Blueberry Thrill

Most mornings when I wake up, I try to dress halfway decent.  Meaning, my colors match. There's only so much decent you can accomplish when your clothes of choice are sweat pants and sweatshirts or t-shirts.  Even when I know it's likely I'll have no company or venture out, I still make a minimal effort.  I chose light blue sweatpants and a white sweatshirt today.

I washed up, ran a comb through the birds nest and decided with a shrug - "what's the use?"  Got the coffee brewing, heated up an oat bran muffin and grabbed a yogurt as I booted up the computer to visit my usual websites.  I should probably stop eating and browsing online at the same time. It doesn't accomplish anything except put another household chore on my list of duties.  Like laundry.  A wayward blueberry from my yogurt container decided to take a side trip down that long white road commonly known as Joyce's tummy.

This particular blueberry was in a happy mood as she escaped Joyce's mouth and she hopped down tummy lane making eight stops before landing on the blue pants below. And see that butterfly?  That was a pretty iron-on bead decal put into place last year to cover up other wayward food that tried to escape.  I guess it's just as well my wardrobe consists of sweatshirts.

At any rate, the washing machine was loaded and the only chore left today is to change the nectar on the hummingbird feeders. It's looking like it's gonna stay wet today and I think I'll probably just hang out searching genealogy files, reading, and watching TV.

I haven't had any calf charlie horse cramps in weeks but they're making an appearance this morning. When they're in the neighborhood, they usually occur in bed but for whatever reason, they're flaring today as I sit here.  Sure wish I knew what brings this on.  Is it something my body is lacking mineral-wise?  Is it my muscles out of sync and needing more exercise? Am I dehydrated? Should I stop coffee altogether?

I had about three or four days last week where I was completely free of all leg discomfort, cramps, spasms, tics, the works.  I noticed it immediately and wondered....why the reprieve? What was I doing different?  I tried to replay my activities but I couldn't find a pattern of behavior that would indicate I'd made some healthy move.  Whatever the hell was causing my pain-free period has since passed.  The calf cramps are here along with the upper inner thigh aches, and I'm prepared for another round of "Let's see how much this old fat lady can take!"

I'm going to get on the floor and do the exercises (yeah, I quit once I felt better) and I'm going to double up on drinking water. Probably should cut the coffee too.  Which shouldn't be that big a deal. I'm sure I could limit myself to one cup easily.

Here's the last three pictures I saved from an email last week --

Jewish refugees, approaching allied soldiers, become aware that they have just been liberated, April, 1945

A Native American looks down at a newly-completed section of the transcontinental railroad. Nevada, about 1868

The first official riders in New York City’s first subway, 1904

And here's a couple pictures that Mary Gaboury's daughter, Kathleen, posted on her Facebook page. She's down in Yuma visiting as Mary turns 70 tomorrow.

I drove down to 7 Cedars Casino yesterday morning to meet up with Mary Norton, Joanne Gilles, Linda Pedersen, and Ruth Kvinsland.  Saw a lot of changes as they've put new carpeting and slot machines in the old bingo hall.  Looked really nice.  Can't say that their buffet is improving, however. And the machines still don't pay.

They could have made money from that bingo hall if they'd worked it right. Bingo appeals to a lot of folks and they had the resources to make the trip worthwhile.They lost interest early on in the game of bingo and it wasn't long before even I found going there to play wasn't as much fun as the days of long ago.  Course they lost my favor the minute they closed the keno counter.  I'd always stop to play keno. I don't think I even noticed a roulette wheel there yesterday.

They'll continue to make money, though. And they know it.  Slot players know that while most lose their money, every once in a great while, some lucky stiff will hit.  They only have one machine that I prefer and they were difficult to locate.  The woman sitting next to me told me she prefers these as well as they remind her of the machines in Nevada in the old days.  Plus she won $3000 on it last month.  That didn't especially endear her to me. (I'm seldom happy for people who claim big wins when my trips to the casino are routinely unhappy departures)

Well, I guess I'll get up and get moving around here. Dryer has turned off and the dishwasher needs unloading. Probably wouldn't kill me to sweep the kitchen and run a vacuum. And there's always those floor exercises.  Sigh.......

Posted on my Town kid blog on the Leader website yesterday...I Ain't Got No Home.  Have a good weekend. Next Friday we'll be in February so spring is coming -- slow but sure.