I just may have some time to call my own soon. I started this week with the second psychic network, the one I’m not allowed to mention on my website. The one that when I’m logged in, I get lots of calls in a short period of time.

Not enough to get rich on, mind you, but enough to pay the bills and have a treat every once in awhile.

This weekend, I’m transitioning, working both. When the support staff return from their holidays, I will change my schedule at the first network so that I can still service my regular clients, but during a narrower time frame, and also by appointment.

Freedom! I can smell it, just around the corner.

Speaking of smells, I’m simmering turkey carcass to make stock. I made so many mashed potatoes for yesterday’s feast for two that I’m also fixing to freeze me a shepherd’s pie. Because, really, how often can you face left over mashed potatoes?

I was very happy this year that Ass Burger Boy chose to stay at home for the celebratory meal. There was a wee glitch when I upended his wine glass while reaching for the cranberry sauce. His meal was swimming in wine. He wouldn’t allow me to replace it, and even said the extra wine was quite yummy. (He had two more helpings, with only wine in his glass, not on his plate)

He ended up rather intoxicated.

I shouldn’t have refilled his glass.

I hope that you had a lovely, cosy, holiday meal, and happy family times.

Hurricane Kyle came and it went. Five years to the day that Hurricane Juan made a direct hit here. Tell ya what. Don’t plan any outdoor weddings here for Sept 28th. A lot of leaves down, but very few branches. The leaves haven’t changed colour here yet. That always scares me when a hurricane is heading our way. The fully leafed trees act as sails, and are easily uprooted in strong sustained winds.Luckily, this was only a category one, and it made landfall a few hundred clicks away.

All in all, I would say compared to Krissa, who took in various pets, including a six foot boa during Ike, Kyle was pretty much a preparation event, with none of the damage locally. She was without electricity and phone for about a week. No A/C. In Texas. And snakes. Snakes. Go read, it’s fascinating.

There was none of that traumatizing howling, and breaking of windows with this storm. I behaved much better this time. Heh. No week without electricity, prompting us to bring our meat to neighbourhood barbeques or lose it. I bought a bottle of wine in case there was a hurricane party. And food you don’t have to cook or refridgerate. (Read: Munchies-party food!) I also made giant pots of pasta with chicken, and one with hamburger, both loaded with veg and different sauces. Stuff you can eat cold. And an extra pot of coffee. I can drink it cold. People always want iced coffee in summer. Danged if I wanted to get my caffeine in the form of a warm pepsi at twice the usual price.

Guess who won’t be cooking tonight?

My neice, Wild Child, gave birth early to her twin boys. You know, the ones that I Photoshopped tiaras onto?

And yesterday? Memarie Lane went into labour, and live blogged the event. Whew!

I take my hat off to both of them.

And? I take my furniture inside in honour of Hurricane Kyle, which is fast approaching hereabouts. It’s supposed to make landfall this evening. So there is battening down of the hatches, putting the frozen meat in the big freezer, checking batteries, candles, storm windows, and supplies. I hope we don’t lose power, but if we do, there will be no phone or internet.

Another Hurricane guy, Coast Rat, who left his home up north a few years ago to help rebuild after Hurricane Katrina has since had to hang onto his hat for Hurricane Gustav. (It must be discouraging to get damage on top of the damage you are trying to clean up.)

He is a photographer with an amazing eye, and I so enjoy his images and stories. He told me I could help myself to them for my puzzles, and so I present to you, quite a treat.

Create your own puzzles at PuzzleBee.com!

Dear Inept Mother:

I know that the DMV is not the easiest place to spend time in, really. Especially if you bring a youngster along.

I find that kids get whiny if they aren’t properly hydrated, or if their blood sugar levels drop to the point where they may require a snack to keep them cheerful. Perhaps an activity could be brought along to amuse the little tyke.

I wanted to whisper this to you, but the DMV is a busy place, with many eyes who would be watching as I gave unsolicited advice. Any time you get in somebody’s business, they get all defensive and belligerent. I get that. Experience, you know. If I had a drink or a snack with me, I would have offered.

You made everyone uncomfortable for your child by the way you kept snapping “Shut it!” to him. It had to be humiliating for him. I can only imagine how you treat him in private.

I wish you knew better so that your child could have a better life, and you could see beyond your own selfish needs and experience the joy of motherhood. It seems you are not equipped to deal with the stresses of parenting.

I hope that someone is keeping an eye on you and protecting your son from you.

That is all.

Warrior Woman came to my house last evening. I was expecting to feed her, and was starving when I got the call that she had already eaten.

Ass Burger Boy and I dove into my jazzed up rice and sun dried tomato sausage, with a side of garlicy yellow beans. We was hungry puppies.

I had saved the wine bottles from her previous five visits. We wanted to start a collection. They stood on the living room floor, where I had left them. She took pictures with her new camera. We set her up on our network.I didn’t take a picture of her and ABB on the sofa, each with their laptop. Since both she and I blog anonymously, the pictures would reveal too much. I did mention parallel play.

She’s having a contest at her site. You really should go over and see the prizes. She wants you to blog drunk. Since I generally blog in the morning or early afternoon, I don’t believe that I will win. Bonus! You don’t actually have to be drunk. She’s all kinds of awesome that way.

Extra bonus: She took a picture of me in my natural habitat, wearing my all-time favourite polar fleece jammies. I took the other pictures with her new camera. There’s one of her in there, incognito, of course. Go see.