Friday, Febuary 11, 2011 AM

I must post, or Barbara will just shrivel up and die, longing to hear from me.
Renae e-mailed me that she LOVES my blog.  She's accustomed to my way of telling things as I see them, and letting the chips fall where they may, and she says she finds my style of blogging refreshing.  Her opinions matter to me, so I take her approval as a strong compliment.
Faune also comments frequently, and I'm glad to hear from her.
Yesterday started out slowly.  I didn't want to do much, because I just felt 'draggy'.
I worked around the house, alternately going back to bed to warm up on the heat mat.  My legs hurt so badly when they get even a little cold air on them.  Even with two pairs of knee socks and my leggings, they feel the cold.  All this pain is a living hell.
After lunch, I called Renae to ask if she'd like me to come up and do some volunteer work at the Goodwill.  She's always glad to get good help with almost any of the work there.  We get our truck on Wednesdays, so there is always work on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
I didn't help with sorting, because I wanted to scrape some of the chewing gum, paint, fingernail polish, and God-knows-what off the floors.  I'd love to give them a good stripping and waxing, but Kelly told me that Goodwill sends someone to do all that.  It doesn't come out of Renae's budget, so I'll let them move all the racks and do the hard work.  Kelly mopped the aisles, though, and it helped make the store look a lot better.  Carzel helped me scrape the stuff off the floors.  She's so co-operative.  She pitches in and will do anything.
Cherokee was there, and we always hug and tell each other we love them, after we trade insults.
I love to get over close to her and 'shove' her by bumping into her.  She has a good sense of humor, so we 'bounce off each other' a lot.
Her husband, Steve, was there for a short while.  He asked me about my old cars.
Mike, Gena's ex-husband, was there for a short visit with Renae.  He's a really nice fellow, and good-looking in the mix.  He's helped me out with emergency repairs a few times while Steve was gone and something broke.  I'm really fond of him.  I have a secret (well, not now) hope that he and Renae will 'hit it off'.  They're both single now, and have a lot in common.
I think they might already be on the way.
I came home and started working on a huge doll house that I'd bought last week at Goodwill.  It's stone on the outside, and I'm painting the plastic to look like real stone, in all kinds of shades of browns, grays, and beiges.  It's going to look really good.  I'll use it for the pigeons, because of it's size.  I should take it to the Goodwill to show the ladies what I've done with it.
I didn't go to bed until around 2:00, because I had got involved in that project.  So, I slept late this morning.  I needed the rest.
I had gone by the Family Dollar last evening to get some cat food.  Joan is making really slow progress with re-setting the shelves.  I'd say she's missing her free help.  She's getting a truck this morning, but there will be one volunteer that is conspicuous by her absence.
Steve and I talked last night about maybe getting a place for me to start a re-sale shop in the Rutledge area.  I think, with my personality and my tremendous inventory of junk and collectibles, I'd do well, but not in Rutledge.  We already have two re-sale shops, and I don't really think the economy would support another one.  I'd love the interaction with all the fine folks here, and I love junk, but the market is saturated.
Grainger Gifts and Grub, a local restaurant and gift shop, is closing for good today.  They only had about 6 tables, and that's not really enough seating to make a good restaurant work here.
In Grainger County, we like to see other people when we're having a meal.
My taste runs more to the likes of Down Home.
The sun is shining on Clinch Mountain, but I believe the weather could go either way.  It's very cold outside.  The cats are in their little houses for the warmth of the heating pads.
I feel sorry for my birds in this cold.
I will be glad for the warmth and new life of spring.