Jack-O'-Lanterns

When I moved to Texas, I learned that unlike in New England, jack-o'-lanterns do not last long in this environment. When I was growing up in New England a carved pumpkin would last a couple of weeks.  Well in West Texas, a carved pumpkin lasts days.

Last Friday, I purchased a solid, well developed pumpkin.  When I carved it on Monday night, it was already getting soft in spots. I have put it out with a candle for the last couple of night. It is actually holding up better than I thought it would.

I Like Halloween

I like Halloween. I like the idea of people wearing costumes that express their dreams or their alter egos, or just their imaginations or what they practically can use to make a costume.  I like jack- o'-lanterns, trick or treating if it is safe, and the idea that now, adults can participate at work or just in the world, by sharing trick or treats, or wearing costumes or both.   

I set my jack-o'-lantern out Monday night.  I burned the candle Monday night, Tuesday night, and tonight.  

There were only a few trick or treaters at my house tonight:  Two small children early on, and I gave candy to the older person supervising them; she might have been a young mother, or an older sister or cousin.

Much later, there was a group of about 8-10 children on my porch.  The ages ranged from pre-school to middle school.  They jostled each other around, and one young lady sadly was jostled from the front to the back, but got her treat. Now I wish I had given her more than one treat!

Later, a set of two, with no costumes arrived.  It was close to 9 PM, and that is my time to shut it down.  I leave the jack-o'-lantern burning, but I shut off the porch light, shut the front door, close the front window blind, shut off the front room lights, and repair to the computer room.  

I will light the candle in my jack-o'-lantern the next few nights, as long as the pumpkin lasts.  The candle is an inexpensive pillar candle and it will outlast the jack-o-lantern.  

Childhood Safety

Years ago, there was an advertising campaign that announced the time, and said  "Do you know where your children are?"   Most recently, a local TV station, KCBD   has been airing the advertisement "It's 10 O'clock, Do You Know What Your Children Are Doing?"  I think that is great, and it gets to the heart of the matter that so many children are home, hopefully safe in their own homes, in their own bedrooms, even, but accessing so many dangerous sites on the Internet. And of course, children at home, who are offered absolute privacy by their parents, can be engaged in other risky behavior in their own rooms.  When I was growing up, my bedroom was my bedroom, but I had no expectation of absolute privacy.  While I was growing up, I sometimes resented that, but as an adult, I think that is a safety net for children if used discreetly.  

World Series - Yeah! Red Sox!

I continued to watch the World Series on Saturday and Sunday night.  I was thrilled to see the Red Sox win!  That was so exciting and I am so proud of the Red Sox.  I was able to watch game 4 and 5 to the finish!  They were good games, and the Dodgers fought hard. But yeah! Red Sox!

The World Series, 2018, Game 3

I have followed the post season Major League Baseball series.  Of course, two of my teams were in it and even faced off:  The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox won. The Red Sox won the division championship series against the Houston Astros, a team I could have routed for, simply because they are in Texas.  But I am glad the Red Sox made it to the World Series.  

The Red Sox were leading the series 2-0 and the teams have moved to Los Angeles for the next 3 games.  In game 3, it was tied in the 10th.  This is good World Series baseball.  I went to bed about 12:30 AM because I had to get up early to go to a meeting.  The game lasted 7 hours and 20 minutes, and Los Angeles won.   I would have enjoyed watching the entire game.  It went to 18 innings, so they took 2 7 inning stretches!

Labels

I have used so many labels in my blog, that it is almost overwhelming to me when I look at the actual blog (or preview.)  Sometimes, I do a label in singular and plural, and when I realize it, and if it makes sense, I combine them.  Sometimes, I see two topics that are close and can be combined.  But since I write about a large variety of things, I guess a large variety of labels is to be expected. 

Car Repairs

Finally, my car is repaired.  It was expensive, but less than the cost of a new car, and I have put little maintenance into this particular car: oil changes, batteries, tires.  A couple of other small repairs.  I am thankful that it is done, and hopefully, I can feel confident in my car's performance again for a while.  Peace of mind is worth something.  

Courtesy Van

Unexpectedly, I had to take my Saturn Vue into a repair shop, and I use the dealership, Scoggin Dickey  as per GM since Saturn no longer exists.  I was not planning to take my car in for service today, but when the battery maintenance light came on, I decided that going to the dealership for repair, was more important than getting to work on time, and dealing with a dead battery at the end of the day in the wet and the cold.

Scoggin Dickey has a courtesy van that helps with rides to where customers need to go. I took the courtesy van to work, but had to take a detour by my house, as I had to drop off my purse and cell phone, which are considered contraband at work. I arrived about an hour and fifteen minutes late.  But, I worked late, since the dealership did not call me about the status of my car, having told me they were very backed up when I brought my car in this morning.  Mid-afternoon, I called the dealership, and my car was still in line for service, and I asked to have the courtesy van pick me up from work at 5 PM, no matter.

The courtesy van arrived as scheduled, and the driver called in to check on the status of my car. We were told it would not be serviced until the next day, so the driver took me home instead of to the car dealership.  

The driver said the most extraordinary thing to me:  He acknowledged the service department is very busy, and the loaner cars they have are not being returned at the rate to help new customers, so the courtesy van has an obligation to get customers where they need  to go.  He implied I could get a ride to work in the morning.  I told him I could get a ride to work in the morning, but I would need a ride to the dealership after my car was repaired. 

This man told me he has worked for Scoggin Dickey for 4 years, and was hired as a part time driver, but only recently has been made full time.   I think it is extraordinary that he sees his job as a "courtesy driver" as a responsibility to take care of customers. I have to wonder what kind of employment environment empowers this man to take that kind of responsibility for providing courtesy rides to customers.  This is extraordinary.  

Car Maintenance

So I was congratulating myself about taking a trip over the weekend to charge the car battery. Today, it was a cold and wet morning, and as I drove to work, the battery maintenance light came on.  I was just a few minutes from work, but decided to turn around and take the car to the dealer, Scoggin Dickey, which is across town.  I had no desire to deal with trying to get a jump start for my car at late afternoon, in the cold and wet. By the time I arrived at the dealership, the battery maintenance light was off.  I did not care, I wanted it looked at, this has been an ongoing problem with my car. 

The service writer at Scoggin Dickey said they were very behind from the day before, and I would need to leave the car for the day, at least. I took the courtesy van to my house, to leave off the "contraband items" that I would have locked in my car, because they are not allowed at the prison where I work.  By late afternoon, the dealership had not even evaluated the car.  I was told they would get to it on the next day. I hate being without a vehicle, but I  was able to arrange a ride to work with a co-worker.

The Rising Moon

My computer room faces north and east, with a window on each outside wall. This time of year, this time of month, I love watching the almost full moon rising through the east window. That is such a gift to me, to watch the moon rising, as I am tonight.  

Battery Maintenance

The service writer at the auto dealer told me I do not drive enough to charge my battery, that it takes 45 minutes to just start charging. He suggested I get a charger.  Instead, about once a month, I take a long ride in the car, about an hour or hour and a half.  Sometimes I go out of town.  Sometimes, I ride around Lubbock and look for changes. There has been a lot of development in Lubbock, and I like to stay aware of what these changes are.  I had been for a ride in a while, so I went out yesterday.  It was a pretty day for a ride. 

UIL Marching Band Contest

Saturday, I went to the UIL Marching Band Competition for Region 16.  Evidently this occurs in multiple parts, and I went in the evening when the 4A,5A and 6A schools were competing. A friend of mine has a son in the Lubbock High School band, and she volunteered all day.  It was a long day for her, but she was in good spirits.  It was cool but we were dressed for the weather, and it was a good evening.  Some of the bands performed really well.  The band I liked the best had a bright, airy, colorful performance with well done music.  The Lubbock High School band  performed well.  But they had a dark theme, and it came after the bright and light performance.  All and all, it was a pleasant evening. 

Lubbock Playa Lakes

We have had a lot of rainy, grey weather in Lubbock lately.   Most of the time, it has been drizzly light rain, with intermittent downpours. No doubt the earth is saturated.  Saturday morning, I took a drive around Lubbock, to look at some of the playa lake levels and the water levels.  The Yellow House Canyon Lakes, also known as the Canyon Lakes, or by the name of each lake, were full, but not overflowing, and while water was flowing over the dams, it was not flowing over the roads below the spillways, except in MacKenzie Park off of Broadway Avenue. 

Elsewhere in the city, the lakes were generally full.  Lake Sheehan, just north of 4th street and east of Toledo Avenue, had expanded beyond its borders, but only into undeveloped land.  As I drove through Lubbock, most of the other playa lakes were full, but not flooding streets. 

As I drove by Clapp Park, the lake south of the dam/walkway was surrounded with reeds which is so very different than it used to be, but probably more attractive to wildlife.  I cannot complain. The north lake has traditionally been surrounded by reeds. 

I had not heard about flooding in the city, so have to think that the slow rain did not produce flooding, or the flood control system worked.  Since nothing was reported on the news, I have to think the former, not the latter, is true. 

Discount Tire

The Saturn Vue has a tire pressure sensor warning light, and mine went off this past week.  I thought it might be a response to the cold temperatures that moved in this past week, so I did not immediately get it checked out. But, I eventually went to Discount Tire, which is where I do my tire business.  They checked my tires, and the technician said I had one tire that was very low, and I should ask for a flat tire repair, which is free.  It was 5:15 PM on Friday, and they close at 6 PM, and the technician told me they had a two hour backlog.   I had hoped to get my grocery shopping done that night, so I decided to return to Discount Tire the next morning.  The technician suggested that I be in the parking lot by 7:50 AM, as they take the parking lot customers first when they open at 8 AM. I over slept, so did not get to Discount Tire until sometime after 9 AM.  The attendant who took care of my service need was very apologetic about the wait time, but saw I had a book, and I said I did not care how long I waited. It turns out he, his wife and his sons, who are in the military, are all readers.  I told him to thank his sons for their service, and said I did not care how long I waited, I had a good book.  I also told him I had had the tire checked the night before, and decided not to wait for service. He said he left at 7 PM, and the technicians were still working.

I waited less than an hour and a half. although the attendant said it could be two hours or more. I have to think the attendant was instrumental in advancing my service ticket.  He did not say it, and I did not ask, but it makes sense to me.

This is the second time I have had a tire from Discount Tire with a piece of metal in the side wall, and beyond repair, so replacement was less than $25 dollars.  I am amazed and delighted at the service.

I am not sure how they stay in business, but I am a customer for life, based on this kind of service. I also like the free air check service they offer.  I can do my own, but I will gladly wait some 40 minutes, as I did Friday night, to have it done.  It is easier on my knees and back. 

Overnight Freeze

Sunday overnight we experienced our first freeze of the season. It came early this year, and barely happened, but happen it did!  It continue to be cold, but not as cold today.  But raw and gray.

Cold Rain

Monday, it was grey all day.  Early evening, we had some light to middling rain in Lubbock. It has been cold.  The grey overcast, cold and intermittent rain has continued today.  And may continue tomorrow.  

Good cover up and snuggle weather. 

Cooking with cast iron

I like cooking with cast iron.  I have a couple of frying pans, a small covered pot and a 2 quart Dutch oven that are cast iron.  I made vegetarian chili in the Dutch oven this past weekend and realized that I needed to re-season the Dutch oven.  That is not difficult, just putting lard or oil on the cast iron utensil, and cooking it in the oven for a while.  Tonight was a really good night to do that:  it is cold outside, and rainy , so even the inside of the house was a little raw.  Warming the kitchen was not a bad thing.

The unexpected benefit of this is that a pool of oil has collected at the bottom of my oven.  When it cooled enough, but had not totally solidified, I was able to clean the oven, even if it was late tonight.  I do not mind.  It is a chore I have often put off, but it needed to be done.  

So, after I took the Dutch oven and cover out of the oven, I used some disposable cloth to sop up the oil on the oven floor.   It did not clean the sides, or top of the oven and I still need to clean the oven thoroughly at some point but this was a good thing to do. 

Vegetarian Chili

Cold weather has been moving in, and chili is comfort food for cold weather.  I made a batch of vegetarian chili tonight.  The recipe changes, depending upon what I have available or what I have planned.  Sometimes vegetarian chili is loaded with light vegetables, like mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, yellow squash or zucchini.  Not today.   I used onions, garlic, green pepper, red pepper, jalapeño pepper, black beans, dark red kidney beans, garbanzo beans, and chili powder, cumin, cocoa, and ground black pepper. 

This is a heavier chili, but a much more stout food for stout weather. 

A Change in Weather

So, this morning, the sun rose and there were scattered clouds in the sky, and it was a beautiful morning. But the forecast was for a cold front to move in, and by mid-morning, the gray cloud cover moved in, and there was some drizzle.  I put the Styrofoam covers on the outside hose bibs, since there is a prediction of freezing weather tonight.  I have the heater on in the house, and we are snug and warm, and I am supplementing my comfort with a space heater. 

I checked  just recently, and the outside temperature was 38°.  It will be interesting to know if we have an overnight freeze. 

Football Polygamy?

My niece coined a term, "baseball polygamy" because throughout the course of her life, she as collected baseball teams that she likes, roots for, follows, or otherwise supports.  I think that is perfectly acceptable, and I have long been a fan of the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees which is generally unheard of, but is what it is.  I also now follow the Arizona Diamondback, and because they are in the playoffs, the Houston Astros. 

So when it comes to football, I am generally a New England Patriots fan, although I like the New York Giants New York Giants, too.  However, this year, a former Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback, Patrick Mahomes is the starting quarterback for The Kansas City Chiefs and like many people in Texas Tech Raiderland, I have been following his performance and record. It is amazing. It is exciting. It is wild. So, that gives me another NFL team to follow. And, tonight, the New England Patriots are playing the Kansas City Chiefs.  We shall see how this resolves, and New England won.

But now, I am guilty of football polygamy.

Conflicting Games

The MLB, due to the requirements of records, home field advantage, and opposition teams had to schedule the Houston Astros vs. the Boston Red Sox on October 14, 2018, a Sunday, at Fenway Park in Boston.  Due to television scheduling, it was a Sunday evening game. 

The NFL had the Kansas City Chief playing the New England Patriots in Foxborough the same day, the same night.  

Can New England sustain fan support for two major league events occurring at the same time on the same day. Sure it can, and it has in the past and will in the future.

It is a little frustrating for fans of both sports, because we want to follow both games.  Tonight was no exception for me.  So, I watched the Red Sox game, until its successful end, and flipped back and forth to the Patriots game, until the baseball game was done. That allowed me to watch the Patriots game to its end, which they won.

Blogging Topics

Sometimes, I think of an item or topic I want to blog about, but do not have the time, or mental energy or mental clarity to blog at that time.  I have taken to writing a topic title or descriptor and maybe even a few lines, and come back to it later.  If I can remember what I wanted to blog about, I finish the blog.  If not, I delete it, on the assumption that it was not that important anyway. 

Reorganizing My Recyclables

I bag the small plastic items I recycle, and separate them at the recycling center by category.  I bag the aluminum cans and separately bag tin cans. I put computer paper in a box to take to the recycling area, but shred a lot of paper items, and as far as I know on one it town accepts shredded computer paper. But, I also recycle larger items. Milk jugs, half gallon juice bottles, other plastic containers, and occasionally large tin containers.  I used to hang the small plastic bags on hooks in my garage, and just pile the larger items on crates on the side of my garage.  Until I had a problem last summer, and destroyed the crate, broke a plastic bottle of motor oil within the crate, and had to clean the area, get new crates, and reorganize the area.  I decided to buy a couple of inexpensive laundry bags, and put the larger, mostly plastic items in the bags, and hang them from hooks or nails on the garage wall. This has created a much neater space where I keep most of my recyclables.  I have another area in the garage where I keep glass and cardboard. I do not let those items collect too much, as that area gets to disorganized if I do. 

Sometimes I take items to recycle as often as once a week.  Usually it is every 2-3 weeks before I recycle, and it can be as long as a month.  It just depend upon what collects, and how much collects. 

Recycling in Lubbock

Years ago, Lubbock had a very progressive recycling program, called the "Blue Bag" program.  You could buy blue plastic bags, and the local stores used blue plastic  bags for merchandise.  On certain days, you could hang or place your blue bags on or near the dumpster.  You could mix certain items:  plastic, tin, aluminum and glass.  But computer paper needed to be separate, as did newspapers.  This was a very progressive program, but very few people in Lubbock used it, and finally, the city had to abandon the program.  So, they developed recycling centers where we can bring things to be recycled: computer paper, newspaper, tin cans, aluminum cans, type 1 and 2 plastic.   Other centers also take cardboard and various large items like furniture and appliances, and motor oil. So this means collecting things, and making deliveries.  Lubbock City Recycling

I recycle at the center at 30th and Elgin, not far from my house.  A few years ago, the city's glass crushing machine broke and was "too expensive" to replace, so the city stopped taking glass.

Texas Tech also has a recycling center Recycling, Go Green Texas Tech, which also takes glass, cardboard and packing foam. It is just down the street from the city recycle center I use.  So glass and cardboard go to Texas Tech.

There are also various commercial recycling businesses in Lubbock:  Effortless Recycling will do curbside residential pick up for example.  Recycling 123  also does curbside pick up. Commercial Metals Company  offers more commercial metals recycling. Jarvis Metals 
does metal recycling, and is commercial but also available for individuals, and accepts appliances, aluminum cans and all kinds of fixtures that are metal.

There are also multiple battery recycling centers in Lubbock. Mostly they recycle car batteries and rechargeable batteries.  Dry cells are not recycled in Lubbock. There are companies that do commercial shredding.  And many commercial outlets recycle things like printer cartridges, and compact fluorescent light bulbs.  

But all of this recycling requires the consumer to be very involved in the recycling, and not just filling a container and placing it curbside.  At least, if someone is Lubbock is concerned about recycling, there are opportunities. That's the good news. 

Lubbock is a Boring Place

Those of us who live in Lubbock hear over and over again that Lubbock it a boring place.  But really, it is not, and there is so much to do in Lubbock, it is amazing. There are multiple sights online that give us lists of events in Lubbock:  Lubbock Events Calendar; Lubbock Online Calendar, Latino Lubbock, Lubbock Chamber of Commerce, Lubbock Cultural District to name a few.  

It is amazing to me what social, cultural, educational, and entertainment events are available in Lubbock. 

Lubbock is not a boring place!

A Grey, Raw, Damp Day

Today was unexpectedly a grey, raw, damp day.  I did not expect that today.  I thought it was going to be sunnier and warmer, but knew there was a possibility of inclement weather.  I wore my winter coat to work, and out tonight when I went to dinner and book club.  

When I arrived home from work tonight, the house was at 68°.  A little cool.  I turned on the furnace, which came on immediately, and seemed to be working appropriately, when I left to go out about 50 minutes later.  It still seems to be working okay.  

I have used space heater in the computer room, also.  

A New Place to Eat Out

I went out to eat tonight with my book club. We went to a place I have not been before: The Red Zone Café.  I really liked this place.  It had an old time home cooking feel.  The menu was varied, including breakfast all day.  The prices were amazingly reasonable.  They accommodate groups, and even have a private room for a group. We did not get the room tonight, but we had a table set aside that accommodated our group.

I have been looking for a "down home place" that was not all fried food, and with reasonable prices. There are a couple of places I go that have all you can eat buffets, which I enjoy, but I like to have someone wait on me and not have to go through the buffet.   I have not looked much on my own, and there maybe other places out there, but I think this place is it. 

One of our group told me he gets breakfast all day long.  And, he said that on Texas Tech game day, the lines are very long.  So, that gives me some information about how to manage my patronage of this place.    

I Hate Microsoft Updates

I hate Microsoft updates.  Sometimes, as happened tonight, the updates kidnap my computer and do not allow it to run at my command, and prevent me from doing what I want to do with my computer.  Tonight, it took more than 30 minutes for the updates to finish running and my computer was available to me again.

I also hate it when Microsoft sends out updates that reconfigure my computer: makes my home page look different, tries to change my sign on, adds layers of protection I don't ask for, and changes the way I access things like the Internet.  I did not want to change from Microsoft Explorer to Microsoft Edge, but Microsoft did that for me without asking me or giving me any opportunity to opt out.  I suspect Microsoft no longer supports Explorer, and that is just pure wrong.  If they put out a product, they need to support in perpetuity. Sorry. That is the expectation. Why do these computer companies get away with not supporting programs they advance, and force us to use new one?  We pay good money to use the programs the offer us, and that good money should ensure us we can use those programs as long as we want to.  I think the computer companies are thieves. 

Tonight

It was a cool morning today, cool enough that I broke out my winter jacket.  When the weather gets into the low 40s, it is time for the winter jacket.  It was grey until the afternoon, when the sun came out and it was bright and sunny.  The evening has cooled down, as it was last night.  

I used the heater in the computer room tonight, again.  Haiku spent some time with me in the computer room.  I have still decided not to turn on the furnace.  

I think we will be just fine over night, and it will be moderate enough tomorrow so I do not need the furnace. We shall see. 

Cooler Weather

We are experiencing wet and cooler weather tonight.  The outside temperature is in the mid 50s, and the inside temperature in the low 70s.  I put an afghan on the bed as an extra cover, but I have debated about turning on the heater.  So far, I have not.  I may regret it in the morning, but it does not take long for my heater to warm up the house once it is on.

I always try to be home the first time I use the heater, just to be sure everything works okay.

I had thought about using a space heater in the computer room where I am sitting, but decided not to do so until late in the evening. I just put a flannel robe on over my clothes.  I have a pole lamp as my desk lamp, and there are three lights on it.  I have two CFL light bulbs in the lamp, and one incandescent light bulb in the lamp, which throws a little more heat. That has helped a little, but not much. 

Haiku does not like the cold, and she has been in and out of the computer room all night, complaining.  She likes the cat carriers in the closet, where some of the clothes cover the air slots, and her body heat is held in. She spent some time there tonight.  But she came back to the computer room, complaining, so I did turn on the space heater, and I have to admit, it feels good. But Haiku disappeared anyway.

Well, Taki and I will continue to enjoy the warm air in the computer room, and maybe Haiku will return.  It will soon be bed time, anyway.

Wet Weather

So, I have already been commenting about the weird weather we have been experiencing in Lubbock. It continues.  Today, there were some scattered showers, and it would be raining in one place in town, and you could be feeling the rain, but seeing the bright sunshine and white clouds in another part of town.

This morning, the weather caster I was listening to said she swore someone was holding an umbrella over the rain gage, because it had rained hard, but there was no rain in the rain gage.  I no longer have a rain gage, but I heard the heavy rain, but the few places in my backyard where the rain collects were minimally wet!  

One of the effects of this weird weather is in communications.  I have long said at work that if it rains, or the wind is high, our phone and computer communications are affected.  Now, years later, there are many other people at work who agree with that, or advance that as their own observation.

Usually, my home is not affected anymore.  Years ago, when I used the land line phone, when the weather was wet, I could hear "shadow conversations" when I used my phone.  When I complained to the phone company, they insisted there was nothing wrong with the lines outside of my house, so they would have to come in and rewire my house at great expenses.   Since I could not make out the actual words of these "shadow conversations" I chose not be held hostage by the phone company and let them charge me for what I knew to be their problem.

Sometimes, though, I have observed that when the weather is wet or windy, my network connection is inconsistent.  As I was playing Words with Friends tonight, sometimes when I tried to play a word, I would receive a message that my network connection was not working.  Usually, although not always, when I hit "play" again, the word went through.  That happens when the weather is wet or windy, it just is what It is. 

Weird Weather

I have already commented on the stormy weather that was predicted for this area, and which we have been experiencing.  Today/'s weather was really weird.  It was in the mid 60s most of the morning and early afternoon.  It was cloudy, dark, and gray. I ran errands early afternoon, and did not realize how cold the wind was.  I was filling up the car with gas, and wishing I had worn a light jacket, although I had  on a thermal shirt and another over shirt.

So, I did my weekly shopping. Which takes about 45 minutes.  As it did today.  When I left the store, the weather had changed drastically: the clouds were gone, it was sunny, and about 20° warmer.  Wow!  That was amazing.

About 2 hours later,  the clouds returned, the temperature dropped about 20° and the wind picked up again.  There was some light drizzle in the air, but nothing significant.  I have not seen any lightning tonight, nor heard any thunder, and so far, there has been no rain. 

Power Outage

I awoke to the alarm clock at 6:15 this morning, shut it off, with the intent to sleep in, at least until about 7:30, but was not concerned if I slept in later.  Well, I did.  I slept in until after 9 AM and woke to a power outage.  Fortunately, my smartphone was charged, and I could check the Lubbock Power and Light website. I was in an area of a power outage.  Evidently, last night due to the high winds, there were multiple power outages, mostly due to down trees, but also other reasons.  I was not affected then, in fact I watched TV until after 11:30, then read for a few minutes before I went to bed.

Then, this morning, there were another series of power outages, between 8 and 9 AM, and my area of town was affected.  I am not sure when the outage occurred, but  power was not restored until about 2 hours after I woke.  

I was not too concerned. I raised the blinds in the living room, which gave me adequate light, and I started my day reading, instead of getting ready to meet the world and going out to run errands.  I did that, but much later in the day . 

Achy Joints

I have had achy joints most of the past week, and was not surprised because we were forecast to have a weather change late in the week. Well, the predicted inclement weather moved in and we had rain last night, some thunder and lightning. My joints are good predictors of bad weather. 

Murphyy Brown

Do you remember Murphy Brown with Candice Bergen on CBS?  Wonderful sit com with timely current events topics.  Well,  I missed the season opener of Murphy Brown on CBS last week, but watched it on demand tonight, and then watched the second installment tonight.  Wow!  I cannot believe what CBS did regarding the role and stance of press coverage.  And, of course, having Hillary Clinton do a cameo on the opening show! And the Twitter storm. My gosh!  This was great. And then having Sarah Huckabee Sanders on the second show.  Outstanding!

Kudos to CBS.