic-games-celebration/sites-and-venues-of-96/atlantas-olympic-cauldron/" target="_blank">the official Olympic Torch Cauldron from the 1996 Olympics</a>.</p>
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<p>Monday was our trip to the World of Coca Cola Museum, lunch with another friend, and two more Buc-ee's visits.</p>
<p>The museum was fun and we got to taste all kinds of Coke products from around the world. I took some pictures, but am just sharing this:</p>
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<p>Tuesday was another <i>looong</i> travel day with a stint through Dallas traffic at rush hour to cap it off. But we had fun and made it home in one piece--obviously.</p>
<p>Now to turn my attention to my friend's visit. She arrives tomorrow and <i>*we're going to hockey game together!*</i> Her team is on town playing my team, so that should be a lot of fun.</p>
<p>I'm very excited. :0)</p>
<p>Take care and catch you in a couple of weeks.</p>
<p> </p>Jen FitzGeraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746163660525324335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8311327768267164732.post-64339381429191359642024-03-11T04:00:00.036-06:002024-03-11T04:00:00.432-06:00Postponed Due to Beavers<p> </p>
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<p>Your regularly scheduled blog post will return next week. DD and I are visiting new beaver dens…</p>Jen FitzGeraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746163660525324335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8311327768267164732.post-58852273130566214292024-02-27T08:29:00.001-06:002024-02-27T08:29:48.153-06:00Life is a Highway...<p> </p>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_(musical)" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>.</span></i></div>
<p>Have you seen Hamilton? The Broadway production now showing on Disney+...</p>
<p>DD loves the production, and I've gotten suckered into watching a few scenes now and then, but had never sat and watched the whole thing start to finish.</p>
<p>Until a couple of weeks ago. I'd been reading <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Think-Grow-Rich-Original-Classic/dp/1722501235" target="_blank"><i>Think and Grow Rich</i> by Napoleon Hill</a> again and in one chapter he discusses the Stock Market crash of 1929 and its cause, so I did a Google search on that, and then somewhere in conjunction with this mini research jaunt, I read that, while we learn how important Thomas Jefferson is in our history, Alexander Hamilton played a crucial albeit more background role in the forming of our nation. Which led me to sitting and watching Hamilton from start to finish.</p>
<p>And isn't Lin-Manuel Miranda amazing too? He wrote the book, wrote the score, and played Hamilton himself in the original production!</p>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lin-Manuel_Miranda" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>.</span></i></div>
<p>And then, wouldn't you know, DD learned that Hamilton is coming to Dallas and will be performed at the <a href="https://dallasopera.org/about/winspear/" target="_blank">Winspear Opera House</a>--guess who's going? :0) We have tickets and a parking pass. Now, sadly, Lin-Manuel Miranda is not performing in this particular production, but it ought to be a fantastic watch anyway.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</p>
<p>Back to Doing...</p>
<p>Last post I reported that the to-doing had tapered off, and so it had. BUT! I've been really working hard to get back to getting things done despite the changes in my schedule and routine.</p>
<p>I also have motivation--a friend of mine is coming to visit and she's a pretty meticulous housekeeper. And while I can't get the whole house to a level of clean that's I'd prefer, there are some rooms (guest room, anyone?) that I can definitely make nice. </p>
<p>So I am doing again while trying to build up strength and stamina.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</p>
<p>The bursitis I experienced last year seems to be a thing of the past, thank goodness. The Hinge Health physical therapy regimen has worked wonders and I'm super pleased with its efficacy. If you have Blue Cross Blue Shield, I highly recommend it. There are several areas (hips only being one) to choose from.</p>
<p>I've also added yoga back to the mix. I alternate my Hinge Health routine with the yoga and the yoga has added a new level of challenge. And it feels good.</p>
<p>The next thing to conquer is the bad eating habits we've fallen into once again.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</p>
<p>And after four and a half years, I've finally seen my dear friend N in person once again. We met for lunch this past Saturday, and it was so lovely so sit and chat and catch up.</p>
<p><i>So good to see you, N!! </i></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</p>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Money-Timeless-lessons-happiness-ebook/dp/B084HJSJJ2" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.</span></i></div>
<p>Started reading <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Money-Timeless-lessons-happiness-ebook/dp/B084HJSJJ2" target="_blank">The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel</a> and it's super interesting. He talks not about psychology mumbo jumbo, but about what drives people to make the decisions they do about money. He's divided it up into twenty items / chapter, and there are a couple of them where I felt like he was speaking directly to me... <i>*Jen makes notes to not forget those points.*</i></p>
<p>As I said, very a interesting read and I highly recommend it.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</p>
<p>And that's all I have for this edition. Have a super week.</p>
<p>Catch you later!</p>
<p> </p>Jen FitzGeraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746163660525324335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8311327768267164732.post-57276264551090551842024-02-12T05:00:00.276-06:002024-02-12T05:00:00.153-06:00Buc-ee's Here We Come<p> </p>
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<p>Last summer, I'd planned / hoped to have DD and my March Buc-ee's Road Trip fully funded by December 31st 2023. Well, that didn't happen, <i>buuut</i>...it will be fully funded* by the time we hit the road. And I'm not counting any of the money from Mom's house. I've also got a line item in the personal budget to fund next year's trip starting in March.</p>
<p>* I won't have 100% of the money in hand, but once I finish a proofing job, I will. It's just that I probably won't finish the job and get paid until after our trip.</p>
<p>And not only is there a line item for our Buc-ee's Road Trips, there's also one for my annual road trip to visit my family. I'm excited to stop going into debt while taking these trips.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</p>
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<p>I watched this a couple of weeks ago and I highly recommend it. It's a bit sad and a bit bittersweet and hit a little too close to home, but it's really, really cute just the same.</p>
<p>The tag line is "It's never too late to chase a dream." It spoke to me...does it speak to you?</p>
<p>Anyway, the main character, Martha, became a cheerleader as a senior in high school but had to immediately drop out to care her mom who'd gotten sick. Fifty years later, she herself gets a cancer diagnosis. She decides to forgo chemo and move to a retirement community as she never married and doesn't have children.</p>
<p>One of the rules of the community is that you have to join a club, but there are no clubs of interest so she's encouraged to start her own. She ends up starting a cheerleading club with seven other senior women. They encounter a variety of obstacles but eventually overcome, and the journey is a lot of fun and amazing.</p>
<p>If you check it out, let me know what you think.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</p>
<p>Remember all the to-doing I was doing and going to do? Well, less of that is happening now. We implemented some changes at the office, so I'm working till five these days. It took a few days to adjust, but now I'm handling the extended hours pretty well, but yoga and cooking and cleaning lost their time slots, so now I've got re-think things. I'm not keen on shifting all the cleaning to the weekends, but I may not have a choice.</p>
<p>I did start to do yoga on the non-Hinge Health days (for the hips/bursitis) and that seems to be working well. It's not the every-day yoga practice I was going for, but it's a good compromise. And to be honest, I was having issues remembering to yoga on the weekend afternoons when we're all home and hanging out. And even if I remembered, it would have been weird to put whatever we were in the middle of on hold so I could do yoga for twenty minutes. :0)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</p>
<p>And last but not least--I got my car back! It was in the shop for 2.5 weeks getting fixed. Did I mention I got rear-ended right before Christmas? Well, I did, and now it's fixed and it's soooo nice to be back in my own vehicle.</p>
<p>Hope you're well. Back in a couple of weeks. Take care.</p>
<p> </p>Jen FitzGeraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746163660525324335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8311327768267164732.post-37512875861564583572024-01-29T05:00:00.217-06:002024-01-29T05:00:00.306-06:00One Month In ~ How We Doin'?<p> </p>
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<p> </p>
<p>Doin' pretty good at this point... :0) And I'll tell you why at the end. But misc updates in the meantime:</p>
<p>Most of the country was besieged by various levels of UGLY COLD weather when the last post came out on January 15th, but we survived. I read that 80% of the country had temperatures below zero degrees that day. WOW!</p>
<p>DD and I had started a <a href="https://www.wizardingworld.com/" target="_blank">Harry Potter</a> re-watch right before the end of the year as <a href="https://www.peacocktv.com/" target="_blank">Peacock</a> was showing the extended versions of the films. We got through the first days of the nasty freezing weather by finishing up our HP fest. DH even joined us each evening.</p>
<p>Speaking of Harry Potter...last weekend (the 20th/21st) I took the official sorting hat quiz and was officially sorted into Hufflepuff House. DD and I are House mates... :0)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</p>
<p>So the "year of doing" started off pretty good...</p>
<p>I began a couple of 30-day challenges to help me stay motivated. One challenge is to do yoga every day and the other is to do (or start, for longer tasks) one of those to-do list items I've been meaning to get around to. I've only missed two days of yoga (both Saturdays) but, sadlyy, I've missed too many days of to-do items thanks to the weather.</p>
<p>If my stride gets thrown off too soon, I struggle to get back to it. Having to hunker down because of the cold pushed me off track, so I'm trying to get back on it. I did, however, get one thing done...</p>
<p>The junk drawer next to the back door has been cleaned out, and inexpensive shallow baskets have been purchased to keep the remaining items tidy. I have no before picture because that drawer was <i>nasty</i>.</p>
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<p>On a side note... Several months ago I bought some contact paper to cover the ramen boxes I save to use as organizers.</p>
<p>Although now that I'm thinking about it...buying the inexpensive baskets at Dollar Tree is cheaper than the contact paper and I get more of them for the price of the contact paper that only covers three boxes... Hmm... I was gonna use up the remaining contact paper but it's not sticking well to the one box I covered, so into the trash it went. I'll just go straight for the Dollar Tree baskets next time I need to sort and organize anything. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</p>
<p>On a random note--I've discovered the ease / convenience of depositing checks via my cell phone. In the last six months, my bank, which is centrally located between the office and the house, did away with one of its ATMs. Now, that branch gets a decent amount of traffic, especially around paydays, so you can imagine one ATM with tons of traffic. And, occasionally, it's just plain out of order. The next closest branch isn't far, but it's definitely out of the way so it's very inconvenient.</p>
<p>A week or so ago, when the ATM was out of order again and I just didn't want to drive to the other branch, I tried out the mobile deposit and -- easy as pie -- I'm a convert!!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</p>
<p>Last but NOT least and the reason I'm feeling pretty good is that my mom's house has finally sold. I'm so relieved that the house and the property will have someone to take care of it and find pleasure in its beauty.</p>
<p>The selling price is way below the original sales price, but between Oregon state property tax invoices and one very thorough appraisal, I've come to the conclusion that we were asking too much. The final sales price was a couple grand below what the state said it was worth, so I'm going to count my blessings and wish the buyer well and happy trails.</p>
<p>And that's all for now folks... Have a super couple of weeks.</p>
<p>N--looking forward to seeing you!!</p>
<p> </p>Jen FitzGeraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746163660525324335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8311327768267164732.post-78470017017968288392024-01-15T05:00:00.233-06:002024-01-16T09:21:58.528-06:00My Fresh Start Goals and a Productive 2024<p> </p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Image courtesy of <a href="https://imgbin.com" target="_blank">IMGBIN</a>.</i></span></p>
<p>That's not to say 2023 wasn't productive because it was. I read sooo many books<span style="color: #04ff00;">**</span> and learned a lot of things. Mostly about finances: where I want to be and how to get there.</p>
<p><span style="color: #04ff00;">**</span> Official book count (of books that I read) according to Goodreads was 55, but I probably read three or four of them twice. I even listened to the audio version of a couple of titles on top of reading the book. Also unaccounted for is all the fan fiction and hockey articles I read and podcasts (hockey or history) that I listened to. That's A LOT of input.</p>
<p>I've determined that I need to re-read some of those books, but there are several books I've never read awaiting their turn. So re-read immediately or go for the new info first...</p>
<p>Okay...started reading a here-to-fore as unread-by-me book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Total-Money-Makeover-Classic-Financial/dp/1595555277" target="_blank">Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey</a>. :)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * * </p>
<p>So...jury duty...I ended up being excused. They'd apparently gotten enough jurors for whatever case they were fixin' to prosecute, so I've done my duty for 2024 / 2025 according to my very last minute email.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * * </p>
<p>2023: The Year of Abundance</p>
<p>Last year was supposed to be <a href="http://www.jenfitzgeraldwriter.com/2023/01/2023-year-of-abundance.html" target="_blank">the year of abundance</a>... And in many ways it was: family, love, time, productivity, and healing. But not in as many other ways as I'd hoped (financials, to be specific), but I'll take what I learned from all that reading and keep on moving forward.</p>
<p>2024: The Year of Doing</p>
<p>As you've probably gleaned from most of last year's posts, I'm on a mission to get out of debt and put money away for retirement.</p>
<p>That means that there will be little money left for anything other than debt-reduction. What I will have available is time and energy, so I'm going to turn my attention to <i>doing</i> the things around the house / yard that need doing.</p>
<p>Housekeeping, as you also know, has been an ongoing challenge for me, so that's part of the equation, but what I'm really talking about here are things like cleaning out the sheds, hauling off the yard debris we've gathered over the years from fallen trees and/or branches, clearing out the back corners of the yard behind the sheds. Etc, etc, etc... I've started the list, but there's plenty to get done.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * * </p>
<p>So the moment you've all been waiting for! (lol)</p>
<p>Here are they...</p><p>Drum roll please...</p>
<p>My Fresh Start Goals for 2024<br /></p>
<p>So back in October, when I gave my 3rd quarter report, I mentioned that the 2024 goals might look & feel different, and so they shall... I thought I'd mentioned that they'd be divvied up into categories, but I can't find that in a post, but it seemed the way to go. </p>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Finances</li><ul>
<li>Keep reading...</li>
<li>Reduce debt / pay off a credit card or two.</li></ul>
<li>Health & Wellness</li><ul>
<li>Lose ten pounds</li>
<li>Continue to utilize the Hinge Health app</li>
<li>Get into a yoga routine</li>
<li>Start eating healthier again</li></ul>
<li>Writing</li><ul>
<li>Spend time in the manuscript one a week.</li></ul>
<li>Housekeeping / Home Improvement</li><ul>
<li>Implement a housekeeping routine</li>
<li>Carry out various home improvement tasks</li></ul>
<li>Miscellaneous</li><ul>
<li>Monthly missives to Grandma</li>
<li>Read 57 books in 2024</li>
<li>Increase my cross stitch pattern offerings</li></ul></ul>
<p>As listed, these aren't specific or measurable, but I do have a MS Word doc with all the details mapped out. Go me!<br /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * * </p>
<p>And last but certainly not least, in December, I lost another dear friend...</p>
<p>Goodbye dear Regina. You were a kind, gentle soul, and I know you're living your best life in heaven.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Taken in Granbury, June 2023. Regina is up front in the left corner.</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">Taken at Lake Conroe, June 2019. Regina is second from left, in the pink shirt.</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * * </p>
<p>Take care, dear friends.</p>
<p>Chat with you soon.</p>
<p> </p>Jen FitzGeraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746163660525324335noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8311327768267164732.post-69810553867869530772024-01-01T05:00:00.137-06:002024-01-01T05:00:00.146-06:00Happy New Year<p> </p>
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<div style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy <a href="https://pngtree.com/" target="_blank">PNGTREE</a>.</div>
<p>Well, here we are again looking ahead at another year and another chance to make positive changes in our lives and further progress toward our goals.</p>
<p>In the meantime, Christmas and New Years Eve were both spent in traditional fashion.</p>
<p>Christmas Eve with DH's family enjoying good food and good company. </p>
<p>New Years Eve was spent selling fireworks and ringing in the new year with some very dear friends. I also met a new friend...two of our faithful fireworks friends recently had a baby.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * * *</p>
<p>Guess what I'm doing tomorrow?? My civic duty! For the first time in a suuuuper looong time, I've been summonsed for jury duty. Not sure how it's gonna go, but I guess I'll find out. I'll let you know in the next post.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * * *</p>
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<p>And looky--DD and I spent a lazy Christmas day working on our gingerbread row houses. It's not exactly like the picture, but that's okay. I really enjoyed spending time with DD and working on this together.</p>
<p>I was tempted to see what, if anything, Target had on clearance. :0) Alas, I have plenty of other projects I should get back to.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * * *</p>
<p>Christmas Day was lovely. Santa and the fam were good to me. And we FaceTimed with the Brown-Eyed Girl and her soul mate to open gifts.</p>
<p>There was really no one "best" gift, but I was the recipient of this:</p>
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<p>I've been hoping for this bad boy for a couple years now and now it's finally mine. I can't wait to buy some of those "plump-when-you-cook-em" franks and see how well they turn out. Thanks, Mimi!!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * * *</p>
<p>And I'm going to sneak in a quick and dirty 4th quarter goals report....as per <a href="http://www.jenfitzgeraldwriter.com/2023/10/third-quarter-review.html" target="_blank">my 3rd quarter report</a>, no grades again, and just an update (the full list is to the right):</p>
<ol style="text-align: left;"><li>letters and postcards to Grandma in Denmark still going out regularly</li><li>
didn't finish the book; didn't even think about the book</li><li>
my Hinge Health routine has been back in place</li><li>
far surpassed the reading challenge goal</li><li>
writers group duties happen when they happen :0)</li><li>
no new patterns to Etsy shop except for customer requests</li><li>
not much self care going on except the Hinge Health</li><li>
no home improvement projects completed</li><li>
no writer education happened</li><li>
ate like crap--looking at you 2024 to make those changes<br /></li><li>
housekeeping was hit or miss, but looking forward to 2024</li><li>
we're still blogging every other week; it's working for me</li><li>
no articles for my writers group</li><li>
didn't study the Personality Strengths</li><li>
got through the whole Bible, with only a couple of missed days (which were made up immediately)</li><li>
no more Goodreads habit</li></ol>
<p>My Fresh Start Goals for 2024 will be along in two weeks.</p>
<p>HAPPY NEW YEAR! Here's to a great 2024 for one and all.</p>
<p> </p>Jen FitzGeraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746163660525324335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8311327768267164732.post-25787482952641103622023-12-25T05:00:00.001-06:002023-12-25T05:00:00.187-06:00Merry Christmas!!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6X04NkuOvcbnGAfrhImmOv5440NRT1HJmmmUk4TYGGYjk_MyKnCv6j8Oii4cw-y0AtNpgMXos3PHJdC2GfadBvtc4IJVusvbrFyO6JTaRLOBI1QdMOkSj2JYZ7p98ncUsmTqAV-4U58sYAPSjAXiMyfm5IPsBqsjG6rxt2gLQ9xwSWtW_28CkHbiighg/s300/santa-bucee.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6X04NkuOvcbnGAfrhImmOv5440NRT1HJmmmUk4TYGGYjk_MyKnCv6j8Oii4cw-y0AtNpgMXos3PHJdC2GfadBvtc4IJVusvbrFyO6JTaRLOBI1QdMOkSj2JYZ7p98ncUsmTqAV-4U58sYAPSjAXiMyfm5IPsBqsjG6rxt2gLQ9xwSWtW_28CkHbiighg/s1600/santa-bucee.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">May your day be merry and bright and filled with all things Buc-ee's!!</p><p>Okay, maybe that's just my wish. My new neighbor seems to be a fan of Buc-ee's as well.</p><p>Take care and have a super day whatever your plans are.</p><p>MWAH!<br /></p>Jen FitzGeraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746163660525324335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8311327768267164732.post-32624297902423857652023-12-18T05:00:00.185-06:002023-12-18T08:07:07.526-06:00Merry Christmas!<p> </p>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>MERRY CHRISTMAS!</b></span></h2>
<p>Christmas is a mere week away. Hope you're well and ready for your holiday celebrations, whatever they may (or may not) entail. :0)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</p>
<p>Check this out! I mean click the image and look closely--really study it. It's an amazing thing.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="500" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGMNRRMz8mD4PhylQXWFf3wBvss7ub-4wq6XxKR2k3uLBOJ8rQLEPkChlsvH_92RARGSzBtGI8gf7fy_wtnI4_IxBi8oX4dYzxaoKp8sSPM71y2jeWsjsRPrBctuO6t8CWkKdkmQdVs2MyNGvMY0KCRkWu4nR8T8Wc8r2f5EGtFn2JovJJ1XnVE8UWZc/s320/bill_braun_art.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<p>While it may look like a piece of child's art done with scissors, glue, and staples--it's actually a painting!</p>
<p>Here's the artist's website: <a href="https://www.billbraunart.com/" target="_blank">Bill Braun Art</a>. DD showed me a clip of his work via Tik Tok, and I knew I wanted to share it with you.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</p>
<p>Along with the monthly letters I've finally gotten diligent about sending to my Grandma in Denmark, I send a floral arrangement to her for her birthday in August and for Christmas. It's gotten to be more and more of a challenge to find Christmas themed arrangements that can be made / sent in foreign counties--namely Denmark. In fact, 1-800-Flowers didn't even have any. They had regular flowers, but nothing for Christmas.</p>
<p>However, after much Googling I finally found an online flower retailer who had Christmas floral arrangements available to send to Denmark. Unfortunately, it was a little more expensive than it used to be, which is probably due to several factors. The most important thing is that Grandma gets flowers. If I'm not mistaken, Grandma turned 98 this past August, so she's not gonna be around too much longer for me to send flowers to.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</p>
<p>Shopping is almost done! Two identical gifts to buy--I know what it is, just a matter of swinging by the specialty store--and one last gift for DD. She's somewhat of an Anglophile and she discovered the <a href="https://www.british-emporium.com/" target="_blank">British Emporium</a> in a nearby city, so we're going to check it out on Thursday.</p>
<p>All that's really left is the wrapping part. Which I'll probably work on a little each day when I need to take a sitting break.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</p>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="240" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFURJKCSu4lGjn9MUC4S_3SY-LmV6iA7GmywlJwJBLMJgj6Dg-E1Js88xRp7aIQgk_yI5-q5wSS8VuqfLWZAE_IEkRye5wfJHwVPALrexnB_Y5fWIWfHkatnE-6iEobuHqeTWHw462z_vCTYe0LOGP2jdcFmLUX61xvSBWJsLyMyvHMdgO0-8ZPQvlwU/s1600/wonka.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<p>DD and I went to see Wonka yesterday (12/17/23) and we both enjoyed it. Despite Timothée Chalamet's amazing performance--he did all the dancing and singing himself and he was charming as a young Willie Wonka--we probably won't be re-watching any time soon.</p>
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<p>We also spent too many hours watching the Netflix Series "All the Light We Cannot See" which was aaaaaamazing. I highly recommend it. But do it when you have four hours to watch because even though it's broken up into four episodes, it's <i>that</i> compelling.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</p>
<p>And, in case you're wondering, DD and I have not yet worked on our gingerbread row house kit...probably this weekend.</p>
<p>Since I won't post until the new year...</p>
<p>Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to you and yours.</p>
<p>Take care!!</p>
<p> </p>Jen FitzGeraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746163660525324335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8311327768267164732.post-89732966773822627072023-12-04T05:00:00.157-06:002023-12-04T14:41:56.128-06:00It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas...<p> </p>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="500" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmr-5E37gdmxM18XCkISZKEU02ETcB-ZA4aISwIPAGs0dtiqBBTS-QTylV3vdXvXZfFw5c2yGNY_nAVltt59YSG-t-ydTSrRBuCAHGInLADJxel0HZhlPBL1d9pHLpisLxFQTIlHx3zmJRWJIBdN8ZD8riC_krJkyFrHLuzrEFwvOSxIuXcfB1GoWc97w/s320/ginger_row.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<p>On a recent trip to Target, DD and I came across <a href="https://www.target.com/c/gingerbread-house-kits-christmas-candy-treats/-/N-qqpfs" target="_blank">a plethora of gingerbread building kits</a> and I'd been reminiscing about the faux gingerbread houses of previous Christmases and how it's been a while since I'd done one. You remember my redneck gingerbread house from years past and GI Snow, right? I can't remember the last time I did this but it's been a while... </p>
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<p> I verbalized the thought that maybe I could recreate the row houses and DD was like "Or we could just buy this." So we did. :0) We'd planned to work on it over Thanksgiving weekend, but that didn't happen. So new target will be a couple of weekends hence.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * * *</p>
<p>Came across this on X/Twitter last week and thought it pretty damned amazing--enough that I wanted to share it with you all...</p>
<p>This is Jim Thorpe, first Native American to win a gold medal for the United States...He represented the U.S. in Track and Field in the 1912 Olympics. Look closely at the photo, you can see that he's wearing different socks and shoes. This wasn't a fashion statement. </p>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIaZQlQQxPiydw4xgwD4scaOADh5QnCwoNC0PiOJIhLEMGK9oHJLKsfByJuGLBuAuc42O5sevkJmnumeHV6NHxIUJKaLVVdpgTGl530yTDjEXsGHzMIDWeCoG5iVbMssDZi-_5nF4COM34we-Hwr5LYdPmahcxaZNert4Ixazek6KmMpKIF8fiDAunqSM/s320/Jim%20Thorpe.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<p>According to @fasc1nate on X, on the morning of his competition, his shoes were stolen. Luckily, Jim ended up finding two shoes in a garbage can. (Luckily??!!??) That's the pair that he's wearing in the photo. But one of the shoes was too big, so he had to wear an extra sock. Wearing these shoes, Jim won two gold medals that day.</p>
<p>Sadly, the rest of his life was tragic for many reasons, but this just goes to show that where there's a will, there's a way.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * * *</p>
<p>I've been working on cleaning my home office in preparation for rearranging. I had too many things crowded in my 10' x 10' space and it was getting to me. Having an L-shaped desk sticking out into the middle of the room hasn't helped, and I may end up with an arm of it still sticking out, but maybe in a less obtrusive way...</p>
<p>I also wanted new fairy lights-- The ones in the living room have worked great. They've been up for three years now and are still burning brightly morning and evening when the timer turns them on. I attempted to buy similar lights for my office, but basically didn't get the correct ones so back to the drawing board. I have to go hunt down that Amazon order and go from there. :0)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * * *</p>
<p>This past weekend, I also put up my tree... I bought an additional string of lights and spare bulbs so we have a tree with lights (not on when I took the picture) but no ornaments...I'll be working on that this week.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hV2AsXSsz5nMXF5TyQqz25Adhb-yXp99LlQLAQOfWY306Jk_-JiOA9ounKgb_287U0mMHCA7F7VDyT7igtwCYmpoGaAMMhLNaLxZ1lr-Tr1QiqeW67i62QBV3JNmlIJ9pHJmFMDB1hhNLJhcOIJUPRCKPUZ8A3eeK9fkk-zd4lJFPMnVQHzRmFEVru4/s320/BIG%20TREE.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<p>And the HOCKEY TREE is back!! Or will be once the hockey-related ornaments are added. :0)</p>
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<p>Have a super week. We'll catch up in a couple of weeks.</p>
<p>Take care.</p>
<p> </p>Jen FitzGeraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746163660525324335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8311327768267164732.post-62004765108049763322023-11-20T06:00:00.001-06:002023-11-20T06:00:00.160-06:00Happy Thanksgiving<p> </p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Image courtesy <a href="http://www.imgbin.com" target="_blank">IMGBIN</a>.</i></span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #990000;">HAPPY THANKSGIVING!</i></h1>
<p>Hope your holiday plans are all that you want them to be. It'll just be three of us as Casa FitzGerald. The menu's been decided and we're all looking forward to an extended period of time off. As a teacher, DD gets to enjoy a full <i>nine</i> days of R&R. I'm grateful for my four...</p>
<p>As we celebrate Thanksgiving later this week, let me share a few things I'm thankful for...</p>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>My family and friends, of course, including you faithful readers.</li>
<li>YouTube and the Internet in general where there is soooo much information that you can learn anything you want.</li>
<li>The people who share their hard-won knowledge by writing books.</li>
<li>Living in the land of the free and the home of the brave...</li>
<li>Dallas Stars hockey. :0) </li></ol>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</p>
<p>As the final weeks of 2023 chug along, it's time to look ahead to 2024 and ponder my fresh start goals...</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure my primary areas of focus are finances, health and wellness, writing, housekeeping, and then there'll be a few things I'll file under miscellaneous. Not sure how I'm going lay things out--all in a jumble as in years past or as a mini list for each sector.</p>
<p>I'm combining this with my vision board items because many of them overlap. I'm also going to break down anything I can into quarterly goals so I can see them in bite-sized chunks.</p>
<p>Last year I had sixteen (!) items on my list. Granted--certain things I would do anyway like read, but the financial stuff is all new. Some things I'm just trying to improve on or, honestly, keep myself accountable for--like sending letters to my grandma!!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</p>
<p>Remember when I said the next book I was going to read was "The Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey? Well, I lied. I'm now reading another book about options trading. It had me from "hello." </p>
<p>The very first chapter talked about positive financial mindsets and vision boards, just to name two. And those are two things I'm totally on board with and have learned about in previous books and from YouTube videos. They're things I've already worked to incorporate in my life, so for this latest book to include those things right at a moment when I'm looking down the barrel at a new year and had needed to align my various "course of action" tracks into a single streamlined version--I mentioned this two posts ago--seemed providential. :0)</p>
<p>Full disclosure--I didn't get a new vision board created for Q4 as I'd planned. I've been in learning mode and I've got a lot to ponder and decide, so I'm just gonna look ahead to 2024 and let the remainder of 2023 cruise on by vision-board-less.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</p>
<p>You know what I've been doing lately...?</p>
<p>Cross stitching. Yup, I'm back to a tactile expression of creativity. I'm creating patterns for my store and sometimes I like to actually stitch them myself.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</p>
<p>Last but not least, let's talk hockey.</p>
<p>My boys in Victory Green are having themselves a great start to the season despite some deficiencies. And right now, <a href="https://moneypuck.com/" target="_blank">MoneyPuck</a> has them with a 10.9% chance of winning the Stanley Cup through November 15th. Highest for all teams at this point. :0)</p>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="300" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgdR9-V71viiSAcoCjQy7FEcYjsCHm26Mc4nsZ_4CrjJV4cMlqwmw_a9Lo6qZ5sSQok7znMO56PnsTsEYvZTZxxt76K4bgzRBxlr_v9D47fFWUbnWA_fEVg8WQx2uFBXqBOjRANF6x6XXpEdiD9dab2YjFq8WY6bQADssc3IXPPhXemn_mFojKDjYEAU/s1600/moneypuck.png" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of <a href="https://moneypuck.com/predictions.htm" target="_blank">MoneyPuck</a>--</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">if you click through, scroll down to see the larger interactive version.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><p><span style="color: #38761d;">BE LOUD. WEAR GREEN. GO STARS!!</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Have a super week and enjoy your holiday and long weekend.</p>
<p> </p>Jen FitzGeraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746163660525324335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8311327768267164732.post-62445253648621260652023-11-06T05:00:00.262-06:002023-11-06T05:00:00.150-06:00Texas Rangers ~ World Series Champs<p> </p>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Image courtesy of X.</i></span></div>
<p>How 'bout those Texas Rangers??</p>
<p>I only follow baseball tangentially because the Brown-Eyed Girl and her Soulmate are fans of the Houston Astros who played the Texas Rangers in the American League Championship Series, the winner of which (the aforementioned Rangers), went on to the MLB WORLD SERIES, and because the Rangers are a baseball team a) located in the DFW Metroplex where I also live and b) it was an interstate series between my local team and my older daughter's favorite team. And then my younger daughter decided she needed to follow the World Series this year...and the Rangers won, ending a decades-long drought of championships in a metroplex with teams in all five major sports.</p>
<p>That's the extent of my caring about baseball at all. :0)</p>
<div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</div>
<p>Aside from the Rangers making it to and WINNING the World Series, it's been a quiet few weeks. We reached the calmer, quieter time of the month at work and the taxes got done, so there's a weight off my shoulders.</p>
<p>Then we hit the busy time of month (the transition of one month to the next) and are now sliding into the quieter time again. Time to think about Thanksgiving and Christmas.</p>
<p>I've been reading non-fiction (with quite a bit of fiction mixed in), as I mentioned in my last post. The latest book was called "Start Your Own Corporation" and discussed the best corporation types based on your objectives both on a personal level as well as a business level. Yes, individuals can operate as corporate entities. So we'll see what I learn. The next book will be "Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey.</p>
<p>The point of all of this reading is to be financially literate and to get into the best position possible for retirement, despite starting so late in the game. I've got a ways to go, but the journey is interesting and educational. At the very least, I can contribute to our financial future. :0)</p>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-W0IkcZbmySdaEeQp6NsoB3DqzMzEs3n90l0hgNMXl2_eEuxX-qSjsZvKUtP-tWpCBzpbEOQ2VwFBXknDI9bqYc7wmB2IMtJQIBCVUeReSSiCvTnDOr6638JRPncN5nxBu6fnydYIWytDQDIQ953QTT66DJjnQMmAXVv1RHGkMctwAAjKbrVBFVgDdeA/s320/MulletMike.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Image courtesy of X.</i></span></div>
<p>Dallas Stars Super Fan Mike Antoines Honored</p>
<p>That guy in the picture above--that's Mike...known to any Stars fan worth their salt as Mullet Mike. This past Halloween, our beloved top line forward Joe Pavelski attended the team's Halloween party as...</p>
<p>You know where that's going. :0) Yup--</p>
<p>Pavs attended the party as Mullet Mike. I though he pulled it off handsomely.</p>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Image also courtesy of X.</i></span></div>
<p>Joe Pavelski as Mullet Mike with a cameo by Gerry Seguin, Tyler Seguin's youngest "son."</p>
<div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</div>
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<p>In other news, my dear sweet chill gentleman cat Waldo developed a tumor on his neck a month or so ago, and we ended up having to put him to sleep last week. It absolutely <i>broke</i> my heart to do it. He'd really grown on me and in my heart in the short time he was in my life.</p>
<p>My wonderful DH catered to my strong compulsion that Waldo shouldn't have to "go" at the vet's office, and for a little bit more money (a relative term, I know), we paid for a traveling vet to come to the house.</p>
<p>It was as peaceful and relaxed as this event could be, and Waldo was able to pass from this world to the next in the comfort of his own home. I was able to say goodbye (blubber like a baby) to this fine ol' fella in the privacy of my own home too.</p>
<p>Rest in peace, sweet Waldo... May you enjoy the forever sunshine over the Rainbow Bridge.</p>
<p> </p>Jen FitzGeraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746163660525324335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8311327768267164732.post-58127486763143358642023-10-23T04:00:00.495-06:002023-10-23T04:00:00.141-06:00Miscellaneous Monday<p> </p>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Image courtesy of NHL.com on X.</i></span></div>
<p>HOCKEY'S BACK!!</p>
<p>After about six years of Dallas Stars fandom, my team is finally good enough to garner the attention of the greater hockey media from across the country. That is to say, my boys in Victory Green get mentioned more often in the articles I read and the podcasts I hear these days.</p>
<p>DD and I attended the Dallas Stars' home opener and it was great to be back in the American Airlines Center. It's a really lovely building on the outside and I'm rather partial to the inside when it's set up for hockey games. :0)</p>
<p>And although we won (in overtime), the game itself was mostly "meh" to me. We were missing our top-line center and it was noticeable. But, as I said, <strike>we</strike> they pulled out the win, and at the end of the day, no one remembers how it happened.</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><p>* * * * *</p></div>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><i>Rich Dad Poor Dad</i> by Robert Kiyosaki</p>
<p>The last non-fiction book I completed was <i>Rich Dad, Poor Dad</i> and it was super interesting. The gist is that the educational system doesn't teach our children how to be entrepreneurs, it teaches them how to be employees. And while we need employees...we also need folks who can <i>HIRE</i> those employees. And as I've learned over the last twenty years of small-business ownership--it's not for everyone. But there are also other ways to be financially free.</p>
<p>Two big take-aways for me from this book are:</p>
<p>1) Your house is not an asset. If it costs you any kind of money, it's not an asset. Now, a house is a better use of your money than living in an apartment, but it's still not an asset unless you're renting it out and it's making money <i>for</i> you.</p>
<p>2) Being wealthy and being rich are two different things (according to Robert). Wealthy means being able to pay your monthly expenses with passive income from your assets & investments. Rich people are the Warren Buffets and Donald Trumps of the world. I like that distinction because one of those is way more attainable for me.</p>
<p>As I mentioned in my last post about my progress in reading non-fiction, reading this book suggested the next non-fiction book, and I finally started reading it. (Had to take a break from the educational reading and do some reading for pleasure.) There's also another book I bought earlier this year and never read, so I should probably read that one of these days. :0) Where that fits into the grand scheme of books to read, I have no idea.</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><p>* * * * *</p></div>
<p>Re-imagining the Vision Board for 2023</p>
<p>I need to re-do the vision board for Q4 of 2023... I've made strides toward the goals that were pictured, but it became clear to me as September rolled along that I had a disconnect between the various action tracks I was on. I had to take some time to re-assess the three tracks and align them so that all my efforts were working toward the same goal.</p>
<p>It's not that I don't want to reach all the goals, but I realized that some were stepping stones to others so instead trying to do "all" of them, I need to focus on the nearest stepping stone so as to make the most progress in the most direct and efficient fashion.</p><p>I'm talking about finances and debt here. I won't go into too much detail, but trying to save a nest egg is great, but paying off debt and eliminating finance charges and interest fees is a more lucrative short-term goal. So, yeah, alignment and streamlining. </p>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Image courtesy of NBC.</i></span></div>
<p>DD and I have been working our way through this medical drama. It had been an enjoyable breath of fresh air with the main character, the medical director of a large public hospital, making changes to policies and procedures for the good of the patients. Things we have all probably all questioned at some point or other.</p>
<p>It was going great until we reached season two. AKA the COVID season. I don't watch a wide swath of television, so I don't know this to be true, but I imagine most shows addressed it some way, some how.</p>
<p>Medical shows probably had to address the pandemic seeing as how they're <i>medical</i> shows. I've watched Grey's Anatomy for years (in real time) and they definitely did.</p>
<p>Watching the pandemic play out in delayed real time was understandable although I wasn't a fan. I wanted to escape the reality of COVID, but, again, I understand why medical dramas included that reality.</p>
<p>It's definitely different / interesting to watch a show that addresses a real time world event like the pandemic after the event has passed. <i>Especially</i> something like a pandemic where the virus itself morphed and changed at a fast pace and the medical and scientific communities were learning on the go.</p>
<p>We know so much more now, of course, good and bad / true and untrue, with the benefit of hindsight and the continued analysis of the chain of events and the data. Almost everyone (from news, to governments, to entertainment) jumped on the various band wagons and people were <i>"labeled"</i> if they disagreed with anything. (What happened to free speech and respectful discourse??) And now we're learning that maybe some of the people who had qualms about various policies maybe weren't so heretical after all...</p>
<p>The show also jumped on other various band wagons which while topical at the time, don't always have great results as time passes. I get that it's a tough challenge & balance for show runners, but it's all a bit uncomfortable to watch, to be honest.</p>
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<div style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy <a href="http://www.imjuliemurphy.com/dumplin" target="_blank">Julie Murphy's website</a>.</div>
<p>In addition to plugging through "New Amsterdam," (week nights are hit or miss depending on how either of us feels by the time DD gets home), I've re-watched a couple of favorite films in the last couple of weeks.</p><p>I was scrolling through Netflix one day and saw "The Imitation Game" starring Benedict Cumberbatch. You all know of my love for Mr. Cumberbatch and so I spent a couple of hours once again enjoying his performance as the pioneer of computer science, Alan Turing--aka the man primarily responsible for breaking the Enigma code.</p>
<p>I never ceased to be moved by this film, especially the tragedy of Turing's death.</p>
<p>*</p>
<p>On the complete opposite spectrum of tones of movies, I also re-watched "Dumplin'," a coming-of-age movie (based on a book) about an overweight young woman who finds peace with and acceptance from her (former) beauty queen mother as well making some new friends along her journey--including the hot new boy at school with whom she also works.</p>
<p>The film's soundtrack is all Dolly Parton, whose humor and wisdom underpins the plot. It's a fun, sweet, uplifting movie, and you just can't help but smile through the last twenty or so minutes.</p>
<p>Before writing this up, I didn't realize the movie was based on a book, but it is. So what did I do? Looked to see if it was available in the online library--which it was--so I promptly borrowed it. And while doing that, discovered that there are two sequels which I will also borrow in due course. :0)</p>
<p>It turns out that the book doesn't have nearly so much Dolly in it and less of a few other things I found very fun and enjoyable about the movie. Usually I'm more disappointed in the movie than the book, but in this case, I like the movie more.<br /></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><p>* * * * *</p></div>
<p>And that's all I've got for you, dear followers. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.</p>
<p>Take care. See you in a couple of weeks.</p>
<p> </p>Jen FitzGeraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746163660525324335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8311327768267164732.post-83962586910893918642023-10-09T04:00:00.208-06:002023-10-09T04:00:00.145-06:00Third Quarter Review<p> </p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Image courtesy IMGBIN.</i></span></p>
<p>Hey there! Hope you're well. As you can probably tell--blog post title anyone? lol--it's time for my quarterly check-in.</p>
<p>The third quarter was a bit rough for several weeks as the anniversary of Mom's death in August hit me a little harder than I expected--which is to say I didn't expect it to hit me hard at all. Add to that the triple digit temperatures we'd been dealing with for weeks and weeks (and weeks) on end as well as "the turn" I mentioned in my last post.</p>
<p>So all that to say that I probably didn't do very well with my goals since the whole year hasn't really gone the way I anticipated. So, without further ado, let's dive in.</p>
<p> 1) Send a postcard to my Grandma in Denmark monthly: I've been keeping up with this. August was Grandma's birthday and she got her usual flower delivery along with a letter.</p>
<p>2) Finish & publish Finders Keepers: not done; not gonna get done although I do want to finish it some day. Whether that actually comes to pass is hard to say. Just want to be realistic...</p>
<p>3) Exercise minimum 3X per week: I fell of that wagon. Grief and heat took its toll. I need to get back to doing my Hinge Health exercises if nothing else.</p>
<p>4) Read 52 books, including 6 non-fiction: I've read 49 books this year so far, ten ahead of schedule according to Goodreads. Six non-fiction books done and dusted. I've read seven so far, with one more waiting in my Kindle. One book tends to lead to the next, so I imagine another one or two will appear before the year is over.</p>
<p>5) Keep up my writers group duties on a weekly basis: I'm caught up as of this post but I wasn't very diligent about keeping up <i>weekly</i>. Mostly monthly, but summer is slow... And maybe I need to take a lesson from my history and reassess my plans going forward.</p>
<p>6) Add one non-hockey pattern per quarter to Etsy shop: Didn't happen. My plan became to have my own store and leave minimal patterns on Etsy, but due to a factor beyond my control, that project is currently stalled.</p>
<p>7) Self care: working on it. Sorta. I think. I think I need to do better.</p>
<p>8) Complete a home improvement project or two: Didn't happen; isn't gonna happen.</p>
<p>9) Read / listen to / watch my writers education items: Didn't happen; isn't gonna happen.</p>
<p>10) Continue to cook /eat healthy / adhere to a food plan: let's just say...I could be doing much better.</p>
<p>11) Stay on track with / up my game with the housekeeping: fell off the wagon here, but trying--albeit not very hard--to hop back on.</p>
<p>12) Keep blogging: I addressed that a couple of weeks ago. :0)</p>
<p>13) Write articles for my writers group newsletter: fell off the wagon here too and with everything else going on in my brain, I just haven't had a whole lot of inspiration. I have an article in progress, but it definitely needs some adjustments.</p>
<p>14) Finally study the Personality Strengths in depth: you know it's been three years and I'm pretty sure this isn't going to happen this year...</p>
<p>15) Get through the Bible in one year: totally on track here. And I've already decided that next year I want to go through the Bible in chronological order.</p>
<p>16) Keep up with / solidify my Goodreads habit: did pretty good until a month or two ago and other than tracking my book reading challenge, I couldn't care less about it any longer. So...we're done with that.</p>
<p>I've given myself grades in the past, but that's not where I'm at right now. Life has reached a crossroads and some of these goals no longer serve me. And that's fine. That's life, right? As the fourth quarter progresses and I assess where I am and where I want to go, I imagine that many of next year's goals are going to have a different look and feel to them.</p>
<p>I hope you're all well dear followers.</p>
<p>See you in a couple of weeks.</p>
<p> </p>Jen FitzGeraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746163660525324335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8311327768267164732.post-73996650724523307592023-09-25T06:00:00.002-06:002023-10-07T03:50:34.910-06:00Miscellaneous Monday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0TymAyisCs_TEpCQWrbgPc3PHbCr8osg-iRlXrobrWeeBrUa2wJccLtoVYGofn4J2FNe3iF98UxmJunJ0M1OlIXnm7F45HOBqcoSMVKKbziXMHaqtywxOE4gIPfU1biBLodYzQgJiudBnul4VhUe5Q1Pg5WUiLmSkKzuhNYk7NcxFIsyXDwIBq1sQU8/s600/MISC-MON-BLUE.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="600" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0TymAyisCs_TEpCQWrbgPc3PHbCr8osg-iRlXrobrWeeBrUa2wJccLtoVYGofn4J2FNe3iF98UxmJunJ0M1OlIXnm7F45HOBqcoSMVKKbziXMHaqtywxOE4gIPfU1biBLodYzQgJiudBnul4VhUe5Q1Pg5WUiLmSkKzuhNYk7NcxFIsyXDwIBq1sQU8/s320/MISC-MON-BLUE.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>First of all--apologies for missing both posting days last week. I ran out of days and energy and, quite frankly, <i>give-a-damn</i> to worry about it.</p><p>Life has taken a turn. Not a bad one, maybe a good one, although time will tell, but a turn none-the-less.</p><p>The point of this blog from the beginning was that, as an aspiring author, I should establish myself on various social media platforms for when I became published... So I picked blogging as my primary platform of choice. After sixteen years (WOW!) I have (only) two dozen followers. I'm grateful to all of you over the years for showing some level of interest in the journey of my life and my mind.<br /></p><p>But as my knowledge and experience grew over time, I made decisions about how I'd steer my author "career." Forcing people to follow me on any of the social media platforms out there wasn't part of the equation. Hence the low number of followers.</p><p>I didn't bribe people to follow me or charge people a fee for taking part in drawing and giveaways. For most authors that fee was usually an email address which then was supposed to be used for sending newsletters. Which I never did because I blogged instead. If readers want to know me they could visit here and/or sign up for receiving my blog posts electronically.<br /></p><p>I've mostly enjoyed blogging over the years and have kept on with it for personal reasons, but I'm reaching a point where the time it takes to think up topics, research as needed, and then write them up isn't worth the hassle or the ROI--which is, in all honesty, nothing.</p><p>I need things off my plate as my journey through life morphs changes, blogging seems like a likely target for plate-clearing.<br /></p><p>That said, it's not happening yet, but I'm cutting back to every other Monday, and I'll be consistent with that until the end of the year. I'll revisit my feelings and my plate come the new year and I'll go from there. <br /></p><p>* * * * *</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1QqQXd0-a-ru_ezmHMi6mAh4cd-9L5OqD4RzJ4RsYmwhqkA-P7jd92rIOsJtYnYk7T874B-fWSOVF7kXNT5sfNcCVvo2qHLUklrBOYGqB_7kUD-7OKOX_dgj7MCfEO1hbNWQXwc8NzK1dlzzeJmC_NA9vadQLWhpgtkhlmVVFjOkl29hhDV8HHiq4PI/s300/1200x630wp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1QqQXd0-a-ru_ezmHMi6mAh4cd-9L5OqD4RzJ4RsYmwhqkA-P7jd92rIOsJtYnYk7T874B-fWSOVF7kXNT5sfNcCVvo2qHLUklrBOYGqB_7kUD-7OKOX_dgj7MCfEO1hbNWQXwc8NzK1dlzzeJmC_NA9vadQLWhpgtkhlmVVFjOkl29hhDV8HHiq4PI/s1600/1200x630wp.png" width="300" /></a></div><br /> So Triggernometry is a podcast I've been listening to for almost a year now. <p></p><p>I came across a <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjkxa6JkLyBAxWBk2oFHYqMDCIQwqsBegQIZxAG&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DzJdqJu-6ZPo&usg=AOvVaw2E7GNN3tX4-D9chwFWZlEK&opi=89978449" target="_blank">YouTube video of Konstantin Kisin</a> (the guy on the left) giving a speech at Oxford Union in the UK entitled "Woke Culture Has Gone Too Far."</p><p>What he said really spoke to me and so I was led to investigate his podcast...which I did and I've been impressed and enlightened.</p><p>Not every guest comes from a place that I agree with. Their guests are from many industries, from comedians to authors to scientists and more. Many guests are on the opposite side of the political aisle from me, but the thing I love most is that these guys value and present respectful dialogue with people who may have differing opinions than they do. That's something I really respect and admire, and that's something that's being lost in this country. </p><p>While listening to the conversation, it's always interesting to me that while I may not agree with everything a guest says, there is usually a point or two that I do agree with. At the very least, the topics and points of view are definitely educational, and they are broadening my knowledge of what's going on in the world. I've even changed my mind about an issue or two.</p><p>So if you just want some intellectual stimulation, do check them out on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform.<br /></p><p>* * * * *<br /></p><p>And that's all I've got for this week. I'd been hoping for a few more topics, but that obviously didn't happen.</p><p>So...I'll see you in a couple of weeks.</p><p>Take care.<br /></p>Jen FitzGeraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746163660525324335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8311327768267164732.post-32510161343242958982023-09-14T04:00:00.084-06:002023-09-14T04:00:00.212-06:00Why Am I So Busy?<p> </p>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Image courtesy of IMGBIN.</i></div>
<p>It seems like I've been busier than ever over the past several years and I don't understand why...</p>
<p>The kids are grown and/or gone, so I don't need to "mom" everyday anymore.</p><p>I do need to "wife," which is fine. DH and I rub along well.</p>
<p>I need to be a better housekeeper, which I've mentioned ad nauseam over the years, and I have a system that works when I'm firing on all cylinders. I'm not fond of the system, but it does work. One of these days, though, I'm gonna pay someone to keep my house like we pay the guy who mows our lawn.</p>
<p>But that's neither here nor there.</p>
<p>The question really is why do I feel busier now than I did five or ten years ago or when Sonshine was still in high school and I was juggling all of the above plus Band Boosters and writers group?</p>
<p>I have sooo many things I want to do right now but not enough hours in the day to accomplish them all.</p>
<p>I haven't even been writing for last year and a half!</p>
<p>It's a mystery for sure and a conundrum I'm going to need to ponder.</p>
<p>If you have any thoughts, let me know!!</p>
<p>Have a great weekend!<p>
<p> </p>Jen FitzGeraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746163660525324335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8311327768267164732.post-68100425346674614042023-09-11T04:00:00.097-06:002023-09-11T04:00:00.203-06:00Remember September 11th...<p> </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSwApnGN9gluiZYmmGGf4rpV6_6iEbAMfkoWKx4vxOGpZTt4n6oA4r6Nc8Ime2SzPJNwoMeKGAWzTTtyIwVliSZloOWAQYJ7vnsFJkBXYwrZk8JvX3-712GPIt-jM35g6xmopVwsW4e5IbC5lPU7gS6EwwRUu6U4fhSFcK9GXPI8Q1qzQEW9OSAAKP5Q/s500/imgbin_9-11-memorial-september-11-attacks-never-forget-9-11-01-patriot-day-png--SMALL.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="500" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSwApnGN9gluiZYmmGGf4rpV6_6iEbAMfkoWKx4vxOGpZTt4n6oA4r6Nc8Ime2SzPJNwoMeKGAWzTTtyIwVliSZloOWAQYJ7vnsFJkBXYwrZk8JvX3-712GPIt-jM35g6xmopVwsW4e5IbC5lPU7gS6EwwRUu6U4fhSFcK9GXPI8Q1qzQEW9OSAAKP5Q/s320/imgbin_9-11-memorial-september-11-attacks-never-forget-9-11-01-patriot-day-png--SMALL.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Image courtesy IMGBIN.</i></span></p><p>Do you remember where you were? What you were doing?</p><p>I was on my home from dropping off Sonshine at school. He was in Kindergarten!! I had the radio on, as I did in those days, and heard the news pretty much immediately. I spent all day in front the of the television until it was time to pick Sonshine up from school. By that time, I was over-saturated by information and images, so no more TV when we got home.</p>
<p>* * * * *</p>
<p>And OH LOOK!</p>
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<p>It looks as though triple digits in North Texas is a thing of the past! I gotta tell you, I'm so thankful and I'm looking forward to getting out in the yard with a rake. After a crazy storm this past Saturday night--which I slept through--the yard needs some tidying.</p>
<p>Fall is just around the corner and I can't wait.</p>
<p>* * * * *</p>
<p>And in other news, DD and I spent most of this past Saturday re-arranging the living room. While we were doing that, I got froggy and swept and mopped the floor. Let me tell you--<i>my hips are not happy with me!</i></p>
<p>Here's the new layout:</p>
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<p>Previously, the couch and end tables were in front of the window and the TV was centered on the baby-poop colored wall...</p>
<p>* * * * *</p>
<p>Have a great week. Catch you Thursday.</p>
<p> </p>
Jen FitzGeraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746163660525324335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8311327768267164732.post-60059703871205546302023-09-07T04:00:00.141-06:002023-09-07T04:00:00.204-06:00Road Trip / Seeing the Fam...<p> </p>
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<p>My annual trek to Omaha to see my family was good...</p>
<p>I took a different approach to the actual driving portion of the weekend which was to just <i>not</i> hurry. I really love the scenery of the mid-west corridor or this section of the fly-over states.</p>
<p>Farmers' fields in the plush bloom of being just about ready for harvest feeds my soul. The sky, usually a crisp blue, was blocked by hazy air most of the way this year due to heat and wildfires. But I hit a stretch of road and sky between Holton, Kansas and Nebraska City, NE with the clear blue that brings me so much joy. I rolled down all the windows and enjoyed the view along with the "cool"--only mid-80's that day!!</p>
<p>The actual visits are uncontrolled chaos. There are toddlers and elementary-aged kids along with young adults and, really, just A LOT of bodies in a very small space. My step-mom says next year we're dividing up the visits. Half the fam on Saturday, the half on Sunday. I am very okay with that. :0)</p>
<p>Mostly we sat around chit-chatting and getting caught up on one another's lives. And then there's always some delicious food. This year, spaghetti, pulled pork, and fajitas.</p>
<p>Also--my brother James arrived home from boot camp/tech school on Thursday evening. So the whole crew was there.</p>
<p>One of the highlights of my trip was visiting my dad's grave during daylight hours. I've always gone at 5am on my way out of town. This time I went Sunday morning around sunrise. And it was lovely and I'm doing that again next year.</p>
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<p>Another bonus of going to the cemetery while it was light out was seeing deer, but more importantly, actually seeing the pinwheels I leave behind. As an extra special hello, there was a bit of a breeze, and I managed to catch the whirling pinwheels on video.</p>
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<p>Hope your three-day weekend was relaxing.</p>
<p>And now that Labor Day is behind us, it's time to for me to get back to work and back on track with exercising and eating right and all the other things that have taken a back seat to surviving the heat.</p>
<p>Catch you Thursday!</p>
<p> </p>Jen FitzGeraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746163660525324335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8311327768267164732.post-19721904836701094222023-09-04T04:00:00.001-06:002023-09-04T04:00:00.145-06:00Miscellaneous Monday<p> </p>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Image courtesy IMGBIN.</i></span></div>
<p> </p>
<p>Hope you're enjoying your three-day break from your usual labors.</p>
<p>As I have done for at least five years now, I went home to Omaha, NE to visit family. Actually, today, the Monday of Labor Day, is the day I'm making the ten hour trek home.</p>
<p>I look forward to getting home, but I have to admit that the drive back home is tougher than the drive to Nebraska. Mostly because I'm driving south the whole way and since it's usually bright and sunny, as this time of year is wont to be, the sun is shining directly into the car through the front windshield. I have to take care to consume enough non-caffeinated liquids. Especially once I hit Oklahoma.</p>
<p>More about the trip and the fam later.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</p>
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<p>The March 2024 Buc-ee's road trip itinerary has been altered and mostly finalized. We're re-routing from our original Buc-ee's destinations in Tennessee and Kentucky to the two in Georgia and the two in Alabama we didn't realize existed the last time we...went to Alabama.</p>
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<p>We'll also be hitting the Memphis Zoo (and a staying at a hotel in Memphis as a way point) and the Coca-Cola Museum in Atlanta as well meeting a couple of friends of mine, one in Huntsville, AL and one in Atlanta, GA respectively for a meal.</p>
<p>It's going to be a four-day whirlwind of driving...</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * </p>
<p>Speaking of Buc-ee's...<a href="https://financebuzz.com/bucees-budee-side-hustle" target="_blank">Finance Buzz</a> is offering positions to taste-test Buc-ee's snacks. So DD and I signed up. Chosen Buc-ee's Bud-ees receive money to offset their expenses.</p>
<p>*fingers crossed* that one or both of us get selected.</p>
<p>Still speaking of Buc-ee's, there's a new one being built <i>juuust</i> south of the I-35 split/rejoin which is <i>juuust</i> north of Hillsboro. It should open sometime in 2024. I pass that location at least four times a year on my way to and from the fireworks store which is probably another thirty minutes south of Hillsboro.</p>
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<p>Our new air fryer...</p>
<p>Why oh why did it take me <i>sooo</i> long to break down and buy one? And we've already decided we need another so we can cook two things at once. :0) It won't take me as long to buy the second one though.</p>
<p>The best things so far cooked: tater tots (!!!) and breaded ravioli.</p>
<p>I've even cooked pork chops and burgers in it and both were good. My technique and the timing both need adjusting for even better results although the burgers were pretty good. Pork chops were a little tough, so less cooking time me-thinks.</p>
<div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</div>
<p>And thats it for today. Enjoy the rest of your day/weekend! See you Thursday</p>
<p> </p>Jen FitzGeraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746163660525324335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8311327768267164732.post-53297149685271906902023-08-31T04:00:00.002-06:002023-09-01T02:06:18.043-06:00Throwback Thursday<p> </p>
<p>For lack of planning and something better to post about...let's remember some things, shall we?</p>
<p>Just gonna scroll through the collection of images I've amassed over the years and pick some experiences to remember...</p>
<p>During Sonshine's first year in band, they played on the steps of the Texas Capital. DD and I ended up making a run down there to see / listen to them. On the way back home we took a quick detour to visit the football field in Pflugerville where scenes from the hit show Friday Night Lights were filmed...</p>
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<p>* * * * *</p>
<p>As band mom for many years, I coordinated the provision of dinner for the band on game nights.</p>
<p>My turn...</p>
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<p>* * * * *</p>
<p>A rare sighting (in pictures, anyway) of the beautiful Darling Daughter (aka DD). This was taken many moons at the Fort Worth Zoo one lovely fall day.</p>
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<p>* * * * *</p>
<p>During my trip to Nashville with Dan back in 2019 (??) so that I could meet Mike Rowe--which I did, btw--I went on a walking tour of the city which included a trip to the original Grand Ol' Opry building.</p>
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<p>See...</p>
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<p>* * * * *</p>
<p>Back when I was participating on the BBC Sherlock fandom online, I attended the 221B Con in Atlanta.</p>
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<p>* * * * *</p>
<p>Me in Red Rock Amphitheater in Boulder at the conclusion of my first time at GRL which was in Denver that year.</p>
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<p>* * * * *</p>
<p>My first Dallas Stars Season Ticket Holder event...meeting players at Six Flags. This is Tyler Sequin.</p>
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<p>* * * * *</p>
<p>And a final ode to the Lake House...hope your new owners are appreciating you...</p>
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<p>As for you, dear friends, hope you have a great weekend. Get some rest.</p>
<p> </p>Jen FitzGeraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746163660525324335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8311327768267164732.post-72268633106743349342023-08-28T04:00:00.064-06:002023-08-28T09:27:37.599-06:00Dog Park Days<p> </p>
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<p>I've been taking Rascal to the dog park for a couple of months now and he really looks forward to it. Or so it seems. As soon as I get out the special red string bag that holds dog-park essentials, he starts trilling and prancing around. One I get the harness out, which he'd rather not wear, but doesn't fight me about, he knows we're going. And he whines all the way there.</p>
<p>There aren't always other dogs there since it's been so hot, but sometimes there are. The whole point of the endeavor is to keep him socialized with other dogs. And he seems to enjoy the interactions...</p>
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<p>Whole lotta butt-sniffin' going on, of course...</p>
<p>Just a few weeks ago when we went, there were no other dogs, but he got adventurous without me--I stayed in the shade...</p>
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<p>On the other side of that fence, is the big-dog yard, where there are almost always dogs despite the heat.</p>
<p>I'm hoping--expecting--that once the weather breaks, there will be more dogs and Rascal can really have some fun.</p>
<p>After 15- 20- 30- minutes of running around, heat and other-dog-attendance depending, we head home. And he's quiet in the car. The first time I took him, he slept most of the rest of the day. These days he's a bit more acclimated and not prone to napping all day in recovery, but he's definitely ready for bed when the time comes.</p>
<p>Sadly for Rascal, no dog park visit next weekend as I'll be out of town for the holiday. Hope you enjoy your three-day break from laboring. :0) See you next week.</p>
<p> </p>Jen FitzGeraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746163660525324335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8311327768267164732.post-62500095521666992042023-08-24T04:00:00.044-06:002023-08-24T04:00:00.333-06:00Out of the Office<p> </p>
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<div style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of IMGBIN.</div>
<p>The <i>office</i> office, that is....</p>
<p>Today, the day this posts, I'm in my home office, having taken a day off my day job to work on personal stuff. Namely my online pattern store, FanStitches.com. You can visit if you want, but it's a hot mess right now.</p>
<p>I had a day off two weeks ago as well and while I didn't get as much done as I'd hoped--things tend to take longer than we anticipate--I still got enough done that I was happy with my progress. Let's hope today is as productive.</p>
<p>I'm still learning how to navigate Word Press and its block editor as well the ins and outs of the site theme and how it combines different types of data and widgets to create dynamic site pages. I've shied away from learning WordPress for long enough for various reasons, but no more.</p>
<p>I can and I will figure the systems out.</p>
<p>Along with learning the mechanics of the website, I need to gather my pattern ideas, figure out the best way to organize them, and then put together project plans and timelines.</p>
<p>My other order of business is writers group stuff. I have a few things I've been putting off, but I cannae any longer.</p>
<p>Hope you have as productive a day today as I plan to. And here's to a relaxing weekend.</p>
<p> </p>Jen FitzGeraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746163660525324335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8311327768267164732.post-89144903998916492762023-08-21T04:00:00.087-06:002023-08-21T04:00:00.162-06:00National Burger Day is Coming<p> </p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"> Image courtesy IMGBIN.</p>
<p>Mark your calendars for Thursday August 24th -- just a few days hence -- for National Burger Day!</p>
<p>The first burger-like creations date back to the 1st Century AD in Rome. I won't bore you with the details; you can <a href="https://nationaltoday.com/national-burger-day/" target="_blank">read about them here</a> if you're so inclined.</p>
<p>Let's talk about how we like our burgers prepared...</p>
<p>I personally like my patty well done, and I like lettuce, pickles, and ketchup on them. Oh and thinly sliced red onions on occasion.</p>
<p>There's a local burger chain where you can get couple of burgers with some not-the-usual toppings. My choice from Burger Street is the Olive Burger topped with...green olives. They also offer a Chili Cheeseburger topped not only with chili, but also with Fritos--which should make that a Frito Pie Burger in my opinion. :0)</p>
<p>Most of the time, I eat burgers without buns because, most of the time, we make burgers at home rather than get them from fast food or order them at restaurants, and I occasionally like to douse my patty with a serving of Bush's Baked Beans and a dash of A-1 Sauce.</p>
<p>Now I do gotta say my favorite buns are Mrs Baird's large seeded buns, although i don't splurge on them very often. But maybe I should do more often because life is short.</p>
<p>Share your favorite burger place or your favorite way of assembling your burger in the comments if you like.</p>
<p>Oh--I happen to have burgers in my freezer...I guess I know when we're having them!!</p>
<p>Have a great week.</p>Jen FitzGeraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746163660525324335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8311327768267164732.post-87835697660205817992023-08-17T04:00:00.078-06:002023-08-17T04:00:00.145-06:00Red, White, & Royal Blue Movie Review<p> </p>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston</h3>
<p>About four months ago (April of 2023) I came across this book in the online library and immediately borrowed it.</p>
<p>I fell in love with this book. It was chock full of emotion and jam-packed with the internal narrative of each character that really fed that emotional resonance.</p>
<p>Imagine my surprise and delight when I saw that it'd been made into a full-length movie. I looked forward to plopping myself into my recliner and really enjoying this film.</p>
<p>However, knowing a screenwriter, I've learned that it's harder than it looks to convert a book to a screenplay to a movie script.</p>
<p>While I enjoyed the movie, it didn't bring me near the satisfaction as the book did when I reached the end.</p>
<p>I might have chosen different scenes from the book to showcase the characters' journeys, but I'd have to re-read the book to make that determination--and I just might because I enjoyed the book that much.</p>
<p>But it's well worth a watch if male/male romance is up your alley. And FYI, it's rated R for a sex scene. And while it isn't super explicit <i>in my opinion</i>--in that doesn't show the body parts--it's still very clear what's going on and who's doing what to whom. But for all that I think it's well done.<br /></p>Jen FitzGeraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746163660525324335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8311327768267164732.post-24009791372772068562023-08-14T04:00:00.006-06:002023-08-14T04:00:00.170-06:00A Whole Lotta Building Going On...<p> </p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Image courtesy IMGBIN.</i></span></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p>As the title says, there's been a whole lotta building going on in my neck of the woods.</p>
<p>It started several months ago with the refurbishing of one of those computer technician schools into a Rocketship Elementary School. That's been really fun to watch.</p>
<p>We went from this:</p>
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<p>South side...</p>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="1000" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUcJTa1AVEqeyVOmyON4rgOb06xbsdbOi06ltEo4Ldoh9KFk78OwvTOJ1pT_l3oGQsn38606AZRfqJuOxsopui6pxYlXUqEiRSdS-EiWTTafByyaUZuzoPir1Y8V29MlRAsTUi6X_gGHCRKaM7iSCIIAcrf1BTEqB3RPKoeF2HvRyt5HXgXilJUxyIOU/s320/remington-03.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>View from the west to the space in the U of the building...</p>
<p><br /></p>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="601" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfc41TCpQ4TGcjjWiSitxGPGbyOSHXW3u01nfw_o3sUTrw0sVush4GKdjOb93-j-m1k8Z494rK6o_MoLaUR4dWtm3njGwUY1IrpRvivUd1r0EoJ1dVFu6EwzFKekwIZo9wS60pn0OSghMLMp6QZtFp8P-KdiEigwubRuK1-IeRLi1F8U2ZBdy6qssokhM/s320/remington-02.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<p>View of the east / front side...</p>
<p>To this:</p>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyMPbI95GDcThObJv19j1wxTx8QPE6Q6NuPA4p3KdlXbrQNxnwz62cUTkS2U-M4HXI94t1rH9U2p0WykhmeQ-KhKI83QaVOQlApa-4qIdMpCMLwfdKXmcwRAzTj50suPo92pBvodOC1EFPieHgyFxyzDCRspB4bRPMwdKyemaSU7qz-uwZvfsYR5OBWA/s320/School%2001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<p>This appears to be an indoor playground & possible assembly center...and located where the parking lot was between arms of the building.</p>
<p><br /></p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFfh8e3c9lL_mMizCsGl8YcYMniZkzeYrDfAifxVvO2gkSUpgiRaaeCOsQGIC4pB0EwOurNv52_kBzXgorb36-hepNrdu7-gvaxapqsyoSvHxi_b3lmQHjR26m1jSaEiT_fMlzhqd7Hb77aTWx9IKTBxsjDpqnlZ1UchCJPG27Du6rz50M-eE-mIY9yM/s600/School%2002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFfh8e3c9lL_mMizCsGl8YcYMniZkzeYrDfAifxVvO2gkSUpgiRaaeCOsQGIC4pB0EwOurNv52_kBzXgorb36-hepNrdu7-gvaxapqsyoSvHxi_b3lmQHjR26m1jSaEiT_fMlzhqd7Hb77aTWx9IKTBxsjDpqnlZ1UchCJPG27Du6rz50M-eE-mIY9yM/s320/School%2002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<p>That dome building is just to the left of this view--in fact that curved walkway follows the curve of the building wall...</p>
<p><br /></p>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyV2M41byErVoozIxYjwyFDRoAKZCZXcZYhxIncD9U8Zs-GsuE3BKDwbY8-Sos6iiPKi3H7X0pLasJGnZ5TTYOYw1K26aizIsy2D9c3RBKM5pEwxLI-eGAAmG0GcvEJxl-cSVk6XpoqJhOHNV40q7aneEZH6WB5EZgJJsbp7zjYjJ7zgB_zEOkcmhqH-4/s320/School%2003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<p>And the south view of building showing off the new paint job.</p>
<p>The construction on the school is <i>juuust</i> about done. They're doing the final cleanup outside, and teachers have been inside for a couple of weeks now, getting ready for the upcoming school year.</p>
<p>It's really exciting, and I can't wait to see the little kids enjoying this new facility within the next few weeks to a month.</p>
<p>* * * * *</p>
<p>And then, maybe a month and a half, two months ago, a hotel started getting built over by my local Home Depot. Which was fine. I don't know yet what chain...</p>
<p>And then, maybe three weeks ago, they started clearing the land between the hotel and the corner of the highway interchange....</p>
<p>At this point I have no idea what's going in there. It's too small of a property to be a Buc-ee's. >>wink, wink<< The question is...will it be a gas station or will it be fast food or a restaurant--that could be nice--or just general retail. Only time will tell. I'll keep you posted.</p>
<p>We went from this:</p>
<p><br /></p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8srSGZTGtCbQFt1F8aHAcw60R_1Sn0S6zjhdCNDREXaS3W6GItMH2fdA3Iq4s0QE04RpHV55IMLB7bjhF_jK-rKca9ahKGG2FLDaYPEVfk-Fl2Z82CjlzPjFHZjVWkbLCPW91qsV58rFbPn3WPwvBJKqUjlvoNJ6VzjkJdqCe1Pj0SLx2vc5RcUYtIU/s400/homedepot.01.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="400" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8srSGZTGtCbQFt1F8aHAcw60R_1Sn0S6zjhdCNDREXaS3W6GItMH2fdA3Iq4s0QE04RpHV55IMLB7bjhF_jK-rKca9ahKGG2FLDaYPEVfk-Fl2Z82CjlzPjFHZjVWkbLCPW91qsV58rFbPn3WPwvBJKqUjlvoNJ6VzjkJdqCe1Pj0SLx2vc5RcUYtIU/s320/homedepot.01.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<p>The hotel is being built where the aqua blob is...</p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86DRlSqd-l4pUPupXGUEQqNyGLbwb7tlYlFRpifcHYDzx53ovFE8dhWaUSte0ahWVJYtCASKVhfLnD28a1NK9qJ0hqvui_R4hHamot1iKjHW2o5jNXuBJYvge1zk6Yv2pJsZ-Y6ESPnOtALegzDdr-55aby8tzMOVgCET2IRer_3dKWbbL1qlQu5dYWg/s1200/homedepot.03.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="1200" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86DRlSqd-l4pUPupXGUEQqNyGLbwb7tlYlFRpifcHYDzx53ovFE8dhWaUSte0ahWVJYtCASKVhfLnD28a1NK9qJ0hqvui_R4hHamot1iKjHW2o5jNXuBJYvge1zk6Yv2pJsZ-Y6ESPnOtALegzDdr-55aby8tzMOVgCET2IRer_3dKWbbL1qlQu5dYWg/s320/homedepot.03.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<p>This is the old view from the pink X in the picture above.</p>
<p><br /></p>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="1200" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNC_k_4BxmC-aeWSRttHUtVt0h32jCchiPRq5xZsTuvOZ5BjBrpBC-Lo_cbahxwGYNthJChulTQe9TbvkkkKbLMQGf4GjHKg7cSfa8Nvejr3cPbSSzMuCkxpcFNXKasPo42eTbMJwPKsk2PbJV6fiMA_jtTLxxAs06unYNRqpv0Ks6NP_2Rk9MIXkmkM/s320/homedepot.04.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<p><br /></p>
<p>This is the original view from the aqua X in the picture above.</p>
<p>To this:</p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xLZY79qbZqY1OSNZp-rAsD39amBG5DNo-lOTW2kTaQNiX7posY_V1ORsG0qMkt6PXvvAY0DsYesZQco5SEcZbdzpSuxlBh7TA0SPy9oGt750DqsPQCJPlZUyVpkZaDfi0pA0Kk4e3NN8sE4mkH_CX32rVY2yAQsKQbzSmxjN67dSpCIzLKc4vpQk5ZE/s300/Construction%2001.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xLZY79qbZqY1OSNZp-rAsD39amBG5DNo-lOTW2kTaQNiX7posY_V1ORsG0qMkt6PXvvAY0DsYesZQco5SEcZbdzpSuxlBh7TA0SPy9oGt750DqsPQCJPlZUyVpkZaDfi0pA0Kk4e3NN8sE4mkH_CX32rVY2yAQsKQbzSmxjN67dSpCIzLKc4vpQk5ZE/s1600/Construction%2001.png" width="300" /></a></div>
<p>Interim view now from the pink X...</p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVBkQnyrnsqWuKo2ABJYwv9MmWviPJYdTPtsnEv66W81gxo6Xi6IKSTFTUQzV5_5Olcdj3LOtJDzCb0AYCVlTMM2q3lOfR5R2dlnSFGfYb30V5DC-3lTV2_qJ1dgd6okOZiGWSmZg86eXD8IeGWM0o4QFpacv1r8NlrWO6fHR-ByR_NWT_cO1v22RUHs/s300/Construction%2002.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVBkQnyrnsqWuKo2ABJYwv9MmWviPJYdTPtsnEv66W81gxo6Xi6IKSTFTUQzV5_5Olcdj3LOtJDzCb0AYCVlTMM2q3lOfR5R2dlnSFGfYb30V5DC-3lTV2_qJ1dgd6okOZiGWSmZg86eXD8IeGWM0o4QFpacv1r8NlrWO6fHR-ByR_NWT_cO1v22RUHs/s1600/Construction%2002.png" width="300" /></a></div><p>Interim view now from the pink X...</p>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9oBRN9Pl1t3oaOqyXmMAYrHKhGwaqL0plRnBY8q85B-XQbrat9D6h4OeiZCMwV7fMyljU1DabEYlNfTMVzNpIoETofIhmfVAGVpXgqCFvwY5AIKUxQMJDrHUpMsv5qmPgGnyJSRaJsSbS24QMbKrNwxWOHz4lQ_3b3uCLmYjAzEITuLCmvFos5ma3OM/s1600/Construction%2003.png" width="300" /></a></div>
<p>Interim view from the aqua X...<.p>
</p><p>The land sculpting of this property continues apace although I still have no clue what's going in there. For sure it's not a single building, business, etc because they're building different levels. Two for sure, possibly three.</p>
<p>It's certainly interesting to watch and I'm looking forward to seeing how it all turns out and what new food chain or business finds a home there.</p>
<p>Hope you had a great weekend and here's to a great week.</p>
<p> </p><p></p>Jen FitzGeraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15746163660525324335noreply@blogger.com0