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 The only thing I can think of is the program on the other computer was just to outdated to support the scanner.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.