Z is for Zebra ~ 4/30/20

You all know I am a “Grey’s Anatomy” fan. Seriously! Lol 😂 I also love “New Amsterdam”. Dr. Max Goodwin is a kind version of “House”. “Carol’s Second Act” is cute. Starring the adorable Patricia Heaton. Then there’s “St. Elsewhere” and “ER”. And if I kick it back even further there is “Marcus Welby MD”

Huh? What? Where was I?

ZEBRA 🦓.

“When you hear hoofbeats, think of horses 🐎 🐎 not zebras 🦓🦓”

Every medical show I have ever watched had an episode or two around this caution. Sort of like Occam’s Razor. What has the fewest assumptions is usually true.

In 30 minutes or an hour these TV docs always figure out the zebra diagnosis at the 11th hour to save the day. Horse diagnosis isn’t nearly as entertaining 🤔. We want a nice bow 🎁 on the package.

Well folks our world 🌎 is now one big Zebra. Covid is effing exotic. In my wildest dreams I never could’ve imagined this pandemic. Quarantine? Uh nope. We’re free here!

The absurdity hit home when during our employee meeting yesterday our chief said “we’ve learned many lessons in these last eight weeks at home”. WTF! Has it been that long?

Huh? What? Where am I?

Why yes. Yes it has!

As for the Dub’s, we’re of the watch and wait in the reopening the economy. Not taking any chances. And fully aware of how lucky we are that we don’t have to go out. #grateful #humbled #givethanks

Now as Dennis Miller used to say on SNL “That’s the news and I am outta here”. My #AprilA2Z is fin. But like a bad penny, I’ll be back.

As always more to come.

#1linerWeds. 4/29/20

How are you supposed to eat out at a restaurant with a mask on your face?

Son’s response to the possibility of re-opening his mom’s restaurant at 25% capacity as Texas begins the slow roll-out to a phased re-open of our economy.  The approach allows dining rooms to re-open but does not remove social distancing requirements of six feet apart, masks, and gatherings less than 10.  Seriously Meredith Grey?!?  Makes no sense.

I am heartbroken for all impacted.  When I say all, I mean HUMANITY!!  No one is immune.  😦

Rules and Ping Back

Y is for Yes ~ 4/29/20

Saying NO is hard for me.  I’m a YES woman.  Not like a kiss a$$ but a selfless I may be drowning but sure hard my your rock YES woman. But let’s not dwell on that.   Instead let’s jam with Yes!  Prog rock goodness.  Listen with a headphone.  Now that’s a true treat!

As always more to come.

X is for Xeriscape ~ 4/28/20

Our front garden is an example of xeriscape.  I’m not much of a photographer but hopefully you get the drift.  Here are some snaps:

Keeping it short today.  Let’s have a terrific or terrible Tuesday!  The beauty of it is that you get to decide :).  Need a nudge toward terrific?  Well how about Taco Tuesday?  🙂

P.S. Our own garden surprises me. This was taken during my lunch break. I knew about the pink flowers. We have yellow too. Who knew?!?!

Pretty huh?

 

W is for Weight ~ 4/27/20

Now this is a massive topic. WEIGHT!!!  of the world on our shoulders.  Huh?  WTF?

You feel it too don’t you?  Duh!  Of course you do! Even the “haves” prolly feel it.  These are strange days friend.

My original choice for W, pre-COVID stay orders was welcome.  I wasn’t sure how I’d change it up from a recent #SoCS post re: Disney’s Moana “Welcome”.  But I knew there was plenty meat left on dem bones.

You see my original #AprilA2Z theme, non theme was positive words.  What’s more positive than welcome?  Yet as the day for W crept closer, things didn’t feel welcoming.  Instead, I ventured into weighty territory.

As I typically do, music became the backdrop. My thoughts as I sat down to write were laden with the anger side of grief.  “She’s So Heavy” … instrumental clip/cover … kicked things off.

I want you
I want you so bad, babe
I want you
I want you so bad
It’s driving me mad
It’s driving me mad

She’s so heavy man.  She weighs a ton.  I sit and watch like a hawk. Judging.  Trying to see her slip up.  Prove my suspicions of the worst.  Because I always assume the worst.  Yet through all these days, turned weeks, into months, she proved me wrong.

Doubts linger.  My nature doesn’t allow me to believe without struggle.  I feel for sure the outside world still judges.  They’d never believe either.

And why would they?  With all the ever lovin’ memes making shaming the norm.  Not just physical weight either.  Carrying that weight is a universal symbol for a variety of things.  The burdens we bear.  During times of COVID … but also both before and after.

This mauldin post was brought to you by the mind of one J-Dub McGillicutty for #AprilA2Z.  The demons are expelled once again and considerable weight is lifted off my shoulders.  Albeit briefly, we’ll still call this a win.

As always, more to come.

#SLS for 4/26/20 ~ Lost Boy

The prompts today are Alone/Confined/Depressed/Isolated/Restless/Solo.  I immediately thought I’d do something cheeky and move on.  Ya know like “Red Solo Cup” by Toby Keith.  But then I went on a quest for a song that moves me.  Music has always been healing to me even when the lyrics are dark.

There was no shortage of songs to choose from which is sort of sad/not sad.

When Lulu and I were at her freshman orientation, we sat at a table with a boy, his girlfriend and the boy’s mom.  This kid had a full scholarship for music.  He was a singer with the voice of an angel.   As we sat there during lunch, music was piped through the speakers to create a festive mood.  “Lost Boy” by Ruth B came on and he sang along.  I have chills just thinking about it.

With different majors, they never crossed paths again.  That’s not the point of the story anyway.  Makes me smile to remember.  His voice, the new beginning, hope filled dreams of the next chapter in their young lives.

Now here we are 2020.  Lulu is graduating in August.  We don’t know if they will have a ceremony?   Ya see April 30, turned into May 31, which could turn into … She has no job prospects as all recruiting came to an abrupt halt.  Times are tough.  Lots of lost boys and girls out there.  Without further ado, here is the video.  Lyrics within.

Thanks Jim for hosting us again.  You’re the best.  For anyone who wants to join in, here are the rules and ping back.

As always, more to come.

 

V is for Val ~ Twofer A2Z & #SoCS

Welcome back to the final Saturday of a twofer prompt bonanza.  Time for AprilA2Z and #SoCS!  Linda says “Find a word that starts with “val” or if you’re not doing the A to Z Challenge, find a word that just has “val” in it, and use that word any way you’d like. Enjoy!  Woo to the Hoo!  Val words.  Sky is the limit.  To see the other fine features, follow this link to good times.  Rules and Ping Back

Decisions, decisions.  There are tons of good “Val” beginning words.  Truth be told my first thought was valium then Valentine but I stopped because I know nothing about valium and I am anti-cupid ya know.  Stupid Valentine’s Day.

Hmmm.  Why so harsh?  No reason, just being bratty.

How about we use Valiant as in Prince as in King Arthur knights of the round table. Then of course I think Excalibar.  In Vegas.  Closed for the duration.  I learned something new this week.  Vegas is not the Strip.  The Strip is Paradise.  Seriously, look it up.  Not me I’m streaming.  Just saying. They’re different places y’all.  And yep the mayor might not be my favorite person for what she wanted to do. But still, don’t believe everything you read at face value these days. With all the manipulation, take time for validation.

Yes, validation!  The third most excellent “val” word.  Right after valiant and value. Validation is right up my alley.  Or validation used to be right up my alley … back in the day when I was the Princess Valiant of quality audits.  I learned that before going out large with test results, validating was prudent! Before publishing crap all you media folks on both sides of the aisle, validate that what you write is true.  Is that too much to ask?

Alrighty then.  Enough pontificating.  I mean seriously Meredith Grey.  Who do I think I am?  Jilly McGillicutty, that’s who!

As always, more to come.

 

#WATWB ~ 4/24/20

Choosing something to share this month was harder somehow. Everywhere you look you see the effects of the pandemic. Makes being positive difficult. Then I remembered Soul Pancake. A bright spot for sure. Instead of my pity party, there’s reason to be thankful. Perspective. Now to hold on tight to that feeling. #Gratitude.

Without further ado, more from Kid President. When he said “Being sad isn’t bad, it helps you know what you care about” I teared up. I do know! Hugs to humanity ❤

Thanks to our illustrious hosts. Best concept ever. #WATWB.

<a href=”https://ericlahti.wordpress.com/“>Eric Lahti</a>,

<a href=”https://www.gardenofedenblog.com/“>Susan Scott</a>,

<a href=”<a href=”https://inderpreetuppal.com/“>Inderpreet Kaur Uppal</a>

<a href=”https://www.damyantiwrites.com/“>Damyanti Biswas</a>,

<a href=”http://nofacilities.com/“>Dan Antion</a>,

U is for Uniform ~ 4/24/20

A bit of a hack I will admit but broken record Jilly is still out of sorts and working longer telecommuting hours than ever.  Therefore I am putting up a recycled post from the first year I played #AprilA2Z.  Cheers to 2018!!!!  Cheers to 2020!!!! TGIF and #Free48 as well 🙂

U is for Uniform ~ April 24, 2018

As always, more to come.

T is for Tuba ~ 4/23/20

When he was in 6th grade, B learned to play the tuba.  He also played sports which meant when he was in 7th and 8th grade, during half time, he’d march with the band all while still in his football uniform.  I wish I had pictures from that time.  Or better yet a movie.

This light hearted short was written as part of AprilA2Z.  Good times I tell ya.  Hope you have a terrific day.

As always, more to come.