After finishing my last post, I ambled into the kitchen for another cup of coffee. I have a Senseo coffeemaker that takes little paper pods that have to be put in correctly or … disaster strikes, as it just did this morning.
The water comes out of a tank on the back of the machine, floods the little paper pods, and drips coffee into my mug. Great system when it works, but if one gets the pods in upside down or not perfectly seated, water goes … everywhere, which is what just happened. Luckily, I keep the coffee maker on a glass plate, so most of the water pooled on the plate, but as I started to clean up that mess, I hit my coffee cup, knocked it over, and splashed coffee everywhere, but most especially on the floor.
Wonder of wonders, Sparkle came over to see what was going on, and she started lapping up all the coffee on the floor. She must have liked it as she did a great job of getting the liquid off the floor for me. I dealt with the mess involving the coffee maker, and pretty quickly I was ready for round 2, which went a whole lot better than my first attempt. I don't know if coffee is good for dogs, but we'll soon know the answer to that question.
Friday, December 28, 2018
Charity
Every year, I send checks totaling right at one thousand dollars to various charities, not including donating scholarship funds to my former colleges. It's not a lot of money, but it's my contribution to organizations that do good for a variety of people who need extra help with their lives. I'm happy to be a small part of the bigger picture, but this year -- well, it feels that I haven't sent enough and need to do more if I read all the "begging" letters in my mailbox.
The holiday season is big for playing on the sympathies of people like me who feel like they should "do something" to help with the problems plaguing our society. My mailbox is flooded with appeals for help from numerous charities/organizations who do what I don't do. I'm not going to walk the streets giving handouts to the homeless, so I donate to charities that do help those people with basic necessities. I'm not going to work with the doctors without borders who do such a tremendous job of helping those less fortunate than the average American. Another organization comes to the Coachella Valley twice a year and provides dental services for those who otherwise would not have that option. There are food kitchens open and doing an amazing job of serving food to those who would do without if the kitchens were to close. I give to organizations who are trying to save animal species from extinction; I give to organizations who help those who are on the streets or in situations that are fragile from day-to-day. I support the Wounded Warriors Project, and the list goes on.
For me, writing a check seems … too easy, but it's my little way of saying I support all the people who make it their life's work to help others. If we all gave, those who do the footwork on a daily basis wouldn't have to wonder where the next dollar is going to come from to keep their charity open and serving those in need. A thousand dollars spread over the course of a year is doable for most people if they really try to make donating a priority in their lives. I can't save the world, but I can help those who dedicate their lives to at least trying to make a difference.
The holiday season is big for playing on the sympathies of people like me who feel like they should "do something" to help with the problems plaguing our society. My mailbox is flooded with appeals for help from numerous charities/organizations who do what I don't do. I'm not going to walk the streets giving handouts to the homeless, so I donate to charities that do help those people with basic necessities. I'm not going to work with the doctors without borders who do such a tremendous job of helping those less fortunate than the average American. Another organization comes to the Coachella Valley twice a year and provides dental services for those who otherwise would not have that option. There are food kitchens open and doing an amazing job of serving food to those who would do without if the kitchens were to close. I give to organizations who are trying to save animal species from extinction; I give to organizations who help those who are on the streets or in situations that are fragile from day-to-day. I support the Wounded Warriors Project, and the list goes on.
For me, writing a check seems … too easy, but it's my little way of saying I support all the people who make it their life's work to help others. If we all gave, those who do the footwork on a daily basis wouldn't have to wonder where the next dollar is going to come from to keep their charity open and serving those in need. A thousand dollars spread over the course of a year is doable for most people if they really try to make donating a priority in their lives. I can't save the world, but I can help those who dedicate their lives to at least trying to make a difference.
Sunday, December 23, 2018
Christmas
Y has to work both Mon and Wed, so we decided to have our Christmas on Sunday. I had purchased about a dozen gifts for him (mostly clothing) and stacked them around a small ceramic lighted tree I put in the living room. He was so excited to get to open packages, even though all the items were practical, and holiday paper was flying all over the carpet as he tore into his packages in a flurry of activity.
I had purchased a couple of novelty items, including two Nestles chocolate chip cookie cast iron "frypans" for us to each make a single cookie, and a set with novelty Christmas mugs, hot chocolate, and S'Mores. It was fun to work together to bake our cookie and fix our hot chocolate (which tasted like sour milk, so we didn't drink it. Sour milk was my fault as I used some milk in cooking a couple of weeks ago and didn't buy fresh milk for our hot chocolate.) Y also made toffee to take to his co-workers as well as enough to give to 2 of my desert friends who love it when Y makes toffee because it's so good. Once the cookies were baked, we fixed the leg o'lamb and put it into the oven for our dinner, which also features mashed potatoes and fresh broccoli.
This year, I promised myself I would actually send gifts to my children and their families, so I spent the month of November shopping online and finding gifts that are probably a whole lot more practical than fun. The postage to send the 2 boxes, one to each recipient, cost me $100, so I quickly remembered why I always send money! If I had been thinking better, I probably could have had the gifts shipped to their home addresses, but live and learn. Watch out for my newly-acquired experience next year … right?
So, how did it go with me "doing Christmas" for the first time in a long while? I enjoyed myself a lot. I had fun picking out presents and I really loved the look on Y's face as he opened all his packages. It wasn't the cost as much as it was the joy he shared with me as he admired all of his gifts. The gift he likes best is a toss-up between the 2 long-sleeved sweaters I bought for him and the 2 pairs of lounging pj's. He's determined that he can wear the loungewear "out" of the house, maybe even with one of the sweaters that I got for him, but I've told him that what he's wearing is definitely pajamas--and he doesn't want to wear his pjs out and about the community!
What did Santa bring me? The most gorgeous, all-leather, navy blue Coach handbag. There are small shaped tea rose flowers on both sides of the bag, along with hand-painted floral detail. It is the most gorgeous handbag I've ever had and I think it should only be used for dress-up events, but Y told me to use it every day because if anything happens to it, he'll buy me another bag. He really is a sweetheart who takes very good care of me and my dogs. and I'm glad he's in my life.
Happy Holidays to all of you from G'ma, Y, Cinnamon and Sparkle
I had purchased a couple of novelty items, including two Nestles chocolate chip cookie cast iron "frypans" for us to each make a single cookie, and a set with novelty Christmas mugs, hot chocolate, and S'Mores. It was fun to work together to bake our cookie and fix our hot chocolate (which tasted like sour milk, so we didn't drink it. Sour milk was my fault as I used some milk in cooking a couple of weeks ago and didn't buy fresh milk for our hot chocolate.) Y also made toffee to take to his co-workers as well as enough to give to 2 of my desert friends who love it when Y makes toffee because it's so good. Once the cookies were baked, we fixed the leg o'lamb and put it into the oven for our dinner, which also features mashed potatoes and fresh broccoli.
This year, I promised myself I would actually send gifts to my children and their families, so I spent the month of November shopping online and finding gifts that are probably a whole lot more practical than fun. The postage to send the 2 boxes, one to each recipient, cost me $100, so I quickly remembered why I always send money! If I had been thinking better, I probably could have had the gifts shipped to their home addresses, but live and learn. Watch out for my newly-acquired experience next year … right?
So, how did it go with me "doing Christmas" for the first time in a long while? I enjoyed myself a lot. I had fun picking out presents and I really loved the look on Y's face as he opened all his packages. It wasn't the cost as much as it was the joy he shared with me as he admired all of his gifts. The gift he likes best is a toss-up between the 2 long-sleeved sweaters I bought for him and the 2 pairs of lounging pj's. He's determined that he can wear the loungewear "out" of the house, maybe even with one of the sweaters that I got for him, but I've told him that what he's wearing is definitely pajamas--and he doesn't want to wear his pjs out and about the community!
What did Santa bring me? The most gorgeous, all-leather, navy blue Coach handbag. There are small shaped tea rose flowers on both sides of the bag, along with hand-painted floral detail. It is the most gorgeous handbag I've ever had and I think it should only be used for dress-up events, but Y told me to use it every day because if anything happens to it, he'll buy me another bag. He really is a sweetheart who takes very good care of me and my dogs. and I'm glad he's in my life.
Happy Holidays to all of you from G'ma, Y, Cinnamon and Sparkle
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