My Random Thoughts

Uh, What’s This?

Originally uploaded by DivingDuo.

The Christmas decorations are up! YAY. The one good thing about an artificial tree is that I get to enjoy it for the entire month without having to worry about needles, or it drying out. With the pine scented candles, it’s almost like I have a real tree. Now, nothing can replace a real tree, but until I’m outta Florida, this is the next best thing.

This is the first Christmas the new girls will have with us. Wu Wu was mildly interested in the round hanging things. I put the cat friendly ornaments at their level. So far they haven’t really given it a second glance. I remember the first year we had a tree (a crappy little cheap tree from K-Mart that didn’t even look remotely real). I came downstairs one morning to find a little Sheba-face sticking out of the middle of it.

I played Christmas music while I was putting everything up. It may be 85 degrees outside, but I had the Christmas Spirit inside. I’m going to be traveling most of the month. I hope I can manage to keep the spirit while putting up with stupid travelers, crowded airplane and airports and the always expected unscheduled delays!

Now to finish my shopping!

Its another Turkey Day and I’ve already updated my blog for Christmas. Soon that will be extended to my house. I have the turkey ready to hit the oven and I’m enjoying my day off. Jeff and I got up early for some reason, but all the more time to enjoy relaxing!! I LOVE IT.

Happy Thanksgiving

and all is right with the world. I’m working from my desk – AT HOME! I’ve been working out and that feels wonderful. I can’t wait to go tonight.  That is refreshing, as I’ve been avoiding it lately. I think tonight will be a walk followed by working out in my home gym, since the temp had dropped, along with the humidity. This is the time of the year I enjoy being in Florida and I intend to enjoy it to its fullest!!

I need to cram for my CCP exam which I have on Friday. I’m a little worried, as I haven’t done anything for it, so I think this next week I’ll be doing the minimum amount in terms of work, so I can concentrate on studying at least 2 hours a night on that. I hope I pass, but if i don’t, I know it’s because I didn’t prepare enough. Sigh!

Two weeks at home! YIPPEE. Followed by 3 weeks of travel. Sigh….

I think I’ll start my Christmas shopping on Saturday, followed by updating my blog. I am going to do lots of blog work over Christmas too. Need to get it all pretty for the year so I only have to switch themes minimally!

And that is the story of my life today.

Since I’m working in Pittsburgh this week, I came in early and drove home to see mom for a couple of hours. As I hit the Boswell border, I drive under a sign strung over the highway that says….Welcome to Cougar Country. The high school mascot is the Cougar (I have no idea why….I don’t think there are a lot of cougars in the area, but I could be wrong).

As I continue to drive, I see more signs – Boswell, established 1904 – home of the North Star Cougars.  At the bottom of Main Street there are two coal conveyors, one painted green and white, with green and white paw prints, with a sign that says This is Cougar Country. The Cougar Conveyor, and Let’s Go Cougars.  Right next to it is another conveyor, this one painted black and gold with the signs “The Terrible Conveyor”, “Let’s Go Steelers” and Welcome to Steeler Country.

Oh we love our local sports teams, don’t we?

As I drove up main street (the whole 2 miles that it is), I see store fronts that have their windows painted green and white with paw prints, as well as with coal miners, and black and gold. Talk about a small town steeped in local heritage. You just don’t see that in Florida. In fact, i’m not sure I even know what the mascots of the local high schools are. Considering there are 5 or 6 within close proximity would make it a little harder to figure out as well.

Those are really the things I miss.