The birds seem to delight in emptying the feeders quicker according to the thermometer. I have filled them twice in a week, both times it was below zero. We have two pair each of cardinals and blue jays, several assorted woodpeckers and chickadees and others by the dozens. Add to that four squirrels that are considered regulars. They spill more food than they eat but are quite entertaining to watch.
Cindy and I both spent more time at doctor's offices this week. I got a phone call from Susquehanna Health asking if I had my X-ray ready to bring to my appointment. I realized…what X-ray? …and…what appointment?
At my age and condition I don't pay very much attention to appointments or doctors. If I thought any one of them could change the process that began over seventy years ago I would put a higher priority on appointments and X-rays.
Well, in the end I got the X-ray and made it on time and the doctor in performing an ultrasound felt he had to push the device through me to get a reading. Cindy's two appointments went a bit smoother because she remembered hers. One at Troy and one at Sayre hospital which if you haven't seen friends and neighbors for awhile is the place to do so. We took advantage of our Sayre visit to make a couple of extra stops. Although we support all grocery stores in Canton and Troy we sometimes go to Aldi's to "stock up" on case lots and affordable produce. It's a no-frills store without a lot of the stuff one doesn't really need. You don't have to have a card or belong to a club in order to buy something four cents cheaper than the next guy. I don't use a special card but if I provide a phone number I get the same price. I can rattle off a number so fast anyone listening would surely think it was mine. These companies don't need to know where I live, how much income I have or how many cars we have. All they need is the knowledge that my money is as green as that belonging to the guy with a discount card.
Remember as a child you had a secret decoder ring and clubs that stated you were a member of the Junior Crime Fighters of the Universe? Well, I look as these card and club requirements as much the same. In a word, childish. As the shirt my daughter gave me for Christmas clearly states, "I'm a senior now give me my _________ discount."
Now just a quick comment on the Keystone Pipleine. New York Senator Charles "Upchuck" Schumer says in a speech that the jobs created for construction of the pipeline would be temporary. Wel, "duh." Are not all construction jobs temporary? They are if they are done by qualified workers.
I see where some towns want to ban sledding. What! If you were a kid in the '50s in Alba or surrounding area sledding was almost required. Although we probably had a TV it was not watched 24/7 as they are now. Of course, there were no computers. Do you recall when you actually had to get up out of a chair to change the channel? (I'd guess we had maybe three.) We had one TV that my Dad had to operate with a pair of pliers. My point is sledding was and probably still would be a lot more fun despite your toes and ears feeling about to snap off. All you do is go home, change your socks and bread bags, by that time the extremities are tingling so you can head back out for another couple hours.