Friday, March 29, 2019
1:50 p.m.

It's Friday again. Wow! It's also snowing again! Not so wow. I am ready for Spring to come and stay. I want to see some green grass and flowers, even if I sneeze and wheeze.

So, I have been thinking. No, no, don't be scared! It's what I do here, after all.

I retired early, due to illness. And I can't regret it, since I'd probably have ended up more ill than I could have recovered from if I hadn't stopped working when I did. No, not even probably--I would have. The damage to my lungs can't be disputed, as much as I would like to deny it. So, disability. Yay! (waves tiny white flag while fake-smiling)

It's not all bad, of course. I have time to write. And I am able to come and go, which is great when you have aging parents who need some TLC.

But the days kind of run into each other. Same old, same old. And when it's cold, it's worse. Once we can get out more, it will be nice.

Speaking of same old, I have been so blah with food lately that I can't come up with good but different things to eat. No one is complaining--I feed them well--but why aren't they bored? They can pretty much have anything, which is good. Maybe I just think I'm a boring cook because I really can't eat much of what I make for them right now. My diet really is a boring drag.

It's snowing, so grilled cheese and tomato soup. And I will probably bake some cookies.

See? Exciting, right? But pretty yummy, I suppose.

There are foods that I have always considered cold, snowy day foods. Grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup are high on that list. The others are beef stew, ham and beans with cornbread, and chili.

Oh, now I really want a big bowl of chili with onions and cheese, but--ouch! That's not happening. All I could have of that is the crackers on the side!

It's weird how I get a little obsessed with food when my stomach can't tolerate it. It's sort of like being on a diet, and wanting all the candy in the world just because you promised yourself you'd lay off it.

A couple of days ago I wrote a scene in a current work in progress. It features an event with a large gathering of people and lots of different foods, and I was actually salivating thinking of summer sausage and baked beans and coleslaw.

Now, it has been ages since I could eat coleslaw, and I don't do well with most meat, either. But there are times when all you want is steak, and I will order that in a restaurant every once in a while. A six ounce steak can last me three days! Yummy, yum!

There are also days when nothing but a juicy hamburger with all the trimmings will do. I am still dumb enough to risk it from time to time, and they are so good. We're not talking a Big Mac, here.
I mean a grilled burger from a good restaurant or one made right at home. Cheese and avocado, tomato and onion--yum! That's pretty much the only thing I'd be able to eat all day, and the next day would be Popsicles and apple juice, but... sometimes, I just do it.

I pay for it, but I do it. It hasn't killed me yet, but it has made me wish for an unconscious state on a few occasions.

Yesterday, I had cottage cheese, so I figured I might be okay with today's lunch plan.

I think the grilled cheese was okay. But--

The tomato soup is making itself known right now. Ow. There might not be enough omeprazole in the house for this fire. Water, water, water!

I still want the chili. And the steak. And the hamburger.

But, not today.

Dinner will be water, water, water. And maybe a Popsicle. Exciting stuff, indeed.
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Ow. Ow. Ouch! Dummy. No more tomato soup for you.

But, I like tomato soup! And...it's soup!!

Have a glass of milk and shut up, dummy.

Okay...
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4:41 p.m.

It's still snowing, and the wind has picked up a bit, but so far it has been warm enough that the sidewalks and streets are only wet. Sundown is coming, though, so I hope it stops soon.

You know, even though I am tired of winter, I still can't help standing at the window and watching the snow fall. It's pretty. I can't deny it. It looks like lace against the sky, and the fir trees in front of the house look like they're covered in white blossoms.

Molly's not fussed, though. She finally had a big expanse of grassy yard to play in, and it's all buried in the white stuff again. She gave me quite the baleful look this morning when I put her out. I assured her that it wasn't my fault, but she doesn't seem convinced, even now. She heaved quite a sigh a few minutes ago when I let her out the door.

I swear, she's a dog. But--wow! She's the most human dog I've ever been around.

I don't blame her for being a bit put out. She was pretty happy to be able to find every fallen branch and gnarl of bark and try dragging it inside to chew up. Now it's all under snow again. Poor pup.

Not poor me, though. I get a reprieve from chasing her down before she makes a mess all over the floor. I don't get that dog--she'd rather try eating a tree branch or a wad of paper than eat her own food. What's up with that?
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I asked a question on Facebook a couple of days ago about the good old days in my hometown. Kids here used to go to Keggers--drinking parties--on the weekends. I had questions, because an upcoming scene in my work in progress will involve my main character needing to go to one for reasons.

I never went to one--I am nearly positive I was never even invited to one, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have gone even then. I was never one for crowds, and never one for going into the great outdoors where I might run into something that would cause an allergic reaction of some sort. In short, I was a chicken.

For the record, although my main character is NOT me, she has some of the same issues. Allergies and an innate need to be on the sidelines, rather than in the middle of the action, whatever that might be.

Anyway, never having been to one of these outdoor parties--or any of the indoor winter parties that took place, for that matter-- I needed some insight. Who, what, when, where, why and how. That's how you tell the story, right?

I was surprised at the number of responses, and more surprised by some of the comments. I probably won't use some of the more notorious stories, but I would be lying if I didn't admit that I no longer view this town through the rose-colored lenses of nostalgia I once did.

Sorry I asked? Nah. But, wow! I was a sheltered child, I guess.

Well, in regards to partying, I was. There were things I did know about, and not all of them were wonderful and warm, but that's not part of the narrative in this upcoming scene.
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5:49 p.m.

Well, I have a book review half written that I need to finish, and another book to finish and review, so I am going to say farewell for now.

Sun is westering, and it's still snowing, so if you have to be out in this snow, please be safe!

Until we meet again-- Smile!