In no particular order.
Because, here’s the sunset! I took it through the dining room window so you’ll have to deal with a little bit of reflection (plus power lines, pffft).
The picture doesn’t even come close to illustrating how incredible it was. It was truly spectacular. I peered out that window and it engulfed my eyes!
So how was it that I happened to be at home when sunset happened? (Because it’s close to pitch dark now when I head home from work). Well, I left the office around 2pm this afternoon for my bone density and mammogram appointments, and then headed home straight from there. Pretty nice to get home before dark! And since we’re losing our sick leave by year’s end, I’m making medical/vision/dental appointments right and left. (Yes, you heard that right. The company is transitioning to PTO [paid time off] and so they’ve opted to make sick leave revert to ZERO as of 1/14. PLUS, we’ll lose one day of accrued time off starting next year. People are not happy…*)
*Which is kind of interesting, as many of these same people blasted the Boeing Machinists Union for voting NO on the contract sprung on them that would have eliminated a whole helluva lot of benefits that they fought long and hard for. See how it feels, people? (Us non-union workers have to just suck it when management slams the hammer down).
Anyway. I’m ashamed to admit that it has been quite a few years since I had a mammogram (like, 2007!) And the last time I did, they had me come back in for a biopsy—which resulted in an A/OK outcome—calcification, which is pretty common. That experience was rather traumatic, though. I remember that it wasn’t painful (except for administering the local anesthesia) and that it was handled extremely professionally, but it was SCARY and it was also weird. I was always good about getting mammograms every year up until then, but I’ve avoided them since then, which I know is counter-productive. It’s a relief to be back on board and doing the right thing. The whole experience is much improved since 2007! The “squishing” isn’t nearly as uncomfortable, plus it’s quicker. Also? This place had these cute little “capes” to wear! I sort of wanted to steal one! (Not really).
I’d never had a bone density test before. I didn’t even know what to expect. It’s a scan, relatively short, nothing to it. Certainly nothing like an MRI, which made me want to run screaming from the building (I didn’t realize just how claustrophobic I was!) The “open” MRIs made it more do-able, but they still made me uber-twitchy. I was told that I have the bone density of “a much younger woman.” So that was good to hear. I didn’t know what to expect since I’m not a milk-drinker. (But I am a cheese-eater, so there’s that). And I do take a One-A-Day vitamin for women (when I remember) that has a fair amount of calcium. But I’m guessing this is likely more of a heredity thing?
So, what else? John sent me this picture this uber-cold morning. Looks like a frozen, frosty beach, and I’m sure it was! Brrrrr!
He also sent a picture of his painting progress (in the pantry and mudroom, which is a light slate blue) and although I could sort of tell how it sort of looked, I doubt you would. These interior details call for our better-quality digital camera with the flash, that is here at home and not at Harstine. I won’t be back down there until the weekend following Thanksgiving (December 7th-8th). I have a wedding to attend this Saturday, and then John has to work all of Thanksgiving weekend. (And second shift! Crap!) So, not until the following weekend.
This little dahling continues to capture our hearts. We do call her “Little Shit” on a regular basis, but she is mostly a sweet lil’ thang. She is a LAP CAT! I have never had a lap cat. Mojo has his wonderful moments of affection – he’ll at least start out sleeping with us between our pillows and purr up a storm, plus he rather enjoys being cradled in our arms for a bit (again, purring like mad). But he’s basically not a lap cat, I suppose mostly because he’s so big. Little Wylie is! With John gone all this week, she seeks out my lap at the dining table (where my laptop is) and cuddles on down. Her purr is much softer than Mojo’s loud rumble. And she’ll gently pat-pat-pat you with her paws. She comes and goes out that pet door, but she is mostly inside. I sure do wonder where she spent the bulk of her first year? She wasn’t obviously a starved kitty when John found her, but she was sure hella hungry. She definitely covets her kibble now.
She also knows her name. (And was quite intrigued with seeing her picture on the monitor!) Smart cookie.
