The Iron Diva: 40 Days of Gratitude: Day 13 The Simple Woman's Daybook [+ 2017 Reading Quest 29]

If you would like to join in and post your own Daybook, please head on over to visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today: Monday, December 4, 2017

Note: If you are here just for the book review, scroll down to the "I am reading" section. Thanks.

Outside my window… Cloudy and cool. It's starting to feel like December outside.

I am thinking…

About Christmas Day. I've been asked by several people what my plans are for the day. I honestly don't know. I've been invited to several parties and open houses, plus I'm trying to figure out how to get pictures made with Santa. I thought about just staying home that day and enjoying the quiet (of course, I will be home if it snows). I'm just not sure yet.

About McDonald's. I had a weird thing happen at a local McDonald's. OK, pardon my ignorance, but I thought their basic menu was universal to eateries around the country. Apparently not. On the way to church, I stopped at one of the Aurora locations. All I ordered was a chicken biscuit. The girl behind the counter looked at me like I'd ordered a bugger sandwich. She curled up her lips and said "We don't serve those." "You don't serve a chicken biscuit?" "No, ma'am. I've never even had someone order one." "Wait, what?!" **silence** **crickets** "OK, may I have a sausage biscuit then?" "Sure!" **grrr** I've been to McDonald's from Georgia to California and they ALL had chicken biscuits! I think the girl behind the counter was smoking something (well, I am in Colorado). Can't have nothin'!

About my wardrobe. I'm in a colder climate where layering is a must and snow and ice are not anomalies. How do I go about doing that without breaking the budget? Not only that, but I need to get waterproof boots and these things call YakTracks so I can safely walk to work when the roads are too icy. See, we didn't deal with this back home because if it was snowy and icy, everybody stayed home.

About how I'm going to get proper hair care products. I've not found a beauty supply place yet that carries what I use. I may end up ordering it online (and paying twice as much for it), but I've got to do something. Buckwheat is starting to show on my head.

About how to safely help the homeless. I see many out on the street corners with signs saying they are in need. I know that some may be on the con, but that's not my call. I saw where people make packets with food and toiletries to give out, but how can I, as a woman alone, safely do that? I'm just not sure what to do. There were points in my life where I was nearly homeless. I would want someone to care.

I am thankful…

I'm making an executive decision. Since I don't have internet at home, I'm not going to keep trying to keep up a daily gratitude blog. I will post for whatever day I can. Even if you don't see a post, just know that I am thankful everyday of the 40 days; I just can't write about it daily online.

With nighttime temperatures in the teens and 20's this week, I'm very thankful for a nice warm place to live.

I'm thankful for our Pastor's new message series:

I'm thankful that my car continues to be up and running.

I'm thankful for caring friends and coworkers.

I'm thankful that I now have a couch and more lamps in my apartment.

From the Workshop…I'm currently in a stretch of Christmas painting. Here's one I've finished for use as a Christmas card.

I am reading…

Reduce Me to Love by Joyce Meyer

Over the Top by Zig Ziglar

The Miraculous Journey by Marty A. Bullis

Books I’ve completed since my last Daybook:

Book: Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Author: Jeff Kinney

Info: Copyright 2007: New York: Amulet Books

Rating (on a scale of 1-4 stars): ✮

Where Acquired: Library check out.

What it's about: At the behest of his mom, Greg Heffley chronicles a year of middle school in his diary...err...journal. Typical middle school problems like parents, teachers, and flaky best friends (not to mention a piece of cheese with the staying power of a cockroach) are displayed on each page in both written and cartoon/comic strip form.

Favorite Quote(s):

Most kids wake up early on Saturday to watch cartoons are whatever, but not me. The only reason I get out of bed at all on weekends is because eventually, I can't stand the taste of my own breath anymore. - p. 16

What I liked:

The Kindle Edition has real page numbers.

What I didn’t like:

The font of the Kindle Edition was not scrollable, which made the book difficult to read.
There's so much more not to like, I'm just going to cut to the chase...

Takeaway:

I enjoy reading children's literature, even silly boy humor. I'm not so stuffy that I don't laugh out loud at this kind of stuff. However, unlike Captain Underpants that I read earlier this year, Diary of a Wimpy Kid was anything but funny. The book was, in a word, annoying. Little Greg Heffley was not a "wimpy kid" as the title implies; quite frankly, he was a little turd!

Several years ago, the Ad Council had a series of radio commercials encouraging literacy. One of them featured a narrator reading some funny excerpts from Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Apparently, it wasn't from the first book of the series because I heard none of those funny quotes. Even with the lack of ability to enlarge the font, fortunately, this book was a quick read. Otherwise it would have been a DNF.

Even with my not liking the book, I wouldn't discourage a child from reading it. Maybe they can find more humor in it that I did. Or, maybe not.

Now, back to the Daybook...

I am learning…

...that apparently a money order isn't a money order. Apparently, in some businesses, where you buy them makes a difference. Go figure.

Favorite quote(s) of the week…

I am looking forward to…

My boss's Christmas open house on Sunday.
Part two of my Pastor's sermon series.
Sitting on my couch and crocheting, reading, loafing, or whatever else I want.
Decorating my place for Christmas. But first, I have to go buy some decorations.