For love of

Books! One of my recommended Kindle books this morning was Time for the Stars by Heinlein. I couldn't resist taking that journey into the past and found it just as delightful as in my youth. That led me to digging around in the tucked away books of my library where I found seven of his paperbacks. Interestingly, they are all from his "Juveniles" collection. I never enjoyed his grown-up books; too dark and preachy for my taste.

The other author I pulled out was Lawrence Watt-Evans; now to find out if his work also holds up to the test of time. The books I'm putting away in disappointment are Piers Anthony's Xanth series. I remember loving those, but now they seem flat and contrived. Maybe some future generation will enjoy them again. I didn't bring out my H. Beam Pipers; those are already on my Kindle - true classics.

I forced myself to bring in more firewood, fill the bird feeders and hang up laundry before settling back down with a new, old book. See you among the stars!

Bits of this or that

The flower shops were delivering to the hospital all day; bouquets, balloons, and boxes of chocolate. Sadly, I still can't smell anything (darned cold) and could only admire the beauty of the roses. One thing I did notice was all the deliveries were to the young (30s and under) wives and girlfriends. Nothing for the women who have been married for decades. Is romance for the young? Or just romance on demand per arbitrary holidays?

The other day I came home feeling worn out from trying to learn new procedures while fighting the horrible head-cold. Then, heading out to do chores, I spot a woodpecker industriously pecking away at the feed block I bought just for it. Hooray! Funny to see all the tiny mouse tracks in the snow under the feeder, too.

I watched a teen leaving the clinic with her mom, take off the mask she had been asked to wear for others' safety, throw it away and walk into the cafeteria. Grrrrr. Influenza is rife in town.

Sometimes when asked if I'm ready to check someone in, I have to fight the urge to mimic Mr. Humphries from Are You Being Served with a cheery 'I'm free!'

We're still getting new snow almost every day; light stuff that swirls around the buildings and blows constantly. So, with all this snow pushed across the roads, creating near-whiteouts, I'd expect most to drive with their headlights on...or not. I wonder how many drivers are so used to their vehicles turning the lights on automatically that it never crosses their minds that it can be daylight and still very difficult to see. Drive carefully!

Grumble

If someone could come up with a cure for the common cold I would fully support them receiving the Nobel Prize. How can something non-fatal make me so utterly miserable? Not to mention, by taking in so many fluids yesterday, my bladder had me up and down all night. :)

Other grumble-worthy stuff: still too cold to let the chickens out, even if they would venture out into the deep snow. Eggs are all frozen. And it's snowing again today...and tomorrow. I've run out of lettuce. So many dishes to wash.

There has to be something good to say...the fire is burning nicely. I spent yesterday curled up with an old favorite book. Yep, that's all I can think of.

Stretching my brain muscles

I made it through the first week of my new job. So much to learn! Every other patient I have to jump up and ask someone how to do something. By the end of the month I should have new insurance cards down pat. :)

Each morning when I get dressed I send a mental 'thank you so much' to my sister who sent me her ENTIRE wardrobe of business/dressy tops. Not having appropriate clothes can be very stressful; I will definitely support the charities who help with that.

Back to the weather (because that's what small talk is in South Dakota), we started warming up on Friday and Saturday was gorgeous. Almost too nice because today didn't go above freezing and all the mush has frozen into bumpy, slick walking hazards. Back to normal tomorrow with the highs only reaching single digits above zero.

It's been fun to see the chickens traipsing back and forth between the two coops after a week shut inside. Kraken has a bad case of frostbit comb, but it isn't slowing him down at all. In important news: I finally settled on a name for my stealth rooster; he's a buff-laced polish and waited to start crowing until after the extra roosters were moved out of the flock. Slender, jumpy and quick to run away...he is a Rincewind through and through. (If you don't get the reference, get yourself to the library and read Terry Pratchett!)