Today has not been my best day and I have a long and involved story about having to make several phone calls that entailed being on hold for quite a while. One number I had to call three times; it would have only been two times had I not dropped the phone just as the music cut off after 20 minutes and a voice said, “Hello, how can I help you. This is Lois.” Right then the top part of the phone slid down over the bottom and ended the call. I could only sigh, “Oh, Lois.”

Twenty minutes later, I got another representative . . . and I don’t remember her name at all.

Oh, obviously I am not going into this long and involved story . . . just reporting on the Lois part. Don’t be concerned; it’s not that interesting of a tale.

Let’s see, two weeks ago we were listening to Christmas carols and munching on special cheeseballs and getting recipes pulled out of drawers . . . and duct taped when needed. Last Sunday, it was the lull after Christmas and the gathering of non-alcoholic sparkling drinks for New Year’s. This Sunday, ah, this Sunday is the day before the return to school and the march through midwest winter and early spring. It is slush time – slush time without any glimmering lights.

I am considering hibernation. Hibernation with some books, some nice warm afghans and shortbread cookies, left over from the holidays. We have expanded our cable choices and now can get Turner Classic Movies and much more. I am now watching a show on the London Blitz.  January, February and March in Northern Indiana have a teeny, tiny bit of a blitz about them. Hunkering down and waiting it out, hoping you don’t have a flat tire in a blizzard or power outages.

I exaggerate.

My itching is better and my shingles are drying up.

Oh, yeah, the Colts lost. Well, rats. They are wannabe Cubs . . . and they are succeeding.

We made homemade pizzas today; I crusted and chopped toppings. Now my shoes and socks are off and I’m watching some more of the Twilight Zone marathon. Oh no . . . It’s the one where Burgess Meredith has all the time to read in a destroyed world and his glasses break. Hope that’s not a sign of how the year’s going to go.