Around the Holler

Here in the holler, the weatherman is teasing us with the possibility of snow on Tuesday. There's a big platter full of homemade cookies by the coffee pot and shiny gift bags filled with candy and dollar store trinkets magically appear on desks throughout the office. The last day of work before the Christmas holidays finds the asylum feeling eerie and quiet. Louise is still out on medical leave and Bubbles and Lulu are using up the last of their vacation hours, probably lounging around the house in their Tweety Bird jammies, eating bonbons and watching Montel Williams.

Back at the trailer, the Amazon is still looking for another job. She's employed but only working 1-2 shifts a week and barely making enough to keep her cellphone on. December is especially hard for Ma, her late brother's birthday is this month, a fact she tends to dwell on.

The pets that share our home could be doing better. Scotty, the geriatricat is getting worse daily. Ma keeps telling me that I need to have him put down and I know she's right but I keep hoping that nature will take it's course. He freaks out in the car and it's a long drive to the vet. I really don't want to put him through all that. So in the meantime, he stays inside and has the recliner to himself. Messes are quietly cleaned and nourishment is provided. He's been a part of our family for a long time, chasing snakes (I've seen him do it, he was fearless in his day) and rodents away from the house. Occasionally we'd have to rescue a squeaking baby bunny from his grasp, but he was never reprimanded, always thanked. He was only doing his job.

Sammy's skin problems aren't getting any better. He gets a bath in medicated shampoo twice a week and stays doped up on Benadryl most of the time. The return of stubbly hair on his back and rump probably makes him itchy, but his underside turns a flaming red and he sits and chews his feet constantly. I suspect he's allergic to something in Ma's room, I've just not sorted out what.

As for me, my evenings have been filled with writing articles for a website that matches freelance writers up to publishers. I've submitted four so far, I'm still waiting to see if they'll be purchased. For those of you who got the crap end of the stick with the PPP fiasco, I'll let you know where I'm writing as soon as I make sure it's going to pay off. I don't want to promote something until I know for sure.

I'd better go get to work (or do some crossword puzzles.. I think I'm addicted!) I'll see ya'll later :)