All posts by Dona

Holiday Panic

Events, ,

Holiday panic is here.

I didn’t think I’d get it this year. Things were fine.

Until today. I just panicked. I don’t know if I’m exchanging gifts with the in-laws this year. I’ve still got to mail some things. I’ve not begun shopping for my daughter. I still need to order my husband’s gifts. We’re hosting Dean’s holiday party on the 20th and I’m hosting a neighborhood coffee on Friday. I need to schedule an eye doctor appt before we leave and then there are meets and tournaments. I’ve got a lot of work for work-work to do as well.

We’re flying back “home” this year for a very short visit and I’m afraid to look at the calendar to see how long it is until we leave.

It will all work out, but damn. I wish I could enjoy the “Happiest time of the year”.

Yesterday

Life, ,

Yesterday was a busy day — but most Saturdays in December tend to be that way.

It was the first wrestling meet this season for my son’s wrestling team. It was a “tri-meet” and we beat both teams — yay.

We had our first snow of the season — only a light dusting, but it looked pretty coming down and was a pleasant surprise to see when we left the high school gymnasium at 5:00.

Last night was my company holiday party. I work from home, part time, for a consulitng company and consider the party one of my “benefits”. Free food & alcohol for an evening. Plus dancing and fake gambling if you’re into that. Actually I don’t like to go that much. I don’t know anyone there — this year I recognized a couple people from my days of working in the office (for a company that was bought by the one for which I work now), but Dean really wanted to go.

Last year we had a good time — sitting with folks who also worked at home or in other states. This year we sat with people who work in the office. They all seemed to know each other and were very young. When did consulting companies allow 12 year olds to work for them?

Marcia’s funeral was yesterday. I spent much of the day thinking about that — that it still seems impossible.

Finally a Junco pays a visit

Birds

I used to get a lot of dark-eyed juncos at my feeders, then one year they stopped coming, or at least it seemed that way — but if they were there, I didn’t see them.

I set up the birdcam again — for how long? Who knows. Until my laptop is moved to a different room perhaps — but yesterday I had it going and a junco stopped by for a bit of seed.

I’ve got a brick of birdseed (supposedly for woodpeckers, but I’ve only had one woodpecker eating from it so far) set up on the air conditioner unit that is attached to the wall in my attic office. I’ve got a camera attached to my laptop and pointing out the window at the seed.

Yesterday I had the following visit the feeder:

  • Northern Cardinal
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker
  • White-breasted nuthatch
  • Carolina Chickadee
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • Carolina Wren
  • Dark-eyed junco

Here’s the woodpecker I mentioned