Well, the bad weather has started. I see it raining outside, and it is already freezing in places on my deck. Grant is at school. If he makes it home safely, I'm pretty sure it will be his only school day for at least a few.
My mother wants me to come to Rolla. She has a fireplace and a generator, and they're telling everyone in the area to expect power outages. But Josh doesn't want me to be so far away. Well, he's one to talk! He's going to drive all the way to work (yes, that's 50 miles) on ice and sleep, and I'm not supposed to worry. I really wish he wouldn't go. Or that I'd married someone I didn't like, much, who had life insurance. Preferably lots of it.
AMEREN, I am counting on you! My fingers, toes, and eyes are crossed.
I'm going to make chili today. I've never actually made chili before. I have high hopes for this recipe. It's really the only thing I can think of to do in the face of this latest weather disaster.
By the way, yesterday was Josh's birthday! The night before, me and the kids snuck out and got him a few things. Grant picked a shirt with a matching hat that had the Thundercats logo, Abbie got him a MacGuyver knife, and I got him Bad Boys on Bluray. Since Callie was supposed to be his only present, we gave them to him yesterday and said they were all from Callie. I also got him some doughnuts. He picked out his PS3 game, too. A zombie one. Pretty funny stuff. If it doesn't get snowed out, we're also having dinner at Red Lobster on Wednesday. You are all welcome to join us. Contact me for details.
I have been very concerned about Egypt. I really hope that Egypt becomes the tolerant, artsy, liberal place it was a few decades ago. I've been reading over the last 2-ish years about loss of Egyptian culture due to an "invasion" of extremely wealthy muslims from Saudi Arabia. They even bribed all the master belly dancers to put on burkas and go on tv as muslim broadcasters. And it isn't as if they are good, pious muslims who are ultra-conservative to prevent sin. They sleep with exotic dancers and the like, and then have them killed. Not what I would want pulling strings in my country. Anyway, whatever Egypt (the majority) wants, I hope they end up with.
On that worldly note, I am going to go and worry some more. Hope you are all safe. The schools just called to say they are dismissing at 11, but that parents are encouraged to collect their students earlier if they are able to do so. We're warming up the truck.
Be safe. Love you all.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
The weather, and everyone's health.
Everywhere Jessica Fletcher goes, someone is murdered. Wouldn't one think she'd stop getting all those invitations? Apparently, though, there have always been people who attract that sort of thing. At every dinner party she attends, Miss Marple can reasonably expect every single person present to have been indirectly involved in at least one murder, and at least 50% of them to require her assistance to figure out (based only on the retelling) who the true murderer was.
Is it really Thursday already? I'm still recovering from the beginning of the week. Sunday, I left an hour earlier than usual in weather I had no business being out in - especially without 4 wheel drive. Practice went reasonably well, and those of us who lived far West were excused early (really not so early, if you count that we started an hour before regular practice). The weather was very, very bad. The roads were slippery with snow, slush, and patches of black ice. O'Fallon was particularly bad, and after I got Michelle back to her house, I nearly died going off the road, and was nearly hit by an SUV who skidded at me. Then, when a semi threw a big ball of slush onto my windshield, the sound made me jump and squeak. It took several hours for the adrenaline to pass. I had walked in announcing that Josh ought to take the truck, which he did, but it had taken me so long to get home, he had to leave right away.
I woke up just before 5 to get ready for the performance. I left the house at 5:30, as planned, and picked up Michelle at 6. She was only a few minutes late. We hit traffic around St. Peters, and heard on the radio that there had been an accident in St. Charles, but we were early enough that we still made it to UMSL just after 7, and were still the first ones there. We loaded and everything, and I was following Helena.....until the truck died. Right in the middle of a busy intersection. The police officer who "helped" us move the car into a parking lot was one of the first rude policeman I've ever met. Boy was I not feeling better about standing in the 18 degree cold and causing problems for a performance. I called the other performers and Josh. The arrangement we made was that they deposited the drums they had, then came back for the drums I had in the truck, and Michelle. They all set up for the show, and Helena came and picked me up, and we basically walked in, changed our shoes, grabbed bachi and started playing. It actually wasn't a bad set, and the school was wonderful about us being 23 minutes late. Poor Helena was sick with a stomach virus, but made it until the last song on the second set.
While we were finishing up, Josh was examining the truck. It turned out to need gas. Don't laugh. At least it didn't mean a tow truck and expensive repairs! Earlier, when Eddie told us that he was going to come back for more drums, he told us we should have our performance clothes on, so Michelle and I looked around for a place to change. Nowhere was open. There were, however, signs of life at a Popeye's Chicken a few parking lots down. We walked over there, but the girl was very aggressive and wouldn't let us in, even to thaw. I recommended that we all boycott that Popeye's.....but then when Josh and Abbie and I were leaving after everything was unloaded, I got hungry. It seems that I'm unable to hold a grudge if you feed me. Besides, I love that chicken from Popeye's!!
I didn't have a chance to stretch before or after the show. I pulled my right shoulder slightly during the first song, but it didn't keep me from doing anything. When I got home, I discovered that a cramp in my right quad during the Out-in-the-Cold part of the morning made for a very weird sore muscle later. And I whacked my finger with the clave, but that was minor, too. In all, pretty not bad for a taiko performance. And kids are such a great audience.
Tuesday I requested a nice, quiet day at home. Let's see. The first half was pretty quiet, unless you count the fact that Josh snores. He slept all morning. He woke up when the phone rang and he had to go into work (yes, on his day off). And that takes care of the "at home" part, since I couldn't go to taiko, and also we couldn't have dinner at IHOP, which we had planned to do before taiko. I hadn't thawed out anything, so we had ramen and sausage for dinner. It was okay and all, but it was sadly lacking in strawberries and whipped cream.
Josh wanted to make up for it by taking me and Abbie to lunch at IHOP Wednesday. Somehow he convinced me that it would be a good plan to take the dogs to Petsmart in the same trip. I objected, but was shot down. SO! To IHOP we went with a carfull of dogs. They did very well, both on the trip and while we were eating. Then we took them to have their nails clipped, and got them some rawhide chews (they keep Callie honest). This done, we loaded up to go, but Callie poked her nose out just as I was slamming the truck door. I grabbed the door to stop it, but it was too late, and for my trouble I got my thumb closed in the door. It was very swollen for a while, but I am looking at it now and I think it's fine, mostly.
And then I caught a head cold.
It's an extra sneezy one at this point, so I don't want to go out where I can accidentally infect people. I am not personally offended in any way that I am sick yet again. I truly enjoyed those few weeks of non-illness, and it gave me the rest I needed. Winter can't last forever. I'll be fine in another couple of days (or weeks). But I might have to cancel some plans I had for tomorrow. Hmm.
By the way, if your name is Julie, you might want to try a Nutella crepe next time you are at IHOP, just in case you haven't done that yet. It has bananas in it!
Guess what! I just fixed a computer problem! ^_^ Aren't you proud? Miss Born In The Wrong Century just realized that the wireless keyboard ran out of batteries, replaced them, and reconnected the keyboard to the...um....wireless....thingy.
ACHOOOO! Meh...my ears are popping. I think I'll grab a hot cider and a box of kleenex and go snuggle in bed with some more Miss Marple short stories.
Oh, wait. I forgot. I have children.
*sigh*
I just realized! Josh has never been this long without going to Steak N' Shake since we moved back from Arizona. I wonder if maybe he's not quite well. I'm convinced that there are life threatening conditions that only "frisco sauce" can cure.
Well, at least I can get that cider. Hope you are all staying warm. Don't forget to wash hot, wash soapy, and wash often! Just say no to SICK GERMS!
Happy Thursday!
Is it really Thursday already? I'm still recovering from the beginning of the week. Sunday, I left an hour earlier than usual in weather I had no business being out in - especially without 4 wheel drive. Practice went reasonably well, and those of us who lived far West were excused early (really not so early, if you count that we started an hour before regular practice). The weather was very, very bad. The roads were slippery with snow, slush, and patches of black ice. O'Fallon was particularly bad, and after I got Michelle back to her house, I nearly died going off the road, and was nearly hit by an SUV who skidded at me. Then, when a semi threw a big ball of slush onto my windshield, the sound made me jump and squeak. It took several hours for the adrenaline to pass. I had walked in announcing that Josh ought to take the truck, which he did, but it had taken me so long to get home, he had to leave right away.
I woke up just before 5 to get ready for the performance. I left the house at 5:30, as planned, and picked up Michelle at 6. She was only a few minutes late. We hit traffic around St. Peters, and heard on the radio that there had been an accident in St. Charles, but we were early enough that we still made it to UMSL just after 7, and were still the first ones there. We loaded and everything, and I was following Helena.....until the truck died. Right in the middle of a busy intersection. The police officer who "helped" us move the car into a parking lot was one of the first rude policeman I've ever met. Boy was I not feeling better about standing in the 18 degree cold and causing problems for a performance. I called the other performers and Josh. The arrangement we made was that they deposited the drums they had, then came back for the drums I had in the truck, and Michelle. They all set up for the show, and Helena came and picked me up, and we basically walked in, changed our shoes, grabbed bachi and started playing. It actually wasn't a bad set, and the school was wonderful about us being 23 minutes late. Poor Helena was sick with a stomach virus, but made it until the last song on the second set.
While we were finishing up, Josh was examining the truck. It turned out to need gas. Don't laugh. At least it didn't mean a tow truck and expensive repairs! Earlier, when Eddie told us that he was going to come back for more drums, he told us we should have our performance clothes on, so Michelle and I looked around for a place to change. Nowhere was open. There were, however, signs of life at a Popeye's Chicken a few parking lots down. We walked over there, but the girl was very aggressive and wouldn't let us in, even to thaw. I recommended that we all boycott that Popeye's.....but then when Josh and Abbie and I were leaving after everything was unloaded, I got hungry. It seems that I'm unable to hold a grudge if you feed me. Besides, I love that chicken from Popeye's!!
I didn't have a chance to stretch before or after the show. I pulled my right shoulder slightly during the first song, but it didn't keep me from doing anything. When I got home, I discovered that a cramp in my right quad during the Out-in-the-Cold part of the morning made for a very weird sore muscle later. And I whacked my finger with the clave, but that was minor, too. In all, pretty not bad for a taiko performance. And kids are such a great audience.
Tuesday I requested a nice, quiet day at home. Let's see. The first half was pretty quiet, unless you count the fact that Josh snores. He slept all morning. He woke up when the phone rang and he had to go into work (yes, on his day off). And that takes care of the "at home" part, since I couldn't go to taiko, and also we couldn't have dinner at IHOP, which we had planned to do before taiko. I hadn't thawed out anything, so we had ramen and sausage for dinner. It was okay and all, but it was sadly lacking in strawberries and whipped cream.
Josh wanted to make up for it by taking me and Abbie to lunch at IHOP Wednesday. Somehow he convinced me that it would be a good plan to take the dogs to Petsmart in the same trip. I objected, but was shot down. SO! To IHOP we went with a carfull of dogs. They did very well, both on the trip and while we were eating. Then we took them to have their nails clipped, and got them some rawhide chews (they keep Callie honest). This done, we loaded up to go, but Callie poked her nose out just as I was slamming the truck door. I grabbed the door to stop it, but it was too late, and for my trouble I got my thumb closed in the door. It was very swollen for a while, but I am looking at it now and I think it's fine, mostly.
And then I caught a head cold.
It's an extra sneezy one at this point, so I don't want to go out where I can accidentally infect people. I am not personally offended in any way that I am sick yet again. I truly enjoyed those few weeks of non-illness, and it gave me the rest I needed. Winter can't last forever. I'll be fine in another couple of days (or weeks). But I might have to cancel some plans I had for tomorrow. Hmm.
By the way, if your name is Julie, you might want to try a Nutella crepe next time you are at IHOP, just in case you haven't done that yet. It has bananas in it!
Guess what! I just fixed a computer problem! ^_^ Aren't you proud? Miss Born In The Wrong Century just realized that the wireless keyboard ran out of batteries, replaced them, and reconnected the keyboard to the...um....wireless....thingy.
ACHOOOO! Meh...my ears are popping. I think I'll grab a hot cider and a box of kleenex and go snuggle in bed with some more Miss Marple short stories.
Oh, wait. I forgot. I have children.
*sigh*
I just realized! Josh has never been this long without going to Steak N' Shake since we moved back from Arizona. I wonder if maybe he's not quite well. I'm convinced that there are life threatening conditions that only "frisco sauce" can cure.
Well, at least I can get that cider. Hope you are all staying warm. Don't forget to wash hot, wash soapy, and wash often! Just say no to SICK GERMS!
Happy Thursday!
Friday, January 21, 2011
On Snow
Last night, as I was putting the house to bed, I looked out my back window and saw the blue moonlight on the snow. Some of the flakes were shining in a sugary sort of way. I wished I could also see the moon, but it was hiding over the house somewhere. If it had been a pretty summer night, I would have gone out on the deck to look for it, but as it was about ten degrees, I was not tempted. Well, not much.
Yes, we are on our second snow day from the recent winter snow dump. What an unattractive description! But, the shoe fits. Wednesday night it started. It was a very fast snow. Before bed I could already see plural inches of accumulation, and by morning, I couldn't find the step on my front porch. I measured it at about 8.5 inches. It snowed for several hours (and several inches) after that, too, but I didn't measure it again, and eventually the sun came out and melted the snow on the top a little. I would guess we averaged about 9 inches of snow from the one snowfall.
Missouri usually has sleet, instead. And if it were sleet, then that would have been rough! But snow...is easy to work with. We knew what to do. We knew it was coming. So, why weren't the plows out maintaining our roads and insuring us safe passage? This was my most aggravating complaint. Josh says that probably the snow removal budget was used up earlier this year on less significant snowstorms, so they waited for it to be done falling before they attempted a plow run. Considering the gas prices this week, I guess I can understand the concern. But I still think it wasn't worth making a snow day for schools and businesses alike. How expensive was that, do you think?
There were 7 inches in Westphalia, too, so my dad had a snow day, even though Rolla only got 3 inches. Bet that was fun. Dad hardly ever gets random days off. Josh didn't get a day off. In fact, he got called in early, to cover shifts for people who live 30+ minutes closer to his work. I told him to call when he got there, as he went out to excavate the truck. He forgot, though. I spent much of the afternoon in senseless worry until he remembered to call me.
Guess what the kids have been playing lately. Did you guess? Inspector Gadget! Hee hee. Josh showed them some of the first season. They love it. And so do I. Yesterday, Grant informed me that Dr. Claw had turned his Silly Bands into explosives. Go, go Gadget Straight Face!!!
I've been practicing Tenchi. I would not, by any stretch, call me a master.
The kids went to play in the snow, but didn't last more than 5 minutes. It's just very cold out there. I think snow angels were made, and a few trips down the back yard in the sled, and then enough was enough! I didn't go. I made fish and mac & cheese shells and green beans. And boiled water for Josh's tea. Instead of tea, I made some Emergen-C and thought of Amy. ^_^
Yesterday I saw a new film! It's Vietnamese, and the US. title is The Owl and the Sparrow. It's rated PG, but I wouldn't go so far as to call it a family film. The basic plot is that a small girl, who is an orphan living with her uncle, who considers her useless and has no tender feelings for her, runs away to the city and tries to survive on the streets. She makes two friends, a lovely flight attendant who is having trouble coping with her inner feelings about the fact that her lover is married, and a shy zookeeper who is suffering from double heartbreak, as his fiance dumped him right before the zoo decided to sell his favorite baby elephant. The little girl decides that they'd make a good couple, and attempts to hook them up, while hiding from the authorities, as well as her uncle's grumpy attempts to recover her. It's not an exciting movie, and not really a cheerful one, but the acting is very good, and the camera work fascinating. I liked it, even though it was somber. I would recommend it for young adults and adults.
I hope you are all warm and comfortable. I plan to watch movies with the kids under my fancy electric blanket later.
Yes, we are on our second snow day from the recent winter snow dump. What an unattractive description! But, the shoe fits. Wednesday night it started. It was a very fast snow. Before bed I could already see plural inches of accumulation, and by morning, I couldn't find the step on my front porch. I measured it at about 8.5 inches. It snowed for several hours (and several inches) after that, too, but I didn't measure it again, and eventually the sun came out and melted the snow on the top a little. I would guess we averaged about 9 inches of snow from the one snowfall.
Missouri usually has sleet, instead. And if it were sleet, then that would have been rough! But snow...is easy to work with. We knew what to do. We knew it was coming. So, why weren't the plows out maintaining our roads and insuring us safe passage? This was my most aggravating complaint. Josh says that probably the snow removal budget was used up earlier this year on less significant snowstorms, so they waited for it to be done falling before they attempted a plow run. Considering the gas prices this week, I guess I can understand the concern. But I still think it wasn't worth making a snow day for schools and businesses alike. How expensive was that, do you think?
There were 7 inches in Westphalia, too, so my dad had a snow day, even though Rolla only got 3 inches. Bet that was fun. Dad hardly ever gets random days off. Josh didn't get a day off. In fact, he got called in early, to cover shifts for people who live 30+ minutes closer to his work. I told him to call when he got there, as he went out to excavate the truck. He forgot, though. I spent much of the afternoon in senseless worry until he remembered to call me.
Guess what the kids have been playing lately. Did you guess? Inspector Gadget! Hee hee. Josh showed them some of the first season. They love it. And so do I. Yesterday, Grant informed me that Dr. Claw had turned his Silly Bands into explosives. Go, go Gadget Straight Face!!!
I've been practicing Tenchi. I would not, by any stretch, call me a master.
The kids went to play in the snow, but didn't last more than 5 minutes. It's just very cold out there. I think snow angels were made, and a few trips down the back yard in the sled, and then enough was enough! I didn't go. I made fish and mac & cheese shells and green beans. And boiled water for Josh's tea. Instead of tea, I made some Emergen-C and thought of Amy. ^_^
Yesterday I saw a new film! It's Vietnamese, and the US. title is The Owl and the Sparrow. It's rated PG, but I wouldn't go so far as to call it a family film. The basic plot is that a small girl, who is an orphan living with her uncle, who considers her useless and has no tender feelings for her, runs away to the city and tries to survive on the streets. She makes two friends, a lovely flight attendant who is having trouble coping with her inner feelings about the fact that her lover is married, and a shy zookeeper who is suffering from double heartbreak, as his fiance dumped him right before the zoo decided to sell his favorite baby elephant. The little girl decides that they'd make a good couple, and attempts to hook them up, while hiding from the authorities, as well as her uncle's grumpy attempts to recover her. It's not an exciting movie, and not really a cheerful one, but the acting is very good, and the camera work fascinating. I liked it, even though it was somber. I would recommend it for young adults and adults.
I hope you are all warm and comfortable. I plan to watch movies with the kids under my fancy electric blanket later.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
The Past, The Present, and Next Week.
Boy, did I have a terrible Thursday. It was like the dream where you try and try to do something, but are always prevented. My goal was simple: go to taiko. Well, and get Michelle there, too.
Did I tell you Grant was on antibiotics for 10 days for his ear infection? That was a pain. He was prescribed chewable tablets, but the pharmacy said (after I stood in line for 15 minutes) that they don't make the chewables in that strength anymore. They asked if I would consider the liquid. Yes, of course. Okay, well she would just have them call the doctor to get a new prescription. Half an hour later, we had medicine for Grant. Well, 7 days later, I found out that Josh had been giving him the wrong dosage. Anytime I gave Grant his medicine, he got a teaspoon. Anytime Josh gave Grant his medicine, he got a tablespoon. So we ran out. I called the doctor Thursday morning, and a(nother) new prescription was called in. I found out just as I was getting the kids' coats on to go to Grandma's house during taiko practice that it was ready.
So! Off to Wal-mart in a super hurry. Except....when I got to the counter, they hadn't really filled the prescription. I quickly called Michelle and Mariah (my youngest sister in law) to say that I was being held up. Wouldn't you know it, Michelle not only had the pass card to the building, but the ONLY key to the practice room....and she couldn't meet me at Denny's. I needed to get to her house. We were definitely going to be late. Boy did I feel like a creep!
Then, I went to drop the kids off....and it wasn't a very pleasant experience. According to his dad, Josh hadn't called to see if they could watch the kids, and they made no mistake about letting me know that it was not convenient. I said I would be back as soon as I could.
So, I went to Michelle's house and picked her up, and then drove to practice, where pretty much everyone was waiting outside the door. You know...I have nightmares about this sort of thing. That was certainly bad enough, but then I had to leave after only one hour. As I was going down the stairs, I was putting my bag on my shoulder. Outside, I noticed that my earplugs' string got caught in the straps and that one of the earplugs had popped off. I saw it almost right away, at the bottom of the stairs, so I turned back to open the door....but it was locked. Figures. I haven't been so glad for a day to be over in a very long time.
Friday, my mom came and whisked away the kids for an overnight trip to Rolla. I watched a bunch of family unfriendly movies. But I was lonely. Josh was at work. The kids were in Rolla. I talked to the dogs for a while, but it wasn't very satisfying, as they were snoring. Josh and I did get to watch a movie together in the morning. Wanna know what he wanted to see? The Wedding Singer. So cute. Then he left for work, the kids came home, and all was happy. I made a frozen pizza for dinner. Then Mom called later to say she was home, and we chatted. When it came out that I was considering asking my neighbors to watch the kids on Thursday, she offered to do it. I declined, but she insisted. It's the usual routine with us, actually. But then the conversation wasn't fun anymore, and ended shortly after. I'm still inconveniencing people, just different people. I feel rotten about it. Why won't she just let me say no? Well, partly because my dad might retire soon, and she feels like she won't be able to help people anymore when that happens. So am I really making her happy by letting her? It sure doesn't seem like it.
But! Today I went to taiko. I was on time. I worked hard. I stayed until practice was over. Of course, I had to rush home right after (dropped Michelle off, of course) to get the car to Josh so he could get to work. I haven't seen him for more than 10 minutes all day. But practice was good. I played clave on Isami about 6 times, and Kiriko for the intro, and Drive a few times, and then....Tenchi. I've never been on Tenchi before. I got through playing it that one night between illnesses....but I haven't thought about it since. It showed. I was embarrassed. I will practice.
Did I tell you that I'm finally getting health insurance? I didn't think they were going to accept me, when I was forced to tell them I'd had an X-ray on my back, and that it had shown arthritis. But I'm a little nervous for other reasons, too. They asked me EVERY PHONE CALL if I anticipated going to a doctor in the next 6 months. I said no, of course. But...I don't think my eye infection went away with the 7 days of eye drops. Do these things ever go away on their own? I started the drops again, but really I need to call the doctor. They're not done with my paperwork for this insurance thing. Couldn't they still raise my premium or cancel me if I have to go in for an appointment? Still deciding what to do about all this.
Grant has tomorrow off school. Tuesday he will go back, and I think Josh and Abbie and I will go to CostCo. I also hear that in this week's weather forecast, the word "sleet" was mentioned. Ah, Missouri! Then, Mom will be here on Thursday while I'm at practice, feeling guilty and butchering Tenchi.
I thought today was pretty good, but I think I'm starting to get tired and cranky. I believe I shall turn in early. I hope that you all have a wonderful week! Take care, stay warm, and watch out for crazies!
Did I tell you Grant was on antibiotics for 10 days for his ear infection? That was a pain. He was prescribed chewable tablets, but the pharmacy said (after I stood in line for 15 minutes) that they don't make the chewables in that strength anymore. They asked if I would consider the liquid. Yes, of course. Okay, well she would just have them call the doctor to get a new prescription. Half an hour later, we had medicine for Grant. Well, 7 days later, I found out that Josh had been giving him the wrong dosage. Anytime I gave Grant his medicine, he got a teaspoon. Anytime Josh gave Grant his medicine, he got a tablespoon. So we ran out. I called the doctor Thursday morning, and a(nother) new prescription was called in. I found out just as I was getting the kids' coats on to go to Grandma's house during taiko practice that it was ready.
So! Off to Wal-mart in a super hurry. Except....when I got to the counter, they hadn't really filled the prescription. I quickly called Michelle and Mariah (my youngest sister in law) to say that I was being held up. Wouldn't you know it, Michelle not only had the pass card to the building, but the ONLY key to the practice room....and she couldn't meet me at Denny's. I needed to get to her house. We were definitely going to be late. Boy did I feel like a creep!
Then, I went to drop the kids off....and it wasn't a very pleasant experience. According to his dad, Josh hadn't called to see if they could watch the kids, and they made no mistake about letting me know that it was not convenient. I said I would be back as soon as I could.
So, I went to Michelle's house and picked her up, and then drove to practice, where pretty much everyone was waiting outside the door. You know...I have nightmares about this sort of thing. That was certainly bad enough, but then I had to leave after only one hour. As I was going down the stairs, I was putting my bag on my shoulder. Outside, I noticed that my earplugs' string got caught in the straps and that one of the earplugs had popped off. I saw it almost right away, at the bottom of the stairs, so I turned back to open the door....but it was locked. Figures. I haven't been so glad for a day to be over in a very long time.
Friday, my mom came and whisked away the kids for an overnight trip to Rolla. I watched a bunch of family unfriendly movies. But I was lonely. Josh was at work. The kids were in Rolla. I talked to the dogs for a while, but it wasn't very satisfying, as they were snoring. Josh and I did get to watch a movie together in the morning. Wanna know what he wanted to see? The Wedding Singer. So cute. Then he left for work, the kids came home, and all was happy. I made a frozen pizza for dinner. Then Mom called later to say she was home, and we chatted. When it came out that I was considering asking my neighbors to watch the kids on Thursday, she offered to do it. I declined, but she insisted. It's the usual routine with us, actually. But then the conversation wasn't fun anymore, and ended shortly after. I'm still inconveniencing people, just different people. I feel rotten about it. Why won't she just let me say no? Well, partly because my dad might retire soon, and she feels like she won't be able to help people anymore when that happens. So am I really making her happy by letting her? It sure doesn't seem like it.
But! Today I went to taiko. I was on time. I worked hard. I stayed until practice was over. Of course, I had to rush home right after (dropped Michelle off, of course) to get the car to Josh so he could get to work. I haven't seen him for more than 10 minutes all day. But practice was good. I played clave on Isami about 6 times, and Kiriko for the intro, and Drive a few times, and then....Tenchi. I've never been on Tenchi before. I got through playing it that one night between illnesses....but I haven't thought about it since. It showed. I was embarrassed. I will practice.
Did I tell you that I'm finally getting health insurance? I didn't think they were going to accept me, when I was forced to tell them I'd had an X-ray on my back, and that it had shown arthritis. But I'm a little nervous for other reasons, too. They asked me EVERY PHONE CALL if I anticipated going to a doctor in the next 6 months. I said no, of course. But...I don't think my eye infection went away with the 7 days of eye drops. Do these things ever go away on their own? I started the drops again, but really I need to call the doctor. They're not done with my paperwork for this insurance thing. Couldn't they still raise my premium or cancel me if I have to go in for an appointment? Still deciding what to do about all this.
Grant has tomorrow off school. Tuesday he will go back, and I think Josh and Abbie and I will go to CostCo. I also hear that in this week's weather forecast, the word "sleet" was mentioned. Ah, Missouri! Then, Mom will be here on Thursday while I'm at practice, feeling guilty and butchering Tenchi.
I thought today was pretty good, but I think I'm starting to get tired and cranky. I believe I shall turn in early. I hope that you all have a wonderful week! Take care, stay warm, and watch out for crazies!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Snow Days for Grown-ups
Hello! It's still snowing. It has been snowing pretty much all week. I'm not too sick of it yet, but I can feel that pull from deep in my subconscious for Springtime! I love spring, and need it. There is no spring in Arizona. There is only Early Summer and Late Summer. Thank goodness for Missouri, even though it has humidity and bugs. I need my spring. I wish it lasted 6 weeks longer!
In the meantime, however...
School was cancelled yesterday and today. Yesterday, I was a little surprised. Well, our roads weren't cleared, but the area had enough notice of impending winter weather that they ought to have been. And that is really what surprised me. Today I think they cancelled school mostly because of the cold. I was going to have Josh take Grant to school because of it. Very cold today.
We spend much of yesterday cleaning. Well, I guess I shouldn't say "we". I was mostly a part-time director and not so much a laborer. My back is out, and badly. I wasn't saying anything for a while, because I didn't want anyone to associate it with Abbie's skating party. I think that was just denial, though.
The party was great...I think. As the hostess, I was a little overwhelmed. From what I could tell, though, everyone had a great time. My grandmother, even, had fun. And she said, "I so enjoy your friends!" which made my day/month/year. What - you don't know anyone else who blushes with pleasure when her grandmother compliments her friends? Well, I never promised to be...well...whatever the opposite of odd is.
So. Yes. Back. OUT. I even took cyclobenzaprine. It helped the first night. Less so the second. Then I stopped taking it and switched to occasional Motrin. I'm better, but I still can't do anything exciting, like stairs. And Josh did a marvelous job yesterday! He cleaned his bathroom finally, and even helped clear out under my bed, and a particularly cluttered corner I had but couldn't do anything with. YAY! It seems that Josh has started to be a grown-up. (Only took him 31.5 years!) On the whole, it is a great help. I just hope he is the kind of grown-up that goes well with the kind of grown-up I've always been. Yes, goofy I may be, but I can run a household single handed. Now I shall have a partner in crime. I expect great things. Or very noisy fights. Or both.
Today, Josh is off to pick up an audio book at the library, and some sale bins for storing junk. I'm going to make chicken thighs and baked potatoes for dinner. And I also plan to make a loaf in the bread maker...I just haven't decided which kind yet. Tomorrow, Josh goes back to work. I had better be healthy by then. Or else.
I still want to go out. I want to see a great movie in the theater, then sing bad karaoke with my friends, and eat somewhere I've never been, and flirt shamelessly with my husband.
I'm looking at a recipe for Haitian potato salad. Have you ever had it? It has beets. Josh had it once, when he worked with some Haitian guys and really liked it, so I'm going to try to make it sometime. But I don't know if it is meant to be summer food or not. It says to serve it hot or cold. Does that mean it can be either? I kinda like warm potato salad. Like German potato salad. Mmm. Potatoes and vinegar...
I need to go to Hermann.
I spent the morning playing on my facebook page. They informed me that, like it or not, I was about to have the New Profile. So I switched voluntarily. But the new profile doesn't really like anything I have to say, so I've been fighting with it. And then it looked like I only had one cousin, so I had to add all the other ones....basically, an enormous and not very satisfying wast of my time. And I know that there are other fantastic movies that I haven't mentioned....
What are your favorite movies?
I'm going to sneak to the kitchen and raid the cabinets while the kids aren't around to catch me. Have a wonderful snow day!
In the meantime, however...
School was cancelled yesterday and today. Yesterday, I was a little surprised. Well, our roads weren't cleared, but the area had enough notice of impending winter weather that they ought to have been. And that is really what surprised me. Today I think they cancelled school mostly because of the cold. I was going to have Josh take Grant to school because of it. Very cold today.
We spend much of yesterday cleaning. Well, I guess I shouldn't say "we". I was mostly a part-time director and not so much a laborer. My back is out, and badly. I wasn't saying anything for a while, because I didn't want anyone to associate it with Abbie's skating party. I think that was just denial, though.
The party was great...I think. As the hostess, I was a little overwhelmed. From what I could tell, though, everyone had a great time. My grandmother, even, had fun. And she said, "I so enjoy your friends!" which made my day/month/year. What - you don't know anyone else who blushes with pleasure when her grandmother compliments her friends? Well, I never promised to be...well...whatever the opposite of odd is.
So. Yes. Back. OUT. I even took cyclobenzaprine. It helped the first night. Less so the second. Then I stopped taking it and switched to occasional Motrin. I'm better, but I still can't do anything exciting, like stairs. And Josh did a marvelous job yesterday! He cleaned his bathroom finally, and even helped clear out under my bed, and a particularly cluttered corner I had but couldn't do anything with. YAY! It seems that Josh has started to be a grown-up. (Only took him 31.5 years!) On the whole, it is a great help. I just hope he is the kind of grown-up that goes well with the kind of grown-up I've always been. Yes, goofy I may be, but I can run a household single handed. Now I shall have a partner in crime. I expect great things. Or very noisy fights. Or both.
Today, Josh is off to pick up an audio book at the library, and some sale bins for storing junk. I'm going to make chicken thighs and baked potatoes for dinner. And I also plan to make a loaf in the bread maker...I just haven't decided which kind yet. Tomorrow, Josh goes back to work. I had better be healthy by then. Or else.
I still want to go out. I want to see a great movie in the theater, then sing bad karaoke with my friends, and eat somewhere I've never been, and flirt shamelessly with my husband.
I'm looking at a recipe for Haitian potato salad. Have you ever had it? It has beets. Josh had it once, when he worked with some Haitian guys and really liked it, so I'm going to try to make it sometime. But I don't know if it is meant to be summer food or not. It says to serve it hot or cold. Does that mean it can be either? I kinda like warm potato salad. Like German potato salad. Mmm. Potatoes and vinegar...
I need to go to Hermann.
I spent the morning playing on my facebook page. They informed me that, like it or not, I was about to have the New Profile. So I switched voluntarily. But the new profile doesn't really like anything I have to say, so I've been fighting with it. And then it looked like I only had one cousin, so I had to add all the other ones....basically, an enormous and not very satisfying wast of my time. And I know that there are other fantastic movies that I haven't mentioned....
What are your favorite movies?
I'm going to sneak to the kitchen and raid the cabinets while the kids aren't around to catch me. Have a wonderful snow day!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Lucky Charms Again
I don't know about you, but I'm kind of glad that the rainbow marshmallows are colored backwards. It makes them predominantly blue, and I like blue. Besides, a real rainbow would be seen against a blue sky. Well...or a gray one.
And before I forget:
Dear Dora the Explorer,
Why must you yell?
Love,
Abbie's Mommy
Let's talk music!
1. Can Taylor Swift write a song that is not a first person narrative? I've been wondering for ages, and a kind friend has told me that she finally discovered a Taylor Swift song that, while still in the first person, might not be classifiable as a narrative. Hmm.
2. I like One Republic. I don't know much about them, except that the lead singer is actually a successful songwriter, and that one of the other members is a model. I saw a picture. He's not my type.
3. Word Up. It's the code word.
4. I'm thinking of actually purchasing some CDs...soon-ish. I don't know when I'll have money that is truly extra. I have some envelopes with cash, one is for Fun Stuff, and I suspect that much of it will be used for Abbie's party tomorrow, but I also have an envelope of my own money. And I'm starting to think I will buy 2 or 3 CDs. I haven't decided if I'm going the iTunes rout or not for the actual buying.
5. The GENX radio station makes me giggle.
6. I haven't been using my Radio?Sure! lately. I must start that up again.
7. I have 2 Sarah Bareilles songs, I think. She might be on the list of people whose album I'd buy, but I'm going to keep an eye on her and see if she has any variety of subject matter. I can only own so many Complaining About The Management songs.
8. If you haven't seen Pomplamoose sing anything on a youtube video, you really need to do that right now.
Went to taiko last night, and left without stretching. I'm a dork. A sore one. Practice was good...or what I saw of it was good. I'm learning Hanabi on the left. Very challenging, but except for the 5th line with all the turns, playing on the left has been less hard than I thought. In fact, that's it's biggest problem! My instincts know what to do to transpose, but then I second guess myself and end up doing something wrong that I wasn't going to.
Abbie LOVES being 5. She woke up Tuesday morning and exclaimed joyfully, "I'm FIVE!!! Mommy! I went to sleep and then I was FIVE!" And she has pretty much been in the same happy mood ever since. Right now she is playing with three different little glass tea sets in the kitchen. I'm going to make some real tea in a minute as a surprise.
Grant is fine. He had an ear infection Monday night, and missed his first day back at school, but he is on antibiotics now and doing fine. His teacher has been absent, but otherwise all is well at school.
We did some early Spring Cleaning the other day, as we were taking down the Christmas things. I've decided that I like it better on nice days when you can have the windows open. Still - much better around here.
Josh is starting classes again. Don't know what we think about it yet.
Oh! And I finally saw Donnie Darko. It was okay. A little on the boring side, I thought. And the end provides lots to talk about, but doesn't ever answer an important question: Why? Can't say it's on my list of favorites, but I'm glad I saw it.
Well, I must go and make some tea and keep Callie and Abbie from causing more than their share of trouble. Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Wish me luck at the roller skating party!!!!!
And before I forget:
Dear Dora the Explorer,
Why must you yell?
Love,
Abbie's Mommy
Let's talk music!
1. Can Taylor Swift write a song that is not a first person narrative? I've been wondering for ages, and a kind friend has told me that she finally discovered a Taylor Swift song that, while still in the first person, might not be classifiable as a narrative. Hmm.
2. I like One Republic. I don't know much about them, except that the lead singer is actually a successful songwriter, and that one of the other members is a model. I saw a picture. He's not my type.
3. Word Up. It's the code word.
4. I'm thinking of actually purchasing some CDs...soon-ish. I don't know when I'll have money that is truly extra. I have some envelopes with cash, one is for Fun Stuff, and I suspect that much of it will be used for Abbie's party tomorrow, but I also have an envelope of my own money. And I'm starting to think I will buy 2 or 3 CDs. I haven't decided if I'm going the iTunes rout or not for the actual buying.
5. The GENX radio station makes me giggle.
6. I haven't been using my Radio?Sure! lately. I must start that up again.
7. I have 2 Sarah Bareilles songs, I think. She might be on the list of people whose album I'd buy, but I'm going to keep an eye on her and see if she has any variety of subject matter. I can only own so many Complaining About The Management songs.
8. If you haven't seen Pomplamoose sing anything on a youtube video, you really need to do that right now.
Went to taiko last night, and left without stretching. I'm a dork. A sore one. Practice was good...or what I saw of it was good. I'm learning Hanabi on the left. Very challenging, but except for the 5th line with all the turns, playing on the left has been less hard than I thought. In fact, that's it's biggest problem! My instincts know what to do to transpose, but then I second guess myself and end up doing something wrong that I wasn't going to.
Abbie LOVES being 5. She woke up Tuesday morning and exclaimed joyfully, "I'm FIVE!!! Mommy! I went to sleep and then I was FIVE!" And she has pretty much been in the same happy mood ever since. Right now she is playing with three different little glass tea sets in the kitchen. I'm going to make some real tea in a minute as a surprise.
Grant is fine. He had an ear infection Monday night, and missed his first day back at school, but he is on antibiotics now and doing fine. His teacher has been absent, but otherwise all is well at school.
We did some early Spring Cleaning the other day, as we were taking down the Christmas things. I've decided that I like it better on nice days when you can have the windows open. Still - much better around here.
Josh is starting classes again. Don't know what we think about it yet.
Oh! And I finally saw Donnie Darko. It was okay. A little on the boring side, I thought. And the end provides lots to talk about, but doesn't ever answer an important question: Why? Can't say it's on my list of favorites, but I'm glad I saw it.
Well, I must go and make some tea and keep Callie and Abbie from causing more than their share of trouble. Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Wish me luck at the roller skating party!!!!!
Monday, January 3, 2011
2011 - So Far, So Good.
Must've used that eyeliner right when I was coming down with pinkeye, but didn't know it yet. I've re-infected myself. Now I have to throw away everything I used on my eyes over Christmas, just to be sure. $$$ I'm also very worried that the medicine is almost out.
My pinkeye is bacterial, which is why no one else seems to be getting it. You can learn a lot at WebMD.
This is not today's news, though. Today's news is that I finally was able reach the guy at the skating rink, and Abbie's 5th birthday party is officially scheduled. YAY! To tell you the truth, I was kind of hoping she wouldn't want a party away from home until next year. But I don't really mind, now that it is reserved. I will bring a cake, and we will all meet at the skating rink.
Oh. No we won't. Josh will be at work. Now I am depressed.
Anyway, today is dance for Abbie. She is so excited to wear the skirt she got during Christmas. Grant has been having a difficult day, but tomorrow he goes back to school, and a school time routine. That should take care of most of it.
New Year's Eve, I made a fancy meal in my crock pot out of stew meat and just a bunch of stuff I had in the kitchen. Yum. And I made a new loaf of bread, too. Josh came home just before midnight. I had got down one of my beautiful wine glasses, but didn't know how he'd feel about wine. It turns out he had some Vodka that someone gave him, and we poured out some shots. But then it was so gross we ended up pouring them out and giggling. I had been watching The Apartment (Jack Lemon), since it's the only New Year's Eve movie I own. After Josh got here, we watched Serenity. Happy Sci-Fi Zombie New Year!! On New Year's Day, I went to Rolla to see Mom and Dad.
Did you hear about the tornadoes? Probably you did. A friend of mine wrote from Germany to say that she was worried about us, because it was on their news! Well, just in case you didn't, both the Rolla and St. Louis areas were hit by tornadoes on New Year's Eve. We actually spent several hours watching Harry Potter in the basement. I called my mom to check on her, when all was clear here, and she hadn't even known about it until she got a call that one of my dad's friends had lost his....everything. He went to Wal-mart, and came home to a leveled lot full of trash. No house. No garage. No barn. Everything was gone. Thank goodness the cows went and hid somewhere. And thank goodness he needed something at Wal-Mart!
Saturday, my dad was mostly doing disaster relief work. He came home covered in blood. Always makes for a good entrance! Come to find out, he got a small scratch on his forehead. Head cuts always bleed like crazy. We showed him How to Train Your Dragon and ate my mom's red stew. Mmm. Saw pictures of the tornado damage. Very sobering. Sunday we mostly stayed at the house, and then I left in the evening. Dad was very morose during the Saints game.
My big, huge, ulcer causing worry for this trip was the fact that Callie came, and she had never met my mom's dogs. They got along VERY well! It was great! They both took off running and Callie went with them (Jake, being a hound, always has to be on a leash at their house) and they came back the best of friends. However, Callie did still cause me some grief. She peed on the floor, and spend the entire night pacing in the room we slept in, so that I got zero rest.
It was good to see my mommy, and I will be seeing her again at Abbie's skating party. My grandmother, too! I'm so glad I found a place that doesn't charge people who aren't skating.
Haven't seen any new movies lately, and I still need to get a book at the library. Or maybe I'll just grab some Stephanie Plum. I own the first five.
I am grateful that I didn't start the new year staring at a field of my demolished belongings, but I would like to point out how claustrophobic it is around here. There is too much stuff. But maybe I will feel better when the ornaments are put away. Do not be weighed down by your possessions, friends. I know. I shouldn't talk. Anything that was ever owned or loved by someone I care about is a treasure to me. So far it hasn't become my downfall, but it does have potential.
When I finally am earning money, I am going to try to fix the back yard. I think it will need topsoil and some terracing. I also have to replace the living room furniture. The couch and ottoman both have rips. But I'll probably be spending it on another car instead. I don't see the Explorer going more than a year.
Well, I must help a little girl I know into her ballet tights. Hope you all have a wonderful evening and week. Take care, and don't forget to wash your hands.
My pinkeye is bacterial, which is why no one else seems to be getting it. You can learn a lot at WebMD.
This is not today's news, though. Today's news is that I finally was able reach the guy at the skating rink, and Abbie's 5th birthday party is officially scheduled. YAY! To tell you the truth, I was kind of hoping she wouldn't want a party away from home until next year. But I don't really mind, now that it is reserved. I will bring a cake, and we will all meet at the skating rink.
Oh. No we won't. Josh will be at work. Now I am depressed.
Anyway, today is dance for Abbie. She is so excited to wear the skirt she got during Christmas. Grant has been having a difficult day, but tomorrow he goes back to school, and a school time routine. That should take care of most of it.
New Year's Eve, I made a fancy meal in my crock pot out of stew meat and just a bunch of stuff I had in the kitchen. Yum. And I made a new loaf of bread, too. Josh came home just before midnight. I had got down one of my beautiful wine glasses, but didn't know how he'd feel about wine. It turns out he had some Vodka that someone gave him, and we poured out some shots. But then it was so gross we ended up pouring them out and giggling. I had been watching The Apartment (Jack Lemon), since it's the only New Year's Eve movie I own. After Josh got here, we watched Serenity. Happy Sci-Fi Zombie New Year!! On New Year's Day, I went to Rolla to see Mom and Dad.
Did you hear about the tornadoes? Probably you did. A friend of mine wrote from Germany to say that she was worried about us, because it was on their news! Well, just in case you didn't, both the Rolla and St. Louis areas were hit by tornadoes on New Year's Eve. We actually spent several hours watching Harry Potter in the basement. I called my mom to check on her, when all was clear here, and she hadn't even known about it until she got a call that one of my dad's friends had lost his....everything. He went to Wal-mart, and came home to a leveled lot full of trash. No house. No garage. No barn. Everything was gone. Thank goodness the cows went and hid somewhere. And thank goodness he needed something at Wal-Mart!
Saturday, my dad was mostly doing disaster relief work. He came home covered in blood. Always makes for a good entrance! Come to find out, he got a small scratch on his forehead. Head cuts always bleed like crazy. We showed him How to Train Your Dragon and ate my mom's red stew. Mmm. Saw pictures of the tornado damage. Very sobering. Sunday we mostly stayed at the house, and then I left in the evening. Dad was very morose during the Saints game.
My big, huge, ulcer causing worry for this trip was the fact that Callie came, and she had never met my mom's dogs. They got along VERY well! It was great! They both took off running and Callie went with them (Jake, being a hound, always has to be on a leash at their house) and they came back the best of friends. However, Callie did still cause me some grief. She peed on the floor, and spend the entire night pacing in the room we slept in, so that I got zero rest.
It was good to see my mommy, and I will be seeing her again at Abbie's skating party. My grandmother, too! I'm so glad I found a place that doesn't charge people who aren't skating.
Haven't seen any new movies lately, and I still need to get a book at the library. Or maybe I'll just grab some Stephanie Plum. I own the first five.
I am grateful that I didn't start the new year staring at a field of my demolished belongings, but I would like to point out how claustrophobic it is around here. There is too much stuff. But maybe I will feel better when the ornaments are put away. Do not be weighed down by your possessions, friends. I know. I shouldn't talk. Anything that was ever owned or loved by someone I care about is a treasure to me. So far it hasn't become my downfall, but it does have potential.
When I finally am earning money, I am going to try to fix the back yard. I think it will need topsoil and some terracing. I also have to replace the living room furniture. The couch and ottoman both have rips. But I'll probably be spending it on another car instead. I don't see the Explorer going more than a year.
Well, I must help a little girl I know into her ballet tights. Hope you all have a wonderful evening and week. Take care, and don't forget to wash your hands.