It’s “Hey Rene J” Today!

When I was a wee lass, a closet was a magnet. Both sets of grandparents had one which held the toys. The toys? The closet?

The toys were in a cardboard box at both houses. They were minimal: an incomplete set of Lincoln Logs, a mopey yellow squeaky dog, a plastic blue car, a View Finder (with one reel) and an Etch-a-Sketch, the primo toy. These items had to be shared with a multitude of cousins, and because we were taught to share, it was also imperative to pretend you didn’t care whether or not you got to play with the toys! This was true for both of my grandparents’ stashes.

The closet? One house had a Harry Potter under-the-stairs closet which was way cooler than the toys. The other grandparent had a boring front hall closet, but a much better flooring option for the toys. Both were educational spaces.

This only comes to mind as I anticipate painting one of two remaining closets of which I have not painted in this house. Fair warning spouse. Your office closet is the final frontier.

Puzzle addict and coffee drinker. Oh, there are more similarities not evidenced in this photo, hopefully much better ones. Miss you, Mom!

Yes, I knew about this word game app, and I kept myself from trying it as I’m already a puzzle aficionado. (addict) However, I was encouraged to try it and share my results with two other gamers I roomed with on my Tucson excursion.

Every morning for the past two weeks we individually text the other roomies with our number of guesses. There is no ”wordle shaming,” but you do get to brag a bit if you guess the word with two attempts. I haven’t done that yet. My new problem? I stayed awake until midnight last night just so I could play this once-a-day-word game.

Puzzleholics Anonymous is calling.

My husband says I should blog about curling. He thinks we should give the sport a try.

In honor of his wishes, I am suggesting he get a broom and practice the sweeping on our floor, while I head upstairs and plug in the hot rollers. That’s how we’re going to participate in this Olympic sport.

End-of-the-week humor.

Years ago, when computers were entering the elementary school, I took my kids to an evening event at the library. The task was to plan a vacation. You could use reference books or the computer. Well, I chose books, mostly because I love them, especially travel books and atlases. You can flip back and forth, feel the texture of the page and see how worn it is. Did someone else like the Greek Isle destination photos? Remember, a book is what got my young mind set on Egypt, flipping through those pages in awe time and time again.

When I’m researching anything on the computer, it’s just clicking. Reading homework is harder, as flipping back and forth seems to be a normal thing for me, and my eyes do not appreciate that ”flickering.” A book is more restful.

Oh, it might be faster to find exactly what you’re seeking with technology. My kids chose the computer that evening and definitely ”beat me” in gleaning the information we needed. However, I often feel I’m missing part of the journey that way. Is speed the most important thing?

This came to mind as I was cleaning my desk yesterday, flipping through papers and letters, touching life. I loved those card files!

Remember Mitch Albom’s book, ”Tuesdays With Morrie?” I have ”Wednesdays With Avila.”

Yesterday began with an early auto drop-off for an oil change. Returning home, my pumpkin arrived and the day took off from there! I assumed I would have time to finish my puzzles and scribble something, but the napping was quick and all I finished was breakfast and an afternoon phone call.

I did get some good knee action in as I crawled around with my little one. I should put Swiffer sweepers on and get some work done! After the floor exercises we did some heavy lifting and toting. We have our own mini-Olympics.

It’s always a joyful day and I count my accomplishments in blessings received from her little smiles and giggles. There’s always another day to clean closets.

This was a cute memory jolt in the paper. Did you do this in school? Work on your homework at lunch, recess, in the next class, study hall, just so you wouldn’t have to do it at home? We didn’t have buses taking us away from the school in my little town, or I might have saved some work for the trip.

Sometimes I’d be listening to a lecture while solving a theorem just presented in the previous class, lest I forget. Is there even study hall any more? Do students get homework?

I’ll have to ask the next student I see hanging out at Starbucks.

This is my next Pinterest project. I shall be creating placards to be placed strategically around the television for the Super Bowl viewing audience. Thank you, Ponna and Patherine, for sharing this inspiring post.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to subject myself to torture, pain, and beauty, all in one hour. I accepted that invitation because my friends invited me to do so and I hadn’t prepared an excuse.

I had a pedicure. I hate them. I mostly hate them for the inevitable comments I receive from the technicians. Okay – I know my feet are awful. I walk outside without shoes, winter, spring, summer and fall. I use the sidewalk as a pumice. I only put lotion on my feet when the cracks are so bad I hobble. So, I know a pedicure will be a personal raking over the coals by a callous technician. (cough) Also, I am horrendously ticklish on my feet. I have unintentionally kicked two foot magicians in the past. Yes, pedicures are not my favorite thing.

Well, I may have Pretty Toes For Nothing, because I am not going to any beaches or warm climes. I am sure my husband will appreciate the effort though and think I spiffed up for our Valentine’s Day celebration.

Are we having a Valentine’s Day celebration?

The memory bank is loaded, but one last comment on the grocery business. Yes, we did occasionally find ”open” bags of candy. We just couldn’t sell them, so they had to go to the table in the break room. Lost sales. Sometimes the same fate awaited the Hostess products, destined to be restocked or eaten by a hungry crew.

Fruit was never in danger of making it to the break room, just as it probably will not make an appearance at the Super Bowl party.

Get your fruit and veggies in before Sunday!