Toto, We Aren’t in OZ Anymore

February 17, 2019 ~ JodiLea

As I write this, I look out my office window at a world that is black and white. Snow has piled up for 3 days now, and any green on the pine and cedar trees is hidden by clumps of snow and the trees themselves are dark brown to black. A photo reveals a white background, broken up by a forest of tall patio umbrellas

There is no sign of this changing anytime soon.

I did not realize how much color mattered to me – until I found myself in a colorless world. Remember in the movie? Dorothy left black & white Kansas and landed in a wildly, intimidatingly, glaring splashes of color world. I certainly do not want OZ to be my world, but a little yellow and lavender would be nice.

Every weekend this month has been snowy. We- (I say “we” but really it is my hubby Bruce doing the work, because of my health), has gotten a path to the road dug out during the week, only to watch it fill back up on Friday.
This week the storm is throwing snow harder and 24/7. You can no longer see where hubby dug out yesterday so our son’s family could get into the driveway. I think they could be stuck here awhile because the town snowplow only makes it up here every other day. So, even if hubby cranks up the snow-blower – we are stuck in this winter wonderland for the time being.

Church was cancelled this morning. I guess that is common up here in the mountains, but it’s new to me. I got an email from one of the Elders letting me know. God must be OK with it though, since it is His doing. I imagine that even Jehovah likes a snow day – every now and again. I’m glad I don’t have his job! But I digress…

The kids are so excited about playing in the snow. I don’t play with them because I am recovering from a sinus infection and not too quickly. My cough worries my 2-year-old granddaughter, Mary. Every time I cough, sneeze or blow my nose, she asks, “Are you OK, Grandma?” Truth be told, the concern on her sweet little face cheers me up a lot.

I sure wanted to be outside with her yesterday when she was struggling to make snow angels. The younger, healthier me would have flung myself backwards into the snow bank and flapped my arms and legs until I sunk a few inches. I felt sad that I did not dare to do it. She had a blast trying though – which was the point.

You can’t tell by the photos, but she has a big smile on her face.

After breakfast, this morning, the troops bundled up and attempted to overcome the snow, however the opposite is happening. Mary’s older brother, Aiden, shovels snow to make a path down the slope of the driveway, only to turn around and see the snowflakes piling up behind him. Ten more minutes of that and the snow wins. Time to warm up in Grandpa’s shop (that is equipped with a wood burning stove and a fridge with drinks and snacks. Oh yea, and a DVD friendly TV.) I have not seen the flash of Mary’s bright neon-pink gloves or yellow hat for a while, so I figured that was where they all were.

And the snowflakes keep on coming.

Pennsylvania needs a new groundhog. Punxsutawney Phil is a liar!

♥ TTFN ♥

Speaking about football…

January 28, 2019February 1, 2019 ~ JodiLea

Super Bowl Sunday this weekend.

Pardon me for not being excited. Oh, I will watch the game, of course, cheering on the Rams (and #33, Justin Davis, who does not know me but I worked with his Dad, Eric…), hoping to end old What’s his Name’s streak of terror. I certainly hope the commercials are better than last year. Do you remember any of last year’s? Exactly.

It’s been a long dry-spell, being a 49er Faithful. They will come back strong, I honestly believe. Despite their management. Until then, I watch the games and cheer them on, like a good fan.

However…

There are many things to rant and complain about the NFL that has nothing to do with the 49ers. PLEASE find commentators that talk about the game being played at the time. As for network camera men & women – stop showing so many close-ups of the stands and the sidelines, and film the game. Remember the game being played on the field? Film THAT! We do not want to hear about whatever it is that you must squeeze in before commercial break. Stop paying these guys per word – tell them to slow down. They do not have to say every silly fact and stat coming over the teleprompters.

Don’t interrupt players and coaches with inane questions on their way to the locker room. These people are in no mood to chit-chat, their heads are in the Game. Period.

Oh – don’t even mention the referee’s to me now – they are a whole rant unto themselves.

Sheesh!

I really enjoy going to The Nevada Union Junior Miners games, when I am in Grass Valley. The 8 and under’s are my favorite team. It is so rewarding to cheer for a team that is kicking butt. I also find them adorably cute, but I would never say so in front of them.

These 6-8 year old’s are serious about football. They are pushed to the limit at the first practice of the year (I’m talking crying and begging here…) because the coaches are serious too.

Oh, and the lady announcer is awesome. She knows what she is talking about, football wise, AND the kids names. There are NO commentators chattering in the booth, making ridiculous statements about things they do not understand. Or other games they have seen with other players playing in them. Sometimes having a low-budget can be a good thing.

No matter where you sit in the Stadium your ticket costs you five bucks. You read right – $5 front row on the 50-yard line. Parking is free and there is plenty of it. No salary caps needed – no salaries.

Did I mention they have a snack bar? Good fresh coffee & all the gross junk foods you can think of. And some you wouldn’t even!

♥ TTFN ♥

Things I Learned in College

December 25, 2018 ~ JodiLea

But Not in the Classroom…

I learned a lot of stuff I didn’t really need to learn. If for some reason I actually need to know some of that stuff, it’s too late. I’m sure it is forgotten by now. This doesn’t bother me, because I don’t plan to return to college and be forced to remember. I took classes to get my degree, and I did.

It’s the obscure, not mentioned in class, or by professors, knowledge acquired by life’s circumstances & choices that I feel the need to pass along to my young adult readers. So they won’t be as naive and clueless as I was, upon entering college.

This 12-story building is actually four towers (North, South, East & West), they connect in the center. My BFF and I were room mates in North Tower, third floor, room 302. The streetlight closest to the building could be a flashlight shinning from our floor manager’s room. Oh, that reminds me …

If you must ‘moon’ out a dorm window – do it from someone else’s room.
Do not ever, no matter how much they whine and beg, do a guy’s laundry for him. Ever!
Think twice before sliding sideways wearing socks, on a waxed floor in order to pass by a friends room, while looking at them. It only worked for Tom Cruise, in Risky Business and that could have been faked. It did not end well for me.
Ideas you come up with as you drive back to the dorm from a beer bust, are usually not good to act on. Sometimes they could be considered crimes. But those can be hysterically funny. Pee your panties funny.
Coke-cola, or hot cocoa, will remove old bleach stains from ugly green floor tiles.
Barfing into a planter, outside of a Burger King, is humbling.
Do not accept a ride home from a guy you met at a Hoe Down [a.k.a go home with the person you came with]
Don’t date someone that treats you like dirt. No matter how cute they are
Vinyl record albums will not break when thrown from the 12th floor in anger
Good table manners you learned at home are not appreciated by your friends who want to “get to the party already!”
Don’t lean in when you are asked to smell someones ice cream. It’s a trap.
Small town drive-in movies do not show wholesome entertainment.
Frat guys will promise you anything to get you in their room. Then they pout when you really wanted to watch “The Grinch who stole Christmas” on their TV.
Chinese Fire Drills should make a comeback. We all can use more exercise.
Oh, and the most astounding thing of all? I had a 4.0 that year and the internet had not been invented!

TTFN