The Traditional Thanksgiving Day is coming to a close.

Rain. That's how the day presented itself. Grey. Foggy. And totally too warm for November.

My one foray into the daylight was a short trek to the newspaper box. Red umbrella, light jacket and me, huff'n puffin' back up the driveway.

Leah, who called yesterday, Trisha, Susie, Kim, and Barbara who all called today - had gobble, gobble wishes and stories. Tracy sent her love via f/b, too.

Yesterday, Sandy helped me rig up some colorful lights on the deck and set up the bk porch for Saturday's overflow...  Today, Trisha called, still ill with the bad sore throat and coughing. Maybe not coming Saturday. She really feels bad and sounds bad. We'll know more tomorrow and Saturday morning.

Dad suffered through the day in good spirits despite the fact that I was his sole caretaker. We didn't do too badly - We watched the Parade, the Dog Show and random Burn Notices. I crock potted some meatballs and sauce - which we eventually ate for dinner.

I picked the wrong day to dust and run the sweeper - too dark, too soon.  Better luck on another day.

Cold air is on the way. I swear it snowed on the deck Wednesday evening already.

I've decided. I want to be famous like Sarah Palin!

Oh boy. Things must really be crazy for me to post that in my title. Or not.

Think about it: I am a woman. I am registered Republican. I vote regularly. I speak to my students, colleagues, administrators and the public when called upon.  I could get a soap box (the internet) and do some free advice giving...

I have children (who also have children.) I am a college graduate with a degree in education w/ majors in English and social studies, too. I have a Master's Degree in Social Studies education. I could write a BOOK.

I have had the same husband for 41 years. I have experiences in LIFE and death. I know what life is like in nursing homes. I have experience with our private health care system and our government run health care. I've dealt with Medicare, funeral homes, and insurance companies. I know what it's like to be management and union. I'm still in the workforce.

I've flown in commercial airplanes, but not since 911. I know what its like to be comfortable in life and to be on the verge of losing everything. I have travelled across the country a couple of times - east to west and back north to south and back.
I have shot a gun. I have driven on mountain roads, back roads, superhighways and crowded highways. I read magazines: Saudi Arabia World, National Geographic, occasionally Newsweek. I read newspapers (mostly local.) I can be outspoken. I may take up a cause and raise money to find a cure.

My home state is beautiful. From my front porch, I can see West Virginia. And from my desk, I can see anywhere in the world.

Now, why wouldn't I make a good contrast to Sarah Palin? The media could put me right up there on TV every time they give her three minutes of free attention. I could talk about IMHO anything: Parkinson's, stem cell research, caregivers, parenting, religion, and oh yeah, the government. Also I have opinions on "flying after 911", education and America, testing in America, just get me started.

Currently, my kids don't dance; but they can learn. They do other fascinating things and are polar opposites - much more publicity for me....
The BOOK could be one like Hilary's or "W"'s - it really won't matter, because the media will push it and I'll be out of debt.
BTW, I went to the basement (of the Estate) to get out the seasonal decorations. I put them back after 2 out of three strings of lights didn't work. Time to rethink this decorating stuff.

In case you didn't notice the passing of time...

Another week has gone. [Work has its positives, but this week, I did not get the work completed I must do - the stress is delayed until tomorrow - Monday - when I must go hide somewhere and DO THE WORK.]

 Friday, after school, I stopped by the old house to check out the mailbox. I saw from the curb -  the curtains pulled back and the blinds open. So, I ventured inside. There I discovered, pleasantly, that Jeff had pulled down the old ceilings and replaced them with our stockpile of new ceiling - very white and very nice. We have three new lights - two in the living room and one in the dining room.  New ceiling, new lights now the reverse needs care - pack up old lights and get the old ceiling out-a-there... A never ending cycle of w-o-r-k... I didn't go to the attic to get stuff for the tree.

Saturday -- Saturday, Dad and I stayed home and I did little chores: washed laundry, fixed food 3 times, cleaned up the kitchen again, again again... carried the garbage to the curbside. Paid Jeff for putting up the ceiling. Jeff says he has a contact in the fire department that may help with the basement stuff. We'll see. Thinking all the time: how will we celebrate the holidays this year.. maybe I'll go to the attic on Sunday ...

Today, however, the day was splendiferous: sunny, temps in the 60's, no too much wind, enough shiny sun to dry the newly washed car (formerly a Sunday tradition, here at the Estate.)
Kim came - what a God Send. She turned Stan twice... washed his hair and fed him, although he didn't eat much. And I tried to get some outside work done. I got the Rx from Rite Aide, shopped for some little stuff, tried to screw-up the courage to spend money on another tree.. just can't seem to justify the outlay. Nothing fits my criteria: cheap, pretty, easy to assemble and put away.. already got that.

I couldn't go to the attic. I got stopped on the second floor by an overwhelming sense of doom. I am going crazy trying to figure out how to empty that place, keep from losing anything of "sentimental" value, and repurposing that stuff over here for a while...

tonight, Sandy's daughter dropped by with food for dinner - Sandy's family had T-Day today. Sandy asked me Friday if that would be alright. Thank God for random people.

I think of Cousin Susie daily. I hope things are ok there. I will write (to her) this week. I will! No one should have to struggle alone - unless he or she is the Unibomber...and they caught him. 

I think I have a case of SAD. Don't worry, I know how to stop it. I'm just wallowing right now - it is the season, you know. Pecan Pie, Bread n Butter and applebutter, you get the picture.

I don't sleep through the night - ever. Last night I dreamed about the student whose Mother told me she needed an extension on her 7th grade geography project completion date, because she had been "molested" and Mom could give me the paperwork from the hospital if I needed it. I was standing in the cafeteria trying to get into the office to check in, when she and her two kids stopped me... for real.

And that's only one of the nightmares related to work. I don't want to think about what my brain deals with at night when it thinks about "home". But, everyone has problems and mine are mine. I don't want yours. No fair asking to trade. However, if you are inclined to share, I'll listen. I probably can't DO anything, but I can appreciate the struggle. And time just keeps on zipping by.

Due to an ice cream spill in the kitchen...

Due to an ice cream spill in the kitchen, yesterday's post of mundane things has been cancelled. Technology hates me. Even plastic bags are plotting against me. Maybe today will be ?better?

Part 4; More intriging stuff from our trip to Moundsville

 Some of our gang, with the docent, outside - standing on the bridge just below the mound.

 Same gang, different perspective.

 The diorama inside the museum - big plexiglass container.

 More description of the mound - inside out...

 Kids love skulls.

 Nice view of the tree beside the mound, don't cha think.

 I have proof that Mrs. Cooper was on the job that day. Thank you Pam for walking to the top with all those guys. I don't know how you got back down... there were no handrails and the steps sloped down...

Peck's bad boyz.

Part Three: The HLC pictures from the Moundsville Museum

 The fancy gravy boat may be like the one left in Mrs. Skidmore's too-tall-to-reach kitchen cabinet by her heirs. The cup and saucer may be the pattern on Grandma's under-the-sink-to-catch-the-scouring-pad crockery. I used to think that was just one odd cup, but I have discovered others...

 A plethora of designs. I did not see a tall tea pitcher with a stick handle (like the creamer with the stick handle).

 Just a sampling of designs from HLC. There are many more in the plate room at the factory. I wonder if...

I know that platter. I've taken pork chops from it at New Year's many times. It's still in Mom's cupboard.

More pictures to follow...

Part two of today's posting @ Moundsville's Museum

 Costumes through the century is, I think, the name of this exhibit. Dolls dressed in period clothes with props, like the bicycle and the umbrellas.

 There were so many of us, the museum called in more volunteer docents to help us understnd what was in the exhibit hall.

 Too bad my group didn't get to see this exhibit up close. Kids love marbles and this would have made interesting reading for them. Maybe a feature in Golden Seal Magazine? I'll have to check.

 More Dolls. Up close and personal.

 Diorama: village or housing of early inhabitants of the Ohio Valley. Also a display of early weapons oand tools: fishing nets, spears, atlatl, bow and arrow...

I'll post the Homer Laughlin China pictures on the next posting...

Photos from the Moundsville trip - Inspired by this beautiful Autumn Day

On the way, before we were lost and too hot and tired.

The computer is running too hot. I can't get it to upload anymore.

I'll quit for now and add some later.

Bye.