So last night was the dinner with her. Over at her digs, we (I helped) put together a decent meal and watched a late football game, Utah beating Alabama (what a surprise!?) She has a very nice snuggy small house. Her decor preferences are similar to mine. Light colors, comfy stuff, knick-nacks on shelves, lots of books, and the kitchen is the largest room in the house.

We made stir-fry (chicken, shrimp and veggies) and I took over a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. She had some desserts left over from the holidays, which we also consumed.

All in all a very nice evening with good conversation again. I did find out that she reads mysteries and a few spy novels, by examining her shelves.

No real hot romance going on there, but maybe it could happen a little. Who knows? She seems very interested in my person. Maybe. I'm not a very needy man right now, so because I am very very wary of entanglements, I will just cruise along and see.

My tree is gone. I took the stuff off it Thursday and stripped off the light strings yesterday morning. Then I removed it from the stand and Bisbee was heartbroken when I carried it out the door. It took very little vacuuming to clean up. I love Frazier Firs. They last and last... the Energizer Bunny Christmas trees.

All that remains is to truck the several large plastic boxes down to the cellar. There are still two wreaths up. One is on the stairway closet door and that goes in a cellar box. The real wreath on the big front door is a "live" one. My friends in CA send me one from Oregon every year. I will leave it there for a while.

A trip to Kroger looks timely. The litter boxes are thin, so I need a couple jugs of that. Catfood, too. I could really use some chips, but since the gall thing I have abstained. Maybe some Shake and Bake and a tub of shredded chicken. I have been experimenting with casseroles using the pre-shredded and cooked chicken. I sure wish I could get a better variety of mushrooms here. They have buttons and portabellos. I think portabellos are pedestrian. My favorite is the Porcini. I could get them anywhere in CA. Ohio is not the same. Porcini mushrooms have a unique flavor. Maybe I can find them on the web? Chanterelles, too. Yummy!

I will have to write "2009" on a check this week. Ten-to-one I blow it and write '2008.'

So far no cold or bad sniffles this winter. Lots of vitamins and a neck scarf helps. I always wear scarfs under jackets and coats, from November 1 until the grass begins to grow.

Cold last night. Coming home I wondered if it was going to snow. It didn't. I had both the electric radiators going in the bedroom. Before I left (didn't know when I'd be back) I turned one on 'low.' I have it situated up against the three-foot-high stand where I put Bisbee's cage every night. I turn it on usually about nine p.m. and when I take him up I arrange towels around and on top of the cage. I loop one open over the heater. Then I set the temp on medium-low and he stays nice and warm.

Then after I kill the light I say to the bird, "Bisbee's got a nice heater. Jon don't have a heater."

And he throws me a kiss.

Sometimes he says, "Nighty-nite."

It sounds like "Ninety-nine."

I'm just glad cats can't talk.