Did I say fun? Yeah, I did... Silly me!
My sister tells me I haven't updated my blog this week, so here 'tis, Sister Dear!
Got through the school week without too much difficulty, except that my principal asked me to call a parent to describe something that supposedly happened in my classroom...but didn't. I'm not worried about this one because I have the whole class as witness to that! The MHS class of 2013 has many "enabling" parents!
After school yesterday (Friday), I took the children to McD's for supper prior to Meg's driving them to Muncie for the weekend. (Our fast food dinner choices are always Burger King, McDonald's, or Chick-fil-A. Care to guess why??) The winter weather advisory for our area predicted freezing rain, then 1-3 inches of snow but not until after midnight, so she was safe. The weather didn't happen at all, but I always wait up for her anyway. (I'm a mom!)
It felt good to sleep in a bit this morning. I will have the week's laundry done today, and the house isn't so totally messy that I have to spend much time working on that. So what's a red-blooded American woman to do in that case? Make more messes, of course! Back in March, during spring break, I started scraping wallpaper off the walls in the main bathroom, but I got side-tracked and the project never got done. (I mean, I even have the paint that will go on after the scraping deal is over!) We have lived all these months with the bathroom looking raggedy while the four-bedroom remodeling project went on. (And on and on and on...) So, along with laundry, I have been scraping wallpaper and working--a little at a time--on my bedroom/radio shack. (I still have piles of things to sort through there.) With wallpaper scraping comes little shreds of moist paper backing on the floor, down the heat vent, etc. Weekend fun!
When Meg dropped out of college (IUPUI) a couple of years post-high school, she was on academic probation--largely because she was in a course of study that didn't match with her dreams and talents. Now she works for IUPUI and can get a degree partially discounted with something called Fee Courtesy. This past year, she has been enrolled in four classes, two per semester, and is on the Dean's List! One mere "A" and three "A+'s"! She is no longer on academic probation and has received scholarship and grant moneys to keep doing what she is doing. I am so proud of her! There is a price, of course. While the children are visiting their father in Muncie on the weekends, Meg is doing homework. I do the housework, as best I can. It's a trade that has paid off for her, so far, and I'm happy to help. We both always feel under the gun, but that's what family is for!
Ha! Have to laugh! Meg has been recording video tapes onto DVDs for family and friends. The ones she is doing this weekend are for a colleague at IUPUI. We have seen the gal's family videos on the TV while the recording was going on. I walked into the living room a bit ago and saw a man "nekkid" putting on his pants and wondered if that was from the videos. No...it was from the TV show "Man Versus Wild". Whew! (Just FYI, my grandson LOVES that show. He calls it "Manderson Wild".)
Back to the chores here. The weekend ain't over yet!
And Shari, hope your President's bash was a total success!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Back to the Grind--Indiana Style
Yesterday was Records Day at school--teachers only, getting our grades in and preparing for the new grading period. No stresses. No big deal.
Today, however, WAS a big deal. Got up as usual. Prepared grandkid lunches. Then the sleet and freezing rain started at about 6:00. Hmmm... A few minutes later, Channel 13 showed that my district was under a 2-hour delay, although I hadn't received a call...and Channel 6 didn't have us listed yet. I made a couple of phone calls hoping to verify the delay, to no avail. Along about 6:20 (late!) the call came through. WE were under a 2-hour delay, but Plainfield wasn't. Since everyone was up and ready to go, but I just got an additional two hours added to my morning, I sent Meg packing to work while I fed the grandchildren and gave Grandma Judy another 1 1/2 hours to HER morning. By the time I hit the road, the freezing rain had turned to mere rain...and it was now daylight. Everyone arrived at their destinations safely. The 2-hour delay was a good call. Prior to our commute time, there were accidents everywhere.
My students had to report to their homerooms first off to receive their new semester schedules...then we had the shortened schedule...and the kids were happy to see each other again, so "order" was difficult to maintain. For a short day, it sure seemed long!
Here is why I miss my afternoon nap: I am up at 5:30 after not sleeping well. Leave for school about 6:50 after making lunches and helping to get the kids going. Teach all day. Leave school shortly before 3:00. Today, I stopped on the way home to gas the car. When I got to the house, I turned on Dr. Phil, emptied the dishwasher, set the table, started dinner, picked up the kids at 4:00, finished dinner, loaded the dishwasher and cleaned the table after dinner, ran to the grocery store to get milk, got back in time for the radio net, finished homework supervision with Robin while Meg put Ryan to bed, helped get Robin settled for the night. No baths tonight, so it was a relatively easy evening...
Meg was late getting home this evening. One of her workers--a gal who lives in Cloverdale but picked Meg up for work a couple of times before she had a reliable vehicle--discovered that her brakes weren't working as they were leaving work. The building was locked and everyone had departed. God bless her, Meg would not leave the gal alone there. She stayed, willing to drive her to Cloverdale, if need be. Before too long, the gal sent Meg home, saying that her husband was on the way, that she had a book and a blanket and could wait alone. The children and I ate without Meg, but it gave me an opportunity to tell the children the story of the Good Samaritan. Never too young to learn! Meg's gal called not too long later to say that her husband was there. Hey...I've been in situations at work when my car wouldn't start and I had to scrounge a way home. I totally respect Meg's determination to be there for a fellow female!
I'm rambling. Tomorrow is another day. Need to hit the sack!
Today, however, WAS a big deal. Got up as usual. Prepared grandkid lunches. Then the sleet and freezing rain started at about 6:00. Hmmm... A few minutes later, Channel 13 showed that my district was under a 2-hour delay, although I hadn't received a call...and Channel 6 didn't have us listed yet. I made a couple of phone calls hoping to verify the delay, to no avail. Along about 6:20 (late!) the call came through. WE were under a 2-hour delay, but Plainfield wasn't. Since everyone was up and ready to go, but I just got an additional two hours added to my morning, I sent Meg packing to work while I fed the grandchildren and gave Grandma Judy another 1 1/2 hours to HER morning. By the time I hit the road, the freezing rain had turned to mere rain...and it was now daylight. Everyone arrived at their destinations safely. The 2-hour delay was a good call. Prior to our commute time, there were accidents everywhere.
My students had to report to their homerooms first off to receive their new semester schedules...then we had the shortened schedule...and the kids were happy to see each other again, so "order" was difficult to maintain. For a short day, it sure seemed long!
Here is why I miss my afternoon nap: I am up at 5:30 after not sleeping well. Leave for school about 6:50 after making lunches and helping to get the kids going. Teach all day. Leave school shortly before 3:00. Today, I stopped on the way home to gas the car. When I got to the house, I turned on Dr. Phil, emptied the dishwasher, set the table, started dinner, picked up the kids at 4:00, finished dinner, loaded the dishwasher and cleaned the table after dinner, ran to the grocery store to get milk, got back in time for the radio net, finished homework supervision with Robin while Meg put Ryan to bed, helped get Robin settled for the night. No baths tonight, so it was a relatively easy evening...
Meg was late getting home this evening. One of her workers--a gal who lives in Cloverdale but picked Meg up for work a couple of times before she had a reliable vehicle--discovered that her brakes weren't working as they were leaving work. The building was locked and everyone had departed. God bless her, Meg would not leave the gal alone there. She stayed, willing to drive her to Cloverdale, if need be. Before too long, the gal sent Meg home, saying that her husband was on the way, that she had a book and a blanket and could wait alone. The children and I ate without Meg, but it gave me an opportunity to tell the children the story of the Good Samaritan. Never too young to learn! Meg's gal called not too long later to say that her husband was there. Hey...I've been in situations at work when my car wouldn't start and I had to scrounge a way home. I totally respect Meg's determination to be there for a fellow female!
I'm rambling. Tomorrow is another day. Need to hit the sack!
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Ahhh...The Luxury of Naps!
As my Christmas break comes rapidly to a close, so does my ability to take a snooze whenever I feel like it...so I celebrated this afternoon by taking one. So did Meg. I made no excuses. Just: "I'm going to go lie down for awhile." Bingo! Sometimes, a gal's gotta do what a gal's gotta do!
Ryan's room is all but done. I hope he likes it. We went to a lot of trouble to make the smallest bedroom in the house workable for the little dude...
I went back to WW this morning after a couple of months. I was down over six pounds from my last weigh-in, which brings my total loss, so far, to 19.2 pounds. Actually, I had lost more due to a persistent illness back in December, but that was a false loss that evened itself out once my body decided to rehydrate itself. Losing weight slowly makes it almost invisible...until I realize that I can bend over to pick up stuff and still breathe. Small victories!
Back to work here. Getting Christmas put away and laundry done. I guess we are going to have some snow this week. Oh, joy! <--saracasm intended.
Ryan's room is all but done. I hope he likes it. We went to a lot of trouble to make the smallest bedroom in the house workable for the little dude...
I went back to WW this morning after a couple of months. I was down over six pounds from my last weigh-in, which brings my total loss, so far, to 19.2 pounds. Actually, I had lost more due to a persistent illness back in December, but that was a false loss that evened itself out once my body decided to rehydrate itself. Losing weight slowly makes it almost invisible...until I realize that I can bend over to pick up stuff and still breathe. Small victories!
Back to work here. Getting Christmas put away and laundry done. I guess we are going to have some snow this week. Oh, joy! <--saracasm intended.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Good Things Come in Small Packages
I don't think I mentioned that Santa brought me a published family scrapbook of the happenings of 2007. It is truly a treasure! Creative Memories now has an online function where pictures can be uploaded onto pages, etc....then copied and bound in a book. I'm sure it's expensive...but I love it! Meg's now working on a vacation book that will go along with 2008. She has asked me to do the journaling. I hope I'm up for it!
After Meg went to bed last night, after midnight, I laid down on my bed to watch some TV...and woke up at 6:30, on top of the covers and cold. Next to me on the bed, totally upright and unspilled, was half a glass of wine. How did I manage that?!?
Today...New Year's Day of 2009...Meg and I spent a quiet day at home. The furniture delivery guys showed up with Ryan's loft bed and put it together. After they left, Meg and I messed around with it to determine where it should go. (There are only two possibilities, so it wasn't a big deal. I like one way better than the other, but the "other" way gives us some wall space to work with...so that's where it is!) We also went shopping to pick up some things that the room needs. For instance, now that Ryan's noggin will be next to the ceiling, the ceiling fan has to go...at least temporarily...so we bought a light fixture. And so it went. We've spent some money making the little guy's room into a bigger guy's room, but I think he'll like it, and it will grow with him. He has very nearly outgrown the toddler bed he's been in...
I feel good about what was done today, but (of course) there is always more to do. I'll keep working on it. Seriously!
After Meg went to bed last night, after midnight, I laid down on my bed to watch some TV...and woke up at 6:30, on top of the covers and cold. Next to me on the bed, totally upright and unspilled, was half a glass of wine. How did I manage that?!?
Today...New Year's Day of 2009...Meg and I spent a quiet day at home. The furniture delivery guys showed up with Ryan's loft bed and put it together. After they left, Meg and I messed around with it to determine where it should go. (There are only two possibilities, so it wasn't a big deal. I like one way better than the other, but the "other" way gives us some wall space to work with...so that's where it is!) We also went shopping to pick up some things that the room needs. For instance, now that Ryan's noggin will be next to the ceiling, the ceiling fan has to go...at least temporarily...so we bought a light fixture. And so it went. We've spent some money making the little guy's room into a bigger guy's room, but I think he'll like it, and it will grow with him. He has very nearly outgrown the toddler bed he's been in...
I feel good about what was done today, but (of course) there is always more to do. I'll keep working on it. Seriously!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
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!
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!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
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!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
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!
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!
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