Bfth's Boring Blog

My morning commute is certainly getting more "interesting" these days and I'm not sure how I feel about that.   It's been a while since I've actually been in the office; it was the Monday before Thanksgiving when I last did the "fun" commute.   Thanksgiving week was hectic so I was only in that one day.   Then last week I had a cold that prevented me from going in.   (https://bfthsboringblog.blogspot.com/2023/11/not-sharing.html).   Monday I was still a little "off", so today is my first day in two weeks.     It's no secret that I like working remotely better, especially as we are in the 4th quarter which is the busiest time of the year.   With no commute to bog me down, I can get more done.   And trust me, there is a LOT to be done.   When I'm home my computer does not get turned off; it goes to sleep.   (It gets more sleep than I do.)   When I have to commute, I'm offline from the evening until I arrive at the office. ...

 Advent is here and so I am ready to don my purple today.  (Purple is the color of advent in my book.  It can also be blue, but I'm more of a purple person, so I'm entering the season wearing it).  The first Sunday in advent heralds the theme of Hope.  Something that we all need in my book.  So today I am really thinking about Hope. Although, I'm not just thinking of it as an abstract; I'm also thinking of a person, a good friend, whose name just happens to be Hope.  Hope and I became friends many years ago (too many to number) when we met in college.  Our friendship has held fast over the years and perhaps has grown stronger over the past several years as she (as well as her sister) and I have had to deal with the issue of aging parents.    She has been a sounding board for me and a calm voice when I needed it.  Though the name Hope fits here incredibly well, she might also have been named Grace because she has ALWAYS exuded...

  Thanksgiving has come and gone. It's the first day of December.  (World AIDS day, in case you didn't know.)  Decorations are going up everywhere (if they aren't already up).  And this Sunday marks the start of the Christian New Year; it will be advent. Last Sunday, the final Sunday of the "church year," the scripture reading was one of my favorites.  Actually it may be my favorite.  It's a passage I've heard before (many times), but for some reason it resonated with me more fully this year.  It's a passage that has become my new "go to" and one that I'm going to try and focus on more in my life.  It's Matthew 25:31-46.  And just so you don't have to go look it up, here it is (from the New International Version):   “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.  All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepher...

 As I mentioned at the end of my previous blog, on Sunday I came down with a cold.  Nothing earth shattering, just the usual miserableness of a runny nose, sore throat, headache etc.  As a result, I've been working remotely for the past two days.  (Depending on how I feel I may work remotely for the whole week...we'll see how it goes.) Pre-Covid I wouldn't have done this.  With runny nose and cough I would have trudged into the office, bottle of Day-Quil in hand.  Why?  For at least the past 7 years, I had the ability/technology to work from home or any other place where I had decent internet access.  When I was away on vacation, I would often bring my laptop and check in.  So why did I feel compelled to go into the office and share my germs?  Why did anyone? I think before we got slammed with the pandemic, we felt the need to be in an office no matter what. I can remember one woman who came in to our office and was really sick.  I ...

 Last week, I wrote what I wanted Thanksgiving to be.  (If you missed it and want a laugh:   https://bfthsboringblog.blogspot.com/2023/11/unrealistic-expectations-or.html ).  I KNEW it was not going to be what I "wanted" (or perhaps I should say what I THOUGHT I wanted), but for those who are curious...here's what REALLY happened. Monday Night:  When I got home I DID make the vegan pumpkin spice break with maple cream cheese filling.  It WAS messy.  My son confirmed with me that evening that he COULD catch a ride with a friend to the shore, although they would be leaving later.  That meant my husband I could head to the shore first thing on Tuesday. Tuesday:  I got up at before my alarm went off.  Did a few quick things and got my husband up.  We quickly packed up the car (and there was a LOT in the car) and headed to the shore around 5 in the morning.  There IS traffic on Tues...

Bfth's Thanksgiving Fantasy.   Let's be clear, I am NOT really expecting what I am about to write below.    In all honesty, 99% of this is going to be false.   However, I can hope.   I can pray.   After the year I've had (my family has had), I deserve a little Hallmark holiday movie fantasy, even though I know it's not going to happen.     So here's the plan as I'd like it to happen:   Tonight after I get home and have dinner (where I'm not stressed out by the workday at all), I make the Vegan Pumpkin break (aka cake) with maple cream cheese filling.   I do so with no issues and no mess.   (Fantasy already).  Tomorrow (Tuesday), I get up, have coffee, watch part of the morning news and get to work.   I close down and pack up the car around 2 and drive to get my son.   It is not raining and traffic is not heavy.   He is waiting for us and we throw his things into the car and head for the shore.   Once ag...

  Yesterday I wore a houndtooth jacket.  (The photo is from a few years ago when I wrote this:   https://bfthsboringblog.blogspot.com/2021/02/loving-houndstooth.html ) As I said I bought this jacket a LONG time ago (before some of you might have been born).  Way back in the day when ordering clothes was not done on line (there was no on line -- at least not we know it) and was kind of exciting.  Ordering from Spiegel was "trendy" (at least for me).  As catalogs.com said:   "Whether you’re shopping for fresh and flowery Spiegel dresses for Spring, sexy bikinis for Summer or cozy sweaters and outerwear for Fall and Winter, the Spiegel catalog brings you a collection of fashionable women’s clothing and accessory choices. For the office, the weekend, the beach or intimates to wear under your Spiegel clothing, Spiegel delivers the items that always pack a stylish punch.  When you shop for women’s clothing, you want fashion that’s going ...