I had the best day today! M came with me to Salem to get my hair done and rather than spraying in the pink stuff I bought yesterday, Misty gave her real highlights in her hair! She looks so grown up with them!
After our hair was done, we headed off and grabbed a little lunch (BK Drive Thru...not the healthiest, but oh well!), then went to Marlea's house to let M play with her kiddos for a bit while I bitched and moaned with Marlea for about an hour. Everyone wished it could have lasted longer than it did, but M and I had to head back to Misty's as we'd accidentally taken a jacket that belonged to another woman there. In our defense, Misty thought it was ours and actually gave it to us when we got there and since it's just like the one we used to have (apparently this woman also donates to the group that was sending out free grey fleece 2008 Beijing Olympics jackets) - we didn't know it wasn't ours till the woman went looking for it. OOPS! After leaving Misty's, we realized M had left her glasses at Marlea's, so it was back out that way.
FINALLY, we were on our way home in time for dinner. UNTIL...I asked if M was "starvin marvin" or if she could be held over with a snack. Of course she was starvin marvin, so we headed over to Red Robin. Yeah, so that wasn't that big of an arm twist - it's only my favorite restaurant! Then, it would have just been wrong to not go into Target as we were right there, so we headed over. We did have a list, but did our fair share of dilly dallying :) Hit Best Buy on the way home (we were in search of a protective case for her new iPod), then headed back this way.
It was hectic, but so nice to spend time with just M and I...
Tomorrow we're possibly going to take in a movie and lunch (half of my "Girls Night Out" Christmas gift from her - the other half is gift certificates for Starbucks and Nails), then come home and get gussied up for dinner out just the 2 of us. I feel a bit guilty about the just the 2 of us thing, but we have been doing the whole family thing for so long now, she needs to be the center of attention. After that we're going to come back, watch Mamma Mia with the family (Mom gets off work at 6), then hang out until it's time to ring in the new year.
I'm looking forward to what 2009 will bring for us - 2008 has had it's ups and downs, but all in all it has been a pretty good year.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
SO - a little late, but merry Christmas nonetheless.
We had a wonderful Christmas and were even surprised to see some new snow falling in the morning...although with all the snow on the ground already, can't say we were incredibly pleased to see new snow falling! In fact, I "wrote" a new song.... "I'm dreaming of an...ANYTHING BUT F***ING WHITE CHRISTMAS". That said, it was beautiful!
Mom was still not feeling well, so we decided to stay in our PJ's all day - at least Mom, M, D and I did - D's parents aren't exactly the "stay in PJ's all day" kind of folks...and that's OK.
The day after Christmas my sister and her boyfriend arrived for a visit. That day the snow finally started melting and the roads became fairly passable - we had chains on up through Dundee when we popped a link on one of them. It was time to take them off anyway, so just used that chance to do so. On the way home, we were able to make it all the way back to town before chaining back up, but ended up wishing we had called ahead as our neighbor had taken a detour up our street with the plow (it helps to be neighbors with the county public works manager!). That was the last day of chains as the snow started melting and, almost as quickly as it came, it is now mostly gone. We are seeing pavement, grass, sidewalks, and all sorts of things that have been buried for the past 2 weeks.
Just tonite my sister left and, unfortunately, ended up getting delayed and having to spend the nite in a hotel in Portland. They luckily got on an early AM flight out, so rather than go back to get them, they are just staying up there courtesy of Horizon Air.
Our cabin fever seems to be getting better as we are able to get out and about - tomorrow M and I are headed for a day in Salem complete with a hair appt and either a trip to the mall, Toys R Us (gift cards!), or a visit with our friends who live in the area...will see what tickles her fancy come morning.
And now, I go watch TV with D...
We had a wonderful Christmas and were even surprised to see some new snow falling in the morning...although with all the snow on the ground already, can't say we were incredibly pleased to see new snow falling! In fact, I "wrote" a new song.... "I'm dreaming of an...ANYTHING BUT F***ING WHITE CHRISTMAS". That said, it was beautiful!
Mom was still not feeling well, so we decided to stay in our PJ's all day - at least Mom, M, D and I did - D's parents aren't exactly the "stay in PJ's all day" kind of folks...and that's OK.
The day after Christmas my sister and her boyfriend arrived for a visit. That day the snow finally started melting and the roads became fairly passable - we had chains on up through Dundee when we popped a link on one of them. It was time to take them off anyway, so just used that chance to do so. On the way home, we were able to make it all the way back to town before chaining back up, but ended up wishing we had called ahead as our neighbor had taken a detour up our street with the plow (it helps to be neighbors with the county public works manager!). That was the last day of chains as the snow started melting and, almost as quickly as it came, it is now mostly gone. We are seeing pavement, grass, sidewalks, and all sorts of things that have been buried for the past 2 weeks.
Just tonite my sister left and, unfortunately, ended up getting delayed and having to spend the nite in a hotel in Portland. They luckily got on an early AM flight out, so rather than go back to get them, they are just staying up there courtesy of Horizon Air.
Our cabin fever seems to be getting better as we are able to get out and about - tomorrow M and I are headed for a day in Salem complete with a hair appt and either a trip to the mall, Toys R Us (gift cards!), or a visit with our friends who live in the area...will see what tickles her fancy come morning.
And now, I go watch TV with D...
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
It's Official!
I've lost all my marbles! They're just gone, gone, gone...
I've spent most of the day so far casting the movie I'm going to write about this experience. Here's what we have so far:
Me - Sandra Bullock (she can pull off my sense of humor, I think)
Mom - Shirley MacLaine
D's Mom - Judi Dench
D's Dad - Patrick Stewart (Dad is impressed with his nose...I was thinking he could do the "King's English with Distinction" well)
M - Abigail Breslin 0r possibly herself, we'll have to see
D - we're struggling here - possibly Vince Vaughn, although Owen Wilson and Matthew McConaghey have also been discussed. Mom likes Tom Hanks, but I'm just not sure about that...
Neighbor Bryan (shovels snow in his shorts) - possibly Owen Wilson or Matthew McConaghey - mom thinks Terry Bradshaw, but we'd have to take some artistic license with that as the real neighbor is our age and Terry Bradshaw, well,...isn't!
We've also decided that Marlea gets a part in it during a flashback to the Xmas dinner when Caymus took 2 bites and puked all over the place - still working on that casting :) Cameron Diaz maybe?
That means we also have to cast Marshall, and a few other folks...we'll have to figure that all out later....
Also - I was thinking it would be fun to write a play about the serfs, but have them played by surfer dudes...funny take on history, huh?
And now, I head back over there, leaving my house in a complete dissaray with upset dogs who have been basically ignored for almost a week now. Am hoping they don't leave me any Thank You "presents"...again...
I've spent most of the day so far casting the movie I'm going to write about this experience. Here's what we have so far:
Me - Sandra Bullock (she can pull off my sense of humor, I think)
Mom - Shirley MacLaine
D's Mom - Judi Dench
D's Dad - Patrick Stewart (Dad is impressed with his nose...I was thinking he could do the "King's English with Distinction" well)
M - Abigail Breslin 0r possibly herself, we'll have to see
D - we're struggling here - possibly Vince Vaughn, although Owen Wilson and Matthew McConaghey have also been discussed. Mom likes Tom Hanks, but I'm just not sure about that...
Neighbor Bryan (shovels snow in his shorts) - possibly Owen Wilson or Matthew McConaghey - mom thinks Terry Bradshaw, but we'd have to take some artistic license with that as the real neighbor is our age and Terry Bradshaw, well,...isn't!
We've also decided that Marlea gets a part in it during a flashback to the Xmas dinner when Caymus took 2 bites and puked all over the place - still working on that casting :) Cameron Diaz maybe?
That means we also have to cast Marshall, and a few other folks...we'll have to figure that all out later....
Also - I was thinking it would be fun to write a play about the serfs, but have them played by surfer dudes...funny take on history, huh?
And now, I head back over there, leaving my house in a complete dissaray with upset dogs who have been basically ignored for almost a week now. Am hoping they don't leave me any Thank You "presents"...again...
Christmas Eve
Looks like we are going to get a White Christmas this year after all. Of course, after well over a week of being snowed in by our beautiful winter wonderland, I would have conceded this point! BUT, it is what it is, and we have no choice but to go with it and make the best of everything.
M has spent the last 2 nites at Mom's house, and will spend tonite there as well since we moved our Christmas festivities over there. She will also be spending tomorrow nite there so that D and I can get up and out to the airport on Friday to pick up my sister and her boyfriend who are flying in, landing at 10:30, meaning a 7:30 departure for us (in "normal" weather, we'd leave about 2 hours early, but with these conditions, we have to add another hour).
I am trying to balance creating a bed and breakfast environment here at the house for their arrival as they are staying here, with all the Christmas Eve preparations across the street and entertaining M, who is feeling a little "Mommy deprived" it seems. I think that we may just give them clean sheets and tell them that while we love them, this is what it is, and we're sorry it's not better. Think D may freak out about that idea and start shoving stuff in the sewing room to be out of the way (why is it that MY sewing room becomes the depository for "stuff" when the house is cleaned?). I'll do what I can around here though.
Yesterday I got to drive in this wonderland of ours. I was realizing that I've never had to drive in this type of weather as I learned to drive in California, then moved up here and have never spent winters elsewhere. D thought that I should have some practice and no better time like the present. I was a little hesitant as D and I don't often work well together in a teacher-student relationship. OK, I'll admit, I'm not a good student - my father raised me to be so independent that I have a hard time taking direction from anyone. Either way, it was a very positive experience and I drove all the way to the grocery store, including down and up a hill. YEAH ME! That said, I was very glad when he took over again and drove us home. :)
During our "outing" yesterday, we stopped to check on our dear former neighbor who lives alone with his little dog. He's a 70+ a few and while very independent, in this weather we still worry. He was doing very well, but did pass along the sad information that the father of another friend of ours (our real estate agent who happens to have a daughter a few days' older than M, and her husband is our attorney) had died that morning. He had been very ill for several months now, so in a way it was a blessing that the end had finally come, and peacefully, but still...I have "been there, done that" and just feel for them so much, especially at this time of the year.
In the meantime, back at the house, we had watched Polar Express, M and Grandma baked cookies (russian teacakes - yum!), M and Grandpa had paper airplane races (something I never thought I'd see!), and I curled up on the chair and worked on a cross stitch. Mom had gone to the doctor and had actually called in sick for work for the first time EVER since starting there in August. She has made it to every shift even through this weather and had to come home early Monday nite as she felt so horrible. Yesterday she called in sick, went to the doctor and came home with some antibiotics and other medicines. Well, something went awry and she had an allergic reaction to the antibiotic (that or the pickle sandwich she had before the pill, I'm not sure which). Anyway, for about 1 hour there she was one sick puppy, but it passed and she was able to spend the rest of the evening with us - wiped out and sick, but so much better than before. She has decided to skip the antibiotics (and hopefully also the pickle sandwiches!). We let M choose a movie for all of us to watch last nite and much to the in-laws dismay, she chose Veggie Tales "The Toy who Saved Christmas". They were less than impressed with the vegetables with no arms and no legs, but sat through the whole thing without complaining. It was a great family time, even if several of us were wishing M had picked something different to watch!
AND, that brings us to today - D is at work this morning, I am getting ready to hop in the shower and go chat with M about what she wants to do today. It's raining a bit out there, so perhaps we won't be playing outside just yet.
I am beginning to realize the reality of switching our Christmas Eve across the street. I am so bound to tradition and less than flexible much of the time when it comes to that, that I'm trying to envision how this is going to go. Several things are easily moved across the street (Christmas PJ's, ornaments, reading of the story, lighting of the candles...), but others (putting the angel on our tree) just can't be moved. It will all work out and be a memorable Christmas for all of us, I'm sure, but it just isn't going to be the Christmas I planned. Then again, sometimes we are thrown these curve balls to teach us something. What is this lesson? I haven't figured out, but probably something about the true meaning of Christmas and that the stuff we do surrounding it isn't as important as who we are with and all that...or it could be something totally different...who knows. I'm hoping to figure it out in the near future!
Right now I'm going to go and kill a dog for barking uncontrollably, hop in the shower, and head over to see my daughter.
More Christmas fun from "Snowed in with the in-laws" coming... I'm sure there's a hit movie in the making here, just need to find some time to sit down and write the screen play! I'm thinking I'll go for the book deal first, then we can move into full production of the movie. Think Nicole Kidman would play me? Could she nail my witty personality? Who cares as long as she wears her hair curly :)
M has spent the last 2 nites at Mom's house, and will spend tonite there as well since we moved our Christmas festivities over there. She will also be spending tomorrow nite there so that D and I can get up and out to the airport on Friday to pick up my sister and her boyfriend who are flying in, landing at 10:30, meaning a 7:30 departure for us (in "normal" weather, we'd leave about 2 hours early, but with these conditions, we have to add another hour).
I am trying to balance creating a bed and breakfast environment here at the house for their arrival as they are staying here, with all the Christmas Eve preparations across the street and entertaining M, who is feeling a little "Mommy deprived" it seems. I think that we may just give them clean sheets and tell them that while we love them, this is what it is, and we're sorry it's not better. Think D may freak out about that idea and start shoving stuff in the sewing room to be out of the way (why is it that MY sewing room becomes the depository for "stuff" when the house is cleaned?). I'll do what I can around here though.
Yesterday I got to drive in this wonderland of ours. I was realizing that I've never had to drive in this type of weather as I learned to drive in California, then moved up here and have never spent winters elsewhere. D thought that I should have some practice and no better time like the present. I was a little hesitant as D and I don't often work well together in a teacher-student relationship. OK, I'll admit, I'm not a good student - my father raised me to be so independent that I have a hard time taking direction from anyone. Either way, it was a very positive experience and I drove all the way to the grocery store, including down and up a hill. YEAH ME! That said, I was very glad when he took over again and drove us home. :)
During our "outing" yesterday, we stopped to check on our dear former neighbor who lives alone with his little dog. He's a 70+ a few and while very independent, in this weather we still worry. He was doing very well, but did pass along the sad information that the father of another friend of ours (our real estate agent who happens to have a daughter a few days' older than M, and her husband is our attorney) had died that morning. He had been very ill for several months now, so in a way it was a blessing that the end had finally come, and peacefully, but still...I have "been there, done that" and just feel for them so much, especially at this time of the year.
In the meantime, back at the house, we had watched Polar Express, M and Grandma baked cookies (russian teacakes - yum!), M and Grandpa had paper airplane races (something I never thought I'd see!), and I curled up on the chair and worked on a cross stitch. Mom had gone to the doctor and had actually called in sick for work for the first time EVER since starting there in August. She has made it to every shift even through this weather and had to come home early Monday nite as she felt so horrible. Yesterday she called in sick, went to the doctor and came home with some antibiotics and other medicines. Well, something went awry and she had an allergic reaction to the antibiotic (that or the pickle sandwich she had before the pill, I'm not sure which). Anyway, for about 1 hour there she was one sick puppy, but it passed and she was able to spend the rest of the evening with us - wiped out and sick, but so much better than before. She has decided to skip the antibiotics (and hopefully also the pickle sandwiches!). We let M choose a movie for all of us to watch last nite and much to the in-laws dismay, she chose Veggie Tales "The Toy who Saved Christmas". They were less than impressed with the vegetables with no arms and no legs, but sat through the whole thing without complaining. It was a great family time, even if several of us were wishing M had picked something different to watch!
AND, that brings us to today - D is at work this morning, I am getting ready to hop in the shower and go chat with M about what she wants to do today. It's raining a bit out there, so perhaps we won't be playing outside just yet.
I am beginning to realize the reality of switching our Christmas Eve across the street. I am so bound to tradition and less than flexible much of the time when it comes to that, that I'm trying to envision how this is going to go. Several things are easily moved across the street (Christmas PJ's, ornaments, reading of the story, lighting of the candles...), but others (putting the angel on our tree) just can't be moved. It will all work out and be a memorable Christmas for all of us, I'm sure, but it just isn't going to be the Christmas I planned. Then again, sometimes we are thrown these curve balls to teach us something. What is this lesson? I haven't figured out, but probably something about the true meaning of Christmas and that the stuff we do surrounding it isn't as important as who we are with and all that...or it could be something totally different...who knows. I'm hoping to figure it out in the near future!
Right now I'm going to go and kill a dog for barking uncontrollably, hop in the shower, and head over to see my daughter.
More Christmas fun from "Snowed in with the in-laws" coming... I'm sure there's a hit movie in the making here, just need to find some time to sit down and write the screen play! I'm thinking I'll go for the book deal first, then we can move into full production of the movie. Think Nicole Kidman would play me? Could she nail my witty personality? Who cares as long as she wears her hair curly :)
Monday, December 22, 2008
A Christmas Miracle
SO - my mother-in-law was defining a "miracle" as something that you thought was next to impossible actually happening. By that definition, I am claiming that tonite, here in my house, I witnessed a Christmas miracle...
M's Christmas PJ's are DONE and it's only December 22!
Some thought it was impossible for me to have a sewing project done prior to 24hours or less before the deadline (ie. Halloween afternoon for a Halloween costume, Christmas Eve morning for the Christmas PJ's, 3am for M's birthday dress...). BUT - it's done!
YEAH ME!!!!!!!!!!
Now I can start on the promised Pendleton wool jumpers for my nieces who, luckily, are spending the holidays at the beach so have no need for such things until they return!
M's Christmas PJ's are DONE and it's only December 22!
Some thought it was impossible for me to have a sewing project done prior to 24hours or less before the deadline (ie. Halloween afternoon for a Halloween costume, Christmas Eve morning for the Christmas PJ's, 3am for M's birthday dress...). BUT - it's done!
YEAH ME!!!!!!!!!!
Now I can start on the promised Pendleton wool jumpers for my nieces who, luckily, are spending the holidays at the beach so have no need for such things until they return!
A few pictures from today/last nite
Here are several pix I've taken with my phone camera over the last evening/day...
Taken last nite at about 7pm...our "Let it Snow" Snowman decoration on a stick in front of our house...
Another decoration from the front of our house - in year's past, wishful thinking, this year, a bit too obvious!
Same "Snow Season" decoration from further away - you can kinda see the deck in the background of this one
The outside of our house at night with "Sam" who D was knocking snow off of and unburying, and M in a trench next to the van working on the "trench" with a shovel (our actual snow shovel is still at the school from a pea gravel spreading project earlier this year, so we're having to use a standard, metal shovel for all our trenching needs!)
Yesterday - Romeo sinking in the frozen top of the snow...
Sally sunken in the snow...
And Sally trying to prevent a sinking (or perhaps pulling out of a sunken, I don't remember exactly)
Romeo - on top of the snow, just before a sinking! This picture is deceiving as it looks like the snow is ground level and not over a foot high. We're just happy we chose a black dog...
Last nite before bed, D went out back and dug some trenches for the dogs to do their business and move around. Here's a picture I took this morning of the trench along the side of the house in the back.
And the trench he dug this morning in the front, leading around the front of my van to the side of the house...
Here's the "split" in the trench where you can go left toward the street and Mom's house, or right toward the garage and the side yard.
The mailbox - taken not too long ago - that's not fog, it's more snow falling!
Front of our house this morning...the garbage drivers were concerned that we were unintentionally stuck in our driveway! I explained that we'd chosen to chain up Mom's van (we have one set of chains that fit hers and our van) and D's car while it has chains, doesn't have the clearance to make it in this weather. (the lump on the right is my minivan...)
D shoveling out Mom's driveway to take her to work today - the lump closest to us is the old van
Action shot of the van prep - you can see how much snow has fallen since he got home last nite at 10pm. You can also see the other lump in the driveway that is the old van.
And finally, a picture of Mom's deck and the wooden bench that sits on it...
Taken last nite at about 7pm...our "Let it Snow" Snowman decoration on a stick in front of our house...
Another decoration from the front of our house - in year's past, wishful thinking, this year, a bit too obvious!
Same "Snow Season" decoration from further away - you can kinda see the deck in the background of this one
The outside of our house at night with "Sam" who D was knocking snow off of and unburying, and M in a trench next to the van working on the "trench" with a shovel (our actual snow shovel is still at the school from a pea gravel spreading project earlier this year, so we're having to use a standard, metal shovel for all our trenching needs!)
Yesterday - Romeo sinking in the frozen top of the snow...
Sally sunken in the snow...
And Sally trying to prevent a sinking (or perhaps pulling out of a sunken, I don't remember exactly)
Romeo - on top of the snow, just before a sinking! This picture is deceiving as it looks like the snow is ground level and not over a foot high. We're just happy we chose a black dog...
Last nite before bed, D went out back and dug some trenches for the dogs to do their business and move around. Here's a picture I took this morning of the trench along the side of the house in the back.
And the trench he dug this morning in the front, leading around the front of my van to the side of the house...
Here's the "split" in the trench where you can go left toward the street and Mom's house, or right toward the garage and the side yard.
The mailbox - taken not too long ago - that's not fog, it's more snow falling!
Front of our house this morning...the garbage drivers were concerned that we were unintentionally stuck in our driveway! I explained that we'd chosen to chain up Mom's van (we have one set of chains that fit hers and our van) and D's car while it has chains, doesn't have the clearance to make it in this weather. (the lump on the right is my minivan...)
D shoveling out Mom's driveway to take her to work today - the lump closest to us is the old van
Action shot of the van prep - you can see how much snow has fallen since he got home last nite at 10pm. You can also see the other lump in the driveway that is the old van.
And finally, a picture of Mom's deck and the wooden bench that sits on it...
A WalMart Christmas
I was thinking to day that this has become a WalMart Christmas for us. Since we are snowed in...still...our only contact to the outside world is from Mom's job at WalMart. AND, the only things we are shopping for are those which can be bought at WalMart. Luckily we got the majority of our shopping done before this weather hit, but there's always the little things that come up. Today it was prunes...for cookies that D's Mom is making for our Hannukah celebration tonite. Yesterday it was socks...for M's boots in the snow as the only socks she had were ankle socks.
I got an email today that Starbucks is closed due to weather. I have decided that NOW we have reached tragic status and really need to call in the National Guard or FEMA or something. What has this winter come to that Starbucks had to close?????
I have some more pix to post of today's snow levels and such, I will post them a little later, though.
It's snowing again out there. Our new neighbor from southern California was asking D this morning how often this happens here. The reply? "NEVER!" I am just in awe of the beauty of it all and despite being very DONE with being stuck inside with the same people day after day, I'm still enjoying our winter wonderland.
We have decided to move the actual Christmas Eve and Christmas morning festivities over to Mom's house this year. I think I mentioned that D's Dad has Parkinsons Disease and is fairly unsteady on his feet under good conditions, let alone those that we are experiencing outside right now. M was very gracious to say this was OK - she has never had a Christmas Eve or morning anywhere but her own home, so this is a change for her, but she understands the need. I explained how during my Dad's final months, we nearly had Thanksgiving dinner in the master bedroom of my parent's house as he was too weak to come downstairs for dinner. He did find the energy upon overhearing D trying to carve the turket, and made his way downstairs to backseat drive the turkey carving at the last minute, but when dealing with these things, you just have to be flexible. Of course, this is what I'm telling M. On the inside I'm struggling with the change as well. But, I understand that it needs to happen and it's not about where you are, but who you are with - even if you have been with them for several days in a row!
On another note - D has dug "trenches" between the two houses so we can easily maneuver back and forth without crunching in the snow. He also dug some in the back yard for the dogs so they don't have to get buried in the snow. Poor Sally and Romeo are light enough to not initially sink in the snow when it has a frozen top layer to it, but eventually crack through. It's funny to watch them walk across the top, then CRACK! Fall down to where there's only a head (or today, a nose) sticking out! I've said a couple times that it's a good thing M picked a black puppy, b/c if Romeo were white we'd have lost him out there by now! The trenches are taller than the dogs, and come way up on our legs as well, but we are grateful that D has done that for us. He has been absolutely amazing through this whole thing with the driving and the trenching and last nite he dragged garbage and recycling bins out for 3 houses (our 2 + the neighbor who is out of town). He even helped a stuck neighbor get out of his driveway and going earlier today as they had to get to the ER for his mother-in-law (she was already there, they were going to be with her). What a guy! All this while juggling his parents, his mother-in-law, his child and wife...thinking he's a keeper!
I got an email today that Starbucks is closed due to weather. I have decided that NOW we have reached tragic status and really need to call in the National Guard or FEMA or something. What has this winter come to that Starbucks had to close?????
I have some more pix to post of today's snow levels and such, I will post them a little later, though.
It's snowing again out there. Our new neighbor from southern California was asking D this morning how often this happens here. The reply? "NEVER!" I am just in awe of the beauty of it all and despite being very DONE with being stuck inside with the same people day after day, I'm still enjoying our winter wonderland.
We have decided to move the actual Christmas Eve and Christmas morning festivities over to Mom's house this year. I think I mentioned that D's Dad has Parkinsons Disease and is fairly unsteady on his feet under good conditions, let alone those that we are experiencing outside right now. M was very gracious to say this was OK - she has never had a Christmas Eve or morning anywhere but her own home, so this is a change for her, but she understands the need. I explained how during my Dad's final months, we nearly had Thanksgiving dinner in the master bedroom of my parent's house as he was too weak to come downstairs for dinner. He did find the energy upon overhearing D trying to carve the turket, and made his way downstairs to backseat drive the turkey carving at the last minute, but when dealing with these things, you just have to be flexible. Of course, this is what I'm telling M. On the inside I'm struggling with the change as well. But, I understand that it needs to happen and it's not about where you are, but who you are with - even if you have been with them for several days in a row!
On another note - D has dug "trenches" between the two houses so we can easily maneuver back and forth without crunching in the snow. He also dug some in the back yard for the dogs so they don't have to get buried in the snow. Poor Sally and Romeo are light enough to not initially sink in the snow when it has a frozen top layer to it, but eventually crack through. It's funny to watch them walk across the top, then CRACK! Fall down to where there's only a head (or today, a nose) sticking out! I've said a couple times that it's a good thing M picked a black puppy, b/c if Romeo were white we'd have lost him out there by now! The trenches are taller than the dogs, and come way up on our legs as well, but we are grateful that D has done that for us. He has been absolutely amazing through this whole thing with the driving and the trenching and last nite he dragged garbage and recycling bins out for 3 houses (our 2 + the neighbor who is out of town). He even helped a stuck neighbor get out of his driveway and going earlier today as they had to get to the ER for his mother-in-law (she was already there, they were going to be with her). What a guy! All this while juggling his parents, his mother-in-law, his child and wife...thinking he's a keeper!
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Two more pix
Here's the view looking up our street at the house we call the "castle" for obvious reasons...
And M in front of our house a couple days ago - if I took this pic again, there'd be at least another 6 inches of snow on the ground...
And M in front of our house a couple days ago - if I took this pic again, there'd be at least another 6 inches of snow on the ground...
Pictures - finally!
These are a few pics that I've taken with my phone the past week - we have better ones on the digital camera, but this is the easiest for me to do right now...
And this is Mom's back patio looking out toward the field/hills behind her house. The snow is even deeper today - this was taken yesterday when it was still falling...
Here's Romeo (on top) and Sally (on chair) relaxing by the tree and watching for anything interesting outside. This is their favorite place to relax.
Romeo, AKA "Old Man Winter", after a romp in the snow. This view makes him look like one of those cartoon-ish "The Dog" pictures...poor little guy gets snow stuck all up in his beard, but continues to rummage in the snow nose first!
Here's one of our drive earlier today - gives you an idea of the streets and such...
Here's one of the back bumper of my van which has remained parked since last Saturday night. You can see how deep the snow has gotten around it - I took this a little earlier in the day, so it's a bit deeper now...
And this is Mom's back patio looking out toward the field/hills behind her house. The snow is even deeper today - this was taken yesterday when it was still falling...
I got out!
Yes, I got out of the houses for a drive today - OK, D took M and I for a drive to see the Winter Wonderland around us, but it was out of the house so it counts! AND, since I wasn't driving, I got to take pics with me 35mm camera (still haven't taken the leap to a digital SLR...keep hoping, but other priorities keep bumping it down the wish list) and enjoy the scenery. It is so beautiful out there with the snow on the trees and icicles on the houses and general whiteness to it all. I was telling M that short of spending Christmas in Wisconsin with the in-laws, this was probably about as white of a Christmas as she's ever going to get - and even then, D said that he often didn't have this much snow on Christmas growing up.
Today the freezing rain/hail is starting and it's actually pretty cool to watch as it bounces off of the frozen snow on the ground. We are very lucky, a good friend of mine emailed today to say they had lost power and water at their place - so far all of our utilities are in good working order, ::fingers crossed::. Another local county had their 911 phone system go down, so are actually asking people to walk to the police/fire dept. if they need them. Can you imagine... ::knock knock:: "yes?" "Um, sorry to bother you, but my house is on fire"
I also find myself curious (NOT from personal experience, of course, LOL) how many domestic violence calls the police are going to get during this from families just being ALL DONE being together. This is a heck of a lot of togetherness, that's for sure!
On another note, M decided this year that she wanted to also celebrate Hanukkah, which begins tonite. SO - D's Mom is preparing to make the latkes and Kielbasa (technically not kosher, but we're doing the best we can given that we can't get to the store and aren't actually Jewish). We have 2 menorahs since we ordered one along with the "Hanukkah on a Budget" set (there's a stereotype joke there, but I'll refrain from making it!), and my aunt was kind enough to let us borrow one of their menorahs as well. We have a couple dredels and a little bit of gelt, and the proper prayers and such to say when we light the menorah at sundown tonite. This is going to be interesting, but I'm so proud of my girl for wanting to learn about other cultures and how they celebrate. We are skipping the presents each night, but figure that's OK...I suppose we could pick 8 of her Christmas presents to give her over the course of the next 8 nights, but I don't think we're going to do that.
And now there's more snow in with the freezing rain...it was 27 degrees according to the van on our drive today...brrrrrrr!
I'm headed off to finish the Christmas PJ's...the top is almost done, then I only have to finish up the pants and they're all done. Should have them done tonite if all goes well...that may be a first to have them done before the day of Christmas Eve! But, since there's so much else to do around the 2 houses, it's probably best to get them done sooner rather than later.
Today the freezing rain/hail is starting and it's actually pretty cool to watch as it bounces off of the frozen snow on the ground. We are very lucky, a good friend of mine emailed today to say they had lost power and water at their place - so far all of our utilities are in good working order, ::fingers crossed::. Another local county had their 911 phone system go down, so are actually asking people to walk to the police/fire dept. if they need them. Can you imagine... ::knock knock:: "yes?" "Um, sorry to bother you, but my house is on fire"
I also find myself curious (NOT from personal experience, of course, LOL) how many domestic violence calls the police are going to get during this from families just being ALL DONE being together. This is a heck of a lot of togetherness, that's for sure!
On another note, M decided this year that she wanted to also celebrate Hanukkah, which begins tonite. SO - D's Mom is preparing to make the latkes and Kielbasa (technically not kosher, but we're doing the best we can given that we can't get to the store and aren't actually Jewish). We have 2 menorahs since we ordered one along with the "Hanukkah on a Budget" set (there's a stereotype joke there, but I'll refrain from making it!), and my aunt was kind enough to let us borrow one of their menorahs as well. We have a couple dredels and a little bit of gelt, and the proper prayers and such to say when we light the menorah at sundown tonite. This is going to be interesting, but I'm so proud of my girl for wanting to learn about other cultures and how they celebrate. We are skipping the presents each night, but figure that's OK...I suppose we could pick 8 of her Christmas presents to give her over the course of the next 8 nights, but I don't think we're going to do that.
And now there's more snow in with the freezing rain...it was 27 degrees according to the van on our drive today...brrrrrrr!
I'm headed off to finish the Christmas PJ's...the top is almost done, then I only have to finish up the pants and they're all done. Should have them done tonite if all goes well...that may be a first to have them done before the day of Christmas Eve! But, since there's so much else to do around the 2 houses, it's probably best to get them done sooner rather than later.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
STIR CRAZY!
SO - aside from M and my doctor appt and other "errands" on Monday, I have been essentially housebound between the 2 houses (ours and Mom's across the street) since last weekend. I'm starting to go a bit stir crazy, as are our houseguests (D's parents). Mom gets out w/ D as her driver to go to/from work and there was talk today of everyone going along and making an outing of it, but plans changed when we woke up to several more inches of snow on the ground, and more coming down. Either that or folks just had a chance to think about the plan...wandering around WalMart on the Saturday before Christmas, during a snow storm...and decide staying home for another day would be a better choice.
The snow is about 18 inches deep in some places - I'm guessing here, haven't gotten out the ruler to determine that for sure, but I can tell you that Pasha is up to her "armpits" (do dogs have armpits?) when walking around out there, and if Romeo isn't careful, he's about to get buried!
When I left Mom's house to come over here to let the dogs out, they (D & his Dad) were still playing Wii Fishing (Dad will fish anywhere - even in the family room!) while M and D's Mom were playing piano or reading. M had been fishing with them - they had a great system worked out, Dad would "catch" the fish, then hand M the "pole" and M would "reel it in". Very cute! Dad has given his seal of approval to the game as an effective piece of off-lake training.
You know, I have lived in Oregon for the past 18 years consecutively, and the first 5 of my life, and I don't think that during any of that time have I ever seen this much snow on the ground. Perhaps our first winter up here in O'Dell, near Hood River @ the base of Mt. Hood, but I was still a bun in the oven at that time, so technically it doesn't count. This is just crazy! If it weren't for the roads being bad, I'd truly be wanting this to last all winter long. I even said this morning that if there was a way to get the snow to only stick on the non-road areas, I'd be so happy. BUT, no luck. D said driving is "fun" - now, I have to say that I'm sure I'd do just fine driving in this, but I'm very glad that he has taken on the role of driver for the family during this weather. If it truly bothered me that much, I'd push the issue and go for a drive, so I'm guessing deep down I'm not bothered at all! You can't tell the difference between the road and the sidewalk, and the sidewalk and the lawns, so pedestrians and cars are often very close to each other. Add into that the slippery conditions and I'm shocked we haven't had more fatalities out there. Some people are being very careful, others, like the idiot who just sped down our street in front of my window, are being less than careful. I'm sure I could make a Darwinian comment right now, but I'll refrain...
AND, now that my feet have thawed from the walk across the street through snow up to my calves, and I've spent at least a few minutes with the dogs who are quite lonely, I'm sure, I think I shall wander back across the street and begin the work in the garage (opening packages, & sorting out Christmas gifts) that I have been asked to do.
AND, AGAIN, I promise to post some pictures real soon...we certainly have several taken!
The snow is about 18 inches deep in some places - I'm guessing here, haven't gotten out the ruler to determine that for sure, but I can tell you that Pasha is up to her "armpits" (do dogs have armpits?) when walking around out there, and if Romeo isn't careful, he's about to get buried!
When I left Mom's house to come over here to let the dogs out, they (D & his Dad) were still playing Wii Fishing (Dad will fish anywhere - even in the family room!) while M and D's Mom were playing piano or reading. M had been fishing with them - they had a great system worked out, Dad would "catch" the fish, then hand M the "pole" and M would "reel it in". Very cute! Dad has given his seal of approval to the game as an effective piece of off-lake training.
You know, I have lived in Oregon for the past 18 years consecutively, and the first 5 of my life, and I don't think that during any of that time have I ever seen this much snow on the ground. Perhaps our first winter up here in O'Dell, near Hood River @ the base of Mt. Hood, but I was still a bun in the oven at that time, so technically it doesn't count. This is just crazy! If it weren't for the roads being bad, I'd truly be wanting this to last all winter long. I even said this morning that if there was a way to get the snow to only stick on the non-road areas, I'd be so happy. BUT, no luck. D said driving is "fun" - now, I have to say that I'm sure I'd do just fine driving in this, but I'm very glad that he has taken on the role of driver for the family during this weather. If it truly bothered me that much, I'd push the issue and go for a drive, so I'm guessing deep down I'm not bothered at all! You can't tell the difference between the road and the sidewalk, and the sidewalk and the lawns, so pedestrians and cars are often very close to each other. Add into that the slippery conditions and I'm shocked we haven't had more fatalities out there. Some people are being very careful, others, like the idiot who just sped down our street in front of my window, are being less than careful. I'm sure I could make a Darwinian comment right now, but I'll refrain...
AND, now that my feet have thawed from the walk across the street through snow up to my calves, and I've spent at least a few minutes with the dogs who are quite lonely, I'm sure, I think I shall wander back across the street and begin the work in the garage (opening packages, & sorting out Christmas gifts) that I have been asked to do.
AND, AGAIN, I promise to post some pictures real soon...we certainly have several taken!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Still snowing!!!
I'm sitting in my office looking out at our beautiful white, fluffy neighborhood covered in still falling snow. It's very serene out there right now, now that all of our loved ones are back in the cul de sac and off the roads. Poor Sam the snowman is leaning a bit from the weight of snow upon his head - I feel like I should go outside and help him out a bit, but that would involve...well...going outside again!
M's school officially declared itself closed for the remainder of the week and her Winter Celebration cancelled for tonite. This is working out well for us, however, as she's getting extra time with D's parents and gives more time for her cough to ease up. She has been on antibiotics most of the week now, but the cough seems to be getting worse. I'm hoping it's a speed bump and it'll look better tomorrow. With all the excitement of the Grandparents visit, and Mom was off work today as well, she had 2 Grandma's, 1 Grandpa and 1 Mom around all day, with Daddy joining us after he returned from work. There was a lot going on and we definately noticed that the more she was doing (talking, eating, playing games, visiting, etc.), the worse the cough got as opposed to when she was just laying on Mom's bed watching TV. She told me tonite, after asking permission to say a bad word (which I assumed would be "crappy" as I often say "crap" and other derivations of it), that she just felt shitty tonite. Hey - at least she asked permission, right? AND, we all know that there are some times when those are the only words to accurately tell how we're feeling. I'm debating giving her the new sleepytime cough syrup during the day tomorrow to keep her from over doing it. That said, there's also a part of me that thinks that being cooped up in a warm, dry house isn't helping much either. SO - maybe we'll venture out on a walk in our Winter Wonderland tomorrow...that is, if we can sneak past 2 Grandmas and 1 Grandpa (Daddy will be at work again).
As for me, I'm still not 100%, but feeling better each day, which is good. Today in between trips across the street between the houses, I got the pattern cut out and pinned for M's Christmas PJ's. The negative now is that I have to do the next several parts in my sewing room, unless I want to re-locate a sewing machine over to Mom's house. Not a horrible idea, but it would just be easier to work on it here. SO - why am I typing a blog instead of sewing you may ask? Well, it's easy, I try not to sew after 10pm as my eyes begin to get too weary and mistakes get made. OK, that and I really want to curl up in the chair and watch the next episodes of Sex and the City on DVD! After watching the movie with my cousin a few weeks back, I decided that I'd been missing out and slowly catching up on the DVDs - I'm on the 3rd DVD of Season 2 already. So weird to be seeing the same characters (other than the women) appear/disappear/re-appear that are in the movie.
Tonite I did get to engage in a lovely game of chase when Mom's dog escaped from my house and decided to run home across the street. The funny part of this is that we often have the opposite problem where she escapes from Mom's house and runs over here at night. With Mom working, the poor dog doesn't know where she truly lives as some nights we just keep her here, especially if Mom is working late, and others we leave her at her house. SO - I open the front door and am wrestling both dogs back (D had brought Pasha over to Mom's house earlier in the evening for a visit as she is significanly less underfoot and therefore hazardous than the other 2 when around his father's unsure footing) when they both run out onto the porch. I tell them to get back inside and Romeo, ever obedient except when told not to kiss us anymore, runs back inside. Sally, on the other hand, decides to go home and makes a beeline for Mom's house. I'm chasing after her telling her to get back to my house and she's sitting firmly planted on Mom's front porch. I finally got her to run back across the street to my porch, where she apparently decided this was some sort of a shuttle run game from elementary school PE class, and headed back over to Mom's before I could catch up with her. I chased her once around the vans before giving up and deciding to call in the reinforcements (Pasha, of course! The little dogs do anything she leads them to...thank goodness she's too old to really use her Pied Piper ability and lead them off a cliff like a couple of lemmings!). Mom opens the door and Sally runs in, then begins the chase around her house trying to get Sally back out the door. I get Pasha out the door, and Sally firmly sits and refuses to move. At this point I was wanting to say "screw it all" and go get a 3rd wine cooler, but held my own and eventually got Sally to follow Pasha home by bribing both of them with Greenies (if you don't know what Greenies are, they are essentially "doggy crack"...I'm still searching out a 12 step program for them...they are THAT addictive apparently!).
FINALLY, all are home, M and I listen to Chapter 18 of The AutoBiography of Santa Claus (WAY COOL! I would definately recommend the book to all, the book on CD to all with kids in the 8ish range - 24 chapters, you can see where that's handy at this time of year...it covers a lot of history as well as answers several questions that are bound to arise, if they haven't already). During Santa M sketched Christmas ornaments off the tree and I tried not to be taken over by the 3 dogs all wanting my attention, since I was on the floor and obviously wanting to give it to them. After that, we headed up to M's room with her brand new matress (OH SO COZY!!!!! Hope it helps with the insomnia that's been going on recently), and read The Christmas Kitten, by James Herriot. Such a great story! Hugs, Kisses, and lights out.
NOW, with the hopes that sneaky little feet won't carry a not sleepy body into the family room during a compromising moment in Sex and the City (there are a few of those...I'm always on the lookout for M during them), I shall sign off and head to my comfy green chair for the remainder of the evening.
M's school officially declared itself closed for the remainder of the week and her Winter Celebration cancelled for tonite. This is working out well for us, however, as she's getting extra time with D's parents and gives more time for her cough to ease up. She has been on antibiotics most of the week now, but the cough seems to be getting worse. I'm hoping it's a speed bump and it'll look better tomorrow. With all the excitement of the Grandparents visit, and Mom was off work today as well, she had 2 Grandma's, 1 Grandpa and 1 Mom around all day, with Daddy joining us after he returned from work. There was a lot going on and we definately noticed that the more she was doing (talking, eating, playing games, visiting, etc.), the worse the cough got as opposed to when she was just laying on Mom's bed watching TV. She told me tonite, after asking permission to say a bad word (which I assumed would be "crappy" as I often say "crap" and other derivations of it), that she just felt shitty tonite. Hey - at least she asked permission, right? AND, we all know that there are some times when those are the only words to accurately tell how we're feeling. I'm debating giving her the new sleepytime cough syrup during the day tomorrow to keep her from over doing it. That said, there's also a part of me that thinks that being cooped up in a warm, dry house isn't helping much either. SO - maybe we'll venture out on a walk in our Winter Wonderland tomorrow...that is, if we can sneak past 2 Grandmas and 1 Grandpa (Daddy will be at work again).
As for me, I'm still not 100%, but feeling better each day, which is good. Today in between trips across the street between the houses, I got the pattern cut out and pinned for M's Christmas PJ's. The negative now is that I have to do the next several parts in my sewing room, unless I want to re-locate a sewing machine over to Mom's house. Not a horrible idea, but it would just be easier to work on it here. SO - why am I typing a blog instead of sewing you may ask? Well, it's easy, I try not to sew after 10pm as my eyes begin to get too weary and mistakes get made. OK, that and I really want to curl up in the chair and watch the next episodes of Sex and the City on DVD! After watching the movie with my cousin a few weeks back, I decided that I'd been missing out and slowly catching up on the DVDs - I'm on the 3rd DVD of Season 2 already. So weird to be seeing the same characters (other than the women) appear/disappear/re-appear that are in the movie.
Tonite I did get to engage in a lovely game of chase when Mom's dog escaped from my house and decided to run home across the street. The funny part of this is that we often have the opposite problem where she escapes from Mom's house and runs over here at night. With Mom working, the poor dog doesn't know where she truly lives as some nights we just keep her here, especially if Mom is working late, and others we leave her at her house. SO - I open the front door and am wrestling both dogs back (D had brought Pasha over to Mom's house earlier in the evening for a visit as she is significanly less underfoot and therefore hazardous than the other 2 when around his father's unsure footing) when they both run out onto the porch. I tell them to get back inside and Romeo, ever obedient except when told not to kiss us anymore, runs back inside. Sally, on the other hand, decides to go home and makes a beeline for Mom's house. I'm chasing after her telling her to get back to my house and she's sitting firmly planted on Mom's front porch. I finally got her to run back across the street to my porch, where she apparently decided this was some sort of a shuttle run game from elementary school PE class, and headed back over to Mom's before I could catch up with her. I chased her once around the vans before giving up and deciding to call in the reinforcements (Pasha, of course! The little dogs do anything she leads them to...thank goodness she's too old to really use her Pied Piper ability and lead them off a cliff like a couple of lemmings!). Mom opens the door and Sally runs in, then begins the chase around her house trying to get Sally back out the door. I get Pasha out the door, and Sally firmly sits and refuses to move. At this point I was wanting to say "screw it all" and go get a 3rd wine cooler, but held my own and eventually got Sally to follow Pasha home by bribing both of them with Greenies (if you don't know what Greenies are, they are essentially "doggy crack"...I'm still searching out a 12 step program for them...they are THAT addictive apparently!).
FINALLY, all are home, M and I listen to Chapter 18 of The AutoBiography of Santa Claus (WAY COOL! I would definately recommend the book to all, the book on CD to all with kids in the 8ish range - 24 chapters, you can see where that's handy at this time of year...it covers a lot of history as well as answers several questions that are bound to arise, if they haven't already). During Santa M sketched Christmas ornaments off the tree and I tried not to be taken over by the 3 dogs all wanting my attention, since I was on the floor and obviously wanting to give it to them. After that, we headed up to M's room with her brand new matress (OH SO COZY!!!!! Hope it helps with the insomnia that's been going on recently), and read The Christmas Kitten, by James Herriot. Such a great story! Hugs, Kisses, and lights out.
NOW, with the hopes that sneaky little feet won't carry a not sleepy body into the family room during a compromising moment in Sex and the City (there are a few of those...I'm always on the lookout for M during them), I shall sign off and head to my comfy green chair for the remainder of the evening.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Here - with a splash!
Despite snow nearly all day long, D made it to the airport safely, the in-laws made it to/through Minneapolis safely and fairly on time, and all arrived back here on what could almost be a "normal" time frame without the nasty weather. Amazing! That's when the fun began, though...
D's Mom calls to tell me that they're here just as I was getting M in the tub. I was letting her take a bath in my bathtub - the big one with the jets that everyone wants, but few have time to actually use (this fact comes into play shortly in our little story...). M gets in the tub and I hear D's Mom come in and say she's on her way up. Just about that time I turned on the jets in the tub. BIG MISTAKE! A disgusting colored water came out of them, along with various floaties of unknown origin. I'm not sure who acted first - M jumping out of the tub or me picking her up and out of the tub. Just as I was throwing her into the shower, D's Mom enters the bathroom with a baffled look on her face. I explained what had happened and she graciously offerred to pull the plug in the tub for me. Well, I was getting M a towel when I heard the splash. Upon return to the bathroom I see D's Mom in the tub, M peeking out of the shower and all are laughing hysterically.
SO - now M is clean and waiting for her hair to dry, D's Mom is wearing my pink fuzzy PJs (which I suspect I may have to battle her for at the end of this visit!), and we're washing clothes and towels, or at least drying them.
AND, in the middle of all this, D calls to tell me that School is cancelled again tomorrow. Heck, if I were in charge, we'd just call it a week and wish all a Happy Winter Break! Then again, as I've said before, this only affects me (snow days) by giving me a "helper" with my working from home this week.
OH - and I'm feeling 100% better today, putting me at about 75% total. I am finally feeling like I can rejoin the world of the living today - thank goodness!
Do have to cancel a hair appt for tomorrow - thank goodness I went darker so my grow-out is nearly imperceptable to the naked eye and another week won't kill me - but I can live with that!
D's Mom calls to tell me that they're here just as I was getting M in the tub. I was letting her take a bath in my bathtub - the big one with the jets that everyone wants, but few have time to actually use (this fact comes into play shortly in our little story...). M gets in the tub and I hear D's Mom come in and say she's on her way up. Just about that time I turned on the jets in the tub. BIG MISTAKE! A disgusting colored water came out of them, along with various floaties of unknown origin. I'm not sure who acted first - M jumping out of the tub or me picking her up and out of the tub. Just as I was throwing her into the shower, D's Mom enters the bathroom with a baffled look on her face. I explained what had happened and she graciously offerred to pull the plug in the tub for me. Well, I was getting M a towel when I heard the splash. Upon return to the bathroom I see D's Mom in the tub, M peeking out of the shower and all are laughing hysterically.
SO - now M is clean and waiting for her hair to dry, D's Mom is wearing my pink fuzzy PJs (which I suspect I may have to battle her for at the end of this visit!), and we're washing clothes and towels, or at least drying them.
AND, in the middle of all this, D calls to tell me that School is cancelled again tomorrow. Heck, if I were in charge, we'd just call it a week and wish all a Happy Winter Break! Then again, as I've said before, this only affects me (snow days) by giving me a "helper" with my working from home this week.
OH - and I'm feeling 100% better today, putting me at about 75% total. I am finally feeling like I can rejoin the world of the living today - thank goodness!
Do have to cancel a hair appt for tomorrow - thank goodness I went darker so my grow-out is nearly imperceptable to the naked eye and another week won't kill me - but I can live with that!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
3 Snow Days in a row - way cool! Today was Day 2, tomorrow will be Day 3, and from the looks of it, we may be off all week. I was planning on working from home the rest of this week anyway as the Charter School I see kids at regularly was starting their Winter Break tomorrow. SO - the only difference for my schedule now is that I'll be working at home...with M's "help". Could be worse, I know!
In-laws are set to arrive tomorrow from the midwest - between their weather and ours, we're hoping that all goes well and they are here by tomorrow evening. Rumor has it no planes are getting in/out of Minneapolis tonite, which is where they come to us through, so hopefully they start letting them in/out by morning. ::fingers crossed:: In the meantime, D will be on the road to go get them from the airport. We did make a reservation for a hotel near the airport for either the 2 of them, or all 3 of them, but are hoping that the weather holds and all works out. We keep getting conflicting reports on if the weather will be better or worse on Thursday than tomorrow, so we're hoping for the best.
In other news...M is feeling much better it seems, her cough is calming down and aside from a few "fits", has barely coughed at all today (of course, as if on cue, as soon as I typed that I hear her coughing from upstairs). My head hurts a lot less than it did yesterday, but I'm still feeling pretty crappy. Unfortunately, I'm no stranger to sinus infections so know that it's a slow process with minor progress each day. That brings me to a question...why did M and I bother to get flu shots? I no sooner got my flu shot a few months back and got sick, M was luckier, thank goodness. BUT - it's not the flu that we get, it's these damn sinus infections. I may have inherited many great qualities from my father, but his sinuses I could have done without!
I am going to try and make a dent in this in box of mine (did I mention I was hoping to have it empty by January?), and possibly start sewing the Christmas PJ's for M that she gets each year on Christmas Eve. I also am supposed to be sewing Pendleton wool jumpers for my nieces in Minnesota as Christmas gifts, but they may end up being more New Year gifts...it's not as if their weather is getting any warmer after the first of the year! I feel a little guilty not making one for my niece in California, but she'd never wear it in that area without seriously roasting! Then again, I did hear the Santa Cruz area was getting hit with some snow as well these days...
Maybe I'll get around to putting some pictures on here tomorrow...you just never know the lengths I'll go to to procrastinate on doing what really needs to get done!
In-laws are set to arrive tomorrow from the midwest - between their weather and ours, we're hoping that all goes well and they are here by tomorrow evening. Rumor has it no planes are getting in/out of Minneapolis tonite, which is where they come to us through, so hopefully they start letting them in/out by morning. ::fingers crossed:: In the meantime, D will be on the road to go get them from the airport. We did make a reservation for a hotel near the airport for either the 2 of them, or all 3 of them, but are hoping that the weather holds and all works out. We keep getting conflicting reports on if the weather will be better or worse on Thursday than tomorrow, so we're hoping for the best.
In other news...M is feeling much better it seems, her cough is calming down and aside from a few "fits", has barely coughed at all today (of course, as if on cue, as soon as I typed that I hear her coughing from upstairs). My head hurts a lot less than it did yesterday, but I'm still feeling pretty crappy. Unfortunately, I'm no stranger to sinus infections so know that it's a slow process with minor progress each day. That brings me to a question...why did M and I bother to get flu shots? I no sooner got my flu shot a few months back and got sick, M was luckier, thank goodness. BUT - it's not the flu that we get, it's these damn sinus infections. I may have inherited many great qualities from my father, but his sinuses I could have done without!
I am going to try and make a dent in this in box of mine (did I mention I was hoping to have it empty by January?), and possibly start sewing the Christmas PJ's for M that she gets each year on Christmas Eve. I also am supposed to be sewing Pendleton wool jumpers for my nieces in Minnesota as Christmas gifts, but they may end up being more New Year gifts...it's not as if their weather is getting any warmer after the first of the year! I feel a little guilty not making one for my niece in California, but she'd never wear it in that area without seriously roasting! Then again, I did hear the Santa Cruz area was getting hit with some snow as well these days...
Maybe I'll get around to putting some pictures on here tomorrow...you just never know the lengths I'll go to to procrastinate on doing what really needs to get done!
Monday, December 15, 2008
SNOW DAY!!!!
Yes - we have a beautiful snow day today - a couple inches on the ground out there and despite some sun, it doesn't look like it's melting anytime soon.
SO - M and I are at home for now, although we're heading to the doctor in an hour or so for our respective cruds. She's still coughing up a storm and I have to be "bad Mommy" and not let her go play in the snow b/c of it - thank goodness she's going to "snow camp" in January so I can use that as a "yeah, but..." in this case.
D took Mom to work this AM in the van with the chains on (someone came into WalMart last nite and said you needed chains, so he chained up last nite before picking her up...haven't seen anyone else with chains on out there, but that's just me...). He'll be bringing her home after her shift is over, then he can become a nursemaid to M and I. BUT, in the meantime, M and I have to head out to see the doctor - should be OK on the roads...just need to alter my usual route to avoid sharp turns and hills - not a problem at all.
No word yet on snow day tomorrow...if my district cancels, then I'm not obliged to work even if the other district is in session. Then again, if the other district cancels and mine is in session, I still don't have to drive out to podunk nowhere to visit that school. I'm hoping to clear my inbox before we come back in January, so a couple days "off" would be very helpful!
Not much else to report here - think I set it up for D to post as well, and for folks to make comments - let me know if you are having trouble - I'm still learning all this blog stuff.
SO - M and I are at home for now, although we're heading to the doctor in an hour or so for our respective cruds. She's still coughing up a storm and I have to be "bad Mommy" and not let her go play in the snow b/c of it - thank goodness she's going to "snow camp" in January so I can use that as a "yeah, but..." in this case.
D took Mom to work this AM in the van with the chains on (someone came into WalMart last nite and said you needed chains, so he chained up last nite before picking her up...haven't seen anyone else with chains on out there, but that's just me...). He'll be bringing her home after her shift is over, then he can become a nursemaid to M and I. BUT, in the meantime, M and I have to head out to see the doctor - should be OK on the roads...just need to alter my usual route to avoid sharp turns and hills - not a problem at all.
No word yet on snow day tomorrow...if my district cancels, then I'm not obliged to work even if the other district is in session. Then again, if the other district cancels and mine is in session, I still don't have to drive out to podunk nowhere to visit that school. I'm hoping to clear my inbox before we come back in January, so a couple days "off" would be very helpful!
Not much else to report here - think I set it up for D to post as well, and for folks to make comments - let me know if you are having trouble - I'm still learning all this blog stuff.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
A new blog for BJ
OK - so my friend talked me into this blog thing, so I figured why not have yet another thing that'll help me procrastinate on my "to do" list! :)
SO - here I am sitting in my office watching the snow fall outside - the neighborhood is all in white and Sam the large inflatable snowman is blowing in the wind...again...and covered in snow. We still have our concert at church tonite to go to in a little bit, then I'm having to drive to bring Mom home from work this evening as well. With the winter weather, I'm her driver - not only is she night blind, she's really unsure on these winter roads, so it seems like the least I can do to shuttle her to/from WalMart on her work days. Last nite it was "only" about 36 degrees when I went to pick her up at 11pm, but I'm suspecting if at not quite 5:00 we're clocking in at 27 degrees, it's not getting much warmer between now and 11pm.
I have been sick today - seem to have caught some lovely upper respiratory crud - I actually felt it coming, but just got hit hard this morning. Have been laying around all day (if I feel like publicly humiliating myself, I'll figure out how to post the picture of me sleeping with the dog on my head...) taking it easy and getting ready for this Christmas concert thing at church tonite that M is singing in.
Not sure about the puclic-ness of this just yet, so until I figure it out "M" is my daughter, "D" is hubby, and "Mom" is my Mom...OK, so that one won't change much if I can make this a private blog :)
Well, the concert at church got cancelled - woo hoo! Not that I wasn't looking forward to hearing M sing, but really wasn't looking forward to going out in this unless absolutely necessary. We'd talked about just not going - telling a little white lie to her that it had actually been cancelled, but when I talked with her about the "what if..." she was so upset I couldn't do it to her. SO - we were going to go anyway, but thank God they decided to cancel it after all.
Of course, it worked to my benefit in the long run b/c this way I don't have to fight with M about taking a bath/shower since she's in the tub already - yeah! Everybody wins!
AND - I'll end this first post here - I'd like you to come back and read again!
SO - here I am sitting in my office watching the snow fall outside - the neighborhood is all in white and Sam the large inflatable snowman is blowing in the wind...again...and covered in snow. We still have our concert at church tonite to go to in a little bit, then I'm having to drive to bring Mom home from work this evening as well. With the winter weather, I'm her driver - not only is she night blind, she's really unsure on these winter roads, so it seems like the least I can do to shuttle her to/from WalMart on her work days. Last nite it was "only" about 36 degrees when I went to pick her up at 11pm, but I'm suspecting if at not quite 5:00 we're clocking in at 27 degrees, it's not getting much warmer between now and 11pm.
I have been sick today - seem to have caught some lovely upper respiratory crud - I actually felt it coming, but just got hit hard this morning. Have been laying around all day (if I feel like publicly humiliating myself, I'll figure out how to post the picture of me sleeping with the dog on my head...) taking it easy and getting ready for this Christmas concert thing at church tonite that M is singing in.
Not sure about the puclic-ness of this just yet, so until I figure it out "M" is my daughter, "D" is hubby, and "Mom" is my Mom...OK, so that one won't change much if I can make this a private blog :)
Well, the concert at church got cancelled - woo hoo! Not that I wasn't looking forward to hearing M sing, but really wasn't looking forward to going out in this unless absolutely necessary. We'd talked about just not going - telling a little white lie to her that it had actually been cancelled, but when I talked with her about the "what if..." she was so upset I couldn't do it to her. SO - we were going to go anyway, but thank God they decided to cancel it after all.
Of course, it worked to my benefit in the long run b/c this way I don't have to fight with M about taking a bath/shower since she's in the tub already - yeah! Everybody wins!
AND - I'll end this first post here - I'd like you to come back and read again!
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