So Cold

Lately it has been so cold I can feel the moisture on my eyeballs get thick when I go outside.  It's so cold I can't help but zip my coat over my chin and mouth and mutter like Yosemite Sam.  But I found a new way to cope with the cold.  Into my favorite winter drink (no sugar added hot cocoa) I stir two shakes of ground cayenne pepper.  Holy shamoley, that is one hot drink.  I love it.

I Was Singing At Work

For some reason a coworker and I sang the entire chorus to this song at work in the breakroom the other day.  After the chorus I continued with the scat singing.  Normally I'm not a singer in public; not even in church when everyone else sings.  I don't know what came over me. 

She Parked In My Spot

I was early arriving to work this morning.  As I drove into the parking lot I saw someone had parked in my spot.  That thought has absolutely no bearing on what happened next.  As I went to pull in next to the Honda CRV who was parking in my spot, I totally lost control of my car because the parking lot was temporarily an ice rink; slick and smooth without a smidgen of traction.  I was about 7 car lengths away and driving slow.  When you are sitting in a vehicle that weighs 2,744 pounds and have no control of it even though the steering wheel is in your hands and the brake pedal is under your foot, it's a scary feeling.  I thought to myself, "Seriously?  This is not happening.  This is NOT HAPPENIN . . . Oh, yes, it just happened."  AiCarumba! I parked next to her and looked.  My front bumper put a dimple into her rear passenger side bumper.  I didn't know for sure it was a woman but most of the workers here are women.  I saw no damage to my car.  And yes, to be completely honest, I did consider parking several rows away and walking in as if nothing happened.  But I didn't.  I didn't want to be that person.  I wanted to be the kind of person who hits me next time.  I parked next to my victim and went in to confess to the property management person.   He grumbled about the parking lot not being salted.  He said he would talk to the Community Service Officer (CSO).   I wrote a note apologizing and giving her my contact information.  Another car almost slammed into her car as I was putting the note on the windshield.  I told the CSO officer she parked in my spot.  He laughed and said she deserved it.  The CSO looked up her plates and tracked down where she worked.  While I was in a meeting I saw my victim walk out to her car, take the note off her windshield, and walk around looking at the damage.   She called me. I apologized again.  She understood.  It was an ice rink when she parked too.  She said she would get an estimate for a bumper at the auto body and give me a call.  I said I would be glad to pay for her bumper.   This was not the best way to start the day but very, very far from the worst.  When I think about it, today may have cost me a few bucks but it also gave me a chance to be who I want to be.

Project Feederwatch Update

Pileated woodpecker-1, Northern Flicker (photo)-1, Hairy woodpecker-2, Downy Woodpecker-2, Red bellied Woodpecker-2, American Crow-2, Black Capped Chickadee-4, White breasted Nuthatch-4, Common Redpoll-5, Goldfinch-4, Dark Eyed Junco-2, Blue Jay-1

Self Indulgence At The Grocery Store

New Recipe

Here is a new recipe I adapted a little bit.
High Protein Pancakes
Ingredients:  1/2 cup old fashioned oatmeal, 2 Tablespoons protein powder, 1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese, 2 eggs, 1 dribble vanilla extract, 3 shakes ground cinnamon

Method:  In a blender, blend the oatmeal into flour, add protein powder and blend together.  Add two eggs and blend until all the dry ingredients are incorporated.  Add cottage cheese, vanilla and cinnamon.  Blend for a couple minutes.  It's important to combine the oatmeal and protein powder with the eggs first.  If you add the cottage cheese to the dry ingredients, you will end up with a mixture much like clay and you will be sorry.  Pour the mixture onto a hot, greased frying pan and enjoy these guiltless, delicious pancakes.

First Full Moon Of the Year

The next full moon I see will be from the other hemisphere.