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Wednesday, December 14, 2022

Crazy busy...

Since I only have a few of your physical addresses, I decided I'd just post a pic of my Christmas cards to all of you!  

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I must really be feeling my age as lately life is crazy busy. I spent another 2 days with my friend at her place last week. She is having a difficult time, but I think she will eventually get to a good place - it just takes time... and support. 

Coming home I had 3 days of baking Christmas goodies to fill tins and mail out to kids, family, and friends. My plans were to make about 8-10 different cookies, candies, etc. - but time ran out (and so did my energy) and I ended up with about 5 (frosted almond tea cakes, whiskey ball, chocolate nutty bark, peanut butter chocolate chip, and pralines). Didn't get to the Snickerdoodles, Rolo cookies, pretzel caramels, espresso shortbread, or lemon drops - oh well, another time. I will bake several rum cakes sometime this week... and maybe a pecan pie with chocolate chunks and bourbon... (we'll see) for Christmas day.

DH wants a ham for Christmas dinner (I'm not into ham), but that's OK. He and grandson will enjoy it. We're not sure what we're doing for Christmas this year. Daughter and family may or may not be coming in - depending on everyone's work and school schedules. And oldest son and wife just moved to McAllen, Texas. But we'll probably get together with youngest son and his family at some point.

I still haven't completely finished decorating the tree. The ornaments are on it - just need to add the ribbon garland and Mardi Gras beads.  And I can't find the "Merry Christmas!" sign for the front door. I know I've seen it somewhere... just can't remember where.

The 4 kittens (3 black and 1 gray) in the back are enjoying the cat tree lately. They are a cute little group. I think their mama has left them on their own now (they must be about 3 months old... fat and fluffy)! They're also not as spooky as they used to be... coming up to the back door and looking in. If we can get them friendly enough, I'd like to take them to the adoption room at our local shelter.

Here's 2 videos of them playing on the cat tree. It's difficult to see as the videos were taken through the kitchen French doors and the kittens are almost the same color of the cat tree...  and also the window panes are filthy... but it's impossible to keep little paws (kittens coons, possums) off. 







(Remember you can click twice if necessary to get the video and then enlarge it if necessary to full screen)

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And now I'm going to close with a little 'venting'. DH and I just came back from the Post Office to drop off one more cookie package that needed to be mailed to a P.O. Box. (FedEx tells me the USPS frowns on them sending to a P.O. Box - who knew??)

The lady(??) who helped (??) me was a young black woman with 3 inch fingernails...  and apparently the machine that takes your cc and asks you if you're mailing something explosive wasn't working.

She kept telling me to tap it. 

"Tap it where?" I kept asking. It isn't saying anything on the screen.

" Just tap the X or the O."

So I tapped the X... and left it. She said "Tap it again." 

I said, "I already tapped it." She said "that was to whether it was anything dangerous. This is for something else." Screen still blank.

I said, "But the screen isn't saying anything."

She said, "It's broken".  

I said, "But you still want me to tap it."

She said, "Yes!!" and put her 3 inch claws around the plastic divider , pointing to the blank machine. (I wanted to slap her hand away... I knew where the machine was...

"And you want me to insert my cc into this broken machine?"

"Yes!!" she said.

I did, and she gave me a receipt... as I walked away shaking my head.  At one point I almost grabbed my package and said, "NEVER MIND!"

It's amazing how one person can make or break your day... when I got into the car, DH asked me what was wrong. I said, "I really wanted to slap her..." (and that's not me - at least I don't think so)

Going to really close now and hope my little rant wasn't too disturbing. Do hope you all have a pleasant week. Christmas is just around the corner... 

Hugs,

Rian













20 comments:

  1. Rian, I'm out of breath reading Part 1 of Crazy Busy... actually, I'm out of breath reading about the food! It sounds just wonderful (ham included) and left me feeling hungry, envious, nostalgic. I hope you post some pics of your efforts! Loved the short cat videos, and I am sorry about that woman with the 3 inch nails... no sense getting your BP up, but I totally understand. I'm now going back to the top to read your various treats again. :^)

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    1. You are right, Dug, about not getting my BP up over the 'helpful' (not!) postal worker. It irked me for 2 reasons, one being I didn't like clicking on something I couldn't see... (it could have been $100, not the $10, etc.) and second, she was acting like I was just a batty old lady who didn't understand. But who knows what she has to put up with, so I will let it go...
      And on another note, I guess you can see that I DO like to bake (and although I intended to take pics, forgot in the hurry to get them out. Will try to remember next week when I do more.)

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  2. You've been busy! Kitties are so cute watching you do all those cookie batches. Yep, I've had a couple of simple, pleasant interactions messed up by weirdly behaving people who have no people skills. Linda in Kansas

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    1. Yes, busy... and I'm not good trying to do too much. Best for me to go slow and easy does it. The kittens do like to watch us through the kitchen window. As for the post office incident, I hope they simply take the broken machine away.

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  3. The card is lovely Rian, and your hand writing is so perfect. Merry Christmas to you and yours too.
    I'm thinking you're more trusting than I am, I probably wouldn't have used a machine that I couldn't read. I wonder why she didn't turn her computer screen so you could see what she was (obviously) seeing.
    The kittens are adorable. I do hope you'll be able to place them for adoption.

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    1. Mae, yes, it did bother me to be clicking on something that I couldn't read... who knows what I was saying yes or no to. And you are right, if she was seeing what I couldn't see, it would have been OK if she had even read off to me what I was clicking on and not just telling me to click X or click O.

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  4. I was busted this week by a resident for trying to help her. It was OK when the hired help helped her, but she busted me when I moved her coffee where it wouldn't be spilled. I've been careful this week to not help herl

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    1. Sometimes, Jonanne, you just don't know what to do... whatever choice you make may backfire. Guess we have to take it all with a grain of salt.

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  5. I keep getting an error. Will keep trying.
    Loved your card and thank you. It had all my favorite creatures on it.
    Ooh that lady would have made me nervous. You had no idea what you were approving with your tapping. Hope it all turns out OK.

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    1. Oh, I'm sure it was fine... just her attitude bugged me. I'm over it. I love that card too, Patti.

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  6. You have been super busy - and I am super impressed.
    Love the card - and thank you.

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  7. It's not your age, you ARE busy! I hope you're enjoying the preparations, awful customer service excepted, of course. As someone else commented, I would have been leery about tapping my card on a blank screen, my first thought would be "fraud/scam." Just keep an eye out on your card account!

    I love your holiday card and have taken a copy; thank you! If you would like ours, it's on our blog page: https://keaslife.blogspot.com/p/holiday-card-2022.html. (I don't know if you do that, but you are most welcome to it, with our best wishes for the season and the new year!)

    Take care and happy holidays!

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    1. I'm glad you liked the card, Kim. I bought the same card for the last 2 years as I really liked it too. Happy Holidays!!

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  8. Your Christmas card is so YOU, and I love seeing the kitties playing on the tree. I too would have loved to get indignant at the arrogant woman, but I'm glad to see you are continuing on with happy tasks, such as baking, baking, baking...

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    1. Oh, yes... that P.O. woman bugged me, but I'm over it. Too much joy in the season to keep me down. I hope her day got better too. Our fat little kittens keep our spirits up... and I enjoy the baking too (as long as I don't overdo).

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  9. A beautiful card!
    Those have to be among the most pampered ferals!

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    1. They are pampered, Olga... but it's nice to have things (or people) to spoil.

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  10. what an adorable card...and i love your handwriting!! it's a busy season, i'm happy you have been able to bake...but 8 - 10 different ones, that quite ambitious!! your rant was not disturbing, sometimes we all need to vent!!

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    1. Well, I'm not through baking, Debbie... but had to finish the mail-outs. I will start on 2nd baking this weekend. And maybe (big maybe) I'll get some of the other ones done.

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