~ Edgar Allan Poe Author and poet Born on: 19th January 1809
Porte Ponderings:
The third Monday of January is known as Blue Monday.
AI says it’s a marketing ploy to sell vacations. Christmas debts are now due and mental health issues are highlighted.
Me, it’s unexpected bills piling up and needing to be addressed.
My WordPress site bill is due. $198 for 2 years and $26 annually for my domain name. Wow. Time to look for a cheaper alternative.
I guess I’ll change to the “free” version and change my website name. You’d think if you’re paying the $198 for 2 years the website name would be included. Or if you’re paying for the domain name you wouldn’t need to pay for a subscription. All I want is the domain name. I don’t care about the “extras” included in paying for a WordPress account.
What benefit is there to pay the $198? It’s for a personal site with no advertising or income generation.
I just got a $400 ($800 was requested but I negotiated to $400) additional monthly expense to “house sit” my 2nd Cat Smokey. No hotels permit a 3rd pet, so we decided to travel with only Rickie and Archie. Drury Inn charged $65 extra for the first pet and $10 for the second. So $75 for 2 pets. No third pet was permitted. Poor Smokey is now 17 and starting to have health issues. She never travelled well and meowed all the time she was in the pen. We used to have to put her in the “trunk” of the truck so we couldn’t hear her. Broke my heart.
So, here I am on Blue Monday and feeling blue about all the money………
“If nothing around you changes, change the things that are around you”
~ Tyrese Gibson Singer and songwriter Born on: 30th December 1978
Porte Ponderings:
Ice and snow everywhere you go.
2025 we weren’t able to go to Florida because there were no rentals available in our favorite park. So when the chance came up to go and escape the winter we leapt for it. We were lucky enough to find a new house sitter as our previous one got her own apartment closer to her work. We were going to take all the pets with us, but no hotels allow 3 pets. So when we sent the word out to our kids, the oldest quickly came back with Maddie. Maddie is a student nurse working midnights. Living in a home with 2 other younger sisters, Maddie is looking forward to being able to sleep daytimes.
~ Stephenie Meyer Author Born on: 24th December 1974
Porte Ponderings:
The night we’ve been waiting for. The elves are doing last minute preparations before Santa starts his journey.
Family gatherings ending early enough so Milk and cookies can be put out. Children go to bed in anticipation of what is left during the night.
My fondest memories are of my sisters and I sneaking up at 4AM to see the tree lit and all the presents in anticipation of opening them once Mom and Dad made breakfast. Magic. Excitement.
May the magic of the season continue in your home. ❤
Porte Photos 