Holiday Hectic Happenings

Hope all of my "blog" readers (the one or two of you who actually look here) had a lovely Christmas holiday.  May the new year be good to you and your loved ones!

I was officially out of school on Thursday, Dec. 22nd, which I spent wrapping gifts and preparing to go to Muncie to be with my daughter's family.  Drove up there late in the afternoon, with dawg, to help with Christmas preparations.  On the 23rd, Meg and Nathan and the children went to Plainfield to celebrate Nathan's mother's birthday, which gave me an uninterrupted opportunity to "deep" clean--something that just isn't possible with the children there.  I worked like crazy in an effort to take the best advantage of their absence.  It somewhat wore me out, but I felt good about what I did get done.

Christmas Eve was a late night!  We attended a candlelight service at the kids' church, with Meg and Nate singing in the choir.  After that, we got the children to bed, then went about the business of cooking for the next day, wrapping presents, and otherwise getting ready for Santa Claus.  It might have been 2:00-2:30 AM when the adults finally hit the sack.  In the morning, we had to wake the children up at 9:00!  (Meg figures that this may very well be the last year for that.  Next year, the children will probably be up at the crack of dawn!) 

Nathan's parents and his brother and fiancee arrived mid-afternoon to complete our celebration with dinner and gift exchange.  The house looked nice and Christmasy; the food was good.  Everyone made it home to their destinations safely in spite of snow.  We did, indeed, have a merry Christmas!

On the 26th, Meg and I packed up the children and headed to Springfield, IL, to be with my sister and her family.  With stops for gas and leg-stretching, it was a 6-hour trip from Muncie.  The children, God bless them, were good as gold in the car.  That's a long haul for two little ones!

The order of business at my sister's lovely home was keeping the children out of things.  So many "pretties" to look at!  So many new places to "splore"!  We went to visit Robin and Ryan's little cousins Nicky and Tyler; drove around to see some outstandingly decorated homes; ate really well; and generally had a nice (if hectic) visit.  Getting the children to bed at night in the new surroundings was probably the hardest part.  We did have a minor meltdown when Robin shed some tears because "Da-Da" was so far away.  ("I hope Da-Da is looking for me.")  We never gave a thought to homesickness!

Wednesday morning, Meg got up sick.  She was down most of the day while Shari and I looked after the little ones.  On Thursday morning, Shari got up sick.  Not fun! Meg was well enough that we packed up the kids and headed back to Indiana, leaving Sis and husband to regain their house and health after the onslaught.  Again, no problems in the car or with the trip.  After a happy reunion with Da-Da, I gathered up the dawg and came home after a week away.  Be it ever so humble!

Tonight, I will celebrate the last of 2005 here at home.  Ring out the old!  Ring in the new!

 

Can we say COLD, boys and girls?

I think I have mentioned this, like, three times before, but let me reiterate that I hate cold and snow before Christmas!  I am already sick of the season, and it isn't even winter yet!!

I got my final exam written and run off before the end of the school day today, so there is light at the end of the tunnel.  Our classrooms were originally supposed to be moved to the new building last summer, before the start of the school year.  That didn't happen.  Then it was proposed for fall break.  That didn't happen.  Then it was proposed for Christmas break.  That's not going to happen.  At this point, I am hoping they won't move us until summer.  The sixth grade has already been moved twice to make room for construction work, and will be moved again.  It's crazy!

I have some radio club issues to deal with before I can switch to vacation mode...and even then, my time is not my own.  Right now, I am seeking "all is calm; all is bright".

Plans for now include going to Meg's on Thursday sometime, and staying until the 26th when I will depart for IL for a couple of days.  Weather permitting. 

'Tis the season to be busy!

 

Busy week!

Where to start?  Let's see...

Monday evening was the annual Hendricks County Amateur Radio Society's Christmas dinner and elections.  One of our members has been so bored with our yearly dinners that he volunteered to plan a "real" party for this year, and I must say he did a pretty nice job!  We took over a little restaurant in Avon, IN, that is usually only open for breakfast and lunch.  They catered our evening party.  We had the whole quaint place to ourselves.  Santa Claus was there, with presents; the food was good; and one of our members brought his guitar and some little Christmas carol songbooks, so we sang a few rounds of favorite holiday songs.   It was a festive time...and I was elected president of the club for another year by default.  (No one else wants to do it, I guess.)

Know who else was there?  Megan and Robin and Ryan!  Meg was about to go nuts at home with the children, so she opted to drive down to crash the party.  (Families were invited, so that was not a problem.)  Robin behaved quite well and looked like an absolute cream puff.  Ryan was a bit wound up, encouraged by another youngster who was running around the room, so we had to corral him some.  Both children ate poorly because they had stocked up on the chocolates that were on the table prior to dinner time!

Tuesday, I met with the young man that I will be tutoring after school.

Today after school was our weekly BARC meeting (Bulldogs Amateur Radio Club).  We have four 8th graders that have been pretty faithful about attending, so we are hopeful about getting them licensed and on the air soon.  ("We" is Rick Dubbs WW9JD, the other ham radio operator/teacher in my school, and me.) 

And tonight was the annual Hendricks County Amateur Radio Awards Night.  I was given a nice little plaque again for my work in the county and state.  I don't do what I do in radio for recognition--none of us do--but I have to admit that it is nice to have a time when we can honor our own for the tireless--and somewhat anonymous--volunteer work that goes on throughout the year. 

For family pictures, check out http://family.mamabeararts.com/

Winter weather due tomorrow.  Here we go again!  I hate it when we have this much snow before Christmas.  It makes for such a loooong winter!

No school!

Friday, the winds were blowing the heavy snow around, and school got called off.  I puttered around here at home waiting for the winds to die down and the road crews to do their work.  Left for Muncie about 2:30.  Interstates were mostly dry and traffic was light.  No problems.

We had a busy weekend, shopping and covering bases with the children.  Nathan worked on replacing the exhaust vent/light in the main bathroom on Saturday.  Took longer than it needed to because the first one we bought was too small for the hole in the ceiling.  (It was HUGE!)  Meg made two batches of soap.  We all worked full tilt just to stay in one place.  Meg and I both got some holiday shopping done.  That was nice...

Both Robin and Ryan came down with colds during the night last night and were fussy.  Poor Meg caught the brunt of most of that.  Robin's first crying spell, I heard.  (I didn't hear any of the others from her or Ryan after I fell asleep.)  Her mother and I both responded.  Mommy was rocking her to get her settled down, but she said "I want Gwamma."  Well!  I don't care what you say; I am here to tell you that there is no greater honor in life than to be requested by a grandchild who needs comforting!   Grandkids are a special gift from God!

Today, Sunday, Meg and Nate had to be at church early to rehearse with the choir for their songs for the service.  I was left on my own to get me and the children ready and get us there in time. Almost didn't make it!  (They go to the nursery and love it!)  Meg and Nate have joined the Unitarian Universalist Church of Muncie.  One of their members--a woman of Swedish descent--started a Santa Lucia tradition years ago.  December 13th is the feast day for Saint Lucy.  In Sweden, the eldest daughter in a family portrays St. Lucy.  Wearing a white gown and a crown of lit candles, she awakens her family with saffron buns and coffee on her feast day.  At the church service today, one of the young people--a high school girl that my grandchildren adore--was to be St. Lucy.  What we DIDN'T know was that St. Lucy was to be followed down the aisle by the "star children".  Meg and Nate were singing Santa Lucia with the choir while "St. Lucy" was walking down the aisle in her candled crown and tray of buns and coffee...followed by my grandchildren and the other nursery children in white gowns, crowns of golden glittery stuff, and carrying stars on staffs!  Angels all!  It was so very special!  Meg was singing with tears in her voice.  All I could think was, "We didn't bring a camera!!!"

Frodo and I got home about 6:00.  The house is peaceful but boring.  Tomorrow is my radio club's Christmas dinner and elections...plus school, of course.  Life goes on...  The weekends are all too short.

Let it snow!

Somewhere from the depths of the National Weather Service came a forecast for major snow.  It started rather innocently at 2:00 but soon became a big deal.  By school dismissal at 2:40, the roads were slick and the white stuff was collecting, big time.  The trip home on I-70 wasn't much fun, but I survived.  The winds have picked up.  I expect at least a 2-hour delay for the morning, if not a cancellation.  We shall see!

The real good news is that Meg got busy calling places about getting the Taurus' heating situation fixed.  One place she called said they could take the car right away.  He said they had seen a lot of heat problems with that particular car and that it almost always was something plugged at the heater core, requiring a power flush.  Well...Nathan did the power flush himself...and it worked!!  I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.  The car now has heat.  I just hope it lasts!  If it stays fixed, it will have saved me $150 in labor.  (It IS my car, after all...)

I shoveled 4-5 inches of snow around 4:30 this afternoon while it was still snowing.  Depending on the declaration in the morning, I will have to do a couple more then.  Have I mentioned how LONG winter is when inclement weather comes before Christmas??

My plan is to go to Muncie this weekend to provide another set of hands so Meg can shop.  Weather permitting.  I shopped our new Super-Wal-Mart yesterday and was totally UNimpressed with the basic selections.  MUCH better prices for food, but other merchandise has declined in choice.  Not good!

The early morning will determine the schedule for tomorrow.  If I get THE call about school, it will come around 6:00 AM.  For now, I have to plan as if it will be school as usual.  Nightie-night!

 

Happy Birthday, Dear Sister!

To the rest of the world, it is Pearl Harbor Day.  To my family, it is Shari's birthday...born on THE Pearl Harbor Day!  (Shari, I'm afraid that means that you are always destined to have everyone know how old you are!)  May you have many more of these anniversaries!

Snow on the way.  Still firming up Christmas plans.  I hate it when the weather is severe before the holidays.  It makes for a very long season!

 

Good news and bad news

First, the good news:  I have been assigned another homebound instruction job.  (The last one I had dried up after two weeks when the youngster just quit coming...and there is no really good recourse to make him.)  This one has the potential of becoming a year-long position.  I don't want to count on the money yet because things happen.  (The youngster prior to that, two years ago, got into a major automobile accident not long after he and I finished.  He wasn't expected to live.  He did survive, but the last I heard, he still was unable to talk or function on his own.)  In any case, the job only requires 5 hours a week from me but provides good funds, which will be a Godsend right now!

The bad news is from Muncie.  The Taurus that Meg drives (my old buggy) is not putting out any heat.  Repairs needed, but no money.  Also, her piece-o-crap expensive computer (circa 2000) is on its last legs.  Again, no money.  I understand that the world has changed.  At one time, a computer was a luxury.  Not so anymore!  It's a lifeline!  Whatever would I do without mine????

See pictures of my grandbabies:  http://family.mamabeararts.com/

How 'bout them Colts??

I was up early this morning in order to meet a couple of my ham SATERN friends so that we could go to the RCA Dome and provide communications for a toy-and-kettle collection event for The Salvation Army.  As it turned out, one of the guys didn't show up, so we operated without him.

We had freezing rain last night.  Today was forecast to reach a high of 35 degrees and provide 1-2" of snow.  The weatherman speaks with forked tongue!  We didn't get the snow, but we also didn't get anything nearly as high as 35 degrees!  I think 23 was the highest I saw on the bank near the Dome.  I was dressed for the weather (although I think I looked pretty bad), but even then, I got cold.  By the time we were released from duty and headed for the car, I couldn't feel my toes very well.  I was glad to be headed to home and warmth!

Happily, in spite of the weather, the Colts won.  (12-0!!)  Also as happily, we collected a short moving van full of brand new toys and what appeared to be quite a bit of money.  Among the toys, I saw two brand new bicycles, a sled, Leap Frog learning games...all affirming that people can be generous when given the opportunity.  I was in awe of the quality of the donated items.  I'm so proud to have had the opportunity to be a part of the event, even if I almost froze in order to do it! 

Her Royal Dogness

It occurred to me today, while trying to get the house ready for holiday decorations, that this year needed to be different.  The dog--not present in the house last year at this time--likes to wait for me in the bay window.  To get up there, she launches out of the rocking chair.  Normally, I move the rocking chair away from that area to put the Christmas tree in front of the bay window.  To make a long story short, in order to save my end tables from claw scratches as the dog tries to get to the window, I rearranged the living room and put the Christmas tree in a different spot.  It's the first time in 12 years that the furniture has been moved to different locations and it speaks well to my penchant to figuring out where things go and leave them there!  I don't like the new locations, but I can tolerate them for a month.  Which makes me wonder WHY I am decorating.  No one will be here to share the ambiance.  What's the point???

Will be doing duty at the RCA Dome tomorrow for TSA.  It will be cold.  (Freezing rain out right now.)  Wish me luck!

 

Where does the time go??

I remember my former mother-in-law, in her later years, saying "I don't know where the time goes, but it just does!"  So true!  Now it is December and cold and beginning to look a lot like Christmas!  Am I ready?  Noooo....

This week at school was fraught with weather changes.  One day, it was raining so hard, horizontal to the ground, that my windows were being hit head-on, and they leak!  I had to call for a custodian to help mop up the puddles under the windows.  Then it turned cold.  With the wind blowing against my southern-facing windows, and no sun, (and the unreachable thermostat in the "univent" set at 65 degrees), I froze.  One day, I had to wrap up in an afghan on the couch at home and wait for 20 minutes for my feet to warm up enough to take a nap!  Yesterday, the fire alarm rang and sent us out into the cold and snow for 10 minutes.  Today, the 7th grade English teacher came in with tool in hand to reset the thermostat.  It worked!  Within 5 minutes, the room was almost too hot...so another adjustment fixed it.  The word comes down from the administration that we MIGHT be moving to the new middle school (old elementary school being remodeled) along about semester break.  I don't think so...but we'll see!

Sunday is a home Colts game.  The Salvation Army has a toy-and-kettle collection there.  My SATERN guys will be working the event again.  Wish us luck.  It is an outdoor event, but supposed to be 35 degrees with chance of rain or snow.  Yuck!

I've made some progress on Christmas decorations.  They are now out of the minibarn and onto the patio.  Whoop-de-doo!