Saturday, December 30, 2006

I wonder why...

I could wander around outside this morning in just a sweatsuit in 20 degree F. weather and I wasn't cold, but now it's afternoon, forty degrees outside, fifty+ inside, I'm dressed the same, and I'm freezing?

Maybe I shouldn't be eating ice cream.

Okay, now it's in the freezer.

I ventured into town today, almost hysterically anxious about whether I would get out of my mobile home park without sliding into someone else's car or home because of the ice-caked road. (Have I mentioned that I grew up and learned to drive in the desert?) I'd just seen a Suburban sliding around, and didn't have much confidence in my lighter vehicle's ice-skating prowess. However, through much fervent prayer, and the chipper assurances of my neighbor that I'd make it fine, I did get out onto the street, and from there, onto the highway, which was dry and safe.

I made it into town, took part in the closing down of a retail business I'd invested in, shopped for food, and came straight home. I unloaded my car, put everything away, and now I'm sitting here with my little electric heater, eating lemon chicken and getting rid of my shivers.

A ab lounger ad proclaims you can use their product to gain a "toned, sexy core." I just want a warm one.

Thursday, December 28, 2006

I woke up this morning

to find an inch of snow on the ground and more falling. I love this! It's especially good because I don't plan to go anywhere for a while, I have a trunkful of bottled water and more in the house, and a good store of food.

I also have a novel to finish rewriting.

Back to work!

Sunday, December 24, 2006

Merry Christmas

Fans of my writing may not know that I was a singer before I was a writer. I've had a long and varied career: 1st solo at age 3, soloist with the Tempe Symphony Orchestra, and appeared in several operas, concerts, and many choirs, not to mention the thousands of times I have sung in Church services and events.

Today I had the special experience of singing a wonderful and poignant Christmas song, "Mary's Lullaby," accompanied by the composer herself, Wanda West Palmer. What a joy and thrill this was!

As I wish you all Merry Christmas, I want to mention the happiness I find in playing the organ for Worship Services in my little church. Last Sunday, I was almost overcome with the joy of serving my Lord and my fellow beings. The music swept through me, and encompassed me, and I was full of pure joy. It was an outstanding, unique moment.

Happy Holidays to all my family, friends and fans.

Marsha Ward

Friday, December 22, 2006

Looking out my window

A couple of lumberjacks arrived today to take down a tree across the way. They've been at it for several hours. I keep checking on their progress, because it's interesting, and who knows? I might use it in a novel some time.

It's 36 degrees on my deck, and snowing again. Small flakes, but they're sticking. This is close enough to a White Christmas for me! I don't think we're going to be in a situation equal to Denver's whiteout. I need to drive out of here on Sunday afternoon for a family get-together in the valley. I'm going to spend Christmas with my daughter and her crew.

The lumberjack on the roof of the mobile across from mine has on a hooded coat. The guy in the tree just has on a sweatshirt and ball cap. I wonder if he's cold? Is the exercise with the chain saw enough to keep him warm?

Yesterday...

was my sweetheart's birthday. He would have been 60 years old. I stayed very busy so I wouldn't think about not having him here, but I don't want to appear callous to the influence he had upon me, or the support he always gave to my writing career. So, here's to you, Rob. Thank you for loving me forever.

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

It's Snowing!

Pretty steadily, as a matter of fact, and it's sticking.

I live in a mobile home. Nah. That's too grand a name for my tiny digs. I live in a trailer that has a built-on addition. It's still only about 740 square feet. Since it's basically a tin can, I can hear from the noise on the roof whenever weather happens. When it began to happen, I said to myself, "No-o-o-o-o-o! I haven't taken out my trash yet!" So I took it to the nearest trash bin, five trailers away, and my footprints were almost covered by the time I got back to my house.

The snow is falling in little cone-shaped blobs. They almost look like tiny hail balls, but they aren't icy. There's an acculumation of about a quarter-inch out there now. I went outside onto my deck and propped up the rain gauge I bought last summer and haven't nailed up yet, leaning it against the back of a chair. I don't know if it's collecting any snow, but we'll see what happens.

The fall of snow reminds me of when I went to college in Flagstaff a lifetime ago. Those were days of prime winter weather, laughter, and song. I was a music perfomance major and hung out with the singers and musical theatre crowd. Some of my memories of that time include almost getting clipped by a train because I was running to get to the movies on time; performing in two operas and a musical; playing viola in the orchestra; making out with a hunky pianist in a practice room; and funking out of PE 'cause I couldn't manage to learn how to swim. Also, sitting on the football field bleachers with a guy in the moonlight; getting on the wrong side of the divided highway due to a blizzard (I wasn't driving! We also were the only ones on the road, due to the blizzard.); singing with the Shrines of the Ages Choir at the Grand Canyon; riding a ferris wheel for the first time when the choir sang at the Arizona State Fair; and working in food services for my meal ticket. I'll never forget our hirsute manager picking up the spaghetti...never mind. You don't want to know.

Now the snow is falling in fluffy flakes, some big, some little. The scene is peaceful, serene. I love it!

Sunday, December 17, 2006

The weather outside is...

wonderful. It's been raining a bit for an hour or so, but now the rain is mixed with snow, and maybe it'll stick. So far, it hasn't, but this weather front should be here through today and tomorrow, so I'm hopeful for a White December.

Update: We got about an inch this morning, some of which is sticking. My windshield was pretty well covered when I got out of church, enough that I needed to use my wipers to clear it off so I could see to drive home.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

I'm not waiting for Winter

I realize winter doesn't come around officially until December 22, but I can not wait for the declaration from all the TV weathermen, because it's COLD here!

It's cold now and has been for a couple of weeks. Each night the temperature dips below freezing, and frost draws ghostly white designs on the hood, trunk, and top of my car. The windows show a tracery of icy tendrils. I bundle up and turn on an electric space heater as I go about my business during the day. My rocking chair has a heating/vibrating pad on it. I don't even worry about the vibrating for sore muscles. I go straight to the HEAT setting.

A cup of hot chocolate or cider or herb tea comfort me in the evenings. Sometimes I put a bag of popcorn into the microwave. It's just the thing to eat while I watch a movie.

My bed, thankfully, is encased in flannel sheets and fluffy comforters. I wear flannel or thermal nightgarb and a knit hat to bed. Oooooh, it's so nice to nestle under the covers, shut the doors of my room to encase the heat, and wait for sleep to fall upon me. If I'm in bed early enough, I put an audio book in the CD or tape player, and listen to that before I give in to sleep.

I don't like to be cold, but I have wonderful ways to ward off the elements.

What is your favorite way to stay warm in winter?
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