Hi OldFixer
Winter is here with a vengeance as well. The past few years we haven't had as much snow as normal, so we've got the winter we should have. The Polar Arctic air is very cold though.
It's been very cold all week (-15C temps during the day) and to continue all next week again.

Yesterday we had blowing snow and several major roads and highways around us were closed and people were warned to stay home. Accidents throughout the area because of the visibility and ice.

I don't pine for beaches, cruises or anything like that. I was on a cruise once and didn't like it at all, not my thing. Nor is going to a tropical all-inclusive resort. Although the rain forest in Costa Rica has appeal for me. One of my best holidays was when we drove to Louisiana and did side trips along the way, stayed a few days in Savannah Georgia and I saw the plantation homes etc.

We live in an apartment, and I love helping the landlord shovel. I'll do it when he's not here and he's always appreciative. I love winter, and we've had the perfect winter, cold and lots of sun.

I'm just wondering what to make today, I like baking and making good meals on the weekends. I made 2 loaves of bread and an apple pie yesterday.

Enjoy your day OF!!

Hello, my name is Sylvia and I am a native Texan.

I have shoveled snow.
here.
off the driveway.
once.

It was enough.

I've been on one cruise, & it too was enough.

The ship was nice, the crew was nice, the food was...okay (& I'm not a picky eater at all), but as you both said, the general experience was boring.

The food was all high-calorie, high-fat, served in huge servings, & I think it must have been deliberate, to make people think they're eating luxuriously.

If I could twitch my nose like Samantha the witch & zap myself somewhere other than today's cold reality, I think I'd go just south enough to stroll through a botanic garden, one with lots of roses.

(Did I just zap myself to Houston or to Australia??? No matter, I'd be happy either place.)

I was sad to move a few months back. Southern Texas is a nice place to be this time of year. I'm certainly enjoying the nicer weather. We've had a lot of 50-high 70's temperatures. We've had a couple of what they consider bad days here this winter, but they were nothing compared to other places I've lived.

I don't blame you on the cruise. They don't appeal to me either. I may end up on one with some old friends at some point. I will enjoy their company.

Have you thought about just having a good old fashioned road trip down south (not necessarily the South)? I'm thinking places like Phoenix or Tombstone, Arizona, some of the national parks like Carlsbad, Caverns or Big Bend, Texas. I was in San Antonio, Texas right before Christmas and enjoyed it there. I'd pick a route from Point A to Point B and find some local favorite restaurants like they do on the travel channel. Drive to see what you can see enjoy the food.

I ended up riding with a good friend, 36 miles. We had more "windshield time" than we both like, but were so tired of riding the same area all the time. If you feel so inclined, google Quentin Oklahoma, to Robber Cave State Park. :)

Of course, I took a bunch of pictures, and like always uploaded them.

Now today, after finally cleaning up some of the big and bigger getting mess I have been making here at home, we ride again, this time the same ole, same ole... but with several friends :) we start at 1:00 PM, which should be shorts and T-shirts temps by then.

Yes, I am fortunate to live where this kind of temp can happen between Thanksgiving and Spring Break. But it can also be bitterly cold, which is when I whine. LOL

Moni

Here is a link that might be useful: Moni's Saturday bike ride pictures

I live in the Atlanta Georgia area. We usually don't get snow but we do get ice sometimes and the cold weather. It was really cold this week. Below zero wind chills. So I stay inside as much as I can, and only venture out when I have too. I have been on dialysis and had my last treatment on Friday. I start tomorrow my training for peritoneal Or PD as it is called,it is done at home and at night usually. I will be freer to travel if I wish. Hopefully will feel better too. No more of the blood pressure dropping or cramping I am told. Takes me almost a whole day to feel better. So time will tell. I am excited to be doing this. I hope your medical condition improves for you. Nothing like feeling sick and not knowing what it is. We grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio so I remember those shoveling days. When I went to school it was always open I only remember one day it was closed. We walked to school. Here in Georgia my grand children are always hoping for a school closing. I tell them to toughen up. lol
Mary

'When I went to school it was always open I only remember one day it was closed. We walked to school. Here in Georgia my grand children are always hoping for a school closing.'

I saw a cartoon about Texas on facebook or somewhere;
it showed someone dumping the ice out of a large drink onto the sidewalk, & the next panel showed a hysterical school superintendant screaming "Ice! Danger! Close the schools!"

That's us!

I love trivial yapping.

OMG, my parents go on one or two cruises every year! They say it's a small city with SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much to do, you don't have time to be bored. They usually rent the smallest least expensive cabin because they're only in there long enough to sleep and shower. Otherwise, they don't use their cabin. Most sailing is done at night anyways, when you're sleeping. During the day you're in port and you get off the ship and sightsee where ever you are. My dream in one cruise. All I need is one. :) They've cruised many different routes in the Carribean, through the Panama Canal, from Hawaii back to Vancouver a few times (okay, so for a few days you don't stop because there's nowhere to stop, but there's too much to do to notice), up to Alaska and back twice, even went on a cruise in China! That was amazing. I have 8 hours of video tape of that one. LOL

I do hope you're feeling well soon. Didn't read whats going on with you. :(

Lazy day here so far, but I'm only on my first coffee which tells you I've only been awake about a half hour. Yeah, this is a very bad habit: computer first. Housework can wait. LOL

SylviaTexas, that cartoon just about describes the scene. The hysteria concerning the ice storm was hilarious. It was taking over the weather channel. I think the school district sent out something like eight emails with detailed instructions, dh's work sent them home early. I got out of bed in the morning to look for ice and didn't see it on the roads or sidewalk. Dh pointed out that there was some on the back of the patio chairs. This was a non-event anywhere else. We had a good laugh.

One of my favorite winter memories is of a freezing canoe trip that ended at a little restaurant where we were able to guzzle hot soup.

What a stunning day it was! I don't remember the name of the little river but it was just beautiful, though we had to do some portaging. Snow and ice everywhere, it was magical.

This occured during the two or three years I lived in Michigan.

Another fun memory is from just a few years ago, when Huntsville, Alabama woke up to many inches of snow (8 to 10) on Christmas! What was so much fun was how everyone embraced the event with thousands of snow sculptures, big and small. Snow men and women, snow kids, snow cats and dogs. Snow men sitting in real lawn chairs, shapely snow gals lounging on a beach towel, you get the idea. The creativity was incredible. The snow hung around for several days and was even added to. Quite an event for an area with no snow plows, snow shovels, or other paraphernalia.

I've been getting so little done in this frigid weather--and it's not as bad here in northeast PA as it is in some areas. I gravitate to my desk because it's near the woodstove and because I have a heated rubber mat on the floor underneath my feet. Even the disposable foot warmers I wear all winter are no match for these temperatures.

The back of the house, which includes the kitchen and dining areas, and my sewing machine, is just too cold for comfort. So I don't spend much time there these days. My hands are so painful from Raynaud's that even rug hooking hurts. I feel like all my energy is taken up with trying (sometimes unsuccessfully) to stay warm.

At least I'm getting some writing done at my computer, and some things listed on eBay and Amazon. And enjoying some conversation at the KT.

I just printed a few 5x7 pics using Red River's 80-lb. Polar Metallic paper for the first time. I got it on sale, and I'm glad I did. The prints are beautiful.

Slept late. Must have needed it.

No church :o(

Gotta do some serious ironing a packing, as I cruise this coming Saturday for 8 days.

Will be at sea this time next week. Looking for bright sunshine and fun with 41 others in the group I'm traveling with.

Will go to Waffle House for my lunch which will be plain grits, scrambled cheese eggs, raisin bread toast with apple butter, then to the gym to work it off.

More packing and getting all the essentials together, later in the day..

Last day of hunting season, for son and grandson. Heard he's stocking his freezer with venison. Son enjoys grilling and sharing his good eats with friends and family.

He'll be headed on a ski trip to Park City, Utah, with his new lady friend, while I'll be cruising.

Finishing my daily cup of coffee. Time to get dressed and out of here.

Don't envy you all that snow. I don't miss it at all. Spent most of my life in the Northeast and had my fair share. Enjoyed it when I was younger and enjoyed watching the kids play in it, but I'd rather live with the fond memories than deal with it now. We have a smattering right now and freezing cold temps., but can get out and about if I wanted to. Busy week next weekâ¦..will be out and about every day. Thankful it's not necessary to shovel my way out. While I cannot imagine a cruise being boring, like you I'm not interested in going on one. Too many people. I don't even like it when we go away and all the chairs at poolside are occupied. LOL

Early packing? One or two days prior is OK.
A road trip would consume more than 1/2 the time available. Debating on a found deal. Wonder if I could leave Tuesday? Ha.
Sure, boats stop at port. In Cozumel & Aruba, passengers were paying 50 bucks EACH just to dash to a beach, for a few hours. No thanks. Beer is so expensive you can't enjoy it. Not a place for my body.
I can't use the correct words here to describe winter! Why has no one posted a 'fun' snowman picture??
Twitching the nose would have me next to a cold box of beer with temps at 95 and rising.

I think I enjoy winter, because our summers are humid. I hate, hate humidity, I don't like hot weather, either. Last summer we had temps in the 100's and it was awful

I keep the thermostat at a comfortable 20C or less (68F).
I like to wear a sweatshirt, don't like a place that's too warm and stuffy.

Woke way late ... no breakfast.

Landlord ploughing lane.

Scooted out to church - late: sat in front pew.

Discussion after church, with seminary student, about what should be our mission: didn't know about it, missed it ... but not the coffee. Man asked me to drive him to store - I did.

Son not home.

Friend made second coffee for me ... I'm using his computer.
Snowing ... not heavy blowing.

Not risky driving here, with regard to visibility ... but some slippery streets.

Hope to survive the day.

o j, o.K.?

Hi Sherry, I pretty much agree about winter, I love it! I don't wear sweat shirts though. If it weren't for old frosty being cold all the time our house would not be so warm. The temp in my bedroom last night was 63, no heat on, just one comforter. When I was younger I used to go out every day and walk around our land, but since I am not as sure on my feet now I don't do that. Miss it. Too bad my big rig won't go through snow, guess I need some snow tires. Having a heat wave this afternoon it is 39.5 out right now.

Sue in Central Indiana

What a fun, fun thread! Thanks for starting it OF. I haven't been up long even tho the sun is brightly shining here in Southern Or, and I need to get outside to enjoy it. I think these last few days must be our usual "false spring' visiting us earlier than usual... it was 70 deg a few days ago. That always sends a wrong message to the fruit trees and roses telling them to start growing... then comes many weeks of cold again. That "Mother Nature" and her cute sense of humor.

I have been 'downsizing' (or planing to) lately... contemplating having a table at a monthly flea market next month. Just have too much "stuff" that is getting harder to keep dusted etc. It just amazes me how many things I have collected (remember, 3 makes a collection!) thru the years. Lots of very fond memories attached to them. My new organizing plan is to photograph those 'things'... and maybe write about them in my journal and let the "things" bring a happy memory for someone else. (Yeah... do wish me luck on that huge endeavor where the head is willing but maybe the body is not!)

You should hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth on the Honolulu TV. It was 54F one night on Maui -- and 82F the next afternoon. There's loving and hating going on over the huge surf along most of the islands' north faces. We'll see narrower beaches when these events are over. How about Box Jellyfish closing beaches on Oahu?

Old Fixer, can you find a flight to the USVI's? St. Thomas is duty free -- for your cheap beer! It's hot. It's safe. No passport needed. Can you get a cab to Midway or O'Hare -- if they're flying?

I'm sitting here on the west coast in beautiful clear skies and sunshine. However, I am above the fog and I can hear the fog horns on the water blowing away so it's foggy along the water. Unusual for this time of year.

I have the New York/New Jersey outdoor hockey game on and boy is it ever snowing there!

I am one of those people who will choose rain over snow/cold any day. Good thing given where I live although we could do with some snow for the ski hills.

It was my birthday last week so we're going out for dinner tonight with our sons and their GF's. Don't know where yet but we'll find someplace local.

I went on a Caribbean cruise in November 2009 with a bunch of girlfriends. We left from Galveston and sailed straight into Hurricane Ida. The ship was definitely rocking to and fro and it was hard to walk around. A lot of people got sea sick but a couple of days later everything was back to normal, the weather was great and we had fun. The captain changed our itinerary so as to avoid the direct path of the storm.

I want to talk about making lists. Like when you are having guests, do you need to make lists or can you still remember everything that needs to be done?

I have to make lists and made one today since my sweet granddaughter and her husband will be here Wednesday and leave Sunday morning. In fact, I have three lists--one for menus, one for grocery shopping and one for what needs to be done in the house. I'm happy to say I'm ahead of schedule this time. Thank heavens I've felt really good this week. I also keep track about what I serve for meals so I can ditch them if they didn't go over very well.

I have to say that other than the bathrooms this house doesn't get/need cleaning very often. Well, the kitchen floor has to be mopped weekly. My worst place is the garage. It's a hot mess! But the whole house is getting it this week. Call it my Spring cleaning :-)

Happy belated birthday, blfenton. I know you'll have a wonderful time with your kids tonight. I'm not much on cruising or travelling at all, for that matter. But I may enjoy one with my GF's.

It is a beautiful, sunny day here in North Alabama but tomorrow it is back to winter with single digit temps for Monday and Tuesday nights. My HenryDog and I took a spin around the yard after church. To be outside without freezing to death was great. We even found 4 or 5 daffodils poking up. Right about now I would be happy to be lolling on the beach. Don't think a cruise would be my thing. I would miss all of the plants and trees and bees and butterflies and bunnies and hummingbirds which are my delight.

On Thursday my husband is scheduled for a biopsy to try to figure out what is going on with his abdominal area. We are pretty scared. Due to incompetence at the urologist's office we have waited two extra weeks to get this done--the office staff there can't seem to schedule the right procedure. In the mean time my husband is eating little and sleeping too much.
I wring my hands as I wonder if there is something else that I could be doing for him.

chisue - airports have been all open. I like the airport shuttle from here, unless its a 5am flight, then drive & park.
patti - no lists here, for menus or grocery. Buy whats on sale, cook what you got. (opps,a project list).
sweet_b - what kind of biopsy? You mentioned urologist, who's not sure where to look? I would be getting a new doctor. Make a bowl of popcorn, sit close to hubby, and tell him you're in this as a TEAM.

This "musing" thread is kinda fun!

I'd go on a cruise, my spouse would not..but I 'd rather just hang out in some place warm and tropical for a week. Even Hawaii in the rain would be okay..he'd come along then.

I love my little foggy world.. And mild winters and summers. Late Summer Early Fall is the best!

Son just called to chit chat while on the road from the hunting club, with his son. Season ends upcoming Friday, but the end for both of them.

Good season, son bagged 2, grandson bagged 1.

Great bonding time for the two.

Son has new lady, and they have a skiing trip to Park City, and I'll be cruising.

Grandson: SCHOOL

Big ole plops of raindrops off and on all night. Now raining 'normally' off and on. DH wants a short ceasefire so he can take his walk around the condo property (23 acres on a hillside). The mynahs are arguing over shelter in one preferred palm on the lawn beyond our lanai while the doves are choosing the big monkeypod farther down the hill. I won't need to 'discourage' the quail with the squirt gun this morning.

I have a load of DH's clothes in the washer being de-chocolate-ed. Chocolate chip cookies "melt in your hand" here...fast. We have cookies at teatime matinee. We are dividing "The Company You Keep" into two afternoons.

Gosh this movie reminds us we are part of 'history' along with the Weathermen. DH was an Andy Frain usher at the Dem. convention -- an arm's length from Da Mayor as he urged the cops to beat war protesters in Grant Park. Young people today don't have the same intimate involvement in our nation's wars that we all had during the Draft. Mercenary armies are not good for nations, IMO.

Oops! Sorry for the 'serious stuff'.

Yes, Patti, I need to make lists. I am not an easy hostess. Don't know whether that's because I seldom entertain or the reason. Have a good visit!

Grandma..........
"I hope your medical condition improves for you. Nothing like feeling sick and not knowing what it is."

We know what it is, and that's the problem.

OldFixer, how are you doing, feeling? I think of you often and know that I'm not the only person here that does.