respublica

Wonder why you're sneezing?

The green dust is back with a vengeance, it's covering everything including you.

It's why you walk through your house and think, "I thought I just dusted, it sure doesn't look like it".

And, does everyone but me realize there is an 'a' in vengeance?

Spring no winter

Finally.

Spring cleaning on steroids

There is an article on spring cleaning in The Taste of Home magazine which I saw linked online, and it includes a checklist for things to do in every room. Quite honestly after a winter stuck inside and closed up against the cold and snow, I'd agree the house needs some shaking up. But this is list is beyond my ability to even attempt.

Here is a look at all the things we should be doing. click to enlarge

 

What is the German word for...

Someone asked this question the other day, someone who like most of us is just fed up with this winter. "What is the German word for spring lust?"

And there is a German word for the longing for Spring and it is Frühlingslust. It sounds kind of harsh, but so is the winter we've lived through.

In Spanish it's primavera lujuria

What does bi-monthly mean?

I was scrolling through Twitter and came across a post by someone who asked the question: "What does bi-monthly mean? Twice a month or every two months?"

That brought about lots of responses many saying it was twice a month others every two months. I liked this answer: "If it was twice a month it would bi-weekly." The response to this was, "Twice a month would actually be semi-monthly."

"Doesn’t biannually mean twice a year though?"

and on and on and on

 

Bear Hugs

For a few weeks our local Schnucks has had a display of giant bears in their seasonal aisle. This has struck me funny each time I'm in the store and see these huge cuddly stuffed bears. One week they were seated on tiny chairs in a circle as if they were having a good time together. Another time they were tossed into a huge box. This week they were back on display among the chairs. All to tempt us to bring one home as a Valentine's gift.

Valentine's Day was yesterday and that day is also our grandson Connor's birthday. For 3 years Connor has been in love with these big bears and since he was turning 11 we all figured that phase was over. But no. When I asked Lizzie what he wanted for his birthday, one thing was a giant bear. Another giant bear. I'm pretty sure his parents tried to dissuade him about this. His mother even told him not to get his hopes up for a bear.  She even sent me a picture of his face after she told him this.

So, what else could I do? I love these bears, they are so soft and really cuddly. So I got one for Connor and we brought it over to the birthday boy's house last night. Pure joy!

He then went to his room and brought down his past bear gifts and we sat and laughed and laughed.

They really are comforting.

Valentine's Day dinner reservations

It's not a good idea to think you can just go out to dinner on Valentine's Day without calling ahead for reservations. Truthfully, you should have made them by now, that evening is huge for eating out and every place is jammed. We learned that many years ago when our kids were young and we made a spur of the moment decision to take them out to eat on Valentine's Day. Every place was packed and the waits were long. So we went home. Lesson learned.

But, this is one place I'd never have expected to need reservations-Waffle House. Yes, Waffle House will be taking reservations this year.

Just an FYI if that is the place where you'd planned to celebrate Valentine's Day.

The comments to this story are funny in a nice way. One guy wrote: "Valentines/ Waffle House: Because Pancakes Work when all your other plans fell FLAT."

Let there be light

It is light much longer in the late afternoon, but, boy, it never seems to lighten up in the morning.

Staying warm in this deep cold

It took me what seemed forever to get dressed this morning as I pulled on several layers from tops to bottoms. Then I went outside with Ferdie and the cold went right through those clothes, at least the 2 layers of pants I put on. That led me to thinking how much better served men are in their options for cold weather clothes. Women's winter clothing are seemingly called thermal or cold resistant, but are made more for looks than actual warmth. We don't want to look bulky I guess.

Back on a 90 degree day in mid-September, the Cardinals played their last game of the season and the give-a-way was a red plaid fur hat with ear muffs. We all got one and laughed a lot over the seeming absurdity of these hats. But, frankly, I'm wearing mine this week without shame or embarrassment. The funny thing about the hat was finding an L L Bean catelog for winter with a Golden Retriever on the cover wearing the same hat.

This is most certainly true this year