That's All, Folks

I hate January.

Sorry for the anything-but-upbeat opener but I just had to say it. 

I proclaim January the least-inspired and therefore least-inspiring month of ALL.

What I do is, I make every attempt to ignore January. I loathe and despise it that much.

Right on schedule my annual impatience for January to slide off the calendar and be gone from my sight, arrives and clouds my horizon for at least thirty-one days.

Too bad poor TG was born in January.

Every year, a month after Christmas when we are all still trying to figure out where we misplaced our resolve to eat right, exercise, and plow through the Bible like bulimic locusts, we have to work up enough excitement to put on a birthday party.

So it was that scarcely ten days into January, TG and I were in the car on the way to church and I was thinking about my own birthday.

In order to do that, I had to fast-forward not only through January, but also through February, landing in the first week of March.

I told TG I wanted to take a little trip for my birthday. I was very specific about where I want to go and how long I want to stay and what I want to do while out of town.

TG was quiet. As usual. I don't refer to him as the "clam before the storm" for nothing.

Yes; I am the storm part of that. You have been warmed warned.

However in this case I interpreted his silence as "Okay, precious, whatever you say," because at such times that's generally what it means.

But then he spoke.

"I only want one thing for my birthday," he said.

My face turned red. I was that embarrassed. I had not given TG's birthday one single thought, so busy was I plotting how to celebrate my own.

So I waited. TG eked out several more words.

"I want a golf lesson from Robin All," he elaborated.

Robin is a local pro. TG has studied with him before, both individually and as part of a group.

So. In this case all really meant All. All TG craved was some quality time with All.

Relieved that all I had to do in order to make TG's birthday dreams come true was send a group email, I did so that very afternoon.

As a result our kids pooled their racehorses and bought TG not one but several hours of individual instruction with the estimable and sought-after Robin All.

Upon receiving the gift certificate, TG was truly touched.

I could tell becuase instead of saying "That's nice," which is his reaction to virtually all gifts, be they a toothpick or a Ferrari (well, to be honest he's never gotten a Ferrari but go with me on this), he elevated one eyebrow at least a half-centimeter and uttered a single telling syllable: "Wow."

I bought my sweetheart some books, having dragged out of him at least one title he'd like to add to his collection, and having augmented that with a few more volumes I knew he'd enjoy.

Plus some Wonderful pistachio nuts (get crackin') and a package of Bahlsen Leibniz butter biscuits, for munching while reading.

On the day, pizza was ordered and a german chocolate cake was prepared. Two of our four kids were on hand for the festivities. The other two sent cards and called.

I hauled out the Pirate Party decoration purchased awhile back at the dollar store for occasions such as these.

On the very next day after TG's birthday, the buzz about the impending snowstorm boiled all around us.

And three days after the birthday, we got that rare blanket of snow.

Finally -- finally -- if I can manage to get through today, January is truly G-O-N-E gone for another year.

All good.

And that is all for now.

=0=0=0=

Happy Friday ~ Happy Weekend ~ Happy February

=0=0=0= 

Treasures of the snow

The dark fell before the snow did, but no matter.

Our little deck angel was patient.

And now he wears the snow he watches.

=0=0=0=

Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow?

Job 38:22

=0=0=0=

Ice follows. Snow kidding.

So for the last forty-eight hours there's been all this kerfuffle about snow falling on South Carolina.

A follower friend who lives in Ohio tweeted to me shortly after noon, wondering how much snow we'd gotten thus far.

In an attempt to be positive, I responded thusly:

@UberGoober Nary a flake. Yet. #OnItsWay #OneHundredPercentChance

— Jennifer Weber (@JennyPennifer) January 28, 2014

Snow is not a subject we have occasion to discuss with any frequency in these parts.

In fact, the last significant ice/snow event in my memory was in January of 2010.

The current sensational meteorological event -- ice, followed by snow -- is scheduled to commence in our neck of the woods this afternoon.

Thrilling. I love storms. But I confess, as recently as an hour ago, I remained skeptical.

So often we are promised exciting weather which never materializes.

I posted my doubts on Twitter.

Snow in the Midlands of South Carolina today? I'll believe it when I see it. #StillSkeptical #RainEvent

— Jennifer Weber (@JennyPennifer) January 28, 2014

But lo and behold y'all, scarcely a half hour after I tweeted my skepticism, what do you think occurred?

Sleet began falling out of the sky. That's what.

Those tiny jots of ice make the most whispery yet ominous sound as they land on grass and trees.

For your sake I went out there. I went out there and tried to find a piece of that tiny ice. To take its picture.

But they're not yet visible. Only audible.

So yes; like a good girl, I ate my words.

Well shut my mouth. Sleet. #HereWeGo

— Jennifer Weber (@JennyPennifer) January 28, 2014

At least one follower requested clarification, which naturally I was happy to provide.

@Rightwingpolok Very small. I call 'em ice jots. They make an ominous sound in their collective urgency. I'm by the fire, where I'll remain.

— Jennifer Weber (@JennyPennifer) January 28, 2014

Stay tuned and never fear: I will show you what happens.

Meanwhile, follow my example: Stay warm and stay home.

And that is all for now.

=0=0=0=

Happy Tuesday

=0=0=0=

May God help us

If you missed Brit Hume's brief but powerful commentary on Wednesday, the forty-first anniversary of Roe versus Wade -- or even if you didn't -- here it is:

God bless America and God keep the precious innocents.

=0=0=0=

Happy Friday ~ Happy Weekend

=0=0=0=

Hearts understand

Hearts understand in ways minds cannot.

~Louis Wilson~

Hearts, once you have them locked up in your chest, are a fantastic heap of tender and terrible wonders -- but they must be trained. A heart can learn ever so many tricks, and what sort of beast it becomes depends greatly upon whether it has been taught to sit up or to lie down, to speak or to beg, to roll over or to sound alarm, to guard or to attack, to find or to stay. But the trick most folk are so awfully fond of learning, the absolute second they've got hold of a heart, is to pretend they don't have one at all. It is the very first danger of the hearted. Shall I give fair warning, as neither you nor I was given?

~Catherynne M. Valente~

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

~Proverbs 4:23~

=0=0=0=

Have a Happy Heart and a Happy Wednesday

=0=0=0=