The Snow Has Made its Debut

Today it started out as rain, then sleet, now snow. I made up a new spin from the old rhyme of a rainy day.

It's raining...
It's snowing...
The old man is sledding
He fell off the sled
and bumped his head
and couldn't get to work in the morning
Snow, snow go away
Come back some other day.

We have about 6 inches of snow in the St. Louis area with a chance of going back to freezing rain, which is a slushy mess. I am contimplating if I should go into work tomorrow? I know that other people in my department are not going to come in, so why do I have to? It is not safe driving out there in the thick snow and the weather keeps changing from snow to rain and back to snow agian. If I go in to work I just get the pleasure of doing extra work; while my coworkers who called out on a friday are having a 3 day weekend and building a snow man at home, then driking hot chocolate. Seems like a tough desicion.

Andrew Takes Out the Trash

It was Sunday night and I started cooking dinner, while Andrew took out the trash. He comes back and walks in saying, "Martiel, guess what? Our prayers have been answered!" I was confused, what could have happened in the small distance from taking the trash out to the dumpster and back, with in a few minutes time??? He just said to come out side with him, quick! So I left the dinner simmering on the stove to go find out what he was up to.

There was a desk out by the dumpster, destined for us of course! I didn't know what to think when he said our prayers had been answered? A little exaggerated, I know. To Andrew, this was like finding gold. He was so cute, and excited. The past year or so we wanted another desk but kept on putting off buying one, and were waiting to move from OH to MO, now we are in MO still not quite buying a desk, and still putting it off.

Now there is a FREE desk, in good condition, with drawer space, and even matches a spare chair we have, just sitting there waiting for us to discover it and take it in off the streets. You know me and F-R-E-E; in a previous blog I posted about the free Ab-Lounge I got. FREE is good. Here is a picture of Andrew's big find.
I have to say thank you again to the two guys who helped us carry it up the stairs. When Andrew and I decided to bring the desk back to the apartment, I was struggling to help carry it up. Two guys were out side and help Andrew carry the desk up the rest of the way. Thanks guys.

Thanksgiving Weekend Recap

This was our first Thanksgiving living in Missouri. Since we are waiting to go home for Christmas it was just the two of us this year for Thanksgiving. Well this left us with not much of a feast being only 2 people, and no family in the area. I didn't want to try cooking all of the "fixings" by myself and in small proportions, so I looked into restaurants that would be open and serving TG dinner. Looking online there was a restaurant Boston Market, which I actually thought they were just the frozen meal brand at the grocery store; I did not realize they are also a restaurant? I called them up and they are serving dinner on Thanksgiving, BUT they close at 6pm? That was odd, so I kept looking, called Applebee's and they would be closed that night. Here it was Wednesday and I still didn't know where we would go to have a TG meal. I was so homesick and sad, and my coworker suggested Home Town Buffet! Of course this place would be perfect, to eat Thanksgiving dinner, and they are open and serving the traditional fixings at their buffet.

All week long people at work were talking about their holiday plans and cooking and having family over. A gal asks me what my plans are for Turkey Day. I told her and the others during lunch break that we decided to go to Home Town Buffet! (With a smile on my face) Then she replies back, "that’s just sad!" HUH? Why? She says when she pictures people going to a buffet for Thanksgiving dinner, "it is a divorced father and he has the kids that weekend and burns the turkey, and plan B they go to Home Town Buffet and eat Thanksgiving Dinner there!"

Thank you for painting a beautiful family dinner for me at HTB, but that image is not my family. My family consists of Andrew and me a total of two people and we want to eat a "home cooked meal, with 2nd or 3rd helpings for Thanksgiving. The solution is Home Town Buffet $10 a person all we can eat, $22 total AND no dishes to clean up afterwards. It was a lovely Thanksgiving night together, and a good kick off to a 4 day weekend.

Photo of Martiel and Andrew taken by auto-timer
Food photos provided by http://www.hometownbuffet.com/ourmenu.htm

GIVING THANKS

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I am thankful for:

• the life God has given us
  
• my husband, Andrew. He means so much to me.
  
• our family and friends
  
• my job and the people I work with
  
• my education
  
• our apartment to live in
  
• a car that is in good running condition
  
• the beautiful sunset tonight and warm weather
  
• the cable network playing the Thanksgiving Day Parade (NY/local) live to watch in the morning
  
• this internet to communicate to people far away
  
• the clothes on our backs
  
• good health
  
• happy moments, and time of laughter and cheer
  
• Home Town Buffet being open and serving traditional T.G. style food
  
• and I am thankful for so many things that are overlooked on a daily basis.

Happy Thanksgiving, and Thank You for reading.

How Do Junkies Do It?

Exactly one week ago on Tuesday I donated blood. On the inside of my arm, I got a bruise from donating blood. There is still a small section of the bruise still there a week later. I can not understand how druggies do the needle type drugs on a more frequent basis, after seeing my arm like this with a bruise from one needle poke. A nurse stuck a needle in my arm (to donate the blood) once this week. My arm was sore for about 2 days later; and the bruise is going on 1 full week and counting! I don't see how druggies can withstand the sore arm and bruising after they stick needles in their arms. I guess because they are on drugs and they are not in a state of mind to realize their arm is sore and bruised up. Being high on something is more important to a druggy than a sore arm and bruises.

The Donating Process:

I turned to look away as the needle was stabbed into my vane. The volunteer nurse had me make a fist squeezing this little, red, heart shaped, ball to get my blood flowing. It seemed like an eternity waiting there on the lounger giving blood. I peeked at my arm a few times watching the bag fill up. It was one of those gross things that you just can't stop your self from looking at type of situation. I have donated in the past, but never paid attention to all that goes on in the process. This time around I was very observant and curious about everything. The nurse came back to pull the needle out and I had to press down with a ball of gauze while holding my arm up in the air. She said that my face looked a little pale, I told her, "I'm fine, I am just naturally pale." She laughed, then elevated my feet and had me rest for a bit before getting up. Corey Chavous #25 RAMS player, I meet just after giving blood. I am sporting the beautiful purple bandage on my sore arm.

#82 Rookie Joe Klopfenstien is so tall (6'5"). #59 Tim McGarigle is also a Rookie new to the RAMS football team. They were both very nice and took time to meet the fans who were donating and signed autographs.

This was a special event donating blood, with the opportunity to meet some football players from the St. Louis Rams team. There was radio stations set up at tables too. I meet some Rams, gave blood, ate cookies and pizza, drank small serving size juices, and rocked out to some music. Who knew donating blood could be so much fun?

Summer Time in November

Poem by Martiel Hay

Summer Day Confusion

The sun is blinding
Like a summers day
Or the middle of May
I want to go out and play
While the weather is not too cold
Or so I am told

It is November remember
The trees have gone topless
Dropping their leaves
And exposing their branches!
It is mid-November
But seems like summer
I am wearing my sunglasses
And running the AC
Can't you see
The confusion
And the illusion?

Is it winter
Or summer
who decides
I feel warm and see blue skies
Right before my very eyes
It should be November
And it might be winter
It feels more like summer
Could have fooled me
As I turn on the AC