67 thoughts on “Our Daily Thread 1-26-16”

  3. Good morning.
    I took the girls to the orthopedist yesterday. Lindsey’s humerus is healing properly; she should have full range of motion in about four more weeks. Becca was diagnosed with Sever’s Disease…the doctor gave her stretches to do , but said she may need a boot if pain persists or becomes more intense. Interestingly, Lindsey was diagnosed with same issue at twelve. She was in a boot for about eight weeks.

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  6. When the sky clears from a storm in January we get an awesome blue color to enjoy along with the crisp air. That blue color makes me happy. Not sure why when people feel down that it’s known as the blues. Wikipedia knows, I feel certain of that. Good thing my Smartphone has access to Wikipedia or else it would lose its reputation for being smart.

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  8. I mistook Mary’s e-mail. It is Mary who is pregnant and expecting in August.
    They plan to adopt one from China also, but that is next year. It’s mom and dad are just holding hands now and gazing at each other. .

    😉

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  11. I had to come in to the office this morning to scan and label some papers that are from the 1990’s and outdated. What I would shred and toss, but Guy wants them scanned. It is stuff he knows like the back of his hand…but I digress.
    What I really wanted to say this morning is that I was on the way in this morning when the song that popped up on Amazon Music was Marty Robbins White Sport Coat and Pink Carnation. The reason this jumped out at me is that about 30 years ago a friend said she liked this song about a guy wanting to take a girl to a dance and the catchy part was something about a white sport coat. It took months to figure out what that song was. It made me realize the AWESOMENESS of the technology we have at our hands. To find that song today all I would have to do type “song about a white sport coat” into Google and then go to Youtube and search for it if there wasn’t already a link on Google. Yet, we as a group of people tend to be dumber than we have ever been. Now we have all that knowledge at our fingertips on our CELL PHONES!!!!!
    Just think that in less than 100 years we went from the fist automobile (well there were steam powered transports before then) to landing a man on the moon. Think about that jump in knowledge for a minute!

    Back to work

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  14. Good Morning…fresh couple of inches of snow on the ground…the sunlight is now shining on the snow laden pine branches…shimmering like glitter!
    Chas is going to be a greatgrandfather again…and again! How exciting!

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  15. My family lost a friend yesterday. My son-in-law had to take their dog to the vet. She had a blood clot in her lung and would not survive. So, she is gone. She was 15 years old and had been failing for some time. The dog had been at our house for most of her life as D1 couldn’t take a dog to the dorms when she was in college.

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  19. We looked into adopting from China as well–to make sure we got a girl. That’s not what happened to us, but friends who have adopted from China have adored their daughters forever. Three of my godchildren are Korean adoptees; one is exactly like his adopted father though they do not look alike. Interesting how nurture can influence.

    And how fun a new great-grandchildren, the “normal” way, Chas. Congrats.

    I wasn’t asleep by 8. Here’s the blog post I wrote!

    Insomnia and Prayer

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  23. Janice, both photos are of the same jay, but in different poses. The top one shows his face better, the bottom his wing feathers.

    Growing up in Phoenix, I didn’t grow up among blue jays (or cardinals–though I’ve loved cardinals ever since the day I saw one on our back fence when I was a little girl; it was well out of its range and a special treat). Well, blue jays can be real pest birds, and my husband doesn’t like them. He chased them away from the feeder until he realized that I think they’re one of the loveliest of birds and welcome to a bit of seed. But most of the birds are used to our presence and will eat even with us standing at the window. Perhaps because they initially got chased away, the jay will fly as soon as it sees a person, so I have to get photos when it doesn’t know I’m there. The male cardinal is shyer than most of the other birds, too, but not as easily spooked as the jays.

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  24. That is an amazing shot of the jay Cheryl, although I really do not like them at all….I shoo them away at every chance I get. They are mean things and they pick on the smaller birds. I once witnessed a Jay raiding a Robin’s nest…all the while the mama Robin screeching and flapping trying to disuade the Jay….how sad I was for the mama as she lost her nestlings….see why I don’t like Jays? 😦

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  25. I remember seeing a blue jay as a child and thinking about its beauty. We had a lot back then, but I rarely see them these days. I have seen a yard full of robins. Not to worry, Nancyjill! Robins are thriving 🙂

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  29. Nancy Jill, I know, blue jays can be mean. I mostly see them fighting with each other, not doing anything to other birds. But I did get a photo of one in the backyard with an egg. Thing is, though, many (maybe even most) birds will eat eggs or nestlings if they find a nest. I suspect jays may be more likely to seek them out, and they’re smart birds so they may be more likely to find them. But they aren’t as bad as starlings or house sparrows, which aren’t even native species, but they’ve bred to become dominant largely by stealing other species’ nesting sites, even if they have to kill baby birds or the mother bird to get it. We do chase starlings, and we chase house sparrows if we get a lot of them. We also chase cowbirds, since they are nest parasites–every cowbird was once the only nestling raised by parent birds of another species that started with a nest full of their own young ones but ended up raising only the most demanding baby in the nest, the faster-growing cowbird nestling.

    Funny thing is, though, that those actions are a result of the Fall, but they aren’t sins!

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  30. If Mr. P were in better health I think I could talk him into adopting…maybe? From what I have seen of him being a good grand father I think he was a good father. He was both father and mother to his two youngest. That ship has sailed I think. We will just have to be Mimi and Grandpa

    I am excited for you Chas.

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  31. I think they’re pretty strict about age when it comes to adoption at least in this country (as in young people — 20s, early 30s — only need apply?). Probably for good reason. 😉

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  32. Donna, I don’t think that is true anymore, especially when adopting from foster care. Well, it definitely isn’t true when adopting from foster care–many do it when their kids are grown or nearly grown.

    But when you consider that people these days usually don’t marry until they’re in the second half of their twenties (or older) and often don’t even try to have a child for five to seven years, couples don’t know they’re infertile until they’re in their thirties, and they may try (or at least consider trying) infertility treatments first. Adoption becomes a choice in mid- to late thirties.

    The tendency now is to tell anyone who is younger than 25 and considering marriage “You’re too young.” Yep, I’ve seen that said to people as old as 24. Now, a 24-year-old does indeed seem pretty young to those of us decades older, but “too young for marriage” is ridiculous. (“You have some growing up to do still; you can’t take that immaturity into marriage,” sure. But not “You’re too young.”) I’m guessing an adoption agency would look more favorably on a 35-year-old than a 25-year old, these days.

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  33. Blue jays are related to crows, hence their mean streak. We have a bird feeder that shuts when a heavier bird tries to land on it, so the small birds don’t have to compete with the jays. Although, the cute little chickadee has its own mean streak. The jays are reduced to eating what falls to the ground, along with the mourning doves.

    Donna, are you saying Mumsee and her hubby are exceptional? 🙂

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  39. We had 6 inches of new snow this morning. My old dog, almost 15, was out running and playing in it. When it is cold, he rarely moves from his bed on the porch. So sorry for your loss Peter.

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  41. Thanks for the condolences, gang.

    Kevin- I’m taking the Jeopardy test tomorrow. Wouldn’t it be ironic if we both got on the show and were on the same episode? What would Alex Trabek have to say about that?

    Did you do the practice test? I got 23 of 30. Some of those popular culture questions throw me off.

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  42. That would be funny, Peter. I’ve got to meet you one of these days somehow – why not on stage with Alex?

    I haven’t put any preparation time into it. If I get a chance tonight before the 8:00 (EST) test I’ll look for the practice test.

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  43. I am embarrassed to tell you that I only got 12 out of 30. I don’t watch Real Housewives of anywhere and I have never read Lady Chatterly’s Lover. I missed the one about Martin Luther because I named the document instead of the writer. (I am bad about being in a hurry and not reading the whole question–It has plagued me for years)

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  44. I got a 26 the second time but these are just the open practice questions. I couldn’t do the real thing, although I usually get the correct answers when I watch it on TV. The pressure and having to answer in the form of a question would do me in. I will proudly know one of you should you make it.
    We can have a virtual Jeopardy party when you are on!!!!

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  46. A DOG`S PLEA

    Treat me kindly, my beloved friend, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me.

    Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I might lick your hand between blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me learn.

    Speak to me often, for your voice is the world`s sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when the sound of your footstep falls upon my waiting ear.

    Please take me inside when it is cold and wet, for I am a domesticated animal, no longer accustomed to bitter elements. I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth.

    Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst.

    Feed me clean food that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life, should your life be in danger.

    And, my friend, when I am very old and I no longer enjoy good health, hearing and sight, do not make heroic efforts to keep me going. I am not having any fun. Please see to it that my life is taken gently. I shall leave this Earth knowing with the last breath I draw that my fate was always safest in your hands.

    A Dog`s Friend

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  47. This will be my 9th or 10th try, I forget. It gets easier each time. At least on line you don’t have to ask a questions, and you don’t have to be a perfect speller. But 15 seconds to read the clue and type a two or three word answer is hard for someone who never had a typing class.

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  48. Kim, that one always makes me tear up — I’ll be talking more to my dogs tonight. 🙂

    I’m embarrassed to admit I yelled at the cat the other morning, she was walking soooo slowly in front of me that I wound up stepping on her foot so I yelled at her. I felt guilty because I don’t remember doing that before, she’s just a cat, and it made her avoid me for a while that morning. 😦

    I think she was more hurt by my yelling than being stepped on. But maybe not. Either way, she kept her distance.

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  54. We don’t have blue jays here. We do have pinon jays and stellar jays. Both are fun to watch and will fight the dogs for their food.

    I would have to disagree that you cannot hurt a cat’s feelings. It is not wise to do so, as they will get revenge. We had an indoor cat years ago. I caught him on the counter and got after him. The next day, he pooped on my robe. This is a cat who never had accidents.

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  55. Admittedly, I do at times yell at Miss Bosley when her split personality displays as Betty Bad Cat. She is getting better in some ways but still has her moments. Yesterday I made chili and put a can of corn in it. I heard her lapping up something and turned to see her with the corn can which was at the top of a full trash can, and she was drinking the little bit of juice left in the can. As you can imagine, I was afraid she would cut her tongue on the sharp edge. I can become a drama queen at such moments.

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  57. Miss Bosley only gets hurt feelings if we laugh at her if she leaps up onto something and misses and falls. We should not laugh at her mishaps, but it is just so unexpected that it jolts our funny bone. We have learned to try and subdue our laughter once we realized it really hurts her feelings.

    Being yelled at or swatted for misbehavior only makes her more determined to do it (whatever annoying behavior) over and over again like she loves the attention of being yelled at or swatted.

    My friend, Karen, told me experts recommend getting cats to run and play twice a day until they pant from the activity. Then they get all their energy out and will be good kitties.

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  59. Miss Bosley bites at, hisses, and yow at Art when he tries to pick her up and move her off his computer keyboard. That is definitely Betty Bad Cat at her best. Miss Bosley has never ever hissed at me.

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  60. Well, Peter, you’ve got potential. I only got 19 right on the 30-question practice test. I kicked myself afterward about two geography questions that I should have gotten right.

    On the real test, I kept track with tally marks of how many I answered with different confidence levels. I was disappointed in the resulting statistics:
    13 – I definitely knew that one
    8 – I think I got it right, but I’m not sure
    11 – I gave a reasonable educated guess that could be right
    17 – No idea. Either I gave no answer, or I picked something that could be right if I’m real lucky
    1 – I thought I had it but realized immediately after time was up that I’d gotten it wrong.

    I was hoping I’d have a lot more “definitely”s and a lot fewer “no ideas”. When I watch the game on TV I always feel I’m doing better than that, but that’s probably selective memory. It’s always more memorable to be yelling the answer at the TV while every contestant is giving the wrong answer.

    I wish I could remember the questions so I could look up the answers, but they don’t stick with me long enough.

    Good luck tomorrow night!

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  61. Jeopardy was one of the few shows I watched. I got that from my parents. When I told them I was getting married, and they had no idea I even knew any guys, they actually turned the show off to hear more. They never turned the show off and we knew better than to interrupt it.

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  62. I have a herd of cats, 8 to be exact. Their job is to control rodents, which keeps snakes away. They all happen to love my son. He has never had a scratch from one of them, though he plays with them daily. We call him the cat whisperer. They even play with the dogs.

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  63. Maybe I need more cats. I was looking out toward my orchard and noticed several new gopher mounds. But then, stepping on the door mat, I just missed a half of a mouse and some internal organs. Yuck.

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  65. Annie is very sweet-natured, she’s not turned on me. Yet.

    So Trump has turned it all upside down again. Sheesh. Worse than a roller coaster ride, this election.

    But he knows how to dominate the news.

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  66. Mrs L and I just got back from the Ted Cruz rally. Inspiring. I am now convinced he is the one to support. More details tomorrow on the political thread.

    One quote: “I am a Christian first, an American second, a Constitutional Conservative third and a Republican fourth.” That in answer to a question about his faith.

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