CHRISTMAS 2022 (December 18-25)

Many in the country had to endure the "mother" of all snowstorms just in time for Christmas. Snow that measured in feet snarled traffic, created white-outs and horrendous pile-ups, cancelled flights and the ability to move to our destinations curtailed many a celebration. Some insisted on venturing out regardless, their fate still not known at this time. Our own family extravaganza has been postponed to New Year's Day which will sport a balmy 40 degrees and rain. However my kids live in town and some very good friends whose children were in scattered parts joined us for dinner so celebration, lights and special goodies were enjoyed. Our Joe was innundated with Dolphin paraphernalia, much of which he wore to cheer on his beloved team. 

                                

Hard not to recall other memorable Christmases. A little girl watching out the window waiting for Dad and Mom asking what that noise was. I said "just the Christmas tree snapping it's fingers". Grandma's metallic tree with the revolving color wheel; high decor in the 50's. Or my senior year gifted with a trip to California to visit my brother in the Marines. A memorable trip surrounded and entertained by a large group of young marines. Though too naive to understand the collective and muted gasp when a black marine asked me to dance. In 1968 race relations were smoldering, but all I saw as a 17 year old girl were young men who wanted to dance. 

As newly marrieds of three months trying to scrape up enough to have a few decorations (blue as I recall) and gifts for family. Then the back and forth to parents for the holidays until the OH's folks booked for Florida in the winter.  We started hosting though I remember collapsing one year in sleep just as dinner was finally served which began a domino effect as each family member fell ill in turn (except Dad who enjoyed the now-deserted feast). We were stacked sideways three to a bed and thank goodness two bathrooms. No, it wasn't my food, just a nasty little virus running through the crowd. 

One year we braved the arctic chill and snowstorm and dark of night (yeah we were young) to head north for the holidays as the California branch was eager to be home for Christmas. In retrospect not our best decision. Years there was no snow and the year with no power and bone-chilling cold where we wandered like the proverbial holy family to find room at the inn. The year that Mother passed and the sisters sat together in such grief that it alarmed our children until we decorated the oldest sister's car with Rudolph gear to make her laugh. Though it did start the tradition of the sister gifts as we each spontaneously wanted to give the others a token of healing from the loss. 

The year when our Kristen was born exactly two weeks before Christmas (70 degrees that day). I still remember Mother cuddling the sleeping child in one arm and serving dinner with the other. Then 13 years later when an unexpected pregnancy ended in the wee hours of Christmas morning with tears over a new life slipping away. 

Christmases with a grandson and it starts all over again. Especially the year when Joe, at the tender age of two, ignored our debate as to whose house would stable the riotous new rocking horse. Upon noticing his disappearance we found him at the back door where he had dragged his horse. Debate resolved. So many changes and children and memories; joy and tragedy overcome by love and hope for the new year just around the corner.  

Happy Haanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Joyous Solstice and Happy Holidays.  There have I satisfied the snowflakes in the room?  After watching people (evangels' and foxy folks) explode if you use the wrong phrase I have to wonder who is the snowflake they are so fond of chastising.  At any rate it is a wonderful time of year for us if we let it as we watch those defending their country (and all democracy) from the marauding horde of Putin's domination folly.  I see them cheering their downtown Christmas tree (lit by a generator) as sounds of explosions occur in the background. I see them share a meal by candlelight and song.  Just as Mr. Grinch found out, it's not the tinsel and gifts that identify Christmas as once again the Prince of Peace will not be stopped from coming.  💛💙

                                             

 

PODCAST MUSINGS, ETC. (December 11)

 

DECEMBER FOLLIES Forty years ago today, the sweet little treasure of my life was born.  A beautiful, talented and independent woman today.  As she cheerfully reminded her husband of his upcoming 50th, we gleefully reminded her of her own milestone birthday.  LOL 

Obviously I wrote that before my laptop decided it wanted to spend the week at the Geek Squad cave teaching my new laptop how to relate to me.  Week lost so caught up on my pile of magazines.  Though reading New Yorker predictive articles from before the mid-terms was rather amusing.

LIFE OF POD One of my next podcast interviewees is an Occupational Psychologist.  Funny, I told him. I used to have an employee with the same Phd designation.  He named him.  Apparently these folks run in the same circles. I still say that was the best job interview I ever held so there is something to this psychology stuff. As we discussed our experiences he told me I was a pioneer for women in the EHS field though I retorted there are still a lot of the male persuasion at the conferences and trainings I attend. Another thought. Pioneers or those "who go first" do not set out to be a pioneer, example or breakers of glass ceilings.  We just do the job with no particular thought to the historical connotations. We're too busy. 

My ex-cop, current security company drug expert podcast launches Monday and I found him very interesting.  We always like to talk to doctors, lawyers and police officers, or at least I do.  After chatting for about an hour and a half before the recording he told me I should have been a cop.  I told him most safety folks kind of are...along with wearing a preacher's collar.  He also told me living in a smaller area he rather knows the bad guys when he sees them.  Consequently as his town sports a casino he says guess where they hang out in the middle of the night. Not gambling, but no doubt other nefarious activities.  Great, just ruined my desire to hit a casino at 3 in the morning. 

He also shared that many new/young officers get into the biz to "get the bad guy".  His words. A lot are ex-military. But traffic duty is where they spend the bulk of their time and efforts. He had a hilarious take on the methadone reckless drivers on Monday mornings, rushing to get their "medical fix". (Sorry didn't make the interview). His job was to "season" the eager beavers to teach them to take their time, do their research, make a judgement rather rushing in where angels fear, etc etc.  Suicide by cop was an example that he used when responding to a call of a "guy with a gun" if  proper consideration is not done before a rushed, eager response. (podcasts are on  michsafetyconference.org  website among others)

Also there is a peculiar sense of humor associated with police officers that is a bit macabre to say the least as in most cases, they've seen it, stopped it or arrested it.  Reminded me of the first fatality I had to investigate at work.  The local police interviewed me after the incident to finish up their report apparently.  I told them I was nervous as this was a first. They chuckled and said "why, did you kill him?"  See what I mean? Although I received unverified information later that may have had some bearing on why the deceased followed the action that he did I didn't share it. But you never forget your first.

JOE & OTHER STUFF On the Joe front, he came down with that RSV syndrome the night of our Christmas tree foray running a 102 fever. Pretty miserable for about four days with a bad cough. But by the following weekend he stayed with us and taught me how to play a card game which he won.  He apologizes when he kills me in the game which led me to suggest cutthroat Go Fish to even the score. He then insisted he knew how to make his own mac and cheese, but Nana was a little too helpful he told Grandpa later. He is polite to my face lol.

On another subject, we help out at the OH's church some Tuesdays when they provide a free community supper. It's usually hot dogs (which people clamor to have them roasted black) or sloppy joes with accompanying side dishes and a drink.  Upon arriving we saw that Weight Watchers was holding a meeting that night as they rent a space there a few times a week. Had sympathy for these folks who had to inhale the beckoning scents of baked beans and sloppy joes while trying to listen to a lecture on healthy eating.  I kept offering free food as they left the meeting, but no takers.  I also labeled the dinner "Scoop & Poop" as we had to scoop out the meat and well, there were beans.  Although amused, our friends said they probably would not use my slogan for advertising. Ok I have a peculiar sense of humor as well.   Peace Out....💛💙

AT YOUR SERVICE (December 4)

Crazy week with repair people.  As it is pratically an "act of god" to get anyone to begin with, one counts their proverbial blessings when you get a response, let alone a commitment. The demand is so great for knowledgeable people (and I wasted my time and money with college) that I picture them sitting on their little tool encrusted thrones determining which job provides the most money, excitement and, I'll say it, mercy.  Inspired begging/crying works but only from women. 

Job 1.  Called before Turkey day for a broken microwave. As it is a built-in, it's difficult to work around. We'll come out a week from Tuesday between 8 & 4' Wha?  Amazing all the little things one uses a microwave for not to mention the light over the stove is now missing. Anyway, bustling around on errands Monday I get a restricted call followed by another call 20 minutes later from repair company. The technician is at your house getting no response. Well, duhh, it's Monday not Tuesday. And, funny twist they think they're there to fix the washer. Hmmm.  

DIGRESS:  This same company did come to fix the washer a couple of years ago and determined I needed an expensive part and much labor. Enough that we decided to buy a new washer.  When going to his company to look at washers, the sales person happened to mention the hose has to be higher than the machine to pump properly. Went home home and elevated hose-problem solved -arrghhh. For this I pay an exhoritant service call that did not properly diagnose the, now, obvious problem. That should have been Chapter 1 of the repair manual.  However do it with flair so it looks like you earned the 80-90 bucks.  Much like the eletrician who had no qualms charging for a full service call when all he needed to do was plug the dishwasher back in. Were my face and checkbook red. 

Anyway,  I frantically zoom back to the homestead (with cruise on, so I won't overstate my speed in my anxiety). He's still there. He says didn't they call you Friday to say I'd be here at 1:00, Umm no. And btw it's a microwave not a washer. 2 mintes later (exaggeration but not much) he says I thinks it's a fuse. My boss will call you with a cost so we can fix it, about 200 bucks.  Ok I'm already in it for 90 for the service call and new ones cost about 300. Oh yeah the 90 is part of the 200. What are these solid gold fuses? Anyway, acceptable. 3 days later, no call. Checking with the company they tell me they've ordered and received the part for my WASHER. It's a microwave I frantically explain AGAIN. Oh yeah ha ha my mistake. Really. So when can you come back to fix it? A week from now. WTF? Stay tuned. I may be washing clothes in the kitchen if all goes as anticipated.  

Job 2. My programmable thermastat at the lake house (NEST) has been slowly taking over my life and consumers' bill. It joyfully turrns itself up and down at will, notwithstanding my remote commands otherwise.  They may be called "smart" thermostats, but apparently they are actually the advance guard on the robot take-over being planned. Silly humans-do not try to resist. After three years of this losing battle I agreed to a new smart thermastat with another cute name Sensi from a local HVAC company. We are old friends as they play with my furnace out there every year. I made it clear any issues are on their heads.  Ok, they can be there Friday at 1 pm. Have a podcast recording set for 10 so no problem-o. 

Job 3 But then my other mechanical device (laptop) decided an hour before broadcast time, to "gift" me with no speaker ability.  Damn I miss in-house IT.  After futile attempts and advice from headquarters office and my interviewee I hot-foot it to Okemos (about 20 minute drive) to record at headquarters. Podcast completed, I head back to GL in plenty of time to make it to Hastings for 1:00 service call. Phone rings at 11:50 (the technology worked in the car at least). Again another technician says I'm at your house, where are you?  Ahh the appointment was for 1:00. Oh. At any rate they came back at 1:30 and story has happy ending with a thermastat that appears to be behaving, for now. Except the bill was 100 more than expected.  Merry Christmas - I now have brand new tires and a thermastat, so I'm good. 

Had to take a break in blogging as the young people wanted to go cut down a fragrant green symbol of the holidays. A tradition that goes back to K's salad days when she was a bundled up little package then a perilous rider on the tree cart, puller of the tree cart and finally first assistant on the "timber" portion of the adventure.  Now her little boy has advanced from the bundle to cart pulling stage. Since we have the truck our presence is both tradition and necessity.  After both trees were snuggled all warm in their (truck) bed, we debated lunch options.  K was concerned we were forced to avail ourselves of take-out as our trees were just hanging out in the back of the truck. This prompted the quote of the day from her OH Matthew who proclaimed "Anyone who steals a Christmas tree is going straight to hell". Duly noted-we ate INSIDE the restaurant.  Peace out....💛💙

                                                        

 

JOE ISMS (November 27)

THANKSGIVING Well, the Lions lost, but that did not diminish my daughter's (with Dad coaching) excellent first Thanksgiving dinner.  One benefit, we know what kitchen tools she needs. Stocking stuffers here we come.  Assuming the turkey was way too big for five people I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of leftovers. Only one bag each of white meat (them) and dark meat (me). As I am usually the assistant cook (read fetch, carry clean-up person) with the cooking lessons ongoing, I had the luxury of reading the entire paper and her house is also large enough for me to get my laps in. Just eat, doze and sip wine. So that's what the other people do.... 

LIFE OF JOE Lots of Joe time as he had the entire week off from school commencing with a snow day the Friday before.  You know the horrendous 47 feet of snow and ice which has been reduced back to green grass three days later. He went bowling with Grandpa, after a sumptous lunch at McD's, where he became the one-man/boy cheering squad distributing high fives and encouragement to the team. He was rewarded with much attention and candy bars for his efforts. His own bowling after league dissolved into frustration that he can't navigate away from the gutters at times.  But a visit to the video arcade restored his spirits.

Wednesday, picked up the boy and had lunch at a local Italian bistro where he loves the appetizers. This was followed by a guided tour of the zoo (he is the guide). What that boy knows about animals and birds is amazing.  He controlled the route, read the signs to us and gave chapter and verse of habitat, food habits, protective features of each animal after he labeled them prey or predator. He is much better and more knowledgeable than some of the docents I knew when I worked at the City. The Zoo was part of my duties as the Safety dude. I remember when they used those deep moats for bears, but they tend to be unpredictable and hard to contain.  Oh well. Safety always spoils the fun. Bonus I was able to tell Joe some tales from the Zoo that he didn't know Lol.

At one point he literally held a discussion with a hornbill (sub-tropical species) bird. People stopped to listen as the hornbill spoke followed by a lighter, less full-bodied echo.  Went on for quite a while. Later Joe said they were discussing politics and the bird's dismay at not being able to vote. I don't question. 

AFTER GLOW Ventured out Friday not taking into account all the masses of people rushing to build more credit (or use up their credit). Got spoiled during pandemic. Now there's an odd statement, but stores have not been that busy for a long time. Got my Christmas present early- new tires for the Impala. After that horrendous bobsled ride last week, new more aggressive tires seemed in order. Sticks to the new buying, no extra stuff, no clutter rules as they do dispose of the old tires. 

Meanwhile the bagged leaves have been enjoying various treks in the back of the truck. Mulching takes place at the homestead, but the lake house has a constant rain of willow branches and oak leaves from the neighbor and not enough lawn to mulch.  Brought them to Lansing but I said they are doing deleafing at the lake. So they went back to the lake and alas, no gondola had been delivered for the deleafing due to that stupid 47 foot snowfall. So back to Lansing to recycle. Upon arrival finding the Lansing center was closed that day due to the holiday-go figure. So now one more shot to dump leaves, legitimately, Wednesday. Final solution - take the tarps off the tops of the bags and whip down the expressway at 75 and let nature take its course!

Happy hunting season. However if you see this creature, think before you shoot, though you will probably be doubled over in laughter....Peace out 💙💛

                                                    

HOLY SHITASKE, IT'S WINTER (November 20)

 FINAL trip up North, hopefully, for a very very, let me say again very long time. I literally had fingers crossed as the "buyer/savior" nonchalantly signed her little mountain of paperwork for the house. Then tried to act cool by not snatching the check and rushing giddily out the door laughing like a demented hyena. Fifteen minutes flat which I feel is a world record prompted by my "let's just pop in early and maybe they can start earlier". Of course this was overshadowed by my discreet, ahem, glancing at my phone to assess the ominous set of "lake effect showers" impacting the escape route. Also record-setting visits to the bank and the attorney to make copies; cutting the chatter short and again trying to disguise my eagerness to bogey. 

THE SCENIC ROUTE The problem, of course, was no matter how many times I looked at it, the weather prediction sucked (best descriptor). Brief spots of clear surrounded by abysmal shadows of unrelenting squalls all the way home (roast beef notwithstanding - 3 little pigs reference is reaching, but oh well). I voted for a sitting tight option (which would probably have been 4 days) while the OH's vote was of the "damn the torpedoes" variety. Well we can always hole up if it gets bad - NOT. Mostly because when it got bad, we were in the proverbial middle of nowhere and any clear spots were attacked with an optimistic 75 mph, until we coudn't. The first 20 miles were fine...then there was the rest of the trip.  

Highlight was the giddy, gallivant into a gaping gully garnished with guardrails gliding 360 that occurred. Barely enjoying a sigh of relief we did not crash into the guardrails on the far side was immediately stifled by the comedic slide back to the looming guardrails on the other side of the road. Missed both sides, cue the triumphant music. Guess I'm getting new tires for Christmas under our new regime of less clutter, more practical; no stuff, just experiences; no knick knacks, more gift cards. Yeh.

Limping to the expressway while I'm searching for hotels a mere 40 miles from our starting point, we find the expressway somewhat decent....until it wasn't.  Following two tire tracks, a snake trail of cars, semis roaring by and waving at people as they slid down the side of the hills, we did not dare stop. I think my colon finally unclenched a day or so later. Spoiler alert - we didn't die.

 However the rest of the trip was just one shade less exciting culminating in the ice-crusted roads 20 miles from home where again passed the time counting the skid marks and vehicles off the road.  Upon leaving the expressway and traveling the two roads to home (about 5 miles) there was literally no road to follow. Thank you person ahead of us who happened to be going the same way. The joke in Michigan is "Hey hold my beer and watch this"  no joke.

GRANDPARENTING Had the pleasure of young Mr. Robel's company over the weekend where he and Grandpa attacked the pool table for a couple of hours. Good skills for college. Then he helped shovel the driveway and walkway. Mom forgot to drop off his foul weather gear, so we had to make do with what we had and what fit. (see pic) It's nice that he's growing up and can be helpful but there are some drawbacks.  I was checking emails when Mr. Nosey notices I was looking at one of his "Dolphins" items delivery dates.  Darn, he can read and he can put two and two together.  I passed it off as just spam, but he knows how to check history. Ah well, I'm sure he will be cool on Christmas morning.  

Another change to the routine is his Mom is hosting Thanksgiving for us this year for the first time with a bit of help from Dad.  Life is changing and I think we can look forward to a little resting on our laurels in the years to come. Peace out.....💙💛

                                            

                              

BLUE IS MY COLOR (November 13)

THE FINALS Hopefully this week marks the end of the up-north trips (funny how Michiganders always say going up north like the land tilts) for the closing. Of course early snow is predicted. Trying to cancel the utilities is practically an act of god and much paperwork must be provided. Of course possible rebates are involved so I will do the work. Actually should be a no-brainer as the new owner better be signing up for service, especially in the winter. That new boiler and water heater ain't gonna run themselves. 

Speaking of Up-North matters, a picture that my niece was desperate to get her hands on that inadvertently got tossed (I guess) was located.  Now this woman went through six boxes of pictures (supposedly) over six days when she was visiting the empty house and the only one she wanted was one of her in her baptism dress. NOTE:  She never showed up when we were working on the house. No momentoes of her parents, grandparents, etc. She berated me somewhat daily about its disappearance until I told her "get over it, it's gone". Well other sis-in-law found a snapshot of it, blew it up and shipped it to me. I found a frame to fit the 8X10 and presented it to her. Her reaction was "oh, ok".  Major LOL.You know what they say about good deeds never going unpunished.  Based on our hard work, however, the lady will get a nice inheritance.

BLUES NEWS Well the mid-terms were interesting. Never underestimate the American public-woke or not and our resistance against being told what to do, playing us for fools and counting on short memories.  It is amusing that the repubs display lawn freedom signs which from what I can tell (as they haven't changed their strategy "follow Trumpie" for three election cycles) must mean freedom to carry their guns to church. However the rest of us want body autonomy, freedom to worship or not as we wish and be treated with respect no matter who we are or what we believe. Simple. 

Love that MSU and U of M students stood in line for hours to vote. Looks like they brought chairs snacks and friends and made it a "happening" as we used to call it. Thank you younger generations for calling out the BS when you saw it. Do they think we forgot it was the red menace that attacked our capitol and all the inner circle repubs that were interviewed by the January 6 Committee admitting they knew it was all a big lie.  Yet they put out wacka-doodle candidates and no new ideas or changes. We are not all cult-minded Maga-gots apparently.  I think the best one-liner I read was "Who knew that Tiffany Trump's something blue was Nevada".   The count of mostly crisco's daughter was married at a storm -tossed Mar-a-logo Saturday in the midst of his cronies calling for his head after the disaster of November 8.  Much better result than the last time elections were held on my birthday (2016). Sorry, not sorry McConnell.

GIFTING Started my Christmas shopping and deliveries are occurring at record speeds.  Either I'm starting earlier or their overstocking is catching up with them. Joe, who is no longer a "Santa believer", was lobbying heavily for a floating Dolphins helmet.  Yeh, I didn't know either until he showed me on my phone. I told him no way-too expensive.  Of course it has already been ordered, heh heh heh. Nana is a soft touch, 

I saw another neat electronic for my future musical theater grandson. A hand-held item that creates all types of musical montages called a Rukus FX.  Not being familiar with curb-side service, I just saw it online at the store and ordered it to be held. When I showed up at the service desk to pick it up no Rukus. Of course it didn't help that I kept calling it a RUCKUS when it is correctly pronounced RO-KU like japanese or something. The clerk was overwhelmingly polite and never corrected me. I only "got it" when he called back to electronics where he pronounced it the right way.  Oops. I now understand why Grandma called Winn Dixie Dim Wittie. 

Good birthday week. We were early for lunch so shopped a store for socks but ended up with a "purty" little short car-coat. Not needed but pure white-so I couldn't resist. The family gang showed up at the restaurant (EARLY) for a birthday luncheon where each in turn gave me a gift card to our favorite beauty salon. As we get older and, after shoveling out one person's house, we now understand that simpler is better. Then upon meeting Joe and his Mother for lunch before we all went bowling Friday, he proceeded to sing Happy Birthday to me right in the middle of IHOP at pretty much full volume. Shy he is not.   MSU and Lions won. 💚  Peace out.💙💛

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LAST LAPS (November 6)

 NO, REALLY, GET SERIOUS  I've left politics mostly alone as most of us made up our minds before Labor Day. Now we just have to suffer through a few more days of atrocious political commercials which have no problem with out and out lies anymore.  "Make the Truth Great Again" - like to see that on a hat somewhere. One of the top crazies (and there are many) is the one running for Michigan's Secretary of State Kristina Karamo. She literally and publicly stated in a rally that those who have sex with demons will become possessed. (People say these things out loud now) Imagine that phone call to a one-night stand the next morning (penis demons-credit Steven Colbert) Other than that I know of no particular qualifications the lady has for the position other than as a  big election denier who wants to invalidate Mail-In ballots...but only in Detroit... so she has that going for her. 

But if it has a big red "r" on its head it's qualified to run-cue Herschel W.  At least he has an excuse; he's been knocked in the head a few too many times on the football field. But still it's a dead heat against the Reverand of Martin Luther King's old church? Really? You see making voting harder for "certain" people works.

IF IT SMELLS LIKE A ROSE Speaking of crap, on one of our marathon trips to RC last week I smelled a familiar odor.  In passing a large filthy truck with a giant hose on it I knew immediately what nefarious business with which it was engaged. The guys at the City called it a "honey-dipper" as irony is king when you clean sewers for a living. Similar to a wastewater plant you never forget that aroma. Not an outhouse smell but more "organically" (my word), which clings...  Interesting too that the implements to clean sewer pipes are called "pigs" as in a pig will eat anything I assume. Cameras are utilized in the pipes (on little sleds) to check for leaks or blockages. Upon hitting an obstacle, the piggies would get to work.

SPEAKING WITH Changing subjects, I have been working on a couple of podcasts but the completed ones are getting jammed up by our "volunteer" editor who merely adds the music. We may have to use the one about me which I've managed to avoid thus far.  After the PFAS Dilemma is published I'm looking to interview the director of the Michigan State Police HazMat Training Center and another one about electrical safety, specificially 70E, which is hard to explain in a few words.  Pretty much has to do with testing and classifying all electrical applications in an entity to determine PPE and procedures. My vast knowledge of trivia in safety and health is being sorely tested the further I move on from active engagement into retirement. 

NOTE: I'm meeting the MSP candidate at a Starbucks which is one of my worst nightmares. As a rule I do not spring for a $5 cup of sugar, machieeottties, caramelly blasters, expressive espressos, pumps of this or that or whatever the hell they order in there.  And god forbid I ask for a medium instead of a venti or grande or largeinpooper size. I will go with medium black coffee and see what I get. I understand the barrista attitude is a real thing and how much do you tip on a non-invasive, no labor-intensive plain cup of coffee anyway? I'm definitely using a fake name, like... Joe. I have done the Biggby's experience and when I ask for the plain black coffee they point me to the far end of the counter where they have tubs of plain coffee-self serve.

I have no doubt mentioned before how, even after a successful rehearsal, there are still "deer in the headlights" moments when we actually start recording. Reminded me of my first on-air (radio) interview on the Seatbelt Campaign I was coordinating for the City.  Everything was fine in our preliminary discussion, then we flipped the switch to live.  Forgot everything I was going to say, plus I do remember I tried to talk for a full minute without taking a breath.  That's why I always have a rough script. "Off the cuff" remarks are not really off the cuff.  Though I did do the video of the Right to Know Chemical training program in one take because I had given the talk dozens of times to new emps. The camera person was impressed. 

FINAL LOAD? Not sure if champagne corks are popping quite yet on the estate party. Hopefully the water heater install will not be cause for a delay. I do feel a great sense of relief so if my spidy-sense is any indication we have dumped our last load. As we brought every tool but a hammer we were forced to engage in unscrewing pieces of furniture to break them down to fit in the trailer for the dump. As the OH is a master packer we did it in one load though there was much cursing (on my part), much sighing (on his part) to get it done. A well-known secret in RC is on the first Thursday of the month, the garbage patrol will take one "bulk" piece along with your trash.  As I knew the neighbors on each side, one was gifted with a lop-sided recliner, one with a box springs and our contribution was the matching mattress. Saved $100 with that little trick. Now if we can just do the closing electronically...Peace Out 💛💙