Happy New Year!

Good-bye, 2008! Hello, 2009! Before I start the daily blather of my life in the slow lane, I am sending all my best wishes for a happy and prosperous new year to you and all those you love. May you realize God's blessings every day...and may He bless you richly!

It was three years ago today that my brother died in River Forest, IL. I didn't get the news until the next morning, but I do think about it. My brother was a stubborn man. I hope that he has moved on in the Hereafter and forgiven his sisters for his imagined injury. We will never know.

Meg and I went out after supper last night and bought the loft bed for Ryan. It will be delivered and set up tomorrow (yes...New Year's Day!), so we are trying to get his room cleaned out in order to make room for the workers. The bed unit will overwhelm the room, but no more so than regular furniture would. The room is tiny! The loft bed is the only way to get a bed AND a dresser in there, and still have room for the little guy to play. (He doesn't spend much time in there, but he might now.)

Meg got home from work a little after noon today for the holiday. We will be spending a quiet NYE here at home. I have been doing (the usual) laundry and putting things away, etc. I did take a trek out to shop for some things. What was supposed to be a couple of errands ended up with my making five stops!! I've been working on my bedroom...decorating, sort of...updating things with new stuff. Kohl's has been having an "art" sale...buy one, get one free...so I have taken advantage of that. I spent a little money but got some things that I like. I don't usually spend money on me. Nice to do that every once in a while!

Special thanks to all of my friends who have meant so much and done so much for Meg and me over the years. I love you all. You are the best!

Happy 2009!

What a Nice Day!

Yesterday--also a nice day--I was mostly useless. I shuffled things around here at home, but I didn't accomplish much. I guess we all need days like that, and maybe I could have predicted that I'd not get anything done after the trip to Muncie and back. I forgive me! *Here we go again with the system not letting me make paragraphs. Read between the asterisks! *Today, I was up early and working. I've done laundry and dishes and picked up stuff. There is still a lot to do! I did take a trek out to shop for some things with minor success. Looking for a loft bed for Ryan's room because he isn't going to fit in his toddler bed much longer. I might have found one that will work. Meg and I will go back to look at it when she gets off work tonight. *It's so nice to have a few days still off work after vacation. 'Tis the best of both worlds! Next year, the children will be with their father for Christmas. Meg will need a distraction. Maybe another vacation just for the two of us?? A genealogy trip? Works for me!

Be It Ever So Humble...

We are home.
Coming back, we took the trip in two days. Drove from 9:30 AM yesterday morning until we reached our motel in Marietta, GA, at about 9:30 PM. Long day.
Today, we were on the road by 9:00 AM and hit the driveway at about 6:30 PM.
God bless the children, they are champion travelers. The worst part of the trip was the last hour or two when we were all tired of riding. Everyone (but me) is now in bed and asleep. Exhausted babies! Meg has to go to work tomorrow. I will take the children to Muncie in the early afternoon to be with their father for the rest of the week.

On our Florida adventure, we did Kennedy Space Center and Disney World. The children went out on Grandpa Joe's boat and saw manatee and dolphin. They have seen wildlife that they could never have seen in Indiana. Every morning, we were at the beach at daybreak, watching the sun come up on the continent and feeding the greedy gulls. The children spent a lot of time in the surf. (Robin got a minor sting by a Portuguese Man o' War.) They spent almost as much time in the swimming pool. If you ask them what they liked best, they will tell you Disney. We loved the palm trees and the water birds and the flowers and the warm temperatures. Santa Claus found us there...although it seems somewhat ludicrous to see winter themes in a warm climate!

When we hit the house tonight, everyone helped unload. The house is now more trashed than it already was, but the children especially seemed happy to be home. As we were saying good-bye to Florida this morning, I noticed that Meg teared up. I could have. It is hard to go back to reality after a lovely break. Her whole intention for this vacation was to expose the children to things they had never seen before. We did that! She spent lots of quality time with the kids. They will never forget the trip. Time to plan the next one!

We were blessed by good weather our entire Florida stay; blessed again by driving back in good weather. Back to winter coats, but life goes on!

Home is where the heart is. I am happy to visit the rest of the world, but also happy to return to my little home. Thank you, God, for giving us this time!

Merry Christmas from Florida!

So much to say...so little time! I am on Meg's laptop computer from the Reef Ocean Resort in Vero Beach, Florida. Our patio is a couple of feet from the swimming pool and a few yards from the ocean. The weather has been great and we have had a good time! I have stories to tell but will save them for when I am home.

The highlight for me is being down on the beach at sunrise every day (a full hour earlier than at home)...and feeding the gulls. We have done Disney and Kennedy Space Center. Have played in the ocean and swum in the pool. Santa Claus found us today!

Standing on the beach watching the awesome ocean confirms for me that there is a God, and He is powerful. How can one see something so very beautiful and not believe??

Merry Christmas to all of my family and friends. May 2009 be good to you!!

Florida...Here We Come...Maybe

The children are excited. They decorated cookies at Grandma Judy's today...and both understand that we are leaving for Florida tomorrow afternoon. Heh heh...tomorrow is "pajama day" at school for Robin. She is sleeping in what she intends to wear to school. Can't get her to sleep!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the day at school tomorrow won't be a bad one for me, but I feel bad because there is soooo much to do before we can comfortably leave. I have been gathering things and packing for months. Now we are down to the last minute stuff...and I am going nuts. I've tried desperately to think of everything. Maybe things would have gone better if I hadn't!

It is raining outside now. Supposed to freeze...then thaw. We'll see how things are at commute time. We have been in deep freeze since Thanksgiving, and I'm tired of it. And it isn't even Christmas yet!

To all who read this blog, God rest ye! Merry, merry!

Peg

Adventures in Education

Yesterday (Tuesday), my colleagues and I were awaiting the bell at the end of our lunch period at 11:30 when the lights blinked off. And stayed off. Then the bell rang. Since the 7th and 8th graders were all in the windowless cafeteria, we realized we would be needed in that direction. Directives came over the PA for students to sit down...remain where they were...but they didn't. I got my door open and opened the blinds for maximum light...then took in the students that were "loose". (My room is at a hall intersection, so the light from my windows helped to light the hall a tiny bit.) Students in the hall were told to sit down where they were, etc., until we could get control of the situation. The halls were dark. The only lights were the exit signs. Little by little, students were released to return to their classrooms. Bathroom treks were supervised because we have automatic flush toilets that weren't flushing without power...and there are no windows in there. And so it went. Along about 12:30, my students noticed that the buses were gathering outside. There had been no announcement, but we had no choice but to dismiss. One assistant administrator used his locker key to unlock lockers in the darkest hall (since it was too black to see the combination dials). At 1:00, we dismissed for the day. I was thankful for the time off. I had things to do! (A couple of teachers told me that the power came back on 15 minutes later.)

When I got home, I considered a nap...but then considered that there were too many things to do in order to continue the packing for Florida. In the kids' absence, I was able to take out the wrapped packages and get them stashed in a big suitcase. Did a load of dishes and a couple loads of laundry. Etc. By this time, the mist that had been coming down was beginning to freeze on everything. It was getting slick out. Meg got home a full 30 minutes later than usual. (She had to scrape her car...and the Bursar's. Apparently the Bursar didn't have a scraper in her vehicle!) We had our supper...and so it went.

This morning, I was up getting Robin's lunch ready when I got the call that my school district was under a two-hour delay, due to icy road conditions. A few minutes later, we got an automated call from Plainfield indicating that they, too, were under a delay. With an extra two hours before school arrival time, I was able to slow down and take the morning as it came. Meg called Grandma Judy to say that the children would be later than usual and breakfasted. The kids could sleep in a little. Meg could leave for work a little earlier than normal in order to compensate for road conditions. I got everyone up and fed and delivered in plenty of time. All went well. I love it when a plan comes together!

Oh...and here's an adventure, too. When I was at my sister's over Thanksgiving, I managed to leave my Clinique (expensive) make-up base behind. I only use Clinique because Cover Girl discontinued my favorite foundation years ago, and I spent months and mucho $$ trying to find something I liked as well. I did have an old jar of foundation here with barely enough in it to cover my face for a week or two...but unfortunately, Clinique can only be purchased in the expensive department stores, the nearest of which is in Greenwood. I haven't had the time or energy to drive there just for make-up! I discovered a Clinique website from which I could order the stuff and hope that it would get here. Guess what? I ordered it on Saturday, and it was here yesterday. Yes! I'll never have to drive to find it again! I love the Internet!

Back to Florida preparations. It is getting to be Crunch Time!

Last Week of the Semester

I hate to say this, but I am just putting in time at school. Maybe the other teachers are doing that, too...but none of us are talking about it.

I am reading a book that a student (who is flunking my class, btw) gave me. Freedom Writers Diary. It is totally discouraging because the teacher in that class did so much to change the lives of her students from the inside-out, and I do so little. Once upon a time, I think I believed I could be a Ms. Gruwell, but the truth is that I failed miserably, in that regard. Life got in the way. And now it's nearly time to retire. What do I have to show for my career? A few successes, sure...but no monuments. Teachers are given more and more to do with less and less time...and fewer pats on the back. Students aren't succeeding? That's OUR fault. I'm just so tired of it all...

After school today, I took the children to get their hairs cut (Cookie Cutters. I love that place!) Then went to dinner at Chick-fil-A...then to find a movie for school for Friday...then to Penney's for shoes for Robin (and to say hi to Mommy who was getting her hair done there). The children were really very good all evening, but both went to bed way late. We'll pay for that in the morning.

My belly is on the mend, finally. Now I will have to go back to watching what I eat. For awhile there...probably four weeks...I was eating what I could tolerate and trying to rehydrate. Calories didn't matter. I scared myself a few days ago when I stepped on the scale and it showed that my weight was down ten pounds in about three days. This morning, I was up about four pounds, which is good. I need to lose weight, but when it goes down in an unhealthy way, it ain't good!

Let's See...Where Was I?

Back to being sick. Meg has a miserable cold/sinus deal. I relapsed on the digestive thing. Have become intimate with the commode. I took Wednesday off, sick as a dog. Spent the entire day (after going to school to put in lesson plans) in bed.

Thursday, I was a little better but decided to take the day off just to recupe some. It's a good thing I did! Got a call from my attorney saying that I was expected with him in court at 1:30! (This is an ancient divorce deal that has been going on for the past two years.) So...off I trudged to the City-County Building in Indy. Got back in time to pick up the children, take them to supper, get home in time to change Ryan's clothes for his Christmas program at church, and attend the program. Meg and I had an altercation that didn't make for a real pleasant time, but once home again, I got lunches ready for Friday, etc....then discovered, as everyone was in bed (and I was on my way there), that the house was getting cool. Hmmm...the pilot light for the furnace was out. No biggie. I relit it, but it didn't ignite the burner. By now, it was 10:00 PM, and I knew that we were going to get up to a cool house.

Friday, I was up at 5:00. Turned on the "fireplace" (which is a space heater) in the living room, then started the water distiller in the kitchen (which gives off considerable heat). Lit oil lamps for additional heat in Meg's and the children's bedrooms. Interestingly, it was only just below 70 degrees in the house at the time. Then it was decision time. Do I stay home and try to find someone to repair the furnace? Could Meg stay home? No matter...I had to go to school to put in lesson plans anyway...only to find that one of my classes had put the sub in tears the day before, and there were lots of subs that day. Meg was likewise somewhat stuck, so we took our chances to wait for the end of the day.

Ham radio to the rescue again! On my way to school, I was talking to a couple of radio friends, one of whom is a heating/cooling guy (Jim). The other (Adam) is a very capable and dear friend who said he would be at my house at the end of the school day--and was! Adam put in several hours working on the furnace, found a part at a hardware not too far away, drove there and back, put in the part, got the furnace going, and went on his way. He would not take any money for his efforts (which irritates me some). The part was pricey, but when you consider that I would have had to pay for that AND labor had the heating and cooling company that I called ever called me back, I am extremely grateful. Hey...this is Indiana, and it has been COLD since before Thanksgiving! Gotta have heat! (Even without heat all day, the house was only at 65 degrees although it never got over 30 outside. Amazing!)

The furnace in this little bungalow is the original, installed when the house was built in 1968, which makes it 40 years old. Time for a replacement? Jim--the other ham--armed me with the names of several capable friends who do furnace replacements reasonably. We will look at that after the first of the year.

In the meantime, I continue to be thankful for all of the help and support that I have had through the years from a "hobby" that has proved to be better than having a husband in the house!

New Family Addition

Cooper James Watts (CJ), my sister's FOURTH great-grandchild, has arrived into the world, but not without complications. Holly (his mother) was rushed for an emergency C-section when his umbilical cord presented itself for delivery before he did! Mother and baby are well, thank God.

I supervised homework and bedtime tonight because Meg is sick...and I'm tired. Grandma just doesn't hold up without a nap these days. Bed will feel good!

So much to do...so little time...

Whoa! Long Time Since Last Post!

This was written on December 7th!
Truth be known, I didn't feel well enough to work on ye olde blog! The weekend before Thanksgiving, I had an intestinal deal that didn't go away. Dehydrated and otherwise dragged out, I did minimum expectations by day and hit the sack early by night. I am only NOW feeling normal again!



Thanksgiving was nice. Traveling weather was decent. My sister's house is warm and inviting...and her food is scrumptious! (Is that because I didn't have to fix it??) We got my turn signal bulb changed...and Roger (my bro-in-law) taped up my broken headlight so the weather wouldn't get to it until I get the chance to get it fixed. I didn't get to see the whole fandamily, but I did get to visit with a big chunk of them...including most of cousin Betsy's crew. Haven't seen them in forever!



Meg purchased a DVD recorder with VHS in order to convert home videos to DVDs. It is time consuming, at best...but we have spent hours looking at Robin and Ryan as babies while the recording goes on. Strolling down Memory Lane!



We are preparing for a trip to Florida over Christmas break. The time-share condo (Meg's father's) is paid for, as are the Disney tix. The motel room on the way back SHOULD be paid for. Christmas shopping is mostly done. I am pre-packing, hoping the weather will be warm enough for beach and/or pool. Without those, things will get expensive! Santa has to find us in Florida. I hope he does!



Oh...and Happy Birthday, dear sister! I will call but waiting for the grandkids to come home to give you their birthday blessings, as well!