Beautiful nights

This is the time of year that the nights on the South Plains are just beautiful... I spent the evening sitting outside, reading. I have, in the past, moved my computer outside, to write, or even watch a movie.

I moved inside to go to bed, then decided to work on the computer. Sheer laziness kept me from moving it outside, although I will admit, before I moved inside, I had had to find a jacket to wear, as the night air was cooling off.

Now, the house windows are open, and I am hoping the night air will cool off the inside of the house.

And, I still have things to work on before I go to sleep.

Warmth and Comfort

Tonight, I am feeling the luxurious effects of a warm bath robe, a heated neck pillow, wine and warm song.  Warmth  and comfort comes in many different ways. Sometimes, it is a heating pad. Or a fireplace. Or hot tea. A warmed foot massage.  A comforter or afghan. 

I am fortunate that I have many options available to me for warmth and comfort.  I used to relish the warmth of the heated water bed mattress, when I had that option.  I no longer have that option, but my bed warms quickly, and the blanket and throw offer plenty of warmth. 

Sometimes, the girls gather round and offer me another level of warmth. Or maybe, I offer them a level of warmth. Whatever, it is just fine.

I hope you have some warmth in your life tonight.

The Day the World Came to Town

I have written about Gander, Newfoundland before, when I watched the documentary about the international airline flights diverted there immediately after 9/11/2001.  Read about Tom Brokaw working on the story: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2009/09/17/brokaw-newfoundland.html



Read about it at the Gander Airport website http://www.ganderairport.com/911.htm


Well, I finally read the book: which Jim DeFede wrote: "The Day The World Came to Town."
http://www.harpercollins.com/book/index.aspx?isbn=9780060559717.  I will say that the book was everything I had hoped it would be:  It recounted the history of the attacks, gave a brief history of the Gander Airport, and then told the story of the town and the "plane people."  Not all was goodness and light.  It was a real story, with some less than positive moments, but what would we expect under such dire circumstances.  Overall, however, it was a most feel good, inspiring story of people reaching out and taking care of people...Just amazing!


I would highly recommend it, if you have not read it...

Running the Air Conditioner

Well, dummy, the air has cooled off enough to open the windows, and there is but a slight breeze, which means, the house will not cool off quickly... Usually, when I open the windows, it is cool enough outside, and the breeze is strong enough that I do not need to shut off the air conditioner, as I wait long enough for the air to be cool enough outside.

Not so tonight.  Although the outside air is cool enough, the breeze is lacking, and I had to shut off the air conditioner... This is the time of year this happens...

It may be a stuffy night.  I may need to close up the house and turn the AC back on.  A couple of nights ago, I did not even try to cool the house with the outside air, which was too hot...

Being Lazy or This is a Hot Tea and Hot Soup Day

My usual schedule for Saturday includes getting up fairly early, although sleeping in a little later than a work day, and starting on Saturday chores.  This usually includes grocery shopping, laundry and housework.

Some Saturdays include other things.  This Saturday saw me finish a book I was reading so I could drop it off at the library when I was out running errands.  But, I have also read the newspaper, and now got on the computer.  I am just wasting time, being lazy.  It is a grey day, cool for West Texas in May, and good weather for hot tea and soup.  So, that is what I will have.  And snuggle up with another good book, later.

The Good Soldier

My niece told me about a video depicting the story of veterans and their understanding about war. The Good Soldier  http://www.thegoodsoldier.com/.  It was hard to watch, but it was important to watch.

I would refer you to the post of 4/30/10 called "A Sickening Sensation" about my reactions to discussing the war, and the comments who would not talk about their experience in war.  We need people to talk about their experiences in war. We need to face the horrors of war so someday, maybe we can find alternatives.

My niece is trying to find alternatives: Her service in Habitat for Humanity, International, for example is an alternative to military service.

I am not saying we should not support our military.  Not only should we support our individual military members, we should so support them that they have what they need when they are in service, and then support them when they return from service.  But the biggest support we can offer to our military is to pray for peace.

The biggest support we can offer to our military, and our country is to work for solutions that recognize this is a small world, one world in which we are all together.  The sooner we understand that our well being is inter-related to the well being of every other individual on this earth, and our efforts to take care of each other will accomplish more than our efforts to dominate each other, the sooner we will learn that our fight is one for survival, not for destruction.

Thanks to my neice for sharing.

Snuggly sock suit

Several years ago, a brother sent me a Christmas gift that is what I would call a "snuggly sock suit."  It is made of fleece, has ribbed cuffs on the wrists and ankles, and is pretty much a "sack"  otherwise: no legs, but arms... Very warm...

I wear the snuggly sock suit when it is very cold.  But, I wore it tonight.  It is not especially cold, but it is a very wet, rainy, raw day and night...My house is very warm when the ambient temperature is very cold, and cool when it is very hot outside... But sometimes, when the temperatures are moderate, the heating/cooling unit seems to lag... I thought it might tonight.  Frankly, I do not know if it  has, or not, because I have my "snuggly sock suit" on tonight.  Very warm....

Thank you, Tony!