DIE ! JANUARY, DIE ! HODGEPODGE

     Welcome to the day before we wait with bated breath for the weather prognosticating rat to tell us if he see's his shadow. If he see's his shadow, we get another six weeks of Winter. If not, we get about a month and a half more.
     We have come to another month and, being Wednesday, another Wednesday Hodgepodge.  Thank you Joyce Daley for another series of probing questions. Now onto this week's answers.

1. Can you believe it's the end of January? What was the best day of January 2017 for you, and why?
     January 31st was the best day of the month because with the passing of the 31st the month of January died with it. See my random thought for the reason why.

2. What sounds make up the background noise in your life?
     The sounds of grandchildren laughing and playing dominos and Score Four with their Granny and Pepere. 

3. I read on the Power of Positivity website a list of ten things to drop from your life right now. They are-

anger outbursts, people who put you down, regret, negative self talk, being a people pleaser, the notion you need to be perfect, the past (but keep the lessons learned!), gossip and judgment, comparing yourself to others, and the word hate (focus on what you love instead)

Which thing on the list do you most need to drop? Are you trying or will you try?
     I guess there are two things that I need to drop. "Regret" and "Negative Self Talk." I tend to be my harshest critic and I have difficulty letting go of things I should have done better.

4. What is sacred to you?
     God, my beloved SWMBO, and my faith.

5. January is National Oatmeal month. Are you a fan, and if so how do you like it?
     I am a huge fan of oatmeal. I like it with a little cream and sugar or maple syrup.

6. What feelings does twilight stir up in you?
     Nostalgia...for events of the day, the highlights of the year and friends and occasions of the years past.

7. Something you're looking forward to next month?
     My beloved SWMBO's Stem Cell Transplant. It had to be pushed back two weeks for reasons I won't go into. She is currently scheduled to enter the hospital on February 15th.

8. Insert your own random thought here. 
     This month has been an economic disaster. It began with our vehicle needing rotor and brake pads on all four wheels. 
     Next, SWMBO needed oral surgery which is only partially covered by our dental insurance. 
     Next in the January hit parade, last Thursday our oil furnace gave up the ghost and had to be replaced. Fortunately, we have a wood pellet stove so we had plenty of heat. At least that's what I thought. During the overnight from Thursday to Friday a car, who's driver is apparently a graduate of the Helen Keller School of Driving, took out a utility pole on our road knocking out power. No power...no pellet stove...no heat. Happily, our utility company was able to restore power within a few hours. 
     Finally, while the furnace installers were replacing the furnace, they inadvertently nudged our water well's expansion tank which proceeded to fail, spewing water everywhere. So the expansion tank had to be replaced before the furnace installation could continue because we have a forced hot water system. We were without any water for several hours until the tank replacement was completed. 
     So the month of January has put us in a deep hole which will probably take years to dig ourselves out of. That said, our God has explicitly said that He will never leave us nor forsake us. He is our rock and our refuge during times of trouble. He is ALWAYS faithful. So we're fine! With God on our side, how can we not be? 
     Enjoy your Wednesday and thanks for listening.