Last post of the year

This is going to be a short one. Not feeling all that great.
Hope everyone has a happy and safe new year. I myself will be ringing in the new year in bed, hopefully asleep. I haven't slept the whole night through for over a week now. Last night was a really bad night. Just to much pain. It seems the Tylenol just doesn't work as well as the Advil was.
Since I was up all night and did work yesterday, which was such agony, I decided to call off for today. Glad I did. I ended up having to use the ear drops every 4 hours like I'm supposed to. Since I had to lay on my side, I have been putting warm compresses on my face as well. I was only outside once today and that was to take the oldest to work. I was bundled up because highs here are in the teens during the day, along with 6" of snow. Tonight's temps in the single digits with wind chills below zero. Not weather I really should be out in. I wore my ear flap hat, which I have never worn. Hubby got it for me about a year ago. It's really heavy, it has a fleece lining so I thought that would be the best ear covering I have. Since I stayed home today, I had to call the office this afternoon to see if I had to work tomorrow. I was hoping I didn't have to. Sometimes, when my lady's daughter is off, she still has us come in so she can go out. I was hoping she was planing on staying home tomorrow. She is. Good, because I really think I need another day home to take care of just me. The pain is manageable, until the meds wear off. Then I'm hurting. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. I have to work on Friday and really don't want to spend the whole weekend home with this either.
Hubby was really good about taking care of me. I was surprised. I told him this morning that I was taking care of me and when he came home, everything, right down to cooking was his responsibility, I wasn't doing it. He came home and made hot dogs. So not what I wanted, but, it will do. The boys keep looking at me and asking me if I'm ok. Geez, can't I have a sick day? Seems like if I stop doing things and lay down, everyone gets worried. Maybe they all need to stop depending on me for everything, ya think??
Well, I'm going to go take a shower, and then it will be time for more meds and then I'm going to settle in for the night. Just might look through the dvd's and see what looks good. Nothing on tv I want to watch tonight.
Happy New Year everyone!!

Couldn't take it no more!

Decided it was time to take care of myself and went to the doctor for this sore throat, jaw, ear. Glad I did, I was seriously reaching my tolerance for this pain. I have strep. Just great. Normally, you don't get antibiotics, but I did because of all the recent dental work. Seems it makes you more susceptible to infections, which can go right to your heart. So the antibiotics are a precaution. Now, I'm not knocking the antibiotics. I want this gone, like yesterday, but it's all the antibiotics I've taken over the past 6 months or so that have weakened my immune system to the point that I'm going to be a frequent visitor to the docs office this winter. That's the part that sucks. Now I have to dig out my books and read up on how to strengthen my immune system. Doc gave me ear drops for the pain in my ear. Had hubby put them in before he went to bed. Huge mistake! I don't think he counted them as he was putting them in. If felt like he just squeezed. They were so cold it made my eyes water. Hubby just giggled and told me he wasn't done. Oh yes you are! I'll have to have the boys do it tomorrow before I head off to work and see if one of them is much gentler with me. Hubby's just to rough for me, lol.
Seems I just can't get away from having to put a warm compress on my face. I still have to do this as often as possible. Including my neck, and take warm showers or baths, 2 a day if possible. My glands have to drain and the best way is compresses and showers. If she would have given me some time off, I'd have the time to do all this, lol. Hopefully I'm off on Thursday. Oh yes, I was told to wear a hat that covers my ears, especially when it's windy outside. I'm not the kind of person who wears the kind of hats that cover my ears because it flattens my hair and squishes my bangs. I'm more of the Beret wearing kind. I do have a few hats that might cover my ears, but are not so hair flattening. Since we are supposed to go back into the deep freeze for the rest of the week, I'll have to put some kind of hat in my work bag so I remember to wear it. And, of course, since I was there they got me scheduled for all that wonderful girlie stuff I've been avoiding having done. As well as the blood work. Ugh!! So, the next 2 Mondays are going to be fun and more fun for me. Might as well just get it over with, start the new year out right.

Home alone

For a Saturday, I was up earlier than normal. But, right now there is no one here but me and the cat, so it was well worth it!
The oldest is at work. He tries to pull that, I don't have to be at work until later routine when we were ready to go. Oh well, you're going now, lol. The youngest went to a friends house. Since we don't know where each other lives, we meet in town. Works for me because I had a few errands to run in town anyway. Walked out the door about 9 am, and got back home before noon. Not to bad. Doing laundry, as usual. Had to wash the sweaters I got for Christmas. Made the boys do all their laundry yesterday. Since I had time for me, I decided to chase all those greys away. Seems like they are popping up everywhere, lol. Just not quite ready to let the whole world see them yet. Now that that's done, I have to remember to call for a trim. I wanted to go before Thanksgiving, but got busy and by the time I did call, she was on vacation, for like 2 weeks. That put her back the week before Christmas. Well, that wasn't happening. So, I've added that phone call to my list for Monday.
I thought when I watched the weather last night it was supposed to be milder, meaning in the 40's. Well, it's raining and damp and just down right cold! Had to turn up the heat and put my sweatshirt and turtle neck back on. Tomorrow it's supposed to be in the mid 50's and then drop back into the 30's during the afternoon. I just heard that. Earlier when I dropped the oldest at the station, I told hubby that we should try to finish emptying out the other store tomorrow, thinking it wouldn't be so cold. Guess I was wrong. The owner is coming back tomorrow anyway, so it has to be done. We haven't gone for over a week now because neither one of us really has been feeling good. I think hubby just has a cold. Me, well, not sure just what is wrong with me. It hasn't been so bitterly cold the past few days and I've noticed that my jaw isn't as stiff as it used to be. Must be weather related. I think I'm down to 2 more appts with the dentist and then I believe I'll be done. For 6 months anyway, lol.
Time to switch loads and then I think I'm going to curl up with the cat and do some reading until I have to leave again.

Friday

Hope everyone had a great Christmas. Mine was rather quiet, which was nice. Don't think the old nerves could have handled much excitement, lol. Got some baking done on Christmas Eve and the rest I may do this weekend, or not at all. Depends on how I feel.
My parents bought the boys ipods for Christmas, so they spent most of their time putting music on them. Then I discovered I also have an ipod and their chargers work on mine to, so they put music on mine as well. Over the summer, when a lot of the tourists come through, hubby had found a fanny pack in the store. It sat around and sat around and finally hubby brought it home and gave it to me. He thought it was either an ipod or iphone in the bag, but not being able to charge it to turn it on, it was anyone's guess what it was. He had said quite a few times for me to take it somewhere and get a charger for it, but I never remember when I go into town, so it just sat and sat. As I was looking at the boys ipods, I'm thinking maybe their charger will fit and I can finally find out what this thing is that's been sitting around forever. Well, I know now, lol. This is one of the older ones. The boys have a lot more on theirs. Nike has teamed up the ipod and put something on it to use while you workout. It comes already installed on the boys, but if I want it, I have to pay. Ok.
Got up this morning and was wishing I had taken today off. Just didn't want to work today. Didn't sleep much last night, just to much pain. I still have a sore throat and some days feel like crap. I called the dr, but they are closed today. Figured she was, but was worth a try. The dentists office was open today. I called them on Wednesday, after they left a message on Tuesday, but they were closed. I expected them to be closed for the rest of the week to. So on Monday I have to call the dr and see just how soon I can get in there. I know she's going to be upset about my weight, but, oh well.
Not much planned for the weekend, except rest and more rest, lol. Have a few errands to do tomorrow, and that's about it. I intend to hibernate the rest of the time. Listened to the weather report and it' supposed to hit 50 on Sunday. That will feel like shorts weather compared to the deep freeze we've been in lately. With the temps hitting in the lower 40's a lot of the snow has melted. I can't believe 18" of snow could melt so fast. Glad I got pics when I did, lol.
My relief today was someone who I only see occasionally, and since I haven't seen her in a while I asked her how her Christmas was. She told me she didn't celebrate Christmas because of what it stands for. I thought maybe it was because of the commercialization. I must have given her a funny look because after a few minutes she explains to me that she's a Jehovah's witness and that Christmas is not scriptural. Now, I don't know much about this religion, but I did think they celebrated Christmas. But the remark about it not being scriptural, just left me speechless. So,I did the smart thing and changed the subject, lol.

Happy Holidays

I think I'm finally ready now, lol. I have all the gifts wrapped and under the tree. I did that last night because I thought my church was having Christmas eve service and I still have pies to bake, and that would be just one less thing for me to do tonight. What I heard last night is they are not going to have a service. Talking about more snow. I don't know what forecast they were listening to, but I didn't hear that. I heard ice changing over to rain today. The snow is way up north. But, it might have changed. I'll have to look at the weather later today.
Never got any baking done yesterday after work. Had to take the oldest to work and the youngest to a friends house. As we were leaving, a friend of mine stopped by and we were chatting for a while. Everyone was late by the time we were done talking, lol. I did take my free time to wrap the few gifts that I hadn't wrapped. By the time that was done and laundry and all the other little household chores, it was well past 7 pm. Not really a good time for me to start baking, especially when I have to get up to go to work the next day. So maybe today after work. I'm off tomorrow and I'll be in a much calmer mood.
I found myself this morning wishing I had taken today or Friday off. I so don't want to go to work today. But, maybe next year. The boys actually had the nerve to be excited because they have the next 2 weeks off! Um, you just had 7 days off. Didn't that count?
Once again I get to work and can't get the car up the driveway. Just slipping and sliding at a certain point. So, I parked at the end of the driveway. Not sitting on the side of the road. I did come prepared with an extra pair of boots and socks. So on the way up the driveway, I start to slip, fortunately I didn't fall, but I must have pulled something, because my leg hurts enough that I'm limping. Just wonderful. So one again, I had a chat with hubby and told him I need to drive something else when there's snow on that driveway. Really wasn't looking forward to limping up that hill today. He left me the pickup truck. I didn't think he was going to remember, but he did.
Well, it's work time for me now. Have a great holiday.

New toy

Yesterday, hubby calls me real early in the morning and tells me his cousin will be calling me, giving me some info, and I have to send him info back. He's in India. He's leaving to come back on Thursday. Nothing like waiting for the last minute to do something involved. Anyway, no phone call. So finally around noon hubby calls me and I tell him I haven't heard from his cousin. Well, here all along, hubby had the info and was supposed to pass it on to me. Duh!! So I do a test email to see if he had the right addy. Rechecked and it didn't come back, so I sent the info. Since it was something I had to scan and then email, it took some playing around. Well, it wouldn't work. The computer wasn't even recognizing the printer to scan. Uninsulated and reinstalled and still nothing. So, since I was given no time for problems, we hooked up the new computer. Glad I kept it. Can't tell you how many times I got mad at hubby and was going to return the thing. The only thing I can think of is the program on the other computer was just to outdated to support the scanner. So, this morning hubby calls me to tell me that the emails that were scanned, were blank. Great! Now I have to play with that today and see if I can sent one with something actually there, lol. I'm not one who is big on emailing or posting pics of family and stuff, so I just don't do it. Unfortunately, I really should know how to do this so I can do it when and if needed. Why have an updated gadget if you can't use all the features on it? So, if I ever get some free time, I'll have to play on here. I was going to bake cookies after work, but not sure if I'll have time now or not. Tomorrow I have to bake pies before the Christmas Eve service at church. Things just might get busy. The youngest is going over a friends house to bake cookies today and the oldest is working with hubby, so I'll have some quiet time.

Unbelieveable

The boys actually had school today. I can't believe it. It was a one hour delay. But they went, lol!! It seems silly to me to open the school for only 2 days and then be closed again for the next 2 weeks. Maybe the district decision makers are desperate now.
The snow has finally stopped falling after seeing that stuff come out of the sky for the past 3 days. I think we have about 18" of snow right now. There is another storm moving on on Wednesday, but the predictions, since the temps will be in the 40's, is for ice first and then turning to all rain. I'm hoping for either snow or rain. Nothing is worse than ice on top of snow. Ice to me is that in between thing that I feel we can do without, lol. The sun is actually shining today. Pleasant change from all the clouds. But the wind is kicking up and the wind chills are like 10 below today and into tomorrow. I was the good mom and drove the boys to school this morning. Just way to cold to stand outside this morning. As I was going past the kids who were waiting for the bus, I noticed one girl standing outside with capris on! Where was that child's mother when she was getting dressed this morning?? The high for today is only supposed to be 10. I also saw a few boys standing outside with nothing but sweatshirts on. I'm sorry, but it's way to cold to let your child leave the house dressed like that. What happened to being a parent and making sure your kids are dressed for the weather? My oldest is 18 and I still make him dress accordingly. He fusses and fumes at me, but oh well! That's my job as a parent.
Finished the pj bottoms for the youngest yesterday, so officially, all my sewing is done for Christmas. Anything I might sew or knit is just extra. I don't know what I'm going to do today. I really don't want to stay home, but it's just to bitter to be outside. I do have some errands to do and then probably take the oldest to work with hubby. Hubby and I need to chat, before he comes home. His mood just isn't the greatest when he gets home anymore and having any kind of conversation with him is out of the question.
Hubby called earlier and said his cousin was supposed to call me in half an hour. Well, it's been an hour and a half, and I'm still waiting. Don't have time to wait all day on this man. If he doesn't call before I'm ready to leave, oh well.

Feeling like crap

For the past few days I've had a sore throat, and my ears have been clogged. When I talk, it's like I'm hearing an echo in my ears. Really weird. Last night, when I went to bed, I bent down to do something and my forehead, and under my eyes really hurt. So, I'm thinking this is a sinus infection. Maybe tomorrow I'm going to go see if the local market has something for sinuses. I don't want to go to the dr because she will just give me this sinus irrigation stuff. I watched hubby do this stuff and it was not pretty. He kept doing it so he must have gotten some relief from it, but.........eewwwwww. Just not for me, I would rather suffer, lol.
It's snowing here again and cold. The high for today is 20, tomorrow 10. Brrrrrr. It wouldn't be so bad out there if the wind wasn't blowing. Nothing like wind blowing snow at you. This snow is the light powdery stuff. The snow from the day before was the wet sticky stuff. Unfortunately for me, I've already been out in this mess. Had to take the oldest to work. Hubby is on his own if he wants to get home. I'm not going out is this mess again. I probably shouldn't be out in this mess again. I'm thinking tomorrow I'm just going to hibernate inside . This bitter cold just makes my back go into spasms. So, today, I turned the heater up higher than normal, but then again, it's colder than normal to. The heater in the sun room is on to. Usually we only turn the electric heater on in there when some one is actually in that room. Not today, and probably not tomorrow. Don't know if the boys will have school tomorrow or not. The roads yesterday after the storm weren't that great. Today they aren't good either. They have been plowed, but still slippery. I was sliding when I was stopping to drop the oldest off at the station and I slid when I was stopping to get into my driveway. At least I start to slow down and start to stop before I have to turn.
I've decided to work on the sewing I have left today. The youngest still needs pj bottoms and flannel pajamas for the oldest. I also have some flannel, that I bought last year, to make flannel bottoms for myself. I just might try and see how much of this I can get done between today and tomorrow. If I'm in the sewing mood tomorrow. It would be so nice if the boys had school tomorrow, but I'm not holding my breath. I've resigned myself to the fact that I will have them in my hair for the next 2 weeks.
There was an article in today's paper about all the missed school days. I was under the impression that the kids had 8 snow days. According to this article, it's only 5. I would have thought more with all the snow we get up here. Anyway, what our district has done is scheduled 2 staff development days, which count as school days for the kids. They have already moved the last day of school by one day, and taken a day off for memorial day weekend. Why not make the spring break shorter?? It's a week and a half this year! Please, people! I'm going to have to invest some serious money in hair dye in the coming year, lol.
The youngest has plans for Monday to go to a friends house to go snow mobiling. Good, go, great. Her biological father has a farm, which she works at now since her mother and step father have stopped paying for her cell phone bill. I think it would be good for the youngest to get out of the house. He's been home an awful lot lately. If I stayed home as much as he has lately, I'd be going bonkers by now, lol.
Well, if I don't get off here, I'm not going to get anything I wanted to do today done.

Finally free time for me!

Considering all the sleep I lost last night, I was up early and it's been a very productive day. I decided, against my better judgement, to go into town and do all my errands today. The snow has stopped, after dumping about a foot on us, lol. It's been flurring all day, but no accumulations. It's teasing us. We are due for more snow starting early tomorrow morning, accumulating to between 4" to 8". It will certainly be a white Christmas for us. Just wish I could get in the mood. This year, I don't know why, it just seems like it's been so long in getting here, that I just wish the holiday would come and go and I could be done with it. I keep thinking I should be baking Christmas cookies, but the thought of baking from scratch is just to much trouble. Even buying the premade dough just seems like to much work right now. Maybe I'm just exhausted. I don't know. I just don't like when I'm not in the mood for Christmas, I should be, considering what it really stands for. This should be the most calming, happy, and peaceful time. Not for me this year. I don't know whats wrong with me.
The snow we got was a wet snow which is laying on the trees. As I was out driving today I kept telling myself to take in the beauty of everything. The first snow fall is always so pretty. Everything so crisp and clean and calm feeling. I opened all my blinds in the sun room so I could see the pine trees with the snow laying on them. Thinking maybe that would help lift my mood. The youngest was outside taking pics of the snow. We always try to take pics of the first snow fall every year and the date. I know we didn't have this much snow last year for Christmas. I think we got maybe a coating last year. I just remember a lot of ice storms last year. But nothing like the ice storm we just had.
Late last night the oldest came home. He refused to stay upstairs with the fool and hubby. Hubby bought himself an early Christmas present. A very expensive bottle of whiskey. Glad he didn't come home. To bad he didn't forget the home phone number. Anyway, the oldest comes home, looking totally exhausted, and complaining about hubby snoring so loud he just couldn't sleep. He said every time he would drift off, hubby would snore really loud and wake him up, so he went down to the store and got a ride home with the guy who does the plowing at the station. I know the oldest was desperate because he's very picky about who he will get in a car with. He has some friends who have stopped here and he refused to go out with them. Guess that's a good thing. Anyway, guess the fool was drinking to because the guy who brought the oldest home was questioning the oldest about hubby and the fool. He wanted to know if they drank that heavily every night. I've finally gotten it thought the boys heads that they are not responsible for covering for hubby's drinking. If anyone asks, they are to tell the truth about it. The oldest did. It's not like all the locals don't know or suspect anyway.
While I was out I got my time sheet dropped off. So glad the parking lot was plowed. I was having fears of having the youngest having to push the car if it got stuck. Not cool. We also went to wally world to pay the credit card. Got lucky and there was no body at the service desk so I was in and out. Didn't even attempt walking through the store. I'm broke anyway, lol. Went food shopping for things we need and the Christmas dinner. I didn't know what I wanted to cook for Christmas dinner. Everyone else wanted ham for dinner so I was out numbered. Nothing really appealed to me so ham it is. I was thinking that after Christmas I could make potato salad with the left over ham. That appealed to me. We are well stocked with fresh fruit and veggies. It's been such a long time since I've had a salad, that I'm hungry for one. I've avoided a lot of the fruits and veggies I used to eat because it's harder to chew those foods with teeth missing. But, I've found if I take my time, and very small bites, I can eat it. And I'm missing it so a huge salad for Christmas dinner. Probably before that to. I've been making coleslaw a lot lately. Been wanting that to. My body must be missing something.
After we came home from food shopping, and only taking the main roads. I wasn't thinking and took a back road on the way into town and instantly regretted it. It wasn't clear, at all. Most of the roads were ok, some better than others. This one was definitely on the not so good side. Almost as bad as my driveway. Anyway, the roads were better on the way home. We put everything away and the youngest cleaned the fridge out. Without being asked! It was in desperate need of it anyway. Now when I open the fridge, the shelves are so clean and bright, it hurts my eyes, lol. While he was doing that I got all the floors swept, mopped and vacumed, dishes done and put away, moved the shoe racks, put all my sneakers and other non winter foot wear away, all my boots out of the boxes and on the racks ready to go, and laundry started. I feel better when my house is clean. One more load of laundry to wash which is sweaters. I always do them last because they can take very long to dry. Then put the laundry away and change the sheets on the bed. Then, my work for the weekend is done. Tomorrow I get to do what ever I feel like doing and Monday. With any luck the boys might actually go to school, but I'm not holding my breath on that one. Personally, I don't think they will be back to school until next year.
It's not looking like there will be church tomorrow either. The snow storm is supposed to start around 4 am and not end until after 10 pm tomorrow. As of yesterday the predictions were for snow starting in the afternoon and being done early evening. Somethings changed. Have to catch the weather tonight.
Well, my break time is up, once again. Have to start thinking about what I want to make for dinner. It will most likely be just me and the youngest. The oldest will probably eat at the station before hubby stumbles in the door. Or I get a phone call.

Snow, snow, and more snow!!!!

I have to say, I'm so glad I'm home and don't have to go out anymore tonight. My relief ended up calling off, 30 minutes before she was due to relieve me. We are getting hit with a huge snow storm, which started around noon. We are supposed to get about 12" by the time this is all done. I tried calling my office, and they were closed, so at that point I knew this storm was dumping some major snow on us. I was really pissed that I would have to drive home in this after 4:00, but my lady's daughters boyfriend offered to stay. He said it was getting really bad. I kind of agreed with him because I didn't see one snow plow go by the house, which is rare because up here, as soon as it snows, they are salting and sanding. I left a message for the office, and I left. No sense in being stupid.
Hubby had called me wanting to know what time I was done work. I've gotten done at the same time for almost 3 years now. How can the man not know what time I get done????????? Anyway, he wanted me to call him when I got home. It started snowing at the station sooner than it did where I was working. Normally it takes me 10 minutes to get to work. Today it took 30. I was really anxious because this was the first time I really had to drive the car in snow. No more Jeep :( But, the car did really well, good traction, so I'm glad about that. Didn't run into anyone acting stupid in the snow on my way home. Everyone was going just as slow as I was.
Today, again, the boys had no school. That makes 7 days total they have had off. Six days because of the ice storm last week. And again, on Sunday, more snow. Predictions as of now are another 5" to 8". It's supposed to start early Sunday and end later in the day. Maybe no church again. There was Bible Study on Wednesday, but we didn't go because we weren't sure if the church had power yet or not. By the time we found out it was after the start time. Didn't want to walk in late.
Debating on taking off tomorrow and doing in town what I need to do, or waiting until Monday when I'm off. If I wait until Monday, I can do the food shopping for Christmas dinner as well. And take the youngest shopping for this brother and hubby. I really don't think the kids are going back to school this year anymore. Again, we were the only district closed. I don't know why, everyone now has power back on. As of yesterday.
So now I have all night and all day tomorrow to stay home and do whatever I want to do. Hubby and the oldest aren't coming home tonight. Not sure I can get out and really don't want to drive in this mess again. That means the youngest has to dig the car out and clean the steps off. Yeah, right. That child is so lazy, it'll take all day for him to decide to actually move. I come home from work today and he's iming on the computer complaining he's bored. Gee, why? The steps weren't cleaned, at all. You have a basket full of dirty laundry, not to mention all the clean laundry is piled up on the dresser. Trash is crawling out of the can. How can this child be bored??
Kicked the kid off the computer and now it's my turn to play, lol. But, at least I'm doing laundry too. I was thinking about maybe baking some Christmas cookies, but...........I'm tired and just don't feel like it. The thought of doing some more sewing is much more appealing. We'll see how I feel tomorrow. So looking forward to sleeping in. Every morning since the kids have been off, the phone rings around 6:30 am. Not cool since I'm up once already to take hubby to work at 4 am. So, I just roll over and take the receiver off the hook. That ends that!

Slowing down and doing what needs to be done.

Well, I think I've hit my pain tolerance level. For the past week or so my jaw has been aching. Not really bad, but enough to remind me that it's still there. Actually, the pain never really left. When I was at the dentist on Tuesday, he told me yet again, to keep putting warm compresses on it. I asked him why this wasn't going away and how long it was going to take to finally go away. He looks at me and asks me if I want an honest answer. Um, yea. So he tells me it's very common in women, and it's all due to stress. I probably clench my jaw at night, which is what's causing all the pain. Since I have no molars on that side, there is nothing there to cushion it, and that's why I feel the pain more now. Put simply, destress, learn to relax, and the pain will go away. Otherwise, take advil for the pain and warm compresses, especially at night. I asked him why he couldn't prescribe a magic pill that will melt all the stress away, lol. He found that funny to. So, since I'm really aching more and more, I decided to put the warm compress on my jaw and keep it there. I really don't want to end up like I was before.
I dropped both kids off with hubby at the station this morning, lol. I'm sure he just loves me for that one. My thinking was that since today the groceries come in, with both kids there, they should be done earlier. I called him this morning and he said they weren't being much help. Lots of fussing with each other. Oh well.
The weatherman is predicting snow for tomorrow. We are supposed to get about a foot or maybe more. Since it's getting late in the week, I had told hubby that someone should go to town to get chicken and the other stuff they will need, since Friday won't be an option, and maybe not even Saturday. Little did I know I was talking myself into doing this. But, since the storm should be ending sometime early Saturday morning, the fool should be able to go Saturday. At least that's what I'm going to tell hubby when he calls, lol. I've been home for a while and he hasn't called. Yet. I'm waiting though. The whole reason I do run into town is the fool doesn't even begin his day until about 3 or 3:30. Hubby gets done at 4:00. So for hubby to get done on time, me and the kids have to help out. We went to the other store on Tuesday to get more of the sodas and juices out of the coolers. We still have one more trip, the pick up was packed. We left about 3:00. Now, we know hubby can't have everything done and stocked in one hour. The fool wasn't done all his whatever he does, until 3:00. We got back to the station at 5:00. The boys help hubby stock and put all the stuff away. Hubby tells me he only has a little bit to do, so I run to the supermarket and get what I need for dinner. I get back to the station at 5:15, and wait. And wait. Finally, at 5:45 I walk in the station, and there's hubby and the boys all still working and the fool just standing behind the counter watching. I told hubby what time it was and it was time to go! That really made me angry because here hubby is working and working, and he's not getting paid for any of this time. His 12 hour day just became 14. Had I not walked in there, who knows what time he would have been done. It really irritates me because the fool times everything so late that hubby has to stay and work longer than he's supposed to. I just hate to see someone being used like that. It happens all the time and hubby doesn't do anything about it. Gggrrrrrrrr!
So now I'm going to read some journals I haven't been to in a while. It will be easier to type this way to.

slowly losing my mind

As of today, the kids in our district have been out of school for one whole week. And it's not even Christmas break yet!! At first the power company's were estimating everyone would have power by Wednesday, for sure. We get a whole 2" of snow and that throws the power companies off by one day. Now they are saying today. Well, they better have all power restored by today, because we are supposed to get a major snow storm starting Friday and lasting into Saturday morning. And, of course, you know they will cancel school for tomorrow, in anticipation of the snow that is supposed to arrive late afternoon. What is really irritating me is that we are the only district that has no school. From what I understand from the kids, there is only one small town, with like a few hundred people who are still without power. And it's not even the entire town, just a handful of people. I was going to take some time off during Christmas break, I'm so glad I didn't. I'm going to take my time off when the kids will have school for sure, lol. With any luck, they will take time off of the spring breaks and any other long breaks they have. As of now, the kids have had a total of 7 days off, only one was a snow day, the rest were due to the power being out. One on my kids said one of their teachers said they don't have to make up days of school lost because of power outages. I don't understand why since they have to do to school so many days, and they only are given 8 snow days. The snow is just beginning here, I know they will have more time off, and if they close the school tomorrow, then it will hit 8 days already. These kids may very well be going to school until July, lol.
It's been such a busy week, but one of those weeks where it's just dragging along. I'm sure that isn't helping my crabby mood. Yesterday I ended up walking up the driveway at work because my car would not go up the driveway. It was just to slippery. I would get about half way, and the tires would just spin and I'd back down. This driveway is a very steep driveway. When I had the Jeep, I would have to put it in 4 wheel just to get up the driveway. I don't have that now, so now I walk. I do think from now on, I'm just going to park at the end of the driveway, I don't like my car sitting on the side of the road. When the daughters boyfriend came to check on the fireplace in the afternoon, I asked him to see if he could get it up the driveway. He did, no problems. Must be a man thing. Since they don't turn on the finance, the house it heated with just a electric heater and fireplace, it was rather cold in there. And I wore a sweater and turtleneck under it and I was still cold. I think what was really getting me was my boots were wet, and so were my socks because of walking up the driveway. As soon as I got home I changed and crawled under the covers for the afternoon. Being in all that cold all the time just seeps into my bones and makes me feel miserable. Today I'm prepared. Bringing extra boots and socks to change into, lol.

Off to a slow start

I think today is just going to be one of those days. One where you start out behind and just stay that way all day. The oldest got me up to take him to work, and for some reason, I think I slept for at least 30 minutes more. And the oldest will only wake me once and that's it. Roll out of bed and into clothes to take him to work. First thing hubby says is "you're late." The kid says mom wouldn't get up, lol.. That's right, blame it all on me, lol. Since I was up and sort of awake, I decided to take a ride down the road since I have an appt tomorrow. I haven't been out of my own town since Friday. I figure the weathers bad and the roads are bad, may as well stay home and get some things done that need to be done. But, I'm getting a little stir crazy and need to get out for a while now.
Took a drive down the road just to see how bad the damage from the storm was. As I'm driving I'm looking at the mountains and I notice they look snow covered. The view in my area is just bare trees and brown ground. Well, as I'm getting closer to the school, I noticed the view was changing drastically. The ground actually looked like it was snow covered, but it's not, it's all ice. The trees are all ice covered. With the blue sky and the sun shining, the view was absolutely breath taking. Parts of this road are tree lined on both sides, so it was like driving through a icy wonderland. Then I thought of all the people who lost power, some still, from all this. There are huge trees, that have been around for years, uprooted from the ground, huge branches just bent and looking like a wet noodle, hanging over power lines, covered in ice. The road is lined with debris from where the trees and branches have been cut to be removed to clear the road. There are still some branches laying on power lines that cross the roads. It was actually a little scary driving through there and under some of those lines. But, I have to get out tomorrow and I needed to know if I had to make a detour anywhere. I asked hubby to leave about 30 minutes early today so I can take him and the boys through there to see this. There is just such a drastic difference from where we are and where all this is, it's hard to comprehend, since we are only 5 minutes, if that, away from all this.
The whole day is mine today. I have a list and I'm going to work very hard on getting most of it done today.

Saturday

Woke up super early this morning and got so much accomplished. All the laundry is caught up, some light cleaning, and even almost finished the pj's for the oldest. Got all the gifts for my parents wrapped and in the box ready to be sent on Monday. All the other gifts for us, except for the youngest, are all wrapped and piled in a corner of the kitchen. When hubby got done work, we went and got a real tree. I think the last time I had a real tree was before we moved up here and the boys were little. Actually, we were still with their father. We've been divorced for 12 years, so it's been at least that long. It's nice to have a real tree. I wanted a really fat one and that's what hubby picked out. The cat has been looking at it and sniffing it, but other than that she seems uninterested. That's good, hopefully she won't decide to get really friendly with it and we have to tie it up. She has always hid or slept under the artifical one we have. I'll give her a few days to see what she does.
Church has been cancelled for tomorrow because of the power outage. There are still some people in my county who haven't had power since early Friday morning. Yesterday all day long the news was doing updates and posting emergency shelters in the different counties. Some friends of ours were here today to take showers, refill their water containers, and do dishes. I'm so glad she called. I had thought of her earlier when this happened, but I knew there was a wood burning stove in their kitchen so I thought they at least had heat. The wood burning stove really doesn't work that well, it needs a new chimney. They can use it, but not for long. She ended up coming over here to do what had to be done. She said she was cooking outside on the grill, because they own a motel and one of their customers was refusing to leave. I did give her a list of emergency shelters to give to the woman, thinking maybe she would want to go. She was still refusing. I just can't imagine not wanting to do that. No heat for almost 2 full days. By that time I would be desperate for heat. The house I work in the daughter uses an electric heater and fireplace to heat the house. That's fine, except when the fireplace goes out. The furnace is set around 55 or so. I never hear the furnace go on when I'm there. It's just to cold in there I think. It seems after a while like the cold just soaks into my bones and makes me ache. I have another 3 months of this. And I wonder why I feel crappy all the time.
Our friends from church, who live down the road from us, were telling me that the part of the road that they live on is only open on one lane because of so many tree branches still laying on the road. A lot of people we know have lots of trees that have split as well as huge branches that have broken from the heavy icing. I'm just so glad we were not part of all that. The worst we got was lots and lots of flooding. I much prefer to have my yard covered in water than to have no power. Some people have just gotten power back late today and others still have none. There talking about the school not having any power until possibly Tuesday or Wednesday. I'm hoping for sooner rather than later.
Since we got the tree today and there's no church tomorrow, we are going to decorate it tomorrow. That way we can take our time with it and not have to rush. Getting the tree and decorating all in the same day makes for a very long day. I want my Monday to do whatever I want. I've spent the past 2 days doing what needs to be done, so hopefully I can have just one day for my stuff.
The oldest pj's are almost done. Just need the elastic in the waistband and they are finished. Then 2 more pairs and a set of pajamas. I don't see the pajamas getting made for him. If the kids have no school on Monday I don't know when the youngest flannel bottoms are going to get made either. This Monday and the next Monday are the only 2 days I have left to work on his stuff. I don't even have his stuff wrapped yet. I was so hoping he was going to go with the neighbor today, but he chose to stay home and irritate me. I'm beginning to think he senses I need him out of the house, that's why he's not leaving, lol. If worse comes to worse, I'll have to ship him off to the station on Saturday for the day so I can get his stuff done. I have a big plastic tote that has all the wrapping paper and stuff in it. I can't put that back in the shed until all his gifts are boxed and wrapped. I'm getting tired of looking at that tote, lol.

Unexpected day off

What a crazy week weather wise it's been here lately. Monday no power all morning, Thursday an ice storm moved through and today, no power in lots of places because of the heavy icing before it all turned to rain, and now it's snowing! Fortunately, this time we are not in the power outage, yet. A huge portion of the county is, so much so we're under a state of emergency due to the tree branches down from the icing and the flooding from all the rain. It's not looking like it's going to be a very good winter this year. Personally, I would rather have feet of snow, than icing. Ice storms seem to do way to much damage. I've been talking to hubby about a generator, maybe. I've also been talking to hubby about hooking up the propane fireplace we have. It was unhooked when we bought the house. Originally the house was all propane, but the last owners converted everything to electric, except the heat, but you still have to have electric to run the heater. I would like to put in a wood burning or pellet burning stove and get the fireplace in working order again. Hubby agreed to the fireplace, but to have it hooked up in the Spring. It could be a very long cold winter until then.
We are one of the few areas that do have power. What I've been told is that from the school on the power is out. We are 5 minutes from the school, on the opposite side. But, there is so much flooding on the roads, traveling is still difficult. I took hubby to work this morning, at 4am and we hit 3 flooded spots. One really huge. At that time in the morning it's hard to see and I'm not really awake anyway. Hubby was awake, he starts yelling and holding on to the door when I hit the first flooded area, lol. Slow down, slow down he goes, lol. I was only doing 45 because it was raining so hard anyway. I did slow way down after that though. When I took the oldest to work this morning, the road was still flooded, just didn't seem as bad. At that time I thought I had to work, so I dropped him just in case. After that I called my patient and was going to tell her to call me when she got power because I won't know when it goes back on, unless mine goes out, and she said not to bother because there's still tree branches on the road and 2 of her trees are down, one is blocking the driveway, so she has to get that cleared first anyway. Ok, unplanned day off. Now, what to do?? Going to play catch up is what. Finish wrapping some more gifts, work on sewing the pjs for the oldest. That should keep me quite busy all day. I didn't plan on going anywhere over the weekend, except to church, so hopefully, if I stay focused, I should have all the pjs made by the time I go back to work on Tuesday. I have to work on the youngest pjs on Monday since he's still here and not planning on going anywhere. I'll have to wrap and hide his gifts to that day. I don't' like to wrap gifts on Christmas eve. It's a chore just to put out gifts, let alone wrap them. I remember some years my parents wouldn't put up the tree until Christmas eve. I can't imagine just how tired they probably were the next day. To put that whole thing up, put the gifts out, then get up around 6 am with us kids, then mom had all the cooking to do. Geez, I feel tired just thinking about that! I never did that. We don't even have our tree up yet. I want to go get one Sunday, after church. The plan is to put it up and decorate it then. Will make for a rather long evening unless everyone pitches in and helps. I don't want to find myself decorating it alone on Monday.
Well, as usual, the laundry is calling my name, time to get my day started.

Just one of those days

Left work early yesterday. Actually it was a scheduling mix up on my part. I thought I put in for the whole day off, but just half. Dentist appt was in am, so had to cancel because I had to work. So, I decide to get the last few things I need for the youngest. I run into town after work and hit Big Lots for the Ihome he wants for christmas. I'm walking in the door and there is the youngest! Then it hits me, it's Tuesday and on Tuesdays and Thursdays he works at Big Lots through the school program. Crap! I decide to get a cart, trying to avoid my kid, and the next thing I hear is "MOM". Oh, man, I've been seen. He comes running over like he hasn't seen me in years and gives me a huge hug. Wants to know why I'm not working and what I'm doing there. Thinking to myself, I'm there to get a christmas present for him and he needs to go away so I can get it. I told him I was done working for the day and wanted to get mom-mom and pop-pop a gift set. Which was true, I did. Then I'm walking through the store, being followed every few seconds, and I'm thinking I need some type of clothing or something to cover the box for the Ihome, because otherwise he'll see it for sure. I saw sweatpants and decided I would check them out because I want to get him some for this birthday and right now if I can find them, great. Of course he does a walk by and tells me which ones he likes. Grab a few and wait for the kid to disappear and then go looking for this Ihome. After a long search, kid didn't find me I don't think, I finally found one on the bottom of the shelf, way in the back. Last one I think. Throw the sweatpants over top of it and run to the register. While I'm in line, I'm spotted again. Asked him how many times he's going to visit me and didn't he have work to do?? Put the Ihome on the belt and told the cashier to ring that up first and put it in a bag because it's a gift for my son who was just there. So, since the box is quite beat up, she tells me if I looked to make sure if everything was there. I told her no because he's been hanging around me like a shark circling it's lunch, lol. She just laughed and told me how long I have until I can bring it back if every things not in there. She even wrote the date on the receipt and signed her name! Wow, thanks. She must have known what I was going through. So, I go out the doors to leave and wouldn't you know it, I set the alarm off going out! So much for sneaking in and out of the store, lol. When the youngest gets home he asked me what I bought at the store that made the alarm go off. He didn't think sweatpants and the mug set had alarms on them! I tried.

Brrrrrr

Yesterday we got our very first snow fall of the season. It's so pretty. We got about 1 1/2", not much, but I'll take it, lol. We didn't go to church since we weren't sure if it was going to be cancelled or not. About 7 or 8 years ago, there was an accident with a couple from the congregation during the snow, so ever since, if the weathers to unsafe, church is cancelled. So, the youngest and I got every ones Christmas presents out and wrapped until we were exhausted. Notice I didn't say until we were done, lol? We didn't finish, but got a good start. Then, I had to run into Htown because we didn't have enough clothing boxes for hubby's and the oldest clothes. And the youngest, but he didn't know that. The closer I got to Htown, the less snow there was. While I was there I finished the Christmas shopping for the youngest. As I'm digging out all this stuff, I'm not finding anything for him. I found one small bag with a pair of jeans and 2 shirts. Crap!! So, I did some fast shopping for him to. Now he's done. I had bought him a coat for Christmas that I was going to save for this birthday, which is 2 weeks after Christmas, but I'm going to give it to him. I am going to buy him hoodies and sweatpants for his birthday. He has 2 hoodies and he wears the same one for a week. Eeewwww. So, this way, if I get him a few more, he can change the hoodie daily.
There was a book sale at the fire house in town so when I got back from town we went to that. All the books were half price. Cool! We all got a bunch of books and some home made treats. The local library also has paperbacks 5 for $1.00 all this week. They weren't at the sale because there just wasn't enough room. I'm a total sucker for historical romances. I'll be visiting the library this week, lol.
This whole week is supposed to be bitterly cold. Last night, the wind picked up, enough that I was turning the heat up higher than normal. The low last night was 8. The high today is 24. Winter is setting in, lol.
No sleep for me last night. Hubby was snoring all night. I tried the pillow over the face, thinking it would muffle the sound. Didn't last to long. Then pulled the covers over his face. Finally, I crawled out of bed and put one of those no snore thingies on his nose. It worked for a short while, then he was back at it again. I got up and checked and the thing was gone. I must have fell asleep at some point because the next thing I know, I'm being rudely shoved in the back to turn the alarm off. I got some sleep after that. Until 6:30 am. The youngest is in my room holding the alarm clock telling me we have no electric. Ok. So, he starts calling to see if it's just us or everyone. It's everyone. This results in the next 3 hours of non stop phone calls. Bye, bye sleep. Hubby had called twice during that time wanting the oldest to come to the station when I got up. I've been up most of the night. So, finally crawl out of my nice warm, comfy bed and give up on sleep. Got ready to leave and the temp in the house was 46. Yup, time to go. We went to the station, which was warmer. I figured it would be. Customers were saying a whole grid was out and there was 2,000 people without electric. Hubby had told me that as far as Albany there was no power. Albany is 2 hours away from us. Yet, we are 10 minutes from the state line, and 30 minutes down the road, in our state, there was power. That town was under a different power company though. So, we waited it out at the station. Power finally came back on around 11:30. So, the youngest and I took the long way home. When we got home the temp in the house was 58. Ok, not to bad, getting there. I'm going to try to talk hubby into getting a generator for the house. Over the summer we had the same problem. No electric for hours and it was in the upper 80's. It gets hot without so much as a fan. This way, we can at least have heat or air and running water. I'll start pricing them after the new year and see if I can talk him into it. There have been times up here in the winter the snow storms have knocked the power out. The cold is brutal and if it's widespread, there's no where to go. You can't even go into a store because they are affected to.
So, the kids were off from school today. Not good. Destroyed my plans for today and they are just making me crazy lately. They had like a week off for Thanksgiving and the Christmas break this year is 2 weeks! That's to much time off, lol! I was thinking about taking the day after Christmas off, but they will be home. Don't want to do that. Don't want to work either because the brat is home also. At least I don't have to listen to my own kids crap, but my lady's granddaughter I can't get away from. Next place I go I won't take it if there's kids there. Just can't handle it anymore. Must be getting old or something, lol.
The oldest is at the station with hubby. The youngest just got a call from a neighbor wanting him to go shopping with her. Great, go, get out, lol. Finally, finally some time to myself. It's 4:00, but I'll take what I can get. Hopefully, today will be a late day for hubby.
As I was getting the Christmas gifts out yesterday I realized that I still have sewing to do to. The pj bottoms. I had planned on working on the youngest pants since he's always around. Hubby's and the oldest I can do throughout the week, because they are at the station. but, no such luck. I only have 2 more Mondays to get the youngest pants done and I have 2 pairs for him. I have to get this done. What I really have to do is kick the kids out for the day, lol.
There has been this black cat hanging around the neighborhood. I've asked the 2 women in the neighborhood, who seem to know everything, who's cat it is. No one seems to know. It's a beautiful, black long haired cat. I haven't been able to get to close to it, but it's always hanging around my house. I took pity on it and put food and water out for it. Got pretty close to it while it was eating, but not close enough to touch. We'll see over time. I'll bring the food and water in over night, but for now, I'll feed it and see what happens. Maybe I'll be able to get close to it. I've been seeing it for a few weeks now, but since it's a black cat and I know of 2 neighbors who have black cats, I just thought it was theres. I just got close to it today, during the day, to notice it's a long hair cat. Obviously not the neighbors.
Since it's snowed and gotten colder, the Christmas spirit has set in, a little. Enough that I bought some stuff to decorate the outside of the house. I'm not doing anymore inside than I already have. It's not overly cluttered and that's fine with me. By the time we get a tree in here, it will be more than enough. I've been thinking about getting a real tree this year. We've had a fake one since we've been up here and I thought a real one might be a nice change. I'll have to tell myself that when I'm still vacuuming pine needles in August, lol. I was telling hubby about it. He said he would check into the prices. I've seen prices in Htown for trees between $20 and $25. I don't know how big they are, but I don't want a huge one. I want a 4' or 5' tree, but very fat. Then I was thinking maybe we should get a tree with the root ball so we can plant it in the back of the yard in the spring. That way it's not really a waste of money and if we do that every year, we can have a whole row of pine trees in the back of the yard. Some type of wind breakage back there. Well, maybe not for us, but for whoever lives here after us, lol. I just love pine trees. Coming from Jersey, pine trees aren't something you see a lot of. Not where I grew up at. I love the look of them when the snow stays on the branches.
Well, the dryer's done and I want to make a pot of veggie soup for dinner. I've been wanting home made veggie soup for days now.

TGIF!!!

I'm so tired this morning, I'm glad it's the end of the week. Maybe I can get some decent rest this weekend. I have to shop for vitamins because it's been a week that I've been out of them and I'm feeling it.
I went to knit last night and it was announced that next week is the last class until the new year. Geez, where did the time go?? Guess my mother is not getting gloves made by me this year for Christmas, lol. I'm having such a hard time with them, I'll be lucky to have them done by next year. I had a lot of help with them last night and still managed to mess one row up. Fortunately, its one row and I have to take that out. When I saw the gloves I thought it would be easier to make gloves using 2 straight needles. Wrong, double points are so much easier! My problem when I do these, I have to actually visualize the glove and the part I'm working on. I'm writing down all my little notes about what I did so when I go to do the second glove I'll have something to look back to. I'm going to have to do the second one right away, if not, I'll never pick them up again, lol. But, like everyone said, it's good to challenge yourself sometimes. That's fine, except when I'm in a rush for christmas, lol. The whole reason I put hubby's vest aside was the fact that it was to time consuming. Little did I know I was getting the same thing with the gloves, just a smaller scale. Guess I know what my projects are going to be for the new year, lol.
The sun is actually out here this morning. Quite a change from the dreary days we've had. I've been wanting to go shopping at this new store that opened a few months ago, but it's close to an hour drive each way. I was thinking tonight, but more than likely not. Then I was thinking maybe tomorrow, but looking at the calendar I realize christmas is closer than I think and I still have some pj's for the guys to make. Sunday they are predicting snow and again on Tuesday. I've thought Monday, but that's a really good day to work on the boys pj while they are in school. So, sale ends Wednesday. I'd like to get there this week, just don't know when, lol.

Thursday

Not to much going on today. A typical Thursday. Went to bed later than normal and now this morning I'm moving slow, lol. I stayed up to watch the show Parking Wars. I like that show but can never remember when it's on, lol. Having spent my share of time in Philly I can totally relate to these people. I remember only driving once to philly, and after that, we took the train. Parking seemed complicated because there were so many restrictions and time limits. Easier and cheaper to take the train and walk.
Tonight I get to go knit. I'm actually looking forward to it. An hour of time all to myself. That and I'm stuck in a pattern. I'm trying to make a pair of gloves for my mother and I'm at the point in the pattern where I just don't understand what to do. I started them the day before Thanksgiving and have been stuck since. At first I thought I just wasn't understanding because I was tired. So I looked at it the next day when I wasn't so tired and still am clueless. Time get help or they will never get done, lol. I did manage to use my time wisely and get a hat finished for hubby and a scarf for my father. Now all I have left is a hat for my father and mom's gloves. Should have all this done by christmas. I hope, lol.
We did manage to get to Bible study last night. This was the first time I had gone since the preacher left in about 2 years. It's very different now. Before there were about 7 or 8 people who went and just seemed like a lot of distractions. Now, we actually spent 20 minutes going through a book, that was just started. I think maybe it should be longer, but people seem to like it. Walking in there was like walking into church. I counted the people there last night. There was 19 of us! That's the largest Bible study I've even attended. Hubby didn't want to go so he was given chores to do while we were gone, lol. He had the dinner dishes to take care of and the laundry. I had washed 2 loads after I got home and all he had to do was take the laundry out of the dryer, fold it, and put the laundry in the washer in the dryer. At first he gave me a hard time and told me he didn't know how to work the washer. Yeah, right. So I told him just the dryer and he should be able to figure that out. Well, what I came home to was the laundry that was in the dryer was sitting on top of the dryer, unfolded. He did put the wash out of the washer into the dryer, and he washed, dried, and put away all the dishes cleaned the counter tops off, and took out the trash. Guess I can't complain to much. He was in bed when we got home to, and was home at his normal time so I guess he was really tired. He was going to go to the store in Ctown and finish taking some of the bottled drinks out and bring them to his station, but he changed his mind. I kept reminding him that we were going out and had to be home by a certain time. Since that store closed in September, we have been going back there every few weeks taking stuff out that should have been taken out when it was closed. Why, do they just not understand that when you close a store for the season, you have to take everything out of it?? Just what is so hard about that? I think the guy who was working the store should have gotten everything, not just some stuff here and there, all packed up and either sent back or taken to the station to be sold. Because, like always, hubby and the kids and I end up doing what should have been done months ago. If hubby would put his foot down about this stuff, maybe it would stop happening. We were over there Sunday afternoon ,in the rain, taking the beer out. Hubby knew I was upset because he wouldn't let me in the station. I told him I was going to ask the fool why it wasn't done and why, since he's supposed to be the boss, why he's not taking the time to do this instead of making hubby and the boys do it. He makes hubby do it because by the time hubby can leave the store it's like 3:30 in the afternoon. Hubby's supposed to be done at 4:00. This way he gets an extra hour or more out of him. So, since it's not looking like we are going to be able to go again until Sunday, I told hubby to go about 1:30 or 2:00. That way, by the time we get stuff out, take it to the station, unload it and stock it, it will be about time for him to leave. He will actually get paid for doing this instead of working for free. We'll see how it goes.
My time on here up, time to drag my butt to work now.

Tuesday

Well I survived my day, lol. Actually it wasn't to bad, the day went pretty fast. As soon as I got there the hospice nurse got there so that's an easy hour or more done. It seemed like after lunch the afternoon went quickly. That's good, I like work days like that. It's just when I get home that I like the time to slow down, lol.
Hubby called me at work and I really was busy when he called so I didn't answer. Unfortunatelly, the only time hubby calls me now at work is when he wants something. Today was no different. He wanted me to bring the boys to the station so they could go to the other store in Ctown and finish cleaning it out. Told him either the fool had to do it or wait until I had time. Not happening today. I never told him I had to work late today. He wouldn't have remembered anyway. So, 3:00 comes and hubby calls again. Wants to know when I'm done. Again I tell him not until later. Told him I already talked to him about this earlier in the day. He forgot, lol! I'm amazed the man still knows who I am and where he lives. I couldn't believe I had to have the same conversation with him only a few hours later on the same day. I wonder if he was acutally listening to me the first time.
Anyway, picked hubby up when I got done work so he was actually home on time today. Didn't go to the tops meeting because I had to give hubby and the oldest both haircuts and then make dinner. I had a load of sweaters in the washer I wanted to wash when I got home, but the youngest took them out and did a load of his own. Then had the nerve to leave for a while! So my sweaters are in the dryer now.
That's about it for now. Going to spend some time reading journals. I haven't done that for a while. Have to get caught up, lol!

Vacation's over

Well, playtime's over for me. It's back to work and back to reality. It's going to be hard going back to work after having the past 6 days off, lol. It's looking to be another busy week again. I'll be out of the house every night except Friday night. Considering today is only Tuesday, that seems like a long way away.
There is a TOPS meeting in my area. We were talking about it in church a few weeks ago. some of the women want to check it out. I got the info to. Depending on how I feel after working all day today, I just might go. Then again, if I'm to tired, I won't. I should though. It's the holidays and I need to really watch my eating. The other day hubby brought home all this baking stuff. Great, just what I needed! So now my cabinets are full and he's complaining that I have to much stuff. What!! You brought all this stuff home, did you forget?? Must have. Seems to be doing that a lot lately.
Still haven't hooked up new computer yet and every day he asks if my new computer is running ok. Not only does he have a memory problem but he seems to have an eyesight problem to, lol. He told me yesterday to take one of the credit cards and go use what's left on it to buy the boys stuff for christmas. Little does he know, I'm basically done with them. I have to get 2 more things for the youngest. His birthday is 2 weeks after christmas, so I just shop for his birthday when I christmas shop as well. The man's been hitting the bottle pretty hard and now he's feeling guilty. Like buying things is going to help.
Took the youngest shopping for his gifts yesterday. He decided he wanted to get his brother a cell phone for christmas. Ok, that's what his brother got him. We get home and as I'm walking by his door he goes, mom, I lied. I asked him what he lied about. I kind of knew. He told me the cell phone was for him, not his brother and he really doesn't want to lie anymore. Told me he had a talk with God and he told him to tell me the truth that I wouldn't be to mad, lol. Well, I really was mad. I wanted them to get something nice for each other this year. Trying to teach them to think of others first. That went over well. The youngest I think was feeling guilty because he didn't get mouthy with me or anything, and just and went and did his chores without a fight. I know he feels guilty about what he did.
Well, my time on here is up. Off to work.

Black Friday

So how many of you found yourselves out in the stores shopping today?? For the first time in my life I was! When I used to work retail I always had to work black Friday. I vowed never to shop on that day.He also sent me out today for a digital camera he wants to take to India for his uncle. I bought exactly what he wanted. After opening it, he doesn't want it. So now I have to take that one back and get a certain brand. I tired showing him in the sales papers different ones, but he didn't want to be bothered. The other two were cheaper than the one he insisted on having. Now I have to run that back and get a different one at a different store. I've had all this time off and not one day to myself. This is getting old.
Yesterday was busy. I did all the cooking. But, after dinner I left the kitchen and made the guys do the dishes and put everything away. I did laundry while the turkey was cooking and put all the sides together. The turkey was done earlier than I thought it would be, but my feel and legs were aching by the afternoon.
Tomorrow I have to run to the bank, and maybe I'll return the camera for another one. Then that's it. No more running. I'm tired and just need some down time. All that running I did today I came home and did some cleaning. I was so tired of looking at the fall decorations that I was more than eager to help the youngest put them away. He wants to put out all the Christmas decorations. I don't. In the years past I've always put the fall stuff away the day after thanksgiving and the christmas stuff out. Not the tree though. This year for some reason I don't' want to put everything out, only a few things. I just feel like my house is to cluttered, like I can't breathe. I went through my bookcases and packed away some books and magazines that I hardly ever use, but don't want to get rid of. There is actually space on my bookcases and I feel a little better. I moved a lot of the kitchen plants away from the window so I can actually see the curtains and outside. I rearranged the kitchen, it's more functional now. I rearranged some of the furniture in the living room and can actually see blank wall space. I have very few things on the tops of the pieces of furniture. I'm starting to feel better. It's more open and not so cluttered. The youngest though. He's happiest when there is crap everywhere. I'm not. I see in the days ahead we are going to be fightin, lol.
Man, I just deleted a huge part of this. Oh well, I'm tired and getting off here.

Turkey trott

Well, today I find myself home, unexpectedly. Apparently my lady's daughter is off this week and will be home with her today. Ok, short work week for me. Now, I would know these things if I worked more I think, lol. Doesn't bother me, I'd rather be home with the boys anyway. For some reason when the boys are off it's really hard to motivate myself that I still have to go to work. Guess I should go back to teaching.
We got a coating of snow over night. So this morning the youngest is looking out the back door and says there are wild turkeys in the field. I look out and sure enough, there's about 20 of them. I get the brilliant idea to take a pic. Now, with the snow, the steps are quite slick, but I didn't fall. As I'm walking across the grass towards the field with the camera 'm making a crunching sound . They hear me and start walking as fast as their legs can carry them. A few even attempt to fly. At one point I was going to stop, but decided that if they can walk fast, so can I. It was a little slippery when you have slippers on your feet, but I got a few pics, at a distance. I'm standing there watching the turkeys get farther and farther away, and it's been so long since I've taken a pic, I forgot how to work the camera, lol. Geez!
My day yesterday just got worse as the day went on. Five minutes before I was ready to go to work hubby calls and wants me to take the bags of potatoes we have to the station because they are out and need them for the chicken. Doing this is going to make me late. Ten minutes late. But, I did it. I wasn't going to answer the phone but I had wanted to call him and make sure he got the turkey out since it's still at the station. I never called him so when I saw him calling I answered. Wrong move! Since I didn't drink my tea, which really wasn't good with coffee creamer in it, I asked him to make me a cup. Now, in all the years we have been together, the man still is clueless as to how I take my tea. I find a cup with the tea bag still in it sitting waiting for me. I told him to put sugar because I didn't have the time to explain I wanted honey. Took it over and put the milk in it, bolt out the door, it's now 9:55. I'm supposed to be at work at 10. As I'm driving down the road, and it's pouring, the lid pops off and I spill the tea on my jeans. Well, better the jeans than the car seat or floor right? Get to work and the hospice nurse is already there. Had I thought that morning, I would have realized she was going to be there. When she comes, she's always there 10 am or a little earlier and I try to be on time. Get in and within 5 minutes the office is on the phone. Since I go from home to home, I have the person I see sign my time sheet for the day I was there. Since it's the same house every day, I just make my lady sign once, because that's normally more than she can handle. Your supposed to get a signature every day. I don't. Well, the home office has decided that they want a signature every day and the other sheet has to be initialed for each day I'm there. That sheet I just make her sign once, anywhere, and that's that. Since I work for hospice as well, I have to do the same paperwork for them to. Four sheets to sign is just to much for her. So, in order to get paid for that week, I had to redo the sheets and have her sign each line for each day I was there. Yeah, right. Didn't work to well. I even put little x's where she's supposed to sign. Lets just say there are 4 signatures on the time sheet, somewhere and 4 initials on the other sheet, somewhere. I had to drop it off at the office after work and showed it to them and told the new woman that's the best she can do and the main office just has to accept that. It really irritated me. I've been only having her sign once and using ditto marks for almost 3 years now, and all of a sudden someone decides they don't like it?? I think whoever decided this needs to go to some of these peoples homes and see how hard something like this is for them. They've never done the field work before. The work day did go rather fast though. I get home and take the oldest to work only to have hubby tell me that the fool is bringing the uncle ( different uncle) to the station. Him and his wife are leaving for India on Friday and he wanted his beard trimmed before he went. There is a barber shop the next block over that has an older man working in it and this uncle likes to have this guy trim his beard. Ok. But, since the fool will have to work, we have to take uncle back to his son's house. Now we all know how much Indian men love their whiskey. The car reeked from those 2. It still does. We had to go through a spot check. They were checking seat belts and inspection stickers. The windows were a little foggy so I had to roll down my window so they could see in. I don't even have to say what happened next. Of course, those 2 in the back seat didn't have their seat belts on. I knew they had a bag with them, I was just so glad it wasn't whiskey. Twenty minutes later I leave with 2 tickets for no seat belts. Fortunately, that's all. As if my day wasn't bad enough, this was just the icing on the cake. I'd about had it at that point. Hubby was like it's no big deal. He gets to pay the tickets. He doesn't seem to understand that the whole thing really wasn't necessary for me and the oldest to go through. We all know when you get stopped, they have a real attitude and bark at you anyway. Let them smell alcohol and you become pond scum to them. There's just no need to treat people that way.
Since today I'm off, I'm going to bake my pies for tomorrow and the cookies. Making chili to put in the crock pot for dinner and working on the laundry, which is behind yet again. I thought I just got caught up on Monday. Don't know what happened. Personally, I think it's reproducing when I'm not looking, lol.

Dreary day

All around me there is predictions for snow. Some places quite a few inches. Enough to delay the opening of some schools. My area, rain and a flood watch, lol. We'll be lucky to see a few flakes. I stuck my head out the back door and it must have warmed up some because there is mist rising up off the field out back
Yesterday was a really productive day. I'm so proud of myself, lol. By the time the boys got home I had everything done except changing the sheets on my bed. That I did while dinner was cooking. I took the youngest shopping with me. With the exception of the gifts I have to make and stocking stuffers, my Christmas shopping is basically done. I didn't even take hubby shopping with me this year. I asked him when we were going to go shopping and he said next month. He's broke. Yeah right. He's talking about going to India again maybe February or March. I know he's saving his money for that. That's fine if he wants to go, but don't make me and the boys suffer because you want to save all your money. We are supposed to be your family and come first. Time to give him a reality check, lol.
This is a 2 day work week. Can't complain. I have pies to bake when I get home today after work. Then tomorrow I'll bake some cookies before we go the
thanksgiving service at church.
I really hope my day gets better as it goes on. So far this morning, I got up later than normal. No biggies, just not as awake yet. No milk for my tea. Well, the milk was sour. Had to use coffee creamer. Not such a smart move, made the tea sweeter than I'm used to. No tea for me this morning. Made oatmeal for breakfast. Added the banana to the oatmeal before I put it in the microwave? What was I thinking?? I wasn't obviously. This day just has to get better.................

Just me and the cat...........

And a sink full of dirty dishes and a dirty house, lol. But, that's ok, at least I have lots of work to keep me busy all day and out of trouble. I actually have been considering doing some more Christmas shopping, but I have to have things here at home taken care of first.
It's a cool cloudy day here. Supposed to be this way pretty much all week. At least the temps are back into the 40's though. More than a week of 30's was a tough adjustment. The last time I listened to the weather report, during the week, the predictions were for some accumulating snow Monday into Tuesday. Now, since the temps have warmed up some, the prediction, for us, is mainly rain and maybe some flurries. I'm a little disappointed because I wanted to see at least a coating of snow on the ground for Thanksgiving. Then it will really start to feel like the beginning of the holiday season. But, the weather can change so we may at least see flurries.
Last night when I was correcting my mistakes in that entry, I accidentally deleted a huge part of the entry. I didn't go back and put it back in because I was just to tired. But, I'm noticing that I seem to be deleting a lot of stuff and have no clue as to how to get it back. I do that with my mail a lot to. By the time I figure it out I'll have a new something or other, lol.
I haven't been around to any journals just yet. Seems like I've gotten behind in just about everything. I finally went through my mail and deleted out all the junk after a few days. I never realized just how much junk mail I get. If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't have any email an all, lol.
The boys have decided to call their room the media room. Fine with me. They have it set up really nice in there. Hopefully they will keep it that way. I gave the oldest back his ps2 to put in the room. He seems to have lost one of the cords he needs to make it work. Their bedroom is still a huge mess and it could very well be lost in there. He seems to think the kid that stayed here took it. I'm just going to wait until they have everything organized and cleaned up before I get to concerned with it. Little do they know, they are going to have to work on the bedroom today. I figure if they can keep their media room clean, they can keep their bedroom clean to. After all, they will be using the media room more than the bedroom so that room should stay cleaned up longer. One can dream, right, lol?
Well, need to get my day started so I can feel like I actually accomplished something today, lol.
Wow, no accidental deletions this time, lol!

Fiiinnnaaallllyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, it's Sunday and uncle is finally gone! Hopefully, he will not be coming back. I know that's awful, but I feel like I can finally breath again. This week has been super crazy. To much running for him. Monday hubby had a tooth pulled, so by the time that was done and we got the script filled we got home around 7. Uncle had to tag along. Hubby went to bed because he was in a lot of pain. Every time he got up during the night he had to get me up to. Why?? Take a pain pill and quit being a pain to me, lol.
The boys were so happy to see him go, they were working on the room he stayed in all afternoon. What we decided to do was instead of putting the youngest back in that room, we put the computer, tv games and stuff in that room for them. This way, if the youngest wants to go to bed early he can and doesn't have to be bothered with his brother playing a game or something. Also, this way when the oldest is told to go to bed, he has to. No more shutting the door, turning the lights off and watching a movie with the sound turned down real low.
Saturday morning the youngest and I went with a friend to a food pantry. She was going to pick up her box for Thanksgiving. She has been going to this place for a few months now. Once in a while the youngest will go with her to help her carry the boxes. Well, this day it was open later. So we get there and we see a line. I didn't think to much about it. I just thought it was a moving line. I've never been there so I didn't know what to expect. After a few minutes of standing in the cold, we realized the line wasn't moving. None of us really was dressed for such cold weather. It was 26 degrees out there. She has just a light jacket on, the youngest had a jacket, no gloves and no hat. His coat did have a hood. I just wore a jacket that I mainly use when I'm going to be in and out of stores. Nothing bulky. It doesn't have a hood. I did, thankfully, have gloves in a pocket. The door didn't open until it was time to open. Once it became opening time, they were only letting a few people in at a time. Nothing worse than freezing and having a door shut in your face. Forty-five minutes later we finally made it inside, for about 5 minutes, lol. The thing that really got me was when we got there, there was this kid there crying and crying the entire time. He was about 6 or 7 and kept crying he was cold. He was dressed for the weather though. His mother had gone to the door and asked if she could wait inside with him and was told no. I thought that was horrible of those people. It was a bitterly cold and windy day outside. Some people came dressed to stand outside, obviously not their first time, and other people not dressed for the weather. I really didn't see what the harm would have been in letting her stand inside with the child. Especially since he was crying nonstop. That was a real experience that day. A brutally cold experience, lol. My friend said I should have gotten a box to since I had to stand in that cold weather to. I agree, I should have gotten something for that torture, lol.
Tomorrow, I intend to hide at home all day. I have lots of cleaning and laundry to get caught up on so I'm sure I'll be busy all day and probably not get anything fun done. I have given up on doing hubby's vest because I still have lots of other gifts to knit and don't have the time the vest is going to require. I'll work on it after the holidays when I'll have more time for it.
As far as my computer is concerned, it's not the Internet connection. It's my computer. So, I set up the youngest desktop and am using that for now. Have to decide what I'm going to do. Just might do an upgrade on this computer and let the boys play their games and stuff on mine. My computer is 8 years old, and I've had very few major problems with it since I had it. I'll decide after the holidays. Hubby has been really interested in what I'm going to do with my computer. The youngest has been telling me that the oldest has been talking to hubby about getting me a new computer. This was before the problem. He was talking to me about what I was planning on doing when I was taking him to work this morning. Hmmm.