New Year's Wish

I'm trucking around the house in my pjs and slippers over Christmas because I have a cold, a nasty cold. I drank gallons of tea and hot cocoa and chicken noodle soup. Blarg. The main sewer line had backed up a bit into the house so there was limited use of water until it could be rodded out on the 26th. I found something to do with myself (See post below.), but I spent some time cleaning the room where the litter boxes are. 

Still, there seemed to be this crunch, crunch when I walked around that I couldn't eradicate, no matter how many times I went over the floor with a broom. It was getting on my nerves. Hamlet is terrible about digging in the litter. It goes flying and winds up outside the box, but there wasn't a lot tracked through the house. What was making this crunch noise and the feeling, underfoot, that the floor wasn't clean. I looked at the bottom of my slippers. 

Oh. 

Well, to be honest, I have had these slippers for, gee, maybe 8+ years. I loved the hard sole. I would wear them to get the mail or take the recycling to the can. They were comfortable; oh were they comfortable. But this would explain the crunch and why things didn't feel right. It was a sad day to toss them in the garbage. 

I have a pair of Hawkeye slippers which I've had now for a couple years. They do not have the sturdy sole shown here, but a slim hard plastic. They are comfortable, but they have stretched to allow the wearing of a sock. When I get out of bed in the morning and want to wear slippers, my bare feet walk right out of them. They are great for during the day; warm and cozy; but they just don't fit anymore. I needed new slippers. 

Thank goodness for after Christmas sales. 

I give these Isotoner slippers from JC Penney 5 stars. They are incredibly comfortable. They are true to size and fit perfectly. I've worn them with and without socks, but they are my 'go to' in the morning. They have a hard sole exactly like the ones which disintegrated. There were leopard print slippers on the web site, but only in small size. I like these. 

It got me thinking about the new year. I haven't been a very good blogger. After posting in October, we got swamped with a huge inspection job and I wound up doing most of the work. After that came the write up of the reports. Add a splash of a vacation in Virginia over Thanksgiving. Stir in a heavy cold and two holidays and posting here was the last of my thoughts. Yet, I did come up with something on my Facebook feed which I'm going to share here. 

Here is my advice for starting 2017. I had to get new slippers because my 10+ year old ones with the hard sole broke. They were very comfortable and slippers are kind of a personal thing. Thanks to after Christmas sales, I got a pair of "memory foam" slippers from JC Penney for $13.00.

Folks, if you are having a really bad day, feeling like life is against you, check your shoes. Are you wearing comfortable shoes? I mean, really comfortable? If not change your shoes. Go find a pair you can live in, really live in; wear 18 hours a day. In the late spring through late fall, I'm not in shoes when I'm at home. I prefer barefoot, but these slippers are amazing. I have other shoes (Clarks) which are just as comfortable. Ya gotta move through life. You can't be standing still. Make sure you have comfortable shoes for your journey. That's my advice. 

So, amongst all the canned words which have filled your email or Facebook, trying to be inspiring while not glib or eye-rolling, this is what I give you. Wear comfortable shoes. 

Beverage:  Assam

Deb

Does this take a professional?

I need some advice here.

This is the driver's side window in the Jeep. See how the zipper has "popped"? This presents a large problem. I would like to unzip the window on these lovely fall days, but I can't get the zipper to work through the pop. I've got two places on the windows where this has happened. The other side effect is that cold air and moisture comes in.

Should I take some WD40 and spray the zipper? Would that help? Any other suggestions? As the zipper has popped in two locations, should I maybe ask my mechanic for a referral to get the zipper replaced? The wipers have to come first so I'll just tough this out, but I'd like to know if someone can suggest a decent fix that doesn't cost me an arm and a leg.

Beverage: Dr Pepper

Deb

Slightly Ironic

Over the last few days, I've found myself in the position of doling out personal advice. I've blogged about this before, just last week, in fact. I have friends, both that I can readily see and those of the computer game kind, who have come to me with problems. Generally, all they seek is an ear and, if there is one thing I can do, it's listen and listen well.

I have been the beneficiary of friends listening to my tales of woe. Of late, they seem to come fast and furious and I sometimes wonder if another tale of a pothole is one tale too many. Still, you come back to see what I'm up to and I'm eternally grateful for that. The least I can do is listen to others.

I've heard some heart-wrenching stuff of late. I have the friends who are unemployed, going on years, not months; good, honest, talented, smart people who cannot find a job. I've listened to the fears that this is their lot in life and they are, truly, scared. I've listened to friends or family of those unemployed; their fears that this trial before them will tear their family apart simply because of the stress associated with lack of income and forced togetherness.

I've listened to tales of familial distress. Some things we do to those in our family are amongst the cruelest, most hurtful things I've ever heard. I know I am hearing just one side of the story, still standing up at a Saturday evening barbecue and calling your sister a "whore" to her face in front of 15 other people is not designed to do anything but hurt and she was massively hurt. I know. The sister poured out her feelings to me two days later.

Lately, I've been hearing the stories about broken hearts. I find this rather ironic. I have long since swept up the remains of my shattered heart and moved on. The people talking to me know I'm divorced and have been for a long time. They also know that while I would love someone in my life, I haven't found that person. I hardly feel in a position to comment on someone else's love life, yet here I am, listening and then being asked to provide advice.

The tales I've heard, of dreams dashed and betrayal and lies and deceit, have caused me to reflect on my life. It's very little consolation to tell someone, "There are more fish in the sea" when they have just had their heart stomped on. "They weren't the right person for you," also isn't much consolation when you thought they were right when you were together.

I have decided to take the tact that none of the sayings anyone tosses your way when you're going through a break-up makes you feel any better. As I've learned with finances, it is what it is. I have recommended people spend time finding something each day that makes them happy. I have suggested they pick a time each day to go into the bathroom, close the door and just wallow in their grief, because it is grief. You are grieving what you thought would be a relationship. Set a timer and allow yourself that amount of time to wallow, wail, cry, carry-on. When the bell goes off, you're done for the day. Move on to something else.

I tell them, there is no harm in being alone. Alone-ness is not a scary spot to be in. In that alone-ness, you find out things about yourself you never knew. I didn't realize I was as resourceful as I am. Things aren't working out the way I had dreamed my life would, but I'm doing the best I can. Yes, it would be nice to share this journey, to come home and have someone there to chat with. But, as I tell those who have come to me seeking an ear, if the alternative is someone who will lie to your face or cheat on you behind your back, isn't alone-ness preferable?

So, my can that collects nickles is always out and, like Lucy, I just need to take my position behind the desk. I think I'm astute enough to say that you need more help than just my ear can provide. Sometimes, however, a stool in front of a friend is all you need.

That will be 5 cents, please.

Beverage: Dr Pepper

Deb