Tracy: 3 hours from me, is a Bigfoot research headquarters. When you come, we are going!!!!

There has been 6 sighting just 15 miles south of our house.

First dinner and movie night in the new place! (Please excuse the mess, we’re still unpacking)

survived another opening. and think I put the ice cream machine together right...no one used it, so not 100% sure...but did have a brain freeze on selling stacked fuel and had a massively embarrassing customer backup...

a customer said he thought he knew me, and he looked familiar as well....we exchanged names...he was a neighbor when I was a kid and we rode the same bus. I like to think I was a cute young thing back in the day, and it kinda jars that belief when people recognize my fat, wrinkly, gray old self now.....

after work, took Bull Head to Heath so he could weld an ear back on, put check in bank, picked up Kevin's Rxs. have a room reserved for our visit to Katie this weekend.

what I'm reading..... Dorothea Puente

"We are all somebody in this life." Pedro Montalvo

tabula rasa [ tab-yuh-luh -rah-suh, -zuh, rey-; Latin tah-boo-lah -rah-sah ] noun, plural ta·bu·lae ra·sae [tab-yuh-lee -rah-see, -zee, rey-; Latin tah-boo-lahy -rah-sahy]. 1. a mind not yet affected by experiences, impressions, etc. 2. anything existing undisturbed in its original pure state.

Eventually, everyone sits down to a banquet of consequences....

Scrabble tile art....

....so many intriguing possibilities....

memes

Well, we tried to get a nice Christmas pajama picture 🎄

Millie is 4 months old now! She can roll front to back, is working hard on sitting up, and is starting to eye everyone’s food 😂

Zerelda loves purple, The Hulk, and princess dresses, so found a princess dress pattern and purple and green thread....

now to find princess fabric in purple and green and see if I remember how to make little girls dresses. I made a lot of Koren's clothes when she was young. and a Black Ranger sweatshirt for KJ. a witch dress for Katie for Halloween one year. the worst part is following directions. 'cause it's kinda important....this will be a big project. a. big. project. but I won't have a little someone here to play with as often, so will have more #meanwhileinmybasementlair time....better stock up the mini fridge. the game is afoot.

becoming pretty proficient at this self checkout thing....just bought produce without assistance.

Kj, Ann, and Zerelda officially moved out (but are weekend guests cause phone company was closed and they couldn't get wifi router for apartment....and you try explaining to Miss Z why her purple won't work....)met her parents and a niece and nephew and their dad (can't remember if he was her brother or brother-in-law). Zerelda adores her 'other' grandma...I guess a gal can never have too many grandmas. family is good.

December 18 – National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day

December 21 – Winter/December Solstice. The South Pole of the earth will be tilted toward the Sun, which will have reached its southernmost position in the sky and will be directly over the Tropic of Capricorn. This is the first day of winter (winter solstice) in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of summer (summer solstice) in the Southern Hemisphere. The December Solstice was chosen for this day as it was said to signify a “return to the light.” During this time, our vibration hums the highest when we are true to how we feel and connected and accepting of who we are — flaws and all.December 30 – Full Moon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Cold Moon because this is the time of year when the cold winter air settles in and the nights become long and dark. This moon has also been known as the Long Nights Moon and the Moon Before Yule. When this December Moon is Full, your hidden truths, desires, and power become illuminated. This will be especially true regarding your current partnerships and general ability to compromise. Investments that aren’t secure will experience deep transformations. Prepare in advance!

inanimate objects, people and even empty space can retain energy, or rather the residue of the original energy that was felt in the vicinity. Energy can attach itself to anything and anyone and can linger there for many years unless it is cleansed.

ou’d only need, 2 tablespoons each of white vinegar and granulated salt and 16 ounces of filtered water. Just mix everything well for at least a minute in a clear glass and leave it somewhere you spend most of your time. Leave it undisturbed for one whole day. You’d observe that the salt would be rising in the glass, and when it stops, it means that it has captured all the negative energy in the vicinity. You can repeat this for other rooms as well.

mason jar lid Christmas wreath.

note to self: when to burn sage.

mailed Ian's birthday gift today. fuck covid. this is the first birthday we've missed. what I wouldn't give to see his ornery little smile in person.

he is my favoritest lil' guy. packed up the toy box full of Miss Zerelda's favorites. they went to pack up Ann's today. and will move into the apartment tomorrow.

memes

"Come play with us...forever."

The. Grady. Twins. deb's version....

what I'm reading......Dying is Easy

more memes

all over the US, people were up at the butt crack of dawn (or before),

chopping, basting, putting the turkey in the oven, making pies and hot rolls and casseroles and all their traditional family Thanksgiving dishes. or going into work early so they could leave early. or rousting up sleepy babies and hitting the road for a family gathering. me? slept in like the lazy ass I am. I now have a job that. closes. on. holidays. so. employees. can. spend. time. with. their. families. so, it's practically 10 a.m. I am gonna make some toast, perhaps head to the basement to work on The Grady Twins. it's coming together in my mind.

last nights crazy dream? I was on a trip of somekind, a big batch of people. we were herded into a hotel. I kept taking off my bra, then we were herded somewhere else and I was keeping my arms crossed. (not as perky as they used to be, folks. sad truth.) we went to a live action something. Kevin was also there, with a guy we know. I wanted to take pictures of this fabulous old haunted looking building, but I'd left my phone back in the room with my bra. then I got separated from the group and ended up in an area that reminded me of Five Points In Trenton. glorious old odd shaped brick buildings with the store names spelled out in brick on store fronts....there was an Amish store, with Amish mannequins in the window wearing Amish clothing. a Revolutionary War Drum Store. a sandy 'beach' public area. then a local girl picked me up in her pickup, drove me a few blocks, let me out, and I still didn't know where I was. then I woke up.

witch ball.....can I do this?

memes

had a nightmare the other night...

it was the end of the world. I was trying to find KJ & Zerelda. finally saw her in a falling down building, sitting on the edge of a hole in the floor, looking down. I go to her, and look into the hole. it is KJ. he is a skeleton covered with skin and gasping for air. Zerelda looks at me and says, "My daddy." she does love her daddy. then I woke up.

The Grady Twins

The Grady Twins are two little girls who were murdered by their father Delbert Grady, when he was possessed by ghosts in the Overlook Hotel in The Shining.

Book In the book, The Grady Twins are not twins but are eight and ten and described by Bill Watson as “cute as buttons”. They did not make an appearance but are mentioned and referenced several times and almost certainly haunt the Overlook Hotel, most likely now evil. The Shining (1980) The Twins make a larger and more prominent appearance in the 1980 adaptation. Whilst they are commonly referred to as "The Grady Twins", the Grady daughters were 8 and 10, as referred to by Stuart Ullman. The "Twins" therefore are not the Grady daughters, but other victims of another attrocity. They are seen for the first time when Danny Torrance passes out when he has a vision. They are seen a second time on Closing Day while Danny is in The Games Room while his parents tour the hotel with Ullman and Watson. They stare at Danny before walking out of the room, hand in hand. They are seen again in a brief vision when Danny attempts to enter Room 237. Eventually, Danny encounters them in a hallway on his tricycle. They say hello and ask Danny to come and play with them, to which Danny has visions of their corpses in the same hallway, their blood splattered everywhere on the walls and floor and an axe lying on the ground. Danny covers his eyes and when uncovering them, they are gone. They do not appear again. The Shining (1997) The Grady Twins do not appear in the miniseries but are mentioned and referenced several times. Creepshow 2019 The Grady Twins' photo is shown headlining an issue of the Paragon Tribune newspaper dated September 21, 1975 as seen on the first episode of the Creepshow TV series which is based on another King story. According to the accompanying article on the headline, the twins were last seen thursday afternoon riding their bicycle as they left their home located in Bowers County. Their father Delbert is even quoted as saying that it wasn't like them to run off. The article also mentions several times that a search is currently underway. Later in the episode a radio announcer states that due to weather conditions, the search for the twins had been suspended. Trivia There is an age continuity error with The Grady Twins. Stuart Ullman mentions they are eight and ten despite being twins. The Grady Twins have become the most well known characters from The Shining, with their hallway scene being referenced and parodied several times by several TV shows and movies. Their line “Come and play with us” has also become one of the most well known horror quotes. As a result, they are two of the most iconic pop culture characters. (they are my next cryptid project.....)

‘One heart and one voice’: Lincoln’s Thanksgiving proclamation in a divided time

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the Eighty-eighth. By the President: Abraham Lincoln

Though Lincoln was a poet and could certainly write a moving speech — he would deliver the Gettysburg Address six weeks later — the text of the proclamation was drafted by then-Secretary of State William Seward. Between 600,000 to 850,000 Americans died in the Civil War — most of them of disease. This year, we live in divided times again, and more than 250,000 have died of covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, in the United States. The words of the proclamation to “fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation” resonate anew.

I want my kid to live a big life.

I want my kid to live a big life. But maybe big doesn’t mean what we’ve made it mean. Maybe a big life is one where we slow down for them— A life where we let them walk the toy aisle at the store and look at all the new shiny things that make them giggle—just because. Maybe a big life is one where we humble ourselves for them— A life where we let them wear that Halloween costume for daaayyys because pulling that baby shark outfit over their little body makes them jump for joy and smile from ear to ear. Maybe a big life isn’t about traveling the world, or experiencing all the things. Maybe it’s a life where we let them swim everyday--- Or one where we read the same book to them night after night--- Because that;'s THE thing they adore right now. Maybe a big life is simply a few extra minutes to splash in the bubble bath— It’s sitting in the front seat at the drive-in to munch on French fries— It’s dance parties for no particular reason. Maybe a big life is pausing to let them check out the clearance kiddy pool that they find so intriguing— Maybe it’s letting them help mix up the cookie dough even though you know they’ll make the biggest mess. A big life—it’s not extravagant living or fancy things. A big life is a life overflowing with kisses— And tickle fights— And bedtime snuggles. So when you feel like you can’t give your child a big life. Remember a big life is found in the simple, everyday joys. I want my kid to live a big life— SO today I let her brush my hair— And eat ice cream before bed— And I listen intently to her silly stories that I certainly do not understand, asking questions all along the way. *Shared with permission from Sarah Lango - Gracefilled Growth

I have found that working in a convenience store is much like working in a hog barn or a nursing home....you have a crew.

you develop camaraderie - [ kah-muh-rah-duh-ree, -rad-uh-, kam-uh- ]SHOW IPA - noun - comradeship; good-fellowship. - you pull together in times of adversity. you work extra shifts. you have inside jokes. and common complaints. but, I get Thanksgiving off. and Christmas.

woke up right before my alarm and remembered something I forgot to do at shift change yesterday...

then checked bank account. the change I turned into bank was $57.55. and a notice that the lobby is open by appointment only again.

our original tickets were for Feb. 2020...postponed to 2021...postponed again. to 2022. I guess we have something to look forward to....fuck Covid.

Hi Deb, We've worked with the event organizer to reschedule your event and make sure you still have the chance to attend. Your tickets are still valid for the new date. Dennis Deyoung The Grand Illusion 40th Anniversary Album Tour YOUR NEW EVENT DATE IS: March 5, 2022 @ 8:30 PM Ameristar Casino and Hotel If you’re still planning on attending the event, there’s nothing else you need to do, your current tickets are still good. If you can’t attend the event and the original ticket purchaser wants to take advantage of any available refund or credit options, you will need to transfer the tickets back to them. Thanks for your patience and understanding. We look forward to gathering and celebrating the live experience together again. –Ticketmaster Fan Support

another day of paying it forward at work...

trying to make sure I did everything on the list...that I restocked what needed it....and I only poured a 5 gallon bucket of ice on top of the closed ice machine lid once. thought I had conquered the ice cream machine today, but no. getting closer. everyone is worried about Becky. she is an integral part of the store. and this is a small community. folks are a bit sad to see my face at 6 a.m. when they stop for toronados and beer and chew and scratcher tickets. hopefully she'll be back soon. took a chair nap with Relda, then we fed Buckwheat in the snow, and had some adventures in the basement. I learned she can get. on. and. off. the. exercise. bike. by. herself. she's a clever one.

I'm glad people are still going on vacations, and out to eat, and having family dinners, and doing family pictures...

if these are the end times, we might as well enjoy them instead of cowering in fear behind masks that may or may not work. why are so many health care workers getting Covid? from their patients or on their own time?

Grandma Grace's lace table cloth, the notorious naked lady glasses, Grandpa Howard's chair, Grandma Marie's table. We have a whole lot of memories at the table this Thanksgiving. ❤

also our traditional favorites....turkey. Stove Top Corntop Stuffing. crescent rolls. mashed potatoes. sweet potatoes. corn casserole. green bean casserole. cranberry sauce. chicken and noodles. pumpkin pie. pecan pie. sweet tea. and best of all....Grandma Janet & Zerelda are besties. ❤