IN WHICH BEAR GETS BOUNCED

It was a very grey morning, and early — about 7:30. The temperature was about -30C (or -22F). 

I heard this noise. It woke me, and since I wasn't quite awake, so I had to listen to it a couple more times.

My cell phone. My cell phone is ringing. 

Which was peculiar, because only family members (and a few others) have my phone number. (Bear is actually quite a private Bear.) So, if it's someone calling, it must be important.

Crawl of bed. Hunt for call phone. Finally find cell phone. Go to open cell phone. It stops ringing. 

This has gone from being GRrrr to being GGGRRRR. 

Wander into study and wake up computer. (It's usually about as sleepy as I am.) Find my phone book app. Type phone number into reverse look-up. Sit and wait. Finally a message comes: "no listings were found." 

Translation: it was a telemarketer. At 7:30 in the morning. When I was sound asleep. 

GGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

But by then, I was feeling well and truly "bounced" — as if Tigger (friend of Winnie the Pooh) had enthusiastically landed on my bed, front paws on my shoulders, with a cheery "Good morning, Bear!" 

I appreciated the sentiment, but it was most certainly not feeling like a very good morning. I mean, have you had a Tigger "bounce" you when you were still sound asleep? Children, perhaps; a Tigger, not so much, if at all.  

I had to go somewhere, so I had breakfast, sent myself to the shower, got dressed, and headed out. I was still feeling edgy, a bit nervous. I couple of very minor things happened, but they upset me — more like threw me off course, mentally. I noticed that my reaction times were slower than usual. I was not as steady.

Anyhow, I did what I needed to do. I got home, still feeling a bit "bounced." After several cups of tea, and lunch, I started feeling a little better. 

GgRrrR!!

So, dear friends, have you ever been "bounced" by a #@&$^ telemarketer, first thing in the morning? How did you feel about that?

Sigh! I feel tired, all over again. 

Blessings and Bear hugs, friends!


Today's Weather Report
Bright and sunny, with a bit of haze or very thin clouds. Temperature at -9C (16F); with wind chill, feels like -15C (5F). Could turn out to be a nice day. 

IN WHICH BEAR OBSERVES A MUSICAL CHANGE

We all know the rules for any given piece of life. And things move along just fine — until someone changes the rules.

Music for the "Good Ol' Boys"

I can't say I'm much of a fan of country and western music. Sunday afternoon with a good book and some Bach on the cd is just fine, thank you. 

But both the radio stations for which I worked were country music stations. I worked in news so I didn't get to play much music, but I picked up a bit of a taste for country just because I worked there. Sort of like osmosis, or something. There's Waylon, and Willie, and Johnny (several Johns actually), and Kris, and Charlie, and Patsy, and Tammy, and Dolly, and all the rest of them. You could get your money by Cash or Paychek. You know what I'm talking about. 

Anyhow, the themes are pretty common. How he/she did her/him wrong. The pick-up truck or 18-wheeler. The cattle. The dog. Yeah. Yeah. You know "the rules." 

By the way, do you now what happens when you play a cowboy song backwards? The guy finds his truck, the dog comes home, and the wife quits crying. You can trust the Bear on that.

Cowgirl anthem for the 21st Century

Well, things were fine until a perky young miss came along with her own ideas. Her name is Kacey Musgraves, and she's from Texas (naturally). Her first albums came out in 2002 and 2003, and basically went nowhere. At 25, she has won a Country Music Association award (last year), and two Grammies (this year), so this gal knows her business. And her latest album, called Same Trailer, Different Park, is doing pretty well. As is this single, "Follow Your Arrow," which is not entirely according to "the rules."

If you are not quite sure what you heard, or you're not sure if you can believe it, you can check the words.

Yup! That young woman has her own ideas all right.

 Blessings and Bear hugs, friends!


Tonight's Weather Report
Dark, partly coudy, about half moon; -25C (-13F) with a wind chill down to -28C (-18F).