Oh, Andy!

Andy Avalos, my favorite weatherman, is retiring today. Since 2003, he's been a positive and comforting presence on my TV screen. There have been sleepy, confused Friday or Monday mornings when I thought it was the weekend but realized I had to get my ass out of bed because I saw Andy, my weekday weatherman.

Before covid, he would do a weekly remote at Chicago's Anti-Cruelty Society, spotlighting pets who need homes. He ended those spots with, "Always make pet adoption your first option." During covid, his own (one-eyed) dog and cat frequently crashed his from-home broadcasts. I can tell by the casual, confident way he handles these critters that he really is a pet person. (He's also mentioned a bird that sits on his shoulder while he reads.) 

"Always make adoption your first option"

 

Over the years I've learned that he is cheap (he prefers "thrifty"), loves (free) donuts, wears a snowman tie if he expects to report accumulation, and always looks sharp -- a former USAF pilot, that was drilled into him during his service and he's carried it with him for life.

I will miss him.

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 26

 Today's happiness -- Mrs. Always Right. I had a pedi today and that's the color I chose: Essie's Mrs. Always Right. I've been squarely in the red lane for a long, long time and intend to stay there (I prefer reds to blues or greens with my open-toed shoes) but I've been too red for too long. Why, I've been with Revlon's Cherries in the Snow for a year now! It was time for a change and I've switched to a dusty rose.

Also had a new nail tech. I miss Jenna. She was very funny and we had so many common interests (the Royals, Chicago sports, I Love Lucy), which amused me because we are are such different women. Jenna is literally half my age, black and a mom, but we followed the same things in pop culture. I was looking forward to asking her if she believes Bennifer.2 is legit, but alas, she has quit the salon to do in-home manicures, which is something I'm not interested in.

The new tech, Faith, was not as entertaining but she was just as proficient and gentle as Jenna. I love the nail experience, especially the whirlpool.

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.