QUITE THE DIFFERENCE, YES?

 It's a cool and breezy 40 degrees this morning in not-so-sunny California.  That big round warm thing in the sky evades us like the plague.  Since I got all those marshmallows on my last candy trip to town, I thought maybe some hot cocoa might help.  

Not so much this time since I promptly burned my mouth getting too much cocoa and not enough marshmallows.   OUCH!!!  This is Swiss Miss with tiny little white things that disappear before it's even stirred.  If you going to have sugar, have a LOT of it!!

With nothing going on and work cancelled, I headed off to return two Amazon items.  My tried and true 10:30 arrival went south.  I've never seen this many cars in the too-small parking lot.  Luckily for me, I took the Jeep for easier parking.  

I'm a mirror gal.  I saw nothing and no one moving.  Suddenly there was a BEEP BEEP and I slammed on the brakes.  Some guy behind me tried to back into me.  I decided those beep beeps are a good thing because he missed me as I jammed it into drive.  New rule ... never go on Monday.

There was a quick stop at the Once-Mexican grocery store.  These new owners ... they do not believe in heat.  Quite the difference, yes?  The entire store is just as cold inside as outside.  Can you imagine working there?  I was freezing by the time I got checked out.  Oh ... and no bags ... AT ALL.  I stuffed everything into my purse and pockets.

It was a very dull afternoon.  The dreary skies always get to me about 2:00.  I watched Santa Clause 1 and 2 (which I've seen multiple times) until I had to get out of the house.  Once again, green grass and not so sunny skies.  Two miles later, I felt MUCH better.

Good enough in fact to whip up a batch of peanut butter cookies.  WITH peanut butter chips included.  It makes all the difference in these cookies.  These will all go to Arizona with me.  Okay, maybe all but FIVE.

And here's the biggest difference of the YEAR!  My family was never big on taking or saving pictures.  Neither was I.  I wanted to forget most of it, but that's another story.  Oh yes ... here I am at about 26 years old I think, looking like I'm 13.  The hairstyle?  Just like in the 1800's ... pulled back into a French twist.  Anyone remember those???

When I look in the mirror now, I don't see this person at all.  But JONATHAN ... HIM I definitely remember.  He is maybe 5 months old here.  You can tell he's a baby because there is very little yellow on his head, and his beak still has a black spot.  Don't laugh, but I think I even still have this shirt in the back of my closet.  It was my all time favorite.

Quite the difference, yes??  It's just hard to believe this guy is still around after all these years.  Like  his Mom, he's slowing down quite a bit.  Not near as much talking.  Unlike his Mom however, he is losing a little weight.  This guy has done almost as much traveling in an RV as Cooper has.  

Just a note ... that picture of me came from an ex-husband who passed away.  One of my friends acquaintances was his caretaker for the last few years, and she passed along the picture.  Cowgirl with a parrot ... no wonder we got divorced!!!  I should write a book.

Life goes on for Jonathan and I ... thank the Good Lord.  We are blessed to still be here.

I'll be on the run early.  Fort Knox gave me an alarm yesterday, so I called the Monitoring Company.  I'm sure it needs a new pricey battery.  I usually do all that myself, but I'm getting lazy in my old age.  

And so I'll be putting on my armor soon after.  It's BINGO TIME!!!