Is it cold at your house? Around here it is the coldest it’s been in thirteen years! If you live in the north, I know you snicker when we complain about a couple of days of wind chill in the teens, but Texans aren’t always physically or mentally prepared for the Arctic blasts.
Last night was a “five cat night,” as opposed to a “three dog night.” I’m not alluding to the band you might remember from the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. I’m referring to the habit the Australian bushmen had of sleeping with their dogs on cold nights. A “three dog night” was supposed to be dadgum cold. Pssht! That was nothing!
A “five cat night” is frigid and loud. We had no “precipitation,” but we had “purr-cipitation” as they vied to see who could get the closest to my nose to rumble. If you like cats, that might sound enjoyable, but I can tell you from personal experience that it is not. It’s warm, alright … but sleeping is next to impossible when hissy fits are being thrown by two cats on your belly.
Although my teeth are chattering from the cold, I’m not complaining. I can’t complain, because it’s Friday … and on Only The Good Friday I have charged myself with being optimistic. I figure that if I practice this optimism business long enough I will eventually become a “glass-half-full” kinda gal. It’s wishful thinking…
But seriously, I have those five cats, a load of seasoned oak firewood, and my long johns (also known as thermal underwear) to keep me toasty. I’ve also got a pot of coffee and some tomato soup for lunch to keep me all warm inside. Some people aren’t so lucky. There are folks out there battling the cold weather without the proper “artillery.”
This might be a perfect time to do a good deed. We have to look out for each other, y’all. Do you have an elderly neighbor; a neighbor living alone; or one who is experiencing hard times? Perhaps today would be a good day to check on them and make sure they have adequate heat, that there is food in the house … that they are OK. And, those coats that you piled up in the closet and intended to donate to charity? If you get out of the house today, run them down to the local homeless shelter so that someone can get use out of them.
I think that I will go to Wal-Mart later today and try to find some sales on socks, scarves, and winter hats to donate. First, I have to call 2-1-1 to find out what agency in my area would benefit most from that donation. Remember that 2-1-1 is also the number to call if you know anyone who needs help. The folks who respond on that line can find answers and direct you to assistance in your neck of the woods.
Yes, that’s what I’m going to do to make me feel all warm inside. Hmm. I wonder if any of those agencies need five cats?
How about you? Are you faring well in this extreme weather? Do you know someone who could use some help? Or, do you have any suggestions that we can do to help others?
I hope you have a wonderful Friday filled with only the good.
Here are some of my friends who also try to post “the good.”
RV Poetry; Candid Karina; All My Great, or Not So Great Adventures; Inside Mo’s Mind; Thorne’s World; Down River Drivel; Duward Discussion; Ramblings of an Unstable Mind; Insightful Nana; Newbie Lifeline; Everyday Tarot; West of Mars; Life’s Journey; Round Circle; Barbara’s Travels; Blog of Revelation; Desert Diva; Blogjem My Life As It Is
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It’s unnaturally cold here in Houston area too. The last time it was this cold it snowed. I went to Joanne’a to buy some fleece for a new scarf for my son. While there I saw fleece remnants in clearance so I bought all they had for less than $10. I cut the fleece into rectangles to make scarves. You don’t have to sew anything with fleece! I did sew the edges on some of them because that’s just me. I ended up with over 30 scarves and donated them to the local church shelter. I might do that again now & take downtown to the homeless shelters there. Fleece comes in 60″ lengths so it is super easy to take a remnant & get 2 or more scarves from it. Lots of colors, styles, etc. too.
Elizabeth´s last blog ..Photography & Project 365
I’ve seen you talking about the fleece before and it is a great idea. Scarves are great, but I’m looking at socks (I know that if my feet get cold, I’m cold all over).
You may have seen this on yahoo this morning, but if not have a look.
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/h-m-and-wal-mart-destroy-and-trash-unsold-goods-562909/
They do it with perfectly good food as well, I was on my broom about it when we had chickens and I was wanting to get scrapes for them. I think I did a post about it.
It’s criminal with the tough times this country is facing right now.
janeywan´s last blog ..It’s a new year.
Wal Mart has always done this, and I know how angry you are! It’s a crying shame.
Hi Shelley, thanks for stopping by the blog. I do remember a cold spell back around 1981 or 83 where we went two weeks with temps below 20 in Dallas. Plumbers were going crazy with all the busted pipes once it thawed out. Today, the dog doesn’t care about the cold, she wants her walk, so I’m going out and road-test a ski mask my mom gave me. I’m @FifiLePew on twitter, but I don’t tweet much lately. I’m up for a meetup sometime…
marcia´s last blog ..friendly faces
We will have to see if we can’t find a time to get together! I’m so glad that my five cats don’t need to be walked!
You’re so amusing! I had the same thought the other morning, but didn’t have the car. I did not know the 2-1-1. I should have, but didn’t and I usually read news on my iPhone and the local news only give phones access to certain articles, so I missed if anyone was collecting and where. So, thank you, ma’am. I will call them.
Lucky us – it has been in mid 30’s for days overnight – but up to maybe mid 60’s in afternoon – have not turned on the heat yet. Lowest it went was around 67. So, we didn’t need kitty cats…. ; )
Marcia´s last blog ..Love is God, a Video
I didn’t need kitty cats, either
. But, I’ve got them. Our local Salvation Army has a shelter. I’ve got socks, some shirts and some men’s underwear (size large is what they wanted, so that’s what I bought). It’s the least I can do … except give them some cats…
That didn’t sound right, the amusing was directed to the cats in bed, not the people freezing, but you knew that, I’m sure.
Marcia´s last blog ..Love is God, a Video
Yeah, I did…