It’s “Hey Rene J” Today!

Cashing a Benjamin is difficult! I’ve been trotting around with a $100 bill for a couple of months now, deciding to spend it yesterday on a $6.00 purchase. Wrong.

Aside from no cash in the register, the clerk was new, the line behind me impatient, and the woman in charge about to go on break. To be fair, the line wasn’t that long when I started this exchange, it only lengthened as this task presented its challenge.

It wasn’t impossible, and now I have tip money! We’ll see how quickly this new monetary display in my wallet dwindles away.

What did I ever do to receive these gorgeous photos in my Pinterest feed? It would be immensely beautiful to look at these lovely installations daily.

My first question: Would the water stay warm in this glass tub? Second: How would I clean it without scratching it? Third: Where does the fluffy neck pillow go?

The kitchen would definitely be stunning in amethyst, such a beautiful stone.

Once again, “How would I keep the dust out of these little crevices? Or the grease?” “Where would I keep the ample supply of bandaids for when I whack my knee or arm on a sharp piece of beauty?

Still, it would be fun to have these stunning displays surrounding me. Apparently I do love them, as I’ve kept these photos for some time now. It’s fun to dream!

Ambisinister and ambidextrous. Hm. Learning new things every day!

“Ambidextrous,” which we think we know, translates to “both sides right-handed.” Okay – you’re able to do things with both hands and do them equally well. Ambisinister translates to, “both sides left-handed. Clumsy or awkward with both hands.”

It seems that the preference for right over left was a mid-19th century prejudice already. It explains a lot about education and how so many lefties were forced to be righties, thus creating awful penmanship challenges. Sometimes I feel ambisinister as I clumsily work on any sort of sewing challenge or try to operate a teeny, tiny screwdriver, regardless of “which-handed” I am.

So I’ll take my ambisinisterism (if that’s a word?) and sort the laundry. At least I won’t screw up anything too drastically.

This morning I wakened to – not a song – but a poem, a welcome change from the tunes that run through my addled brain.

Thus, to warm your thoughts I offer William Blake’s “The Tyger.” It must have been the “burning bright” line that caught my mind as I woke with cold toes! Regardless, I love the question he poses, reminding me to be grateful for all.

The Tyger

Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies.
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain,
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp,
Dare its deadly terrors clasp!

When the stars threw down their spears
And water’d heaven with their tears:
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

Tyger Tyger burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?^[8][9]

Aside from the potential demise of TikTok, the “Arctic Freeze” is apparently the only news worth reporting.

There were many admonitions given on the news from how to avoid frostbite and for keeping yourself safe in these temps, which apparently we have never ever seen before? (I jest. Yes, it is cold.) Anyway, I thought of a tip that they failed to air yesterday on the Weather Impact high-drama alerts. Perhaps shoveling with wet hair isn’t a great idea?

It’s still damp, but I figured if I waited for it to dry I would lose my motivation. I then promptly came indoors and poured an ice cold beverage, another no-no when it’s this cold outside. (Tea is the better choice.) I wore a hat on top of a hat, had a scarf, and managed to work up a nice sweat. And as I write I am looking at the Google feed above me telling me the temperatures in Thailand in February.

Sending warm wishes to all.

The “Year of the Purse” ended with an appropriate trashing of my favorite over-used and ripped purse, purchased on vacation in Australia. It was a cute little bucket thing which served me well.

Surprisingly, no one has badgered me yet for this year’s theme. My sister and I have been sitting on this highly anticipated announcement, waiting for a query from the masses. Since we have heard nothing from our loyal followers and anticipate we could be waiting until July for a peep out of someone, we are just throwing it out there without fanfare.

Seahorse. Yes, I anticipate finding a seahorse this year and therefore, because we really had no better ideas, it will be the year of the seahorse. So use your myth and imagination this year and enjoy nature!

“Absolutely captivating creatures, seahorses seem like a product of myth and imagination rather than of nature.” Sara A. Laurie

It’s just part of the process for the new year. Decorations are put away, dust removed from places hidden by the decorations, and then the unsubscribing from all of the emails sent throughout the season of decorations. Everything you possibly googled, in some cases just spoke, pops up in the emails sent. Of course, lots of promotions for travel, because, “This will be your year!”

Thus, I’m deleting and cleaning out files and unsubscribing and etc…

This morning my beloved, sitting directly across from me at the kitchen table, Face-timed me. (Is that a verb?)

The only thing this brief encounter did was to give us a good chuckle. The feedback on the microphones was a little ear-piercing. We were testing the new iPad apparently? It is a lovely device with a keyboard I adore. As I type on it now, staring lovingly across the table, I am grateful for this little convenience which gives my typing fingers joy, provides countless inane moments of writing observations, and in general, gives a little perk to the morning routine.

I think I shall Face Time my spouse and thank him.

My college friend, “Paroline,” sent me this lovely quote.

Little did she know I had just been playing “Librarian” with my three-year old administrator of fun. Of course, the librarian could recommend the books I needed, but sometimes she pretended to be on the phone, too busy to help me. Hmmm.

Oh the things we learn from those young ones! Thankfully she is a frequent library patron and knows the ropes there. She continues to teach us. And I am learning to let the phone be out of sight and out of mind when I am blessed to watch my little charges!

These “whole body” deodorant commercial drive me nuts. I’m not against the use of them, but I do have a pressing question.

If these products last 72 hours, are you not supposed to shower for three days? If you did, you would be washing off the water-based formula and thus, rendering the 72 hours wasted. To truly get your money’s worth, I guess you wouldn’t shower for three days, thus, saving on the expenses of heating the hot water, washing towels more frequently, and lack of need to purchase shampoo and conditioner as often. Perhaps they are actually on to something?

If you don’t shower for three days though, how do you wake yourself up in the morning? These questions have plagued my thoughts recently. Thankfully, I have bigger issues to address today as I coddiwomple through Friday.