Happy Birthday to meeeeeee.....

Happy Birthday toooooooo mmmmmmeeeeee....

Haaaaaapppy Birthday to m-e-e-e-e-

Happy Birthday to me.

My 18-year old cousin with boyfriend is staying with Sam and I for a bit. They are trying to start lives for themselves away from their not so cool Michigan homes. They wanted to migrate south. They did.

They will only be staying with us long enough to get job applications turned in; apply for housing; and look into some classes at the community college. They have a lot of growing up to do, and they need all the help they can get. We will do our best to help them on their way...

I miss our daughter at times like these. It seems like only yesterday we were discussing such plans with her. Vic is fine, by the way. She's holding her own; and I continue to be so proud of our gal.

My cousin needs me right now; and though I feel I have so little to offer, I will give it my all, and I will offer whatever I can.

How are all you youngens' out there in Blogsville?

I. Am. Exhausted.

How are you??

Meats are in the fridge now, thawing for the Tuesday night dinner featuring my famous spaghetti sauce that I make a couple times in a year....I do the large homemade meatballs & sausage thing...have a huge stockpot...making enough to freeze and give to three other friends, as well as feeding my family. I've perfected this recipe through the years, using the special tidbits of information I received along the way from both of my biological parents.

The gifts I plan to give are purchased and almost all wrapped.

The ham is also in the fridge and will be prepared on Christmas Eve with all the 'fixens.

The trees are decorated.

The house is as clean as it's going to get.....yeah right! I'll find a hundred more stupid little things that I think need to be done in this department.

My arthritis is absolutely killing me and I live in constant pain always. So, I've grown accustomed to the misery; but the pain and misery doesn't help the depression I suffer from time to time.

Coffee at Starbucks with a friend in the morning....

Bake cookies tomorrow night....

Next year, if we both are alive, Sam and I are packing up our clothes and the dogs, and leaving town to celebrate the holidays in a brand new way!

For three days last week, there was a madman hiding within the woods of our county. He'd somehow gotten out of jail on bond and was to meet with a lawyer back in court in a few days, when he decided to break into his neighbor's home and open fire with a high-powered rifle. Upon killing one man, and injuring two others within a few hours of the morning, he also set fire to his neighbor's house and burned it down. One of the people who was shot and injured was a police officer.

Schools in the county were locked down; meetings were cancelled, and we were all told to stay in our houses with doors locked. Finally, on Thursday evening, Police captured the man at his home. I think he'd had enough of the woods, the rain, and just plain aggravation of running....

As you can hear in the videos, and is told among the people who knew him best, the man has a history of terrorizing people. I just can't help but wonder what the hell ever happened to this man?

So, what's up in your neck of the woods, eh? 

I just feel the desire to thank you.

There is one person who, I know reads my site every single day. I am not at all sure who you are; but I see the exact same logged referral each and every day.

I know I have other readers from time to time. I just seem to notice this log-in consistently.

So, thank you for stopping by....I have actually considered closing the blog a time or two. Your visits make me feel as though there might be a small something here, that causes you to feel your time is worth your coming back....

To all my blogger buds, and you know you're my favorites don't you, thank you for just being there in cyberspace where I can come sit with you for awhile; and feel that I've touched a thing beyond the place where I stay most of the time.

Just ate 5 of them.....they came to these parts of Virginia a couple weeks ago; couldn't find them anywhere around here before. I don't think it's a great idea for me that they have arrived.

Relatives will be here soon.

Where does depression hurt?

Everywhere.

Who does depression hurt?

Everyone.

My bi-polar crap usually cycles quarterly; lasting a couple weeks, and then things are sometimes hyper, but mostly happy and smooth during the in-between times. 

Christmastime is another story. It's tough for me mostly; except for a few happy moments scattered about. The low time lasts until mid-February or so....

I usually just want to run someplace and hide away during the holidays.

Some friends called today to ask me why I wasn't planning to come to the yearly party I attend with them. I told them I just haven't been feeling well since Thanksgiving. They let me know how much they would miss my being there if indeed I didn't come on Sunday. So, I've worked today to put together a basket for the tickets we sell to the people who want to have a chance for a gift. I plan to make my famous potato salad and some creamy dessert to take. I'll pack up the ornaments I purchased to use for table centerpieces...others are bringing fresh pine and ribbon.

I will do this thing. I will attend the parties to which I've been invited; because for me, the fact that I get up and go is the difference between being sick and living well.

So how are things with you?