Thursday Thoughts - here comes the story of the hurricane

1. I hate hurricane season. While I am of course relieved and happy that the shore won't get a direct hit, I'm really anxious for those who are in the line of fire. I don't want it to make landfall anywhere. All the prayer hands to those in Flo's path.

2. Speaking of the shore, I'm working from down there tomorrow because I need to go down and clean the house tonight. Hopefully I don't find the porches too wet or trashed from last weekend's storm.

3. Is there a reason for driving around with a shaded license plate aside from being an asshole driver or criminal who wants to make it harder for people to see their plate? I'm being serious, is there a legitimate reason?

4. Tuesday I called my hair salon to reschedule my hair appointment next week. I was bummed because it's hard to get an appointment with Kristi because she's totally awesome and always in high demand. Here my freaking appointment was last night, not next Wednesday. My calendar is a fright fest right now but this is one thing I'm glad I fucked up. Thanks Kristi for fixing me up!

5. Four days of carrying a work bag and lunch bag and no purse. It's been weird. I am constantly worried I'm going to forget something because I don't have a purse....specifically my keys.

6. Gus is doing a lot of sleeping, but still going. It's hard, watching them decline and knowing that it's not time yet but that it's coming. Even the boy has laid off of him a little. Bruce is completely obsessed with Gus.

7. Rooting for Cynthia Nixon in NY today. Thinking about but not writing about Serena and how racist misogynists are amping up the angry black woman caricature and they can all fuck off handily; your president's supreme court nominee referring to birth control as abortion at a hearing and not one spineless motherfucker demanding he not even come to a vote because of that gross ignorance (please call your senators on this); and $9.8 million from FEMA being diverted to ICE (not just FEMA though, all in ICE has quietly gotten an additional $200 million) so this administration can kidnap and jail children and pay the private prison companies they are in cahoots with.

8. It's not often that I give beauty tips, but this is a sure way to not be ugly. Thanks to Christy for sharing this gem:

9.  Reminder:

10. E-card of the week:

Thursday Thoughts - I need a photo opportunity I want a shot at redemption

1. I just like to trot this one out once a year. Hashtag never forget.

2. Last week I was going to buy a windchime for the downstairs porch at the shore, but I didn't for some reason, walking away from quite a few. Monday I opened this awesome one from Amanda and Frank for Geege. And my bracelet arrived too. Yes, I'm that lady, and I don't give a fuck. I read something about not being the same as you were before a period of grief because the loss has reshaped you. I feel that in my physical makeup, in my bones, and it's weird. We're doing okay except for Mae who has not rebounded. She will be the impetus for getting another dog.

3. In the past three weeks I have lost a pair of glasses, a pair of sunglasses, and six bars of soap. Poof. Gone. Where the hell are these things?

4. On Tuesday morning I opened my Gmail to over 500 emails dating back to mid-July. I had read them all at some point but I didn't act on them. I deleted 375 of them. I'm sorry. I'll do better. But I had to wipe that slate clean.

4A. Speaking of emails...Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump Kushner, Reince Priebus, Stephen Miller, Steve Bannon, and Gary Cohn all used private emails while serving in the White House. Probably for shit that was as boring as Hill's emails, but still SO WEIRD that no one cares. That's what everyone was upset about right? I mean, they literally ran an entire campaign against HRC for her  emails. I can't imagine why there is not more uproar over this right now. There are differences, sure, but given how fucking nuts everyone was over this I would assume the first order of business for everyone would be to absolutely not go near their personal email accounts to discuss White House business, you know? Well in any case trump supporters were really hung up on hers and we got him. So here we are. And aren't we great? Things are awesome. ps - about that voter fraud...Jared Kushner is registered as a female voter in NY. I'm sorry, these people deserve all the slag they get for the incredible general incompetence they exhibit.

5. I need to wipe a lot of slates clean. I got rid of two bags of shit this week and still am not satisfied that I've culled my wardrobe enough. I wear the same things all the time, why am I keeping everything else?

6. Puerto Rico needs our help desperately - there is little to nothing about it in the news - ask your local stations why that is. Call your Senators and ask why no aid is being rushed there. Contact your president and ask why he spent days tweeting about NFL athletes he has no fucking power over instead of working out how to get aid to PR. Nine tweets from him yesterday complaining about McCain, his made up NFL problem, and other inconsequential bullshit that is not his business but this major leadership in a catastrophic situation that is his business? Not a fucking peep. He finally waived the Jones act THIS MORNING. MANY DAYS TOO LATE. People had no water, food, electricity and he diddled around on Twitter and played a time game with their lives. PR is part of America. To act differently is nuts. USVI, FL Keys, and TX still need help also.
-HuffPost article with links to organizations to help PR.
-PBS links to organizations to help PR
-Ricky Martin also started a YouCaring fund.
-To get on a list to volunteer on the ground once infrastructure is secured in PR: PR VOAD
-For PR info: PR Informa
-Business Insider list for best charities to give to for victims of Harvey, Irma, and Maria
-One America Appeal - the five living former presidents have joined forces to raise money for the devastation from Harvey, Irma, and Maria. You can designate which hurricane recovery effort and I think you can designate where also.

7. Speaking of those NFL athletes, I have been quiet on this latest debacle. Sort of puzzled too, since we are talking about a league that knowingly harbors perpetrators of domestic violence and literally no one cares. Physical violence against women, no big deal. People kneeling during the anthem? FUCK THE NFL! Seriously, it's fucking nuts. I support #takeaknee and I'm frankly surprised at the insane backlash over the past week over something that's been happening for well over a year. Even if taking a knee is not something I would do personally, I am sure as shit not going to sit around as a white person pontificating how, when, where, and why it is appropriate for black people to protest racial injustice that is undeniable in the United States. It's a sore fucking shame when we are nuclear over people not pledging allegiance to a flag rather than wondering what we can do about them not being equally represented under that flag. I'm also surprised at how many people I know who would make really good Nazis.You stand for that flag no matter what! Just like in Germany you proved your love to the fatherland and Fuhrer or you were ostracized or sent to work camp (aka gas chambers). Then we invoke the veterans, who fought against that exact thing. Making this about the flag, anthem, OR military is willful ignorance of what the protest is actually about, and we all fucking know what it's about - it's about racial injustice and a huge need for criminal justice reform - and if you deny those things that is also willful ignorance. Forced fealty is not supposed to be American. Exercising your first amendment right to dissent and protest is very American. Be careful about labeling people who exercise the first amendment rights as unpatriotic. Be careful about demanding patriotism on your terms. Be careful about telling groups of people what they are and are not allowed to do. Be careful about speaking for others, especially those not afraid to speak for themselves.

8. At least Graham-Cassidy died before getting to the floor. Don't worry, they'll resurrect that hideous sewage of a bill. People who are under or want to be under the Affordable Care Act, open enrollment begins November 1 and is only 45 days this year. The website will curiously be down for maintenance during some of those days. Please be vigilant in getting yourself on there.

9. Reminder: If you have something you want to say, you never have to be quiet to make other people feel more comfortable.

10. E-card of the week: And even this is a stretch.

Thursday Thoughts - the lovers, the dreamers, and me

1. Cease and desist, Birkenstock.

2. Question. How do people go about their business in the sun without sunglasses? Even thinking about it is a fate worse than death for me. My eyes are super sensitive to light, I wear sunglasses inside a lot and when it's overcast. Seeing people in the sun sans sunglasses makes me feel desperate inside, itchy to reach for my own and clutch them to my chest like a woobie. It perplexes me.

3. Every fiber of my being hopes that he's going to snap out of it and start eating normally again tonight, but in reality I think Geege is in his final decline. Please excuse my mental and emotional instability at this time, and I don't know if this time is a week or a month or six months or a year or what. Watching this and trying to monitor and gauge comfort is harder than I imagined, and I have imagined it a lot. I have cried more tears this week than I've ever cried in my life over anything, especially over something that is simply in the process of happening. They just leak out at work or on the train or wherever I am. I was crying so hard after the vet left Monday night when I called MFD in TX that I could barely breathe. It was hard to hear that there's nothing to do. Inaction is not my comfort zone. I know love is action but it feels like it's not and I hate that too. I think I've gotten a grip but spent much of the week totally off-balance. Edit: he ate more than he has in weeks last night and was trotting around this morning. Prove everyone wrong, buddy. 

4. My life is a country music song this week: I think my dog is slowly dying, I touched a slug with my bare foot and hand, salsa spilled in my backpack so my planner smells like a Mexican restaurant, and my train hit and killed a person Wednesday morning. Ole, motherfuckers.

5. Irma donations, focusing on the islands. I know Irma is the latest in the news cycle, but please remember TX still needs your help. Prayers and good thoughts are great, but the people affected actually need monetary assistance and physical supplies ONLY of things they have explicitly requested for physical donations, please - lists are provided for a reason. Something they will also need in the weeks and months to come - donations in the form of volunteers on the ground to help clear and rebuild and do physical labor. If you have the time and can get to one of these places, please consider using some of your days to do that. If you can get to Rockport, TX, I can get you a volunteer coordinator contact there - 70%+ of their structures were decimated. I will also pop back at some point with some places to donate to in the Keys since access is still very limited right now and immediate needs remain unclear and thus unmet. As always if you have organizations to add, please let me know.
-US Virgin Islands: Tim Duncan's YouCaring Fund . Virgin Islands Relief Fund is also taking shipments to St. John leaving from Philadelphia c/o Atlantic Aviation on Ashton Road if you would like to drop off until the end of this week, otherwise items will be shipped to Puerto Rico for disbursement to St. Thomas and St. John as there is no mail or air access to them at this point. There is an Amazon wish list and things change daily so please visit the Virgin Islands Relief page or Virgin Islands Relief Fund web page for the most up to date info and needs. If you need assistance navigating that to find the most up to date info, please let me know.
-St Thomas shipping container - You can't get to St. Thomas right now, but supplies are being shipped there if the cost of a container can be covered.
 -Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross - More than 95% of the structures on Barbuda were demolished. There is literally nothing.
- Here is an entire page of Irma gofundmes, many for the islands who are without access to most things at this time
-Donate blood - The Red Cross and OneBlood are calling for blood donations to aid in recovery efforts and make up for the suspension of blood donation efforts in FL. Blood donation activities are suspended in a hurricane but the need for blood does not stop. OneBlood sent supplies west to Texas as they had the same situation and now they are down themselves.
-National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster is an umbrella organization registering volunteers who will mobilize to assist on the ground once called upon. As with anything else, do NOT self-deploy to help unless you are working with an organization and have a plan or you will create an additional burden for communities that cannot take care of one more person, even someone looking to do good. This org will deploy across many affected areas.
-Volunteers needed on the ground in TX. MFD has been volunteering around Houston for the past week, these are legitimate and there is need if you have time and the ability to get there and get yourself housed: BakerRipley Harvey Shelter at NRG, Houston Food Bank, Second Baptist Church Houston Strong Volunteer Sign Up (opportunities to bring corporations or groups in to serve)

6. If you REALLY want to help please vote for candidates that believe in science. Call your government reps and tell them to leave flood insurance alone or improve it but not to roll anything back. Tell them not to let over-development of wetlands happen. Tell them climate change is real.

7. MFD comes back from TX today just as I am scheming on moving down the shore for two weeks. It'll add to my commute but I might not mind. And if I do mind I can always come home. I said I was going to do this last year and I didn't. It might be time. I think it would be good for me mentally.

8. Allow me to direct you to
-This ATTN video showing how it would be if we treated male athletes the same way we treat female athletes
-The link to register to vote in PA - October 10 is the last day to register before the 11/7/2017 election. Every election counts. The local ones more than anything. Please know when yours is and when your deadline is to register if you are not already registered or if you have a closed primary and need to affiliate with a party to vote.
-How trump lied to conceal his Moscow business partner
-As we approach the holiday season, maybe consider giving the gift of experiences and time over toys or things
-This opinion piece in Vogue entitled No, Hillary Clinton, the First Woman to Win a Major-Party Presidential Nomination, Does Not Need to Shut Up About It
-Rest in peace, Edie Windsor - a Philly-born warrior for LGBT rights and lead plaintiff in the SCOTUS case that overturned that wretched Defense of Marriage Act and was a huge victory for same sex marriage in the US
-When men are photoshopped from political photos (do not read the comments or you will stab someone)
-Anyone still supporting this shitstain of an administration: no one sees a problem with the White House suggesting a journalist be fired? This is literally what the First Amendment is about.

9. Reminder, thanks to cousin Susan for this one:

10. E-card of the week:

Happy happy birthday to my friend Lauren today! 

Thursday Thoughts - in this time of introspection on the eve of my election

1. Yesterday was the first and probably last time I took two dogs in at once for dental surgery. I used a new vet  and was quite pleased when Mae came out first super alert. She had six teeth extracted so I expected much worse. Then she started crying and wouldn't stop until Gus cane out. The vet tech told me they were "talking" to each other all day through their crates in recovery.  Weird as Gus typically had no time for Mae. As we were walking out Gus just started peeing and walking. Hmm. Maybe just still woozy but he seemed otherwise alert and jackassy like he usually is. Another vet tech said oh Gus and Mae they were in cahoots through their crates all day we couldn't stop laughing. I see. Collusion. I walked them for a while. Mae went to the bathroom. Gus waited until we were driving to shit in the backseat, which he then walked through and Mae sat in. I was in hysterics by the time I got home. They were quite pleased with themselves. MFD took care of car cleanup while I cleaned myself, them, and their leashes. Then I hand fed Geege wet food which was, as you can imagine, the cherry on top of a gross shit sundae. It takes a special kind of asshole to have two vengeful dogs go in for dental on the same day while the third dog still has pneumonia.

2. For that and other reasons I have failed at life this week. Kicked ass at work but otherwise sorry, self. Try again next week so you don't have to eat Lucky Charms for dinner two nights in a row followed by chocolate chip cookies on the third while your house clutters and dirties itself around you. 

3. Cookies and other goodies delivered by my mom last night who came to see MFD for his birthday eve eve.

4. My nails have taken a beating this summer. I freshened up last night with OPI Gelato on My Mind.

5. I love the show Billions. I have been obsessed with this song from its season finale for months. I feel like I've shared this here before but I don't care. Besides, it's an awesome fall-ish song and we all know fall is coming by the pumpkin shit everywhere.
6. We're on our way back when we were so recently making our way out. Also, please don't be an anti-Democrat. I will not survive it.

7. I'm relying on General Mattis right now to keep shit together (watch the video in this article if you haven't seen it yet). You hold the line too, Mad Dog. You too. I sure as shit cannot rely on the president to do so when he shows up in Texas and comments on the size of the fucking crowd there like this is a goddamn fucking victory tour instead of a visit to the state that has just been fucking ravaged by a crazy hurricane event and endured chaotic decimation. His entire response to this disaster has proved how fucking tone deaf he is. It would be nice if you would be a president but even nicer if you'd be a fucking human being and provide comfort and leadership instead of talking about your goddamn crowd size.

8. Can we make a promise to each other? Can we not shame anyone for how they choose to donate to hurricane relief? I am coming from the same place as Elizabeth Gilbert here. My only caveat is that if you are sending physical supplies, do not send whatever you think they might need or use it as a way to get rid of your stuff. Find an organization you support that is collecting and distributing supplies and stick to their list of requested supplies. Please please PLEASE do not let anything stop you from giving. Do your research if you need to. Get on charity navigator. But PLEASE do not be that person who is so suspicious of what is going to come of your $20 donation that you just don't give one. Please. And if you don't have money but maybe have some unused items that are on supply lists or a gift card where you can buy stuff to send, consider doing that!

If you want to but are unsure of where, here are some options:

The Black Women's Defense League: Accepting physical supplies and money
South Texas Human Rights Center, working with immigrants
Transgender Foundation of America Disaster Relief Fund
Portlight, assisting people with disabilities
Austin Pets Alive
Austin Disaster Relief Network - A network of churches and volunteers mobilizing on the ground with supplies. If you are mailing supplies, please call them to get an address. There is a supply list on their website.
Rockport Fulton Chamber of Commerce: Go fund me to help rebuild coastal bend businesses and communities. If you are interested in sending supplies I can get you the suggested list and also the address.
Native Dave: My friend Christy and her family live off the grid pretty and work their native plant business in Aransas Pass/Rockport/Fulton. Sixty to seventy percent of their town has been destroyed. You can see their live videos here on the Native Dave facebook page. If you are looking to give specifically to people, I know these people and they are good people. Here is their gofundme page. Their website states "In business and in life, we are inspired to conserve, preserve, restore, and celebrate Nature." And I know they will do that.
Together Rising: Text to donate. And remember...we belong to each other

Texas Diaper Bank providing emergency diaper kits for babies, seniors, and people with disabilities - these are not distributed by relief agencies
The Homeless PERIOD Project - tampons, pads, etc
Corpus Christi Food Bank
Galveston Food Bank
City of Houston Relief Fund
SPCA of Texas
Coalition for the Homeless
United Way of Beaumont & North Jefferson County
JJWatt's Houston Flood Relief Fund: This man set out to raise $500,000 and as of this morning has raised over $9.4 MILLION.

9. Reminder in this back to school time:

10. E-card of the week: I'm hoping this is me this weekend. I need to disengage for 48 hours.

the first November weekend that was

Broccoli rice chicken cheddar casserole. Get in my belly.

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Hurricane Sandy concert on NBC. 

The images I see of the destruction along my beloved Jersey Shore, in Breezy Point, Staten Island, New York City, and Hoboken leave me speechless.  

I've spent so much time down the shore during my life that it seems like a part of me. I know many people who grew up in this area feel the same. To see the devastation down there is heartbreaking. 

When you rebuild and reopen, we'll be back, shore towns. 

You've given us so much. We'll do what we can by donating $$, items and time so we can give back to you.

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Poached eggs and toast for Saturday's breakfast, and lounging with Gus & Geege.
I think those eggs resemble boobs. MFD doesn't agree. Please vote. 

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Two hours of yard work. It didn't even make a dent. 

I battled with a lavender bush for 20 minutes. It nearly broke me. 

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Changing out photos in frames, hanging some new pictures around the house, and hausfrauing.

She wants to lead The Glamorous Life...

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Cannot get enough of la naranja. Delicious and nutritious. 

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Pumpkin bars. Recipe by Shelby at Big Hungry Shelby (see comments for full recipe).

Tip: when I have to cut cold butter into something, 

I put it in the freezer for a bit, then I grate it using a cheese grater. It works like a charm. 

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Halloween Take II: thanks for hosting Kim and Drew!

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Thirty One bag party at Melissa's. If you're interested in bags, let me know! Jenn is selling them.
Look at Melissa's new kitty cats. So cute.

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Lunch at On the Border with Debbie.
The Kokopelli Margarita is deadly on a Sunday afternoon. For real.

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A trip to Target to buy packs of socks,underwear and gloves for Sandy victims.
And socks for me. I may have a sock problem.

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Four Christmas gifts bought on Sunday. Holler.

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I've been ruminating on pantry and freezer inventories, and decided on dry erase boards based on an idea I saw on pinterest. I did some research and check these out: an organizer's dream. Self stick dry erase boards that can be removed. I put them inside the pantry doors and will keep an inventory of pantry food there, as well as freezer foods. I'm forever buying shit I already have but am too lazy to look for, so this is awesome for me.
Yet another photo of my serial killer handwriting. You're welcome.

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Two Sunday soups: eight can taco soup for this week, and crockpot lentil soup to freeze.
In the eight can taco soup, I substituted refried beans for the cream of whatever soup.

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Pan seared chicken with balsamic cream sauce, mushrooms and carmelized onions.
Boom.
MFD declared this the best chicken ever.

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Housing out of state campaign workers on Sunday night (and Monday night)

=
the weekend that was

Busy weekend, busy week ahead, and lots to look forward to this week and next weekend. Bring it on! Except the possible nor'easter. Put the brakes on that, universe. 

And hey, you guys...VOTE tomorrow. In the words of LBJ, "A man without a vote is a man without protection." Many have fought and died for your right to vote. Exercise it. 

Diary of a hunkered down hausfrau

A chronicle of two housebound days courtesy of Sandy

Monday

SEPTA wasn't running and the office was closed. Excuse the mess of the nest I made. Monday's office setup and coworkers:

Small pleasures: a leisurely eaten bagel out of your own toaster on a rainy Monday.

Laundry, laundry, and more laundry.

My third, fourth, fifth and SIXTH calls to Comcast within two days over billing issues. As the winds howled, I chipped away at their criminal resolve and they are crediting our account the $178 they owe us which was a mere $60 on Sunday before I did more math. Math is hard, you guys. You thieving bastards will never get the best of me! COMCAST DO YOU HEAR ME?!?! Sworn enemies for life.

My dogs won't go outside alone. The wind is scary and lifts their little ears up.

DVR and TV catch up:
-The Good Wife: Lamont Bishop, you showed vulnerability. I liked it.
-Jersey Shore (two episodes): Roger, don't do me and JWoww like that.
-Up All Night: Will Arnett singing along to The Cranberries was perfect.
-CSI: Thank you Ted Danson and Elisabeth Shue for making this show good again.

At various points during the day, we have arguments over Gold Rush, Up All Night, Star Wars (one of those assy Clone ones that I have no time for), incessant weather coverage, and how the other person should not watch it. Par for the course for those of us lucky enough to have power and cable through the storm. And we are lucky. One by one our friends and family update their statuses on facebook to include being powerless, seeing transformers blowing on the street, blue sparks coming from their own electric, trees coming down on or around their homes. Arguing over the TV is a luxury many don't have at this time.

Less than 24 hours after they were purchased, the cookies bought at Sam's on Sunday are gone. This is bad on many levels. We blame Sandy and wind fear.

Gus slept like a fat little sausage most of the night. Geege was like MOM when will this be over this wind is scary!

I got an email from Amazon saying that due to Sandy, delivery of my rainboots was surely going to be delayed. Poor timing on the rain boots.

Photo from Amazon.com

I fall asleep thinking dear large trees around the house, please hold your ground. And that I never want to hear hunker down again. Ever.

Tuesday

Commence unhunkering.

Our Sandy damage consists of some downed tree branches and broken yard items. I am so grateful to be so lucky. My thoughts are with those that were not. We check in on our family and tell those without power that they are welcome at our house. Mother nature is a scary bitch.

We're are so saddened by the devastation at the Jersey Shore and are thinking of anyone with a home or business down there. If you grew up in the Philadelphia area, chances are high that you spent part of every summer down the shore. It is part of your personal history, and to see it knocked down is traumatic. This is the Deauville Inn where we had our wedding, one of our favorite shore spots. I love that the photo (that I lifted from their FB page) had the caption "will be ready for next summer though." Coming out strong, it makes my eyes well up. Damage to the Deauville from Sandy - on the left.  According to the owner Lynda the deck, awning framework, docks and patios need some work. On the right is a photo of my Dad and I walking in on my wedding day on one of the docks. You can see the deck, other dock and awning as they normally are. We'll see you next summer Deauville. My heart is heavy for the people of NJ and NY and those right in my backyard with no power, down trees, destroyed homes. Again...feeling lucky.

Coffee with Ron Swanson and The Breakfast Club.

Washing the couches. Washable couches are an utter dream. Here are the boys enjoying clean couches and the elaborate sheet and blanket system we employ to keep them off of the actual couch cushions when we can.

Tuesday's office. Less dog hair and more structure.

My sister and brother-in-law and their kids stopped in to get some hot food and heat since they were without power. Jax was kind enough to visit my dining room office. The dogs were not pleased with the new location.

The boys napped the day away.

Then these happened - pumpkin gingersnap parfaits. 

Essie Demure Vixen nails

Watching the past two episodes of Nashville. Rayna James, you should be with Deacon. If not...Deacon, call me.

My electric-less brother arrived to eat, shower and spend the night.

And on HER day off, Debbie put together a facebook page for her jewelry called Debbie Rae Designs. Please click on that name, visit her page and like it, and check out her stuff. As the owner of many Debbie Rae pieces, I highly recommend them.

This concludes two housebound days. Mesmerizing, wasn't it?

Today? Civic engagement - yours truly has jury duty.

Happy Halloween! And happy birthday to my uncle Perry and my good friend Jimmy G.

TTFN.

Linking up to Rolled Up Pretty for Whatever Whenever Wednesday.