Kmart closing Martinsburg WV January 2018

We knew that this would eventually happen.  We saw it long before the corporate offices I bet.  This Kmart was straight out of the 80's with no upgrades.  I don't really have any special memories here either.  Ashton and I did go there to look at toys and such back in the day.  It was never a nice store.  The one good thing about it was it was never crowded so if you didn't feel like dealing with Walmart you could go here.  We went about a week before it shut down completely.  We didn't buy anything.  I think the only one left around here is the one in Hagerstown.

I won't miss it.

Until Next Time. 

Christmas 2017

Although Christmas will never be the same without Billy and Muzzy, we had a nice Christmas this year.  Here's the proof.

We put up our tree only a couple weeks before Christmas.  We have a simple 6 ft. tree that we bought at Target last year for like $15 because ours was musty as heck!  We didn't want the mess or expense of a real one so fake it is.

Ashton put his gingerbread man right above a light so that the light looks like a man part.  :)

We are such a classy family.

We went to Mom's house one evening, Aunt Carols one evening and then Denny's house one evening.  Busy but simple and fun.  Ashton let everyone know this year that he's not a little boy any more and doesn't participate in gag gifts any longer.  

We put more focus on the people and get togethers than we did the gifts.  It was simple and I really enjoyed it.  My family still thinks I'm weird, but I'm ok with that because I am weird.

Until Next Time.

Appreciating Life Every Day

I recently found out that a person I worked with for quite a few years is in jail.  She will likely be spending at least a year there, but I'm not sure.  I heard about it on the news and when I saw her mugshot there on my tv screen a panic went through me.  I had to tell myself - "it's not happening to me, it's not happening to me."

I've been thinking about her a lot this past week since I found out.  At first I was just so shocked that she could've gotten herself mixed up in the situation she's in.  We were pretty good friends back in the day.  We've also had falling outs during that time too.  Most recently we were friends on facebook and that was it.  I haven't seen or talked to her in about 5 years.  The last time I saw her was at a local buffet.  She was sitting with her mom eating when we walked in.  I talked to her for a couple minutes, average small talk- hey how are you?  how's your daughter?  I knew from just that short chat that she was the same girl I knew from back in the day.  I never have had anything against her, I just knew that she wasn't someone I wanted to spend time with.  I had actually wished her a happy birthday on facebook through a private message- she thanked me and said we should do lunch- I replied sure and asked when she was free.  I never got a response, so I assumed the feeling was mutual.

I'm finally coming out of obsession about the situation, (thanks anxiety and ocd) and being able to separate myself from it and not think that I'm going to jail to for some crazy reason.

I just think about all the little things that I get to do now that I'm sure she wishes she could do.

Make tea in the morning, drive a car, stay in bed, not worrying about someone beating you up, snuggling the people you love.

This morning when I was meditating I heard the birds sing since it's an unusually warm day today.  I thought to myself- "Can she even hear birds sing?"

Anyway, I feel really bad for her and I hope she gets her stuff straight.  I also want to thank her for creating an even deeper appreciation of my life.  I knew that I appreciated my life before but now it's the tiniest of things that I really soak up.  Laying in my soft bed with warm blankets.  Quiet.  Yummy food.  Stepping outside whenever I want.  Picking out my clothes, Privacy.

I have an amazing life.  I am so fortunate to be enjoying my life right now.  There's been hard times that I didn't think I'd make it through, but I'm here. It's amazing.

Simply breathing and enjoying the sunshine is amazing.

Until Next Time.

A cold icy morning, routines broken and alone time.

I'm here at work now.  I opened the shop at noon instead of 10am because we had some icy weather last night and this morning.  Starting at about 4am, my sleep was interrupted first by the trash trucks.  I guess they were trying to stay ahead of the freeze.  At 4:40 am I received a text from the school saying schools were closed today.  Knowing this fact put my mind, mood and body into "snow day mode"-- when you want to sleep a little longer in hopes that you won't need to get up and out of the house any time soon.  At 5:20 my alarm went off and I happily turned it off and settled back into a comfy warm spot sleep coming easily.  At 5:35 my son asked me if school was on time where I told him no, it's canceled.  He said Sweet, I'm going back to bed.  I told myself I'd get up a bit after 6 so I would have plenty of time to do my chores and self care time- then I fell into a deep wonderful slumber where I always have vivid weird dreams that I can easily remember.  At 6:48 I woke.  I knew that we probably wouldn't be going to work on time so I laid in bed in and out of rest until 7am.

My feet finally hit the floor at 7:05- Momma kitty was loudly letting me know it was way past her breakfast time.  I managed to get them fed and litter boxes changed before making some oatmeal.  I kinda sat for a quiet 2-3 minutes meditation but it wasn't what I needed.  Eric got up early.

Once he was up it was a back and forth as to whether we should go into work.  It was pretty icey.  I had actually said ok, I call it.  I'm not going.  He had said earlier that we shouldn't go, but me being the one that doesn't want to lose a days worth of income said he could stay home and I would go.

I'm ok with having another day alone.  I need it sometimes.  So at 10 after 11am I headed out.  I was a bit nervous but it really was fine once I made it past a couple little slick spots in the neighborhood.

Annnnnd, here I am.  2:25pm-- I've been open now for over 2 hours, gotten all the financials and chores done--- and,

not a single person has come in yet.

I'm bummed but not surprised because on days like today, most everyone just wants to get to work and get home.  They really don't have the time or energy to think about their hobbies.

A waste of time?

No.  Because even if I have a zero dollar day, I will have nourished my soul.  Reading, writing, chilling, enjoying some good food and awesome hot tea and enjoying some good stories.

I may even exercise a little.  Moving all my joints full range of motion to prevent tightness and build strength, but that's for another day.

Until Next Time.

A Walk In the Woods - November 2017

Towards the end of November it was still quite comfortable outside.  Most days in the high 50's or low 60's.  We even had a couple days of 70's.  On one of these days I decided I needed to find some space in my brain.  I didn't want to drive anywhere so I decided to just go into the woods near my house.

I'm amazed at how just a little bit of walking in the woods can relax me like nothing else.  The silence, the primitive-ness of the woods.  It reminds me that we, that I am just an animal of this earth.  

I stayed out for about a half hour and headed back home refreshed and ready to enjoy my evening.

Sometimes all you need is a walk in the woods.  

Until Next Time. 

Christmas Tree Lighting 2017

We went to our first town Christmas tree lighting celebration this year.  It started off nice enough even though it was 37 degrees.  I had my snow pants on so I was feeling pretty good.  The guys, however, were in much lighter clothes and even made fun of me for wearing snow pants.

They later regretted their decision of not gearing up properly.

It was a free event and I wanted to do some celebrating that was easy on our wallet.

Ashton didn't want to have anything to do with it since it was on school grounds and he has a serious.... ahem..... repulsion of anything school.  Thus why he is not in the picture.

Eric is cold but not willing to admit defeat just yet.

Well after some carols and some opening speeches AND some opening prayers the "festivities" began.  The announcer started calling out names and people went up slowly to the stage and fetched an ornament with a persons name on it.  Slowly I came to realize......

DAMN IT!  This isn't a festive event like other towns, this is a freaking memorial tree! 

While I was saddened for the families gathered there in the cold waiting for their passed loved ones name to be called I knew this is not what I expected. 

This would explain why when I tried to start a conversation with a lady about what to expect at the event she just turned away from me after telling me she had been doing this for 4 years.  

What could she really say?  "Well little lady, their going to call out a bunch of dead peoples name and when my dead persons name comes up I'm going to go get it, hang it on the tree and when we're finally finished calling over a hundred names, we'll light the tree just to experience just a little harsher how much we miss our dead person.-- that's what you can expect."

Doh!

When they were half way through the B's we slowly walked away trying not to disturb anyone. The guys were trembling with cold when we got back in the Subaru- that secretly made me giggle.   

Needless to say we won't be going back to the town tree lighting event any more.

Until Next Time. 

I'm not being mean, I'm just not interested.

Since we quit our jobs and opened our business we have met a ton of people.  With those people come all the different types of personalities.  We have met laid back people, up tight people, sweet people, weak people, overbearing.... you name it, we've experienced it.  Now that we are nearly 6 years into this endeavor we can see what personality trait you have within about 10 seconds of you coming in the door.  We can easily and quickly conform the conversation and service to fit your needs.


But sometimes, I'm not taking the bait.  I'm not going to ask you questions so that you can talk for at least 30 minutes about something I'm not that interested in.

I don't know how much time I have on this earth and I'm just not willing to give up 30 minutes or more to hear you talk.

I'm not being mean, just honest.

Until Next Time.

Another Days Gone By Feb 2018

This time on Days Gone By, I'm telling you about a piece of land that I have passed time and time again during my life.  It was a clear quiet green space full of open space with a cute little house on one end of the property.

Now the house has been re-done. It does look nice, I have to admit.  The land though is now absolutely stuffed with condos.  The clear space is now a parking lot, a pool and at least 8 towering condo buildings.  

I know that progress can not be stopped, but it's nice to have a look at what was.  So that we never forget the life that was once there.  

Also this building was torn down last summer....

I'm so glad I snapped this picture as we drove by it because they started the demolition a week later.  It now is an empty lot and seems to be a sore spot amongst the local government as to what to do with the blank space.  I also learned that a diner once sat there back in the 40's, I think when Muzzy was working at the George Washington Hotel.  

Here's to days gone by.  

Until Next Time.