December 2024 Randoms

When I was working in the Children's room at the library, I noticed that a book I had checked out and returned was on the cart right next to a book about owls. You can see them in the middle of the picture below: The Raucous Royals right next to Owls. What are the chances of that happening? I often take fun little "coincidences" like this as a sign that I'm being watched out over and am loved by those above. 🤍

A couple of close-ups of the Wicked Good Mom Media team picture. It makes playing Where's Donna? easier. 😄 

As an editor, I'm pretty good with words and grammar. But there are a few things that consistently trip me up, and this is one of them!

Work selfie at the library in Children's. It's one of my happy places! 

Another fun library picture. Books and flowers, two of my favorites!

I liked this article. I enjoy being single (although I have started dating and I'm enjoying that, too).

A pretty picture of a barn owl that was on my computer 😍

Two picture prints from Nate and Kat's wedding. I love these!

I got two great new pairs of slippers for Christmas, so I finally retired my trusty several-years-old L.L.Bean ones. They served me well!

I was in Boston the day after Christmas. Check out the festive red building bow!

This little place is cute. I should stop in sometime and get a treat for myself.

Similar to my slippers, my Franklin Planner binder had gotten pretty worn after several years, so I gifted myself a new one for Christmas. It's quilted navy blue leather, and I love it! I predict that we'll have several good years together as it encloses my plans, schedule, lists, and life in their paper and written forms.

I looked up my DNA updates on Ancestry. I got a little more German and a little less British with the latest refinements!

I want to go to these countries and regions of my ancestry so much! It will happen.

I appreciated this article.

I don't do audiobooks, which is weird because I'm into efficiency and I'd probably get through way more books if I used them. But I am indeed a "book purist." I don't feel that I've read a book unless I've actually read it. I like the feeling of a book in my hands and turning the pages. I'm a book lover through and through. But I can see myself possibly turning to the dark side, at least in part, in the future. 😆

Santa also brought me a candle warmer lamp for Christmas. I'd been hearing about these and as a candle lover, was curious. I'm happy to report that it works really well and was a good gift for myself!

Another owl picture on the laptop! 😍

And another library picture. I approve! One of my resolutions for 2025 is to read for 25 minutes a day.

I was in Boston again on New Year's Eve. My hair salon is on trendy Newbury Street in the building between Rolex and Bulgari. It's a good location right near Boston Public Garden, too. Now if only I could bring myself to drive in there or take the train. I'm a baby and I use Uber!

Wisdom, Humor, and Inspiration in Dec. 2024

 In the order that I took them:

😂

I liked this quote from a two-day virtual workshop I took:

✔

Interesting. This further supports my belief that prescription meds aren't always (or usually) the ideal solution for various conditions of the body and mind.

The best!

😱

This is one of my health goals this year: go to bed between 10:00-10:30 and try to be asleep by 11.

Some Church humor 😆

My Shortest Crazy Times Post Ever, Dec. 2024

 It was the holidays, and Trump had soundly won the election, and the crazy times went on the back burner, at least for awhile. I think things are going to get hot again this year, so the respite was especially nice.

 Capitalism all the way 🙌

Thank goodness the State Department will be cleaned up and strengthened with the new administration. 🤞

This is sad.

I don't think Jimmy Carter was a great president, but he was a great man who I respected and admired.
He was also the president when I was born.

And that's a wrap!

Olive and I

 This post was originally titled "Around the House in December 2024," which is in keeping with the "Around the House" posts I usually do each month. I've already posted many holiday pictures from around the house in December. As I uploaded the non-holiday ones, I realized that they're all of Olive, my mom's cat that's been staying with me for the last few months. Dogs are still my favorite, but I've definitely got a cat lady streak in me. 😺 

Olive is a tiny little thing but she has quite the appetite for human food. Here she was trying to get my sweet potato lunch.

I was probably eating a snack, and she was keeping watch. 😆

Olive isn't a cuddly cat (much to my disappointment 😭-- I miss you, Romeo!). She likes to do her own thing. Sometimes I find her laying like this and I'm like, "Whaaat?" I don't know how she breathes when she does this!

This position looks a lot more cozy and comfortable!

There were actually two blankets in here, but I removed one of them so that Olive could fit comfortably. I'm so accommodating of the cats in my life!

On Christmas evening, I was thankful not to be all alone.

A few nights later

And a few selfies to tie this sweet little post up with a bow!

Here I am holding Olive against her will. This is the only way she'll let herself be held, and we usually have to be in or near the kitchen. 😄

Not my best angle but Olive looks good!

A better angle for me but Olive was trying to get away because I didn't have food.

I've been missing Violet a lot, and Romeo, and really all of the dogs and cats in my life that I've loved and lost. I'm thankful to have Olive right now. It's amazing the difference that having another sentient being in the house makes when you're by yourself, which I am a lot. I love you Olive, even though I think you only mildly like me back! 😄