Are You Keepin' Up?

I thought sure someone would have something to say about the DMV story! Well, this morning I had to cave in and turn on the heat. It was 58 degrees when I finally got up at 7:30 this morning. Of course, Don was already gone and left before 6:00...not sure of exact time. Guess it was too cold to watch his favorite sports program. It has been "unseasonably" cold here...naturally, we're here!

They say it is going to warm up, so as soon as the sun hits my big windows, I'm sure I'll have the heat turned off by then. I've been just layer-ing up, but just couldn't get going this morning.

Some friends from Arkansas were here yesterday...Charlie Barber's father died (the funeral we attended) and they stopped by to see us before they went home. Anyhow, Macherie (spelling not guaranteed) told me that the bay tree in the front has many uses other than cooking. One being keeping bugs out of your house. She told of a bad infestation of fleas that wouldn't give up with extermination, and throwing a lot of those leaves around took care of a swarm of fleas...and the fleas did flee.

She puts them in her pantry and never has bugs in her food (and she did previously). She even scatters a few under beds and in closets. They have a really nice scent, too (verified). But as it turns out, I'm pretty sure the tree is actually in my neighbor's yard. It was dark when I went out with her to look. So I plan to talk with my neighbor and ask if I can pick a few branches, and the seeds are on them now. I read online that the berries can be planted and will produce another tree...and you do that in the fall. They are also very good for planter growing. You just keep it trimmed.

The latest on Jairo (if you haven't heard) is that the court recently dismissed the robbery charges against him. The police tried to charge him with an armed robbery that happened near where he lived. They had some circumstantial evidence that didn't "add up" but went ahead with it anyhow. He is now finishing up "time" for probation violation (contact with police and use of drugs). He thinks he'll be out in November and wants to come "home" since his wife took off with his son and is living with a man she met on the internet. She is living in the Los Angeles area. These past 6 months (not sure of exact time) in jail with a 20-life charge hanging over his head has given Jairo "pause", and he could clearly see where his life was headed if he didn't do some serious changing. Not being able to see his son during the past several months (since Natalie left) has hit him between the eyes, too...not to mention Junior's having to see him through a window.
He is quite relieved that he doesn't have to go through a trial, because he guaranteed them that he was not going to plead guilty to something he didn't do no matter what kind of plea bargain they offered him. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.