My first blog post from my iPhone ! This is going to be so cool! I really hope to write more now that I’m not dependent on my computer. Odd thoughts hit me at odd times…like this morning in the shower when I contemplated what sort of person would make the best meal for a cannibal..see what I mean? These are the sorts of things you can look forward to.
New Dean Koontz & Stephen King
I’m almost finished with the new Dean Koontz book “Your Heart Belongs to Me”. I’m very disappointed in it. Its shallow and its taking forever to get to the suspenseful part. It almost seems like he had a few good lines, some interesting descriptions and a contract to fulfill. Its not anything like his Odd Thomas books which I like for their humor and characters. This new character isn’t very interesting at all and he’s sort of shallow himself. I went to the front of the book like 3 times to double check that this was actually a new book and not just a re-release of one of his older books…its that bad. I’m bummed.
The new Stephen King book on the other hand was excellent. “Just After Sunset” is a collection of short stories and as much as I love novels and even better series, I do like this book. Its got a pretty good collection of stories in it. Some are gross, but then again its Stephen King…who else does poop stories? LOL I made the book last 3 days, which is close to forever for me. I usually read a good book in a day, I just can’t put it down, I HAVE to know! I probably should say something in depth about the stories, but I really like King’s writing, its hard for me to be critical. I like his characters, I enjoy following the plot and wondering where his brain is taking us next. I would recommend this book in a heartbeat.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving was good. My daughter and her fiance came up. I made lots of food. I did brave the Friday crowds a bit to shop. Some clothes and the new Stephen King book were my birthday presents. I made the book last 3 whole days. LOL That’s pretty good for me. I usually run through them as soon as I can.
Most of the stupid fruit trays I got up to make at the butt crack of bawn at work went to waste. I hope Xmas is better…even though I will have to work it. No luck getting that one off since my co-worker already asked for it off. That leaves me to cut fruit…poo.
More early days ahead this week. Yuck.
Go Vikings!
Aging
As I’ve noted in earlier posts, I am a year and a week away from being 40. This doesn’t really bother me. I’m not about to have a midlife crisis for this reason alone. I don’t believe in a single mid-life crisis anyway. I think we have many mini-crisis as we grow up…but that’s off topic really. I’m getting older. That’s the point. How do I know this? Besides the fact that there are more candles on my birthday cake every year? Here are the top 5 reasons:
1) Gray hair: I have these beautiful white/silver strands ALL OVER my head. They are a very nice color and I don’t mind them so much, but they tend to be wild and sproing out of whatevery hairdo I might be trying to wear. At least they are limiting themselves to the attic. The day I find one in the basement I will freak out!
2) Dark circles: Too little sleep and I get these huge racoon like circles under my eyes. When I’m tired I LOOK tired. And OLD! Yikes! I have finally discovered the purpose for make up. I never wore it when I was younger. But a little eye liner and white eye shadow does wonders. If you had asked me ten years ago if I could ever see myself wearing make up I would have laughed myself into a hernia. My new motto is “Its ok to be tired and old, but it is NOT ok to look tired and old!” I will NOT look my age. Fuck that shit man.
3) Sleep: This sort of goes with number 2. I CAN get along with less sleep than when I was younger. BUT, I end up taking naps to compensate, especially after a day at work.
4) Partying: I do not bounce back as quickly from a hard night of drinking. Hangovers are like ugly malicious trolls. Yuck! I don’t party often anymore. I can’t stay up that late and after a couple of drinks I am ready for bed. 
5) Snap, Crackle, Pop: Not rice crispies. My joints…knees in particular, but also toes, feet and hands. I’ve written about my work. My hands are two stiff, swollen and pain filled lumps when I wake up (even from a nap). My feet don’t hurt quite so much anymore. My right knee in particular has developed this interesting and possibly dangerous knack for not supporting me when I get up from a seated position. I have to use both legs to push off with. I won’t mention the various bruises. I bruise easily. I don’t even know where half of them come from.
I don’t mind for the most part this getting old stuff. How can I? Its not like there is anything I can do to stop it. I’m trying to find a graceful way to go about it though. Make up, heat wraps, watching “What Not to Wear” for clothing tips and naps. Those are my first line of defense. I don’t know if they are as good as the Steelers…but they’re what I have.
Its Friday
Well, it is for me even if technically its Thursday. I get the next two days off work. I’m so happy. I worked 6 days in a row and my hands are showing it. Besides the arthritis, they are all chapped and cracked and bleedy. I’ve got some of that gold bond lotion and it works well for the chapping, but it stings like crazy in the cracks. Ouch!! I hope to find some bag balm at the store tomorrow. Hopefully that won’t sting.
I’ve had to take all my rings off. I even had to go to a jewelry store and get one cut off. My knuckles have swollen. I think my fingers get swollen too. I can’t really tell if its swelling or just new muscle growth. I use my hands like I never have before. I cut fruit most of the day so there is the repetitive cutting action, plus they are cold and wet a lot too. When not cutting fruit I help unload the produce from the pallets and into the cold room (its got to be 34 or 36 degrees in there). I don’t need to go to the gym anymore. I get quite the workout at work every other day. I also get to work on the sales floor, stocking produce. I’m sort of short so reaching to the top back rows is a challenge for me.
I’m looking forward to at least one morning when my hands are not so stiff that I will be able to lift the coffee pot with one hand. I always wondered how much daily pain a person could live with and now I know. My pain threshold has gotten much higher. At least my feet don’t hurt so much anymore. I keep waiting for my hands to stop hurting, but I’m not sure that will happen. Its been 3 months since I started this job and the pain hasn’t lessened. Once I get my medical card I will probably break down and go see a doctor. I was sort of planning on doing that anyway since I”ve almost hit that magical year of 40. This just gives me more motivation. I guess. I’m not much for doctors.
Anywho, I don’t have any plans for my weekend. Its the spouse’s b-day on Friday so I suppose we will have to do something. Laundry, grocery shopping…dishes more than likely. All that good grown up stuff. Blech!
Books
I read, on average, a book a day. Right now I am rereading Dean Koontz’s Winter Moon. I really want to get Stephen King’s new book Just After Sunset. I didn’t even know he had a new one out. I really miss working at Hastings. I can’t keep up with all my favorite authors new books.
Quickly…
Just a quick note so I don’t completely abandon this. Much work, little play, not so many naps. One day off and then 6 on. Won’t be writing here this week I guess.
Naps: Not just for babies and old people.
I feel old saying this, but I take naps. I have to be work by 5am most mornings. I’m getting up at 3am. Going to bed at 10pm, unless I can talk my son into crashing earlier, that’s his bedtime. I get home by 1:30pm and by 4pm I am nodding off helplessly. I’ve learned to give in and just sleep but it makes me feel old. Really old. Older than dirt. 
Older than 39 that’s for sure.
I try to keep them down to an hour or so, but I’ve been so tired on occasion that I will nap for 3 hours, get up for one, help my son do homework and put him to bed, and then crawl into bed myself for another 5 hours.
This job is much more physically demanding than any other I’ve had. I had thought that after 2 months my system would have adjusted. And to a certain degree it has, I don’t nap every day, but I wonder if I will ever be able to stop. There is something that feels wrong about napping when I’m not sick. It makes me feel lazy and irresponsible. Although its not like I get much of a choice, I can either grab a blanket and get comfortable or I run the risk of falling asleep sitting up…no cricks in the neck for me thanks…
I’ve had my nap this afternoon. I think I have enough energy to watch Get Smart with my son. I’ll crash around 10, sleep until around 9:30 or 10am and hope some of those hours stick in my sleep bank. 
Why the Crazy Cat Lady?
I thought some might wonder why I call myself the “Crazy Cat Lady”. I’m not the only who calls me that by the way. You see, my husband likes to bring home strays and then sometimes they end up breeding, so we always have plenty of cats to go around. But they also all love me. Sometimes its too much love, but hey, love is love right?
Right now we have 7: 3 adults, 1 six month old and 3 babies. I need to find a home for one of the kittens but have fallen in love with the other two and hope to keep them. Luckily my husband is pretty fond of them too so I don’t think there will be a big hassle, but eventually I am sure he will ask when they are going to be old enough to give away…they were ready about a month ago…but speak no evil, hear no evil. LOL
I like cats because they are independent. If I want to leave for a weekend I can. Give them food, water and a clean litter box and they are good to go. Sure they miss me and I do usually get a friend to check on them. But they aren’t like a dog that needs constant supervision. To me dogs are like little kids and I am SO done with little kids (living with me anyway, I like them plenty when they are other people’s).
My cats love me. They follow me around the house. They sleep in my lap when I’m watching tv. And I usually have at least one with me at night. They make me happy. Usually. Sometimes when I have 3 or 4 of them in my lap it seems a bit extreme. And I do have a “grandma’s boy” who is emotionally needy and high strung…but he’s getting used to my husband…so he’s not hiding under my bed anymore and he will let other people pet him.
I won’t ever be without a cat. Just hopefully not so many that a whole neighborhood will actually call me the “Crazy Cat Lady” LOL
Polar Bear, Niblet, Bunny & Gremlin
Quick Question
How long do you have to be away from a place before you stop calling it home?
I haven’t lived in Minnesota for 13 years and when people ask where I am from guess where I say?
Yep, Minnesota. Northern (outstate) Minnesota to be exact. Southern MN is too much like the yucky parts of Washington for me…wheat fields make me shudder.
Eventually I’ll get back home. Maybe after Quinn graduates. I’ve warned him already. Once he leaves for his life’s adventure I’m off to tackle the rest of mine.
