Jeanne Ball

I was invited to talk to our local senior center tomorrow. They didn’t give me a topic, so it’ll mostly be about some of our programs. I have a little card with prompts, but it’s all off the cuff and I’m nervous about that.

Last time I talked to this group, years ago, someone asked about a whiskey tasting we’d held and what message that was giving the kids… I said kids weren’t invited. People who think libraries are just for kids drive me nuts. Also, someone who asks that isn’t going to be happy with any answer.

18h

The talk was… stupid. But I answered some questions and maybe drummed up a little business. Then I went to work and did my staff newsletter which I didn’t get done on Saturday. And then I went to my study club where someone told me more about Georgia O’Keeffe than I knew before (Not hard to do).

I wrote a poem after sitting in the Walmart parking lot crying. As one does. My emotions today are not a roller coaster, more like an elevator—where some kid has just hit all the buttons—moving slowly between floors. But I got a poem out of it, so there’s that.

I like O’Reilly. Maybe because of the ad with Saros. *whispers* No goals. And that’s what I wish for Mr. O’Reilly tonight. #LetsGoPens

That assist ties Crosby with Ray Bourque for most with one franchise. And gets us a point against a Western Conference team. Yay. #LetsGoPens

What’s that? Two W’s in a row? Koivunen loses the puck, sort of. Then takes it to the other circle and shoots. Scores. Unless I’m remembering that wrong. #LetsGoPens

I like O’Reilly. Maybe because of the ad with Saros. *whispers* No goals. And that’s what I wish for Mr. O’Reilly tonight. #LetsGoPens

That Elmer fella sure has a wingspan. Someone else would get a penalty but he can get his stick in front of a guy. #LetsGoPens

Rakell from Crosby. Ties it up. Keep it. #LetsGoPens

I like O’Reilly. Maybe because of the ad with Saros. *whispers* No goals. And that’s what I wish for Mr. O’Reilly tonight. #LetsGoPens

Old Man Crosby is not having fun tonight. Linesman/ref got him earlier. Then a puck. #LetsGoPens

Nice of the guys to help Silov’s save percentage by allowing more shots on goal. #LetsGoPens

I like O’Reilly. Maybe because of the ad with Saros. *whispers* No goals. And that’s what I wish for Mr. O’Reilly tonight. #LetsGoPens

Silovs makes a nice save, sliding to the left. Saves his D. #LetsGoPens

Guys are getting chances. Be nice if they missed the goalie a couple of times, though. #LetsGoPens

I like O’Reilly. Maybe because of the ad with Saros. *whispers* No goals. And that’s what I wish for Mr. O’Reilly tonight. #LetsGoPens

Pens tie it up! Good start to the 2nd. #LetsGoPens

Where was the coverage for that Preds goal? #LetsGoPens

I really need to start bringing my inhaler with me to games. It’s in my bag, which I usually have with me but is currently in my car. Don’t know if it’s the walk or the cold, but my lungs aren’t happy.

Might be a combination, but sticking my face in my shirt and breathing through that is helping a little.

I like O’Reilly. Maybe because of the ad with Saros. *whispers* No goals. And that’s what I wish for Mr. O’Reilly tonight. #LetsGoPens

Bah humbug. Nashville with the goal sliding in. #LetsGoPens

Iceburgh’s birthday. Do we get cake? #LetsGoPens

I like O’Reilly. Maybe because of the ad with Saros. *whispers* No goals. And that’s what I wish for Mr. O’Reilly tonight. #LetsGoPens

Nice shift by the “starting line”. Robertson just wouldn’t quit. #LetsGoPens

Koivunen ought to be allowed that high stick. The hand-eye coordination ought to outweigh it.

The “please watch your step” signs are new at PPG. Something happen? Again. #LetsGoPens

Something is in season. Lots of shots in the gamelands this morning.

Pheasant season opened this morning. That makes a lot of sense, considering they dump pheasants out around my house. Haven’t seen/heard any lately, though.

Something is walking through the leaves outside. I have my window open and I can hear it. Freaked me out for a second until I figured out what was happening. These cold nights sure have quieted the frogs and insects. Only buzzing is internal.

I was, very briefly, at the longitudinal center of Canada on Sunday. “I’m in the middle of nowhere!” I crowed. They had good roads, though, so it wasn’t the actual middle of nowhere.

Potato soup on the hob. I want to eat now! But I think, the kind of potato I got, it might be a while. Who knew there were different kinds that were for different purposes? As a kid we had one kind of potato. We got it in 50 pound bags from the back of the Bushey family’s van.

I'm not in love with people who drop things into otherwise unrelated emails. Emails should have one purpose. Stated early on so I can read the subject and half the first line and not open it, preferably.

Guy next to me says at 6 minutes, 3-0, I think they’ve got this. I gave him a look. #LetsGoPens

But it’s getting closer to feeling okay. Empty netter always feels good. #LetsGoPens

Was that not icing? #LetsGoPens

Geno: I got this. #LetsGoPens

He just seemed so matter of fact after he scored. Like, yeah, that’s what I get paid to do. #LetsGoPens

Back up where I belong. *sigh* No more vacation tickets near the ice.

Malkin just bodying into the fray. Love it. #LetsGoPens

Robertson! Nice drag. #LetsGoPens

Seems like a lot of empty seats tonight. I’ve only been here for weekend games so far, are they always this empty on a weekday? Oh, wait. We’ve only had one other game. #LetsGoPens

Went through the car wash. Came out with smut still all over my windshield. Ugh. I miss the swishy stuff over just the sprays.

My cheesecloth "ghosts" came out okay. They aren't as stiff as I expected them to be, but they stand in their own. I think I was expecting something more the consistency of plaster of Paris. Don't know why since it's just dried glue. The one is too round; the other has better shape to it.

Worlds collide. Hockey & Reading, two of my favorite pastimes.

This post is unavailable.

Jeanne Ball reposted

Merriam-Webster

@merriam-webster.com

Technically, a dictionary is a book of spells.

I just spent 10 days essentially alone. Most days I didn’t have more than a cursory conversation with anyone. Today, everyone was asking me about my trip. Barely got anything done because people kept dropping in. My face hurts.

Oh, but I had a craft program scheduled for this evening. Why did I do that to myself? I only had 3 people, though, so it was fine. And, thankfully, they could kind of do their own thing because I also had to cover the desk. We made ghosts. I hope they turn out. They’re drying overnight.

Home is good, but also I don’t feel like I quite fit. Is that weird? I’m sure a couple days at work will pare me down.

I’m home! Took me three days, but it was a beautiful three days. Still, nice to be home. Now, laundry and maybe I remember it’s garbage night! *collapses on couch*

First thing I did was check on my turtle. Added water, fished out a bunch of leftover food (not great for him), and added some sludge-eating stuff that I hope will help clean up the water a bit. Okay, lie. First thing I did was turn my heating up.

Last stretch of the drive home. Got most of the lower peninsula of Michigan and not quite the width of Ohio to drive today. It's weird how quickly the land can change. I've been enjoying the non-highway driving the last couple of days. Even if all I was doing was driving, it feeds something in me.

I love new stuff. Seeing new things. Driving new roads. Makes me happy. And putting new things into context is pretty cool, too.

Listened to an audiobook today and the narrator said dinghy when I’m sure the word was dingy. Made me chuckle a bit.