wittenlover

Someone shoot me. Shoot me now. I strongly disliked (putting it politely) N’Sync back in the day and still do, maybe more so now because of all the dang memes... [emoji37][emoji379] lol That said, I find myself somewhat glad to say goodbye to April, as it ended on a down note. One of my best friends unexpectedly found herself having to say goodbye to her mom last weekend. Mom had been in hospital since just before my bday for testing to figure out some health issues (while significant, not initially considered life-threatening) and her medical team discovered cancer during the testing. She quickly declined and passed away Sunday (25th). Ouch. She was a wonderful lady and will be missed by many, myself included. May brings my first trip on a plane since the “before times” - I head to CA with a few colleagues for work Monday for a few days. I’ve not been to San Francisco before and, while we won’t have much free time, I’m hoping to take a drive out somewhere to get a couple pictures of Golden Gate Bridge. May also brings the return of fans, myself included, to NASCAR’s longest race, the Coca-Cola 600. Can. Not. Wait. Charlotte trip will be a bit different/shorter this year since they moved the All-Star Race to Texas but my crowd is looking forward to being back in our home away from home and spending some much needed time together. My cookie monsters are looking forward to their “special deliveries”, too. [emoji170] Hope my GDer fam is well and that we all get some actual spring weather to stay, at least for a little while. [emoji38][emoji106]

Planted my “regrow” celery into a pot today. Hope it continues to thrive, as I’ve never tried this before. [emoji4][emoji106]

Ugh!!! Not! Funny! Bad form, Mother Nature... [emoji35] lol On a lighter note, 13 shopping days till my bday (not counting the actual day). My poor Hodges kitty, who had a run in with some nasty bladder crystals in mid Feb and gave this kitty mama quite the scare is now, thankfully, well on his way back to normal. Had his follow up appointment with his vet last week and she is very pleased with his progress. Gave me permission to begin transitioning him off the prescription diet after we’ve had a full 2 months with it, which will actually occur right around my bday. Good stuff. Will be so glad to start reducing the cat food budget again, assuming we can keep his system happy. $200+/month is rough. Hope all of you in my GD family are well as we turn the corner toward spring! [emoji4][emoji170] Here’s the boy trying my pants on this morning... [emoji23]

How is it March already??? lol I should be hopping a plane to Las Vegas tomorrow but sadly, I will not be. My best buddy who normally goes to the races with me out there cannot go (she’s taking care of her mom after a fall - mom will be OK, just needs some extra help for now). I didn’t want to make the trip alone, so we decided to take the 120% credit and apply it to next spring’s race. Going to be so, so strange watching the races from home this weekend... First time in 15+ years not being out there. Boy kitty Hodges came down with a case of bladder crystals a couple weeks ago. Prescription food = pet food budget just got multiplied by 5 (wish I was kidding). Ouch. Hopefully we can step him back down off of it after a few months (his vet is optimistic). He is definitely feeling much better after two weeks of meds and special food, though, so I am extremely thankful. He’s only 8 1/2. Far too young to be leaving me for the rainbow bridge just yet. Blessing of working from home was that I was home when he showed first symptoms & on the phone with the vet inside of 15 minutes, then on the way to them not even 15 minutes after that. Given the day it happened, on a “normal” day, I wouldn’t have been home for another 8-9 hours. He would’ve likely been in far worse shape. Hope my GD family is well as we near a full year of dealing with this pandemic. [emoji170]

Got down to -1 by me last night. Brrrrrrrrr... Another 1” or so of snow expected later today.

Happy February, y’all! Been “a minute” since I’ve stopped by to check in on my GDer fam. Just spent the last several minutes catching up in here on how folks are doing. Me? I’m the “official toe bean warmer” for my little Mew, who celebrated her 13th bday on 1/14. Dad celebrated 79 trips around the sun on the 15th. I snuck up and visited him briefly at the gas station where he works (just to keep himself busy/active) to wish him a very happy bday. We’ll do a belated bday dinner together this coming Monday evening. We’re both looking forward to spending some time together. One of my best friends celebrates his birthday on Valentine’s Day, so I’m gathering up some fun things for him & I’ll be baking his favorite lemon cookies while I watch the Clash race at Daytona Tuesday night (so I can ship his box Wednesday). He had long been planning to be at the Daytona 500 this year since it fell on his bday but, thanks to the ongoing COVID junk, he had to scrap those plans. He had tix bought but did not make the cut for the limited capacity. Boo. My annual “start” of my NASCAR season at the Vegas spring race has been scrapped due to NV govt still not having made the call on whether LVMS can have fans there. It’s getting too late (we are only a month away) to be making all the arrangements so, while I will likely make the cut for limited attendance if it’s permitted (I’ve been season tix holder there for 15 years), I will be requesting a credit be put toward either this year’s fall race or next spring’s event. Will feel SOOOO strange being home for that race. Hope all of you are well (or at least hanging in there), my friends. [emoji120] (Oh and Kanyon: To answer your question about my NYE beverage of choice, no, I don’t drink. Personal choice. Caffeine is my drug of choice! [emoji38][emoji106])

Happy New Year, GD fam! Celebrated with me, myself, and I (and the two felines) last night. So strange being home on NYE, since I normally am busy hosting the NYE party at my church. It’s easily been 15+ years since I was last at home on NYE. lol Midnight toast with sparkling Welch’s Enjoying TobyMac’s “Family Dance Party” as the hours counted down Cats thought I was insane dancing around apartment like a maniac LOL

We had rain and heavy cloud cover. Boo. I was hoping to get a look. Hope all had a merry Christmas! My Secret Santa outdid herself with a pile of NASCAR gear for this girl (pics are up in the Secret Santa thread) and I got to enjoy dinner with my dad yesterday. Cats got some new cardboard scratchers and a new compressed catnip candy cane to play with (and the box my Secret Santa goodies came in, of course), so they’re happy, too. [emoji4][emoji106][emoji170] I have the week off (automotive industry holiday shutdown) so I’m hoping to get some time in with my best friend, as we haven’t been able to hang out much. Also going to check in on at least one other buddy who is retired and lives alone - I know the holidays can be rough on him. Can’t wait to kick 2020 to the curb, albeit without the usual NYE party I throw for my church. Bring on 2021! Hoping and praying for better things and heaps of blessings for all of my GD family. [emoji170]

Breaking in my new shirt. Fits perfectly! Thanks again! [emoji16][emoji106]

Just me and my dad local (my brother lives in WA state), so we’ll still get together for dinner and “hang out” time today. That’s been the norm for several years now. [emoji170]

Oh my goodness! Opened my SS gift this morning and found the most amazing pile of (now “vintage”) Bubba Wallace gear, along with some yummy York peppermint patties and Reese’s trees! I love it all! (And Bubba will absolutely get a kick out of hearing my SS hooked me up when next I get to talk to him!) Well done, Jendeere! Thank you!!! [emoji16][emoji16][emoji16] Here’s a picture of Bubba and I when last we got to chat in person (last fall - holy cow!) Here’s before I unwrapped Annnnd after Mew is now trying the shirt on for size... [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23] And many thanks to our most awesome Chief Elf Bopeep for again running our wonderful exchanges this year. You are loved and appreciated! Merry Christmas, all! [emoji16][emoji106][emoji319][emoji318][emoji320]

I see a Bronner’s bag! I should make my way back up to Frankenmuth sometime during the holidays. I’m only an hour away. [emoji319]

If they are wrapped, they would not remain so for long with my two felines... *gives cats a side eye/stink eye* Besides, they already have boxes to play in. They’ll live for another couple weeks. lol

I got a box today! Pretty sure it’s my SS box! Saving for Christmas! Can’t wait to see what’s inside! Thank you!!! [emoji16][emoji106][emoji170]

I’d reach out via PM (if you haven’t already) just to see how they’re doing. We all know this year has thrown curveballs at everyone at various times. Elves are on standby if needed. [emoji170]

Fun seeing all the pictures of the packages that have arrived. Helps me as I continue to stalk my mailbox daily waiting for mine to appear so I can set it aside for Christmas morning. [emoji102][emoji16][emoji106]

Congrats to all the winners from last year’s “big prize” winner! Hope you all enjoy them! [emoji16][emoji106][emoji322]

Happy December! Got word today from the “powers that be” that our annual Christmas bonuses will still come this year. This wasn’t necessarily expected, given all the fallout from COVID. People ask why I’ve stayed with my company for so long (marked 20 years this year). This is one of many reasons why. Management understands how important it is that the people are taken care of. [emoji170]

I actually have two albums that basically live on repeat in my car once Black Friday arrives: TobyMac’s “Christmas in Diverse City” and MercyMe’s “The Christmas Sessions”. There are other songs I enjoy and appreciate (like Hallelujah Chorus) but these albums really help keep me in the spirit of the season. [emoji4]

Just got my order wrapped up. Contrary to what the site had said just before the sale went live, one of the throw patterns was only available for shipping, not for in-store pickup. The pattern wasn't a deal breaker, so I just chose a different one that is available for in-store pickup. Done. If I'd realized that in the first place, I could've been in bed already!

Gah... The throws I want that were showing as available for in-store pickup just before the sale went live are now showing as "pickup not available" and I'm not ordering enough for free shipping... GRRRRR!!!

Woot! And my first post will include... A picture of what was in my mystery box that I won over on GD discord! (For those who haven’t joined us there, we have some fun random discussions and great convos about deals we’re finding.)

Kohl’s throws... (Too obvious??? [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]) In all seriousness, cat litter. Usually the best deals I get all year on it so I try to buy a full year’s worth. Not “fun” but absolutely necessary.

I always make these for one of my best friends. He loves them. Not really holiday cookies specifically, but he gets a full batch to himself in his Christmas box every year. I juice & zest the lemon myself, so about as truly from scratch as it gets. Edits I’ve made to recipe as written: - Double the amount called for of lemon juice & lemon zest - I roll them in granulated sugar instead of powdered for some sparkle. (I’ve been known to mix yellow sugar crystals with the plain white sugar as well) https://www.food.com/recipe/lemon-crinkle-cookies-473806

October already. Crazy. I’m headed to Charlotte for the “Roval” race, leaving on Tuesday next week. Can’t wait to be back at a race track and just back in Charlotte. I’ve missed being there. Working out details with some of my cookie monsters on how best I can still get them some treats while I’m in town. Some, I’ll meet away from the track/race shop entirely, others will have deliveries dropped at front door of the race shops. All hinges on keeping them within the protocols they need to follow. Baking begins tomorrow. [emoji106]