It’s “Hey Rene J” Today!

One month later – found two Christmas items I hadn’t seen to put away. Hm. Makes me wonder when I last dusted this abode?

It could have spurred me to action, but frankly, it’s a really fun pair of glasses and I decided to leave them out for us to play with. It goes along with the clock I haven’t changed yet, knowing it will be accurate when we “Spring Ahead.”

Alas, Ssme things are just not worth the bother.

Which foreign country should I park myself in next? Every travel agency sends their “best deals” at the beginning of the year when hopes are riding high! It gave me pause. Perhaps I should contact the embassy first to ask if they’d pay me to stay away?

It’s true. After a trip to Egypt and the hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings, the same company had a fatal crash a few days later. Additionally, it was only a few weeks later when the riots took place and the Egyptian museum was desecrated. In Turkey, we came home two days before the huge earthquake in the Eastern part of the country. The London subway bombing occurred the week after we returned. Greece had its currency downfall the week my sister and I were there – we tried to get on the news by attending the public protests, but they were still tame and uninteresting.

As far as I know, I wasn’t in Paris in the days before Notre Dame went up in flames. But you get the gist. Travel is fraught with excitement – mostly good. One could argue our streets and cities are just as apt to tragedies within moments of a visit? Plus, it’s good to have a little danger in your day – per my sister, “Pindy.”

Heading to Target now – definitely apt to find a little danger there.

Occasionally one needs a forced day indoors. No retail shopping, no heading out to see a movie, no dining at the newest gustatory establishment. It would be preferable to have that when you are not on vacation.

However, being indoors while the snow swirled and the temperatures dropped did give my sis and I the chance to binge a series, “Drops of God.” While utterly predictable to the genius level viewer – (we kept commenting that we could have written the script, probably a sign of watching too much television!) it was very different and imaginative. We got the first season under our belt.

Now that I am thawing out back in our temperate winter clime, I am staring at the tasks that await and deciding when to attack them. It doesn’t look like we’ll get a forced indoor day here in the near future, so I guess it’s time to put that washing machine in servant mode.

Ah – but first, a more important duty awaits. The stack of saved puzzles from the weekend. Ready, set, go!

Surprisingly, not a single loyal reader has questioned me on the theme for the year. Is there a fear of learning what two like-minded sisters can dream up? Did I just forget to announce it? Perhaps each gentle reader has devised an individualized theme? That would be the goal of this theme-of-the-year enterprise – and what was initially intended when this crazy scheme was devised eight years ago. A sort of “reminder” for the year. So…

Drum roll. Hedgehog. The theme for 2026 is “hedgehogs.” They are tiny creatures revered for their ability to navigate their surroundings with grace and intelligence. They are also seen as symbols of intuition, resourcefulness and defense. Yes, I had to do a little research on them. They are cute, and I have seen one in person in my aunt’s garden. I also have a hedgehog doorstop, so it was really an obvious choice, and their qualities seem like good reminders to take into this year.

It was either hedgehogs or Kendra Scott jewelry. Be a hedgehog.

”Sister time has no rhyme
it is merely space sublime”

Off I go to retrieve some memories and laughter, and possibly frozen digits. However, staying here could provide the same chilling results as our winter finally arrives. Oh, January joy!

”Bring your heated gloves.”

Those are the encouraging words you love to hear before your vacation. I have heeded the request, as well as packed the toe warmers I purchased on a visit back to the eastern Midwest a couple of winters ago. (Spell prediction just wanted to change “winters” to “wineries.” Sounds good to me?)

Yes, I’m headed to the center of the Arctic chill that will be sweeping the nation. At least there shouldn’t be throngs of people visiting the sites? I’ve also found people are generally happy to see you when it’s off-season for tourism and everyone is staying home or flying to warmer climes. Some of the best vacations we’ve had were in chillier weather with smaller crowds. Quite frankly, I’ll travel any season, I’m not picky.

Off to pare down the heavy clothing I’m packing. I’m a one-small-suitcase girl, whether it’s two days, two weeks, or two months. Two years? Hm. Haven’t tried that one yet!

Yes, I would have written sooner but circumstances prevented me. Time.

After my dental surgery during the week of Christmas I am now subjected to a three-part cleansing procedure thrice daily. My eye appointment confirmed dry eyes, requiring another three-part operation nightly, and then twice daily. My sinuses are causing grief, alleviated by my trusty time-consuming vaporize-o-matic. (I Don’t know the name of this little gem.). My cholesterol is still high, and my roots are showing. All of this management takes time!

I’ll be spending the rest of my free moments creating a flow-chart for the upkeep requirements of aging, as well as attempting to keep that youthful glow ever-illuminated in this high desert climate.

After that – planning a get-away to a humid sea level resort, hopefully less time-consuming.

This was in the feed, and yes, I couldn’t help but repost it. ‘Tis a pet peeve. There really are only a few left in life, but this has always been a big one. Someone else had a clever comment to properly convey the error.

Now how about starting a sentence with, “Me and…?” I’ll await one smarter and more clever than I to come up with that illustration. In the meantime, me, myself and I shall read the paper. Or is it I, myself and me? Perhaps just I shall read this morning.

Of course this is the comment in my head when I am thinning the wares of my wardrobe. “Well, that would make a good costume.”

There is a dress I own which needs tailoring, well two of them do. I am just a little too lazy to bother with the process that I actually could do myself. This morning I pondered their presence. Will I ever wear these two frocks again? “Hm…well that would make a good costume.” In fact, one of them has been a costume for Dia De Los Muertos. It was superb in its use.

Yes, the warm weather has me continuing to don the same thing I have been sporting for many months now. Perhaps that is what spurred me to winnowing the wardrobe wonders. Getting that chaff out of there this week!

Of course this will possibly demand further action: retail therapy. Alas!

(Reminds me of Elton John’s title, “Funeral For a Friend,” which I can pound out on the piano in a rather inelegant fashion. Oh well, good titles are difficult to come by!)

Friend

We haven’t seen each other in a while
Thus, your thoughtful note made me smile.
It brought me memories made to last
Your voice still resonates from our past.

Time has taken us various ways
Through all too many Decembers and Mays.
Our children grown, perhaps waistlines, too,
Well mine for sure!  How about you?

So many adventures, lots of change
The highs and lows of an entire range.
For now, until we meet again,
Stay well, stay happy, my cherished friend.