Merry Christmas- I'm Christian, so that's what I say...

well...MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
a week to go, and i am not even ready. oh, there are presents purchased. i even had a nightmare last night about wrapping them and not putting any names on... not that there are that many that it would be a problem, but still....

this season, i am praying for homeless folks, folks without jobs, kids going into the service of their country, and so many who are ill, it makes me want to cry.

but for today, while michael and meghan run around like maniacs getting ready for a football game, i will be hauling up Christmas stuff. hopefully the tree will be up and at least have the lights on when they get home.

and for now, i need to go sweep and wash some floors. ho ho ho. that's what's next for today.

wow, longer than i expected to be away

july 10th- that seems like a lifetime ago. it's been busy and hectic, and i have not been up for blogging. i mean, i sort of feel like i want to talk about everything, and then some days, nothing.

there have been births, deaths, accidents, surgeries, heatwaves, the first of the "fall" colors showing, and time just marching on.

sometimes, things from a the past, not ever really forgotten, have a way of raising you up, and sometimes, smacking you down, when you least expect it. sometimes these things can be wonderful. long lost friends and family whom we are thrilled to be in contact with. other times, just jerks who poison the very air we all breathe. and yet, in spite of these jerks, it is necessary to move on, or keep moving. thank goodness i have an active sub conscious. i am not very imaginative, but my dreams give me a run for my money. it's a wonderful thing that, in my dreams i can molotov cocktail someone's house and have just as much satisfaction as if i really did it. or tell someone to go to hell, and then dream of them being there. yes, that works for me.

anyway, it's sunday evening, almost time to fire up the grill for supper... and for now, that's what's next,

here i am

i took the week off from here, mainly because i was working early and late to get caught up enough at work to take a long weekend now. i have monday and tuesday of next week off, and i am so SO going to enjoy it. i need to do a lot of stuff to prepare for meghan's graduation cookout next weekend, and chores are not a lot of fun, but i'll still have time off from work and not worry about that for 4 days!!!
depending on weather, i will be working in the yard, moving plants- the neighbors are putting up a new fence... and then in the house. i need to dust, wash floors, i'd like to clean out cabinets in the kitchen, but i don't think that's realistic right now, fold laundry, and put my sewing stuff in order- THAT will be fun, so i'm hoping to do that tuesday, so i end the long weekend on a good note. but we'll see. maybe tonight i'll file in profile info, and explain why i'm using "what's next" for this blog title.

hhmmm, now, what IS next?

thoughts about family

today, my thoughts kept drifting to the television program "deadliest catch." this week's episode, as will the next several, had me in tears... one of the captains, phil harris, has had a stroke. this captain, and father of two young men actually passed away in the winter, but due to the television cycle, the shows are airing now. it's a reality show, and it's about crab fishermen on the bering sea. these are tough guys, in harsh weather, doing a tough job (and yeah sometimes getting the great bucks), but they are so down to earth, they have captured my heart and imagination, especially phil, i think because he works with his sons. other boats work with brothers, cousins, husbands and wives, but the interaction of phil, josh and jake just touches me. he was a man who loved his life and loved his sons. i'm sure they know that, but what i hope they realize someday is how much so many of their fans loved sharing their time together.

what's gonna be next??? friday and a LONG weekend!!! weeding, spraying and quilting!

nada today

tough day today... tired and not too bloggy-ish. playing around with this set up and layout was about the most i could do.... maybe tomorrow... we'll see

what's next?

commuting? oh yeaaah... SO convenient. NOT

Jacqueline Steiner and Bess Lomax Hawes wrote the lyrics to a song in 1949 that easily describes my feelings about commuting to work every day. It was written as a protest against fare increases, and is almost as timely today (except for the actual costs) as it was then, Let's say I'm just glad I ever got home today. I love when the commuter rail is on time. Who doesn't? But the 6:25 train to Lowell should just be relabeled to the 6:40... it's late a LOT. Today, it wasn't but the engine broke down before we barely got past the train yard, and then we sat. For 20 ninutes. We sat a little more, then started moving. Backwards. To North Station. Engine was finito.
I love leaving work, catching a train and then getting home at about 8 p.m.
Back to the song. The Kingston Trio made it a hit in 1959 with some changes... it's still a catchy tune

"Let me tell you a story of a Man named Charlie...." I have it downloaded to my iPod. Maybe I'll play it again tomorrow.

what's next???

yikes

what have i done, what did i do... we'll have to see... what's next