Getting Ready for A to Z in April

I like thinking about April.  Perhaps by then the temperatures will no longer dip below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.  Any, by then, I will have written all of my A to Z posts and can just sit back and read what others are writing about.

I have my theme and all of my letters, save two, already planned out.  I got creative with 'Z' and will probably do the same for J and X.

I've looked up all of the reference material I will use.  But, and it is a big BUT, I have yet to label and edit all of my pictures that I will be using.  I did a good deal of sorting when I returned home from my trip last fall.  And then, I just sort of stopped.  I think it was the approaching holidays that put a dent in my computer time.

But now I have made up my mind to spend the next month putting my posts together and enjoying my trip all over again.

Are you joining A to Z this year?  New participant or returning veteran?  This will be my third year and I am looking for ward to finding new blogs to follow.

Here is the link to the official site of the A to Z Challenge.  Watch for the sign-up list and join the fun.

Me? Sentimental? Well, Maybe...

Yesterday a friend asked if I was sentimental.  I certainly do not think of myself that way.

But the fact is that I have saved cards my sons made me in grade school thirty years ago, including those coupon books where they promise to clean their room.  Oh, I'm still waiting for that to happen.  I also saved a lot of their story writing and homework, which I have given to them recently.  Now that they are older, they can relive their youth, lol.

The question of sentimentality arose when I mentioned that my grandson has been photographed in the clothes his Dad wore at the same age.  Yes, I saved a box of clothes too.  Not a lot of things as boys tend to make a wreck of many outfits.  But a few nice pieces survived.

My grandson is now nine months old and his Mother has been taking his picture in the same chair with the same toys for each month that passes.  Unfortunately, the shirt that goes with the jumper is badly yellowed after thirty-some odd years, so a different one was worn.  Here is Dad:

and son:

I've got the outfit from the one year photo shoot.  Just hoping that he will fit in it.

Sentimental?  Maybe so...

The Gnashing of Teeth

I admit it.  Though I know better, I am grinding my teeth right now.  And I had only gotten to page three of the newspaper before I walked away and came here to my computer.

First story:  The State of Michigan is already in deficit.  This Governor, who is business's best friend, has allowed lowered thresholds to qualify for business tax credits.  Add to that reduced collection of income taxes, despite socking it to us pensioners, and it looks like another tax hike may be forthcoming.  All of this without more jobs being produced.

Then, following up on the outrage over the arrest of a car-jacker, the woman who was car-jacked has spoken up about how he pointed a gun at her two young grandchildren and forced them out of the car. The criminal, when finally caught by police, is on the ground imploring Jesus to help him?  Folks are outside the police department protesting his treatment by the officers.  Give me a friggin' break.  Since when do the criminals and not the victims get all the sympathy from the public?  They should be in there helping the police to find the drug dealers and crooks in their neighborhoods.   I personally think they should just shoot these morons and not bother with arrest and trial. Gee, my blood pressure has dropped just by sitting here venting.

I finally made it to page three, only to see the Flint emergency manager saying they cannot afford Detroit water despite the fact that the water they are selling their residents is causing skin issues due to contamination.  Really?

Well, I am saved by the arrival of my grandson for the day.  The rest of the news will have to wait until this evening.  Maybe it will be better with a glass of wine.  (I fall asleep after a glass so I won't be able to read too much, lol.)