Ok so here’s the hair cut. I love it’s simplicity. And this is without a “filter”. I look better with a filter as I have on no make up here on my face. But I will show you the real me. I recently saw where a couple of people made fun of those who use filters and one of them was bragging about how she never had to use one because her natural beauty shone through. LOL.

My first thoughts were: “The fall is hard from a prideful haughty spirit” and the 2nd thought was “Beauty is sometimes only skin deep”. And the third thing I thought was “How unkind those words were to those like me that look better with a filter” as I had a lot of trouble with acne in my teen years. And the 4th thing I thought was “God seeks revenge on those that are unkind and make fun of others”. And my 5th thought was “Bless her heart!”. ha! And the 6th thought was “I’ll keep using filters if I wanna as it doesn’t matter what an ice queen thinks”! And my 7th thought was “I’m no better b/c I just called this person an Ice Queen” and then I had to repent.

The cut feels sooooo good. I should have done it sooner.

Paula Deen’s / Nashville

So, Thursday, a coworker (my immediate boss) and I went to Paula Deen’s as it is in our area. We had never been. Normally this would be packed but in Covid times has left it a bit thin in numbers. Plus it is a bit pricey at $18.99 per plate, the least plate in the house. The menu is currently limited. The online version of the menu showed you could order by plate but that was not the case when we got there. All that said, the food was great. Of course it was no Buffett style like the one I went to years ago in Savannah. I’m sure the COVID times have squandered that. But they had Southern Family style serving which is to bring bowls and platters to the table for all to eat “family style”. Well ok. So that is what we did only we pretty much separated our food. There are no to go plates b/c of the fact that it is “all you can eat” of said items. So we wasted food and had to leave what we didn’t eat on the table to be thrown away. I really wish there was a system that if it’s your first and only serving you can take to go orders. But no.

So would we go back? You betcha. The catfish was awesome. I had the grilled chicken and that was awesome too. And you get a free dessert, but….even for that price the tea was not free and we had to pay for that. I got the unsweet peach tea and it was divine!

I made a mental note to go back and Christmas shop here as there were some nice things in the gift shop. We didn’t have a lot of time to peruse it as we were on the lunch hour but we did a little walk through.

Here was my view at lunch that day. Wide windows and a view of Opry Mills Mall in the distance. This Paula Deen Restaurant also sits beside the General Jackson Showboat, which gives you entertainment, dinner, cocktails as you wind the way down the Cumberland River. George and I did that several years ago on our anniversary.

The restaurant is a gorgeous place with lots of “chandelier” type lighting and big flower vases. We woofed our food down and I didn’t get pics, but I did get the bread. It was “out of this world”.

Normally, in cafeteria or “meat N 3” restaurants in the South, you do not see alcohol served. I was impressed that they included the local breweries. It was not on tap but in cans, etc. And the variety of teas was extra special. I can’t wait to take Mom and George here.

I saved my desert for later in the afternoon. It was just the right amount and they DID let us take the dessert to go. Thank goodness. I got the banana pudding, if you couldn’t tell.

We’ve had the sunroom open some this week. And I noticed just how pretty and green the yard is looking out the sunroom window. I took this photo b/c I like the colors, the spikey plant, the little rag doll, and the binoculars. This is just a cozy setting to me. I love it when I catch myself admiring a “spot” in the house that I have put together. There are so many eyesores it seems, so when you get good “chi” it’s always a good thing.

George brought in some lavender from outside. I’m not sure I know what to do with it. Make lavender bouquets? I’m not always very crafty in that way, nor do I have time, but we’ll see? Let me know any ideas you have.

So this little boy Roger, was just beside himself Thursday night as George had a guys night meet up with Ron and Jack that he used to work with at Ron’s house. He got home about 10:30 and I normally go to sleep at 9:00 or 9:30. Of course I couldn’t sleep til he got home and then Roger was howling b/c his Dad was not home yet. I would NOT put him in bed with me b/c I knew he would not stay there. I didn’t want him to break a leg.

Here is his howling in the video below. It’s at the beginning of the video so once he stops there’s nothing else on there. You can stop watching. I didn’t clip it. It’s such a sad howl. It was hard to capture as when I would video he would stop and I only barely got some of it. I felt sorry for him. Above you can see where he is looking for George but he is not finding him. At last they had a grand reunion once he did get home and then we could all sleep. When I do girls night, I’m home at 8:00 just saying! I did cook dinner for him though and it was waiting on him when he got home. Had I known it would have been soooo late, I’d have stopped and got something to eat for myself. Never dreamed he would be that late. But he said that they caught up, laughed, and had a big time.

My Reaction to the Shot

Well, I got my shot Thursday at 5:40 p.m. I was restless Thursday night overnight, with just random pains and aches in different spots. I didn’t sleep well at all.

Friday morning, I was moving slow, had to drink coffee BEFORE I could even get in the shower. I debated about going to work as I really wanted to go back to bed, but I didn’t have a fever and I needed to go and get some things done for payroll related matters to prep for next week. I also need my PTO time. And I never like to wake up and just call in. On Friday’s I also have to sign checks and it really messes things up if the alternate is not there. I didn’t know her schedule so I pushed forward.

I began to feel worse and worse. I was trying to push through but after I got the most important things done I just made the decision that I had no choice. I was miserable and at that point could think of nothing else. Our thermometer at work usually registers me at 95 lol, so it wouldn’t know a fever if you lit a candle under it. I figured if it showed normal I probably had one. My eyes began to get dizzy – well you know that feeling that you get when you start to get a fever? If you move your head too fast you feel dizzy and fuzzy. I get that way when it hits 100.

So I went home and on the way there I thought I could not stand it until I could get in bed. I listed the things I had to do before I could get there. Pull in garage, pull myself upstairs, change Roger’s diaper and give him a snack, go potty, take my temp, change into jammies, text George and let him know, then crash.

Crash I did. I woke up two hours later with 102! It got up to 103 and I got scared and took acetaminophen. At that point my knee caps were about aching off. That was weird. It was like my knee cap was about to give birth. It hurt. I’ve never had a fever hurt so much. The acetaminophen knocked the pain out and took the fever down to 100.

So this morning, I feel more normal. My fever is down to 100 now even after it’s been several hours with no acetaminophen. The last one was at 4:00 a.m. I was so tired of the bed! I kinda feel like the fever is breaking as I woke up in a sweat.

Anyway, I had been warned this could happen. Some of my coworkers experienced this and others did not. I was hoping it would not bother me so bad. But I’m glad that is over and I hope the fever does not return today. At least I feel 10 times better. I can sit and do this blog entry where as yesterday I would not have been able to sit here and type anything worth reading.

My little buddy slept in his bed beside my bed yesterday. At 4:00 he began his howling because he knows his Daddy comes home. Funny how they just know – I guess by the sun. George came home and mowed. Roger howled the entire time, even when I showed him I was here. He knew it was time for his Dad to be inside. Finally he felt the vibration of the garage door when George shut it down for the night and his Dad came through the door. Happy dog to have him here the rest of the night.

It’s a God Thing!

Oh my gosh, I forgot to tell you! You know the cot I need for my office so I can sleep in here when Mom comes? I was going to order that Thursday night. Well Thursday during the day, we got an email that there were cot bases they were going to give away at work – due to a plant move. Can you believe it? The exact day! Heck yeah! So my boss let me go over and get one before they were gone. While there they gave me some foam that had been constructed that was not the right size and unusable and they said they were giving that away too if I wanted it, but it would have to be cut. George thinks he can cut it to fit the cot. So I saved $300 ish. I was so excited. What timing. This only can be a God thing! So I’ll be working on the office “again”. lol

Much to do this weekend as normal. I’ll post my to do list tomorrow. Did pretty good this week though. Although I’m moving kinda slow today, as long as the fever is below 100, I can function. So I think this is passing.

Did any of you do this on your 2nd shot? I think it’s worth it though. So we can begin to live somewhat of a normal life. I requested a lifting of the mask mandate at work because most have had their shots that are going to get it. The rest are basically saying “I don’t want it and will take my chances”. And so we should not have to continue to wear the masks at work if we are fully vaccinated and beyond 2 weeks as CDC recommends. And certainly not have to continue to wear masks just because others don’t want to get it. Let them wear the masks. Just sayin’. I’m done with the masks after two weeks of this vaccine. I’ve paid my dues. I’ve complied. Now Let me free! I can hear them now though, the one that wants to not wear masks is the one that left with a fever! ha. Can’t you just hear ’em now? But it was a side effect of the shot, but you know how people love to talk and make issue of things. I’m no fool. I know how it goes down. But again, I’m done with the masks now that I’m fully vaccinated.