As of 8 January 2008, I have lived in Indiana for one year. Do you believe that? I'm not sure I do.
Well, Indiana will have to put up with me through April. I shouldn't have any trouble putting up with Indiana, especially with its weather, which is so much fun because it changes every single day.
Enjoy these last two days of January, and don't forget that we will be getting a whole extra day in February!! Start planning your February 29 parties now.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Thursday morning's adventure
Thursday morning I got up at 5:00 as always, had my lunch all packed and was ready to walk out the door right at 6:50.
Then I realized my keys weren't lying on the floor by my purse. In fact, they weren't in my purse either. In fact, they weren't in my coat pocket or yesterday's pants pocket or dumped on the closet floor or left on top of the microwave... they weren't anywhere!
I was getting worried for about five minutes of perplexed searching, till I remembered that spare car key I had had made (after locking myself out of the car the second time). Well, that was all right, then, as long as I could get to work! Just had to leave the door unlocked and hope Stacey was around or at least not out of the country when I got home. After that, it was just funny. Funny imagining what I would have done without any keys whatsoever, and funny imagining what I was going to do... laughing kept me warm all the way to work.
I was walking into the building when I noticed that my coat was hitting the leg rather more firmly than usual. Whoops... yep... there actually was a little hole in one coat pocket corner, and they had slipped all the way to the lining.
That was funny too, only not so funny as it would have been to not find them at all. Oh well.
Then I realized my keys weren't lying on the floor by my purse. In fact, they weren't in my purse either. In fact, they weren't in my coat pocket or yesterday's pants pocket or dumped on the closet floor or left on top of the microwave... they weren't anywhere!
I was getting worried for about five minutes of perplexed searching, till I remembered that spare car key I had had made (after locking myself out of the car the second time). Well, that was all right, then, as long as I could get to work! Just had to leave the door unlocked and hope Stacey was around or at least not out of the country when I got home. After that, it was just funny. Funny imagining what I would have done without any keys whatsoever, and funny imagining what I was going to do... laughing kept me warm all the way to work.
I was walking into the building when I noticed that my coat was hitting the leg rather more firmly than usual. Whoops... yep... there actually was a little hole in one coat pocket corner, and they had slipped all the way to the lining.
That was funny too, only not so funny as it would have been to not find them at all. Oh well.
2008 Presidential Elections - in Europe
That is, President of the European Council. And there must be a vice-president-type post along with it. Because, according to this Le Monde article from Thursday, French president Nicolas Sarkozy possibly has the brilliant idea of a Blair-Sarkozy ticket for these top seats of European power.
Unfortunately, not everyone is completely enchanted by this idea, one being former French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing, who "didn't refrain from speaking all the evil he thought of it".
What evil? "The future president must be in sync with the majority of his own country, and belong to a country that respects all the European rules." The second clearly not something that the U.K. can overcome, seeing as they "practice the 'opting out' " regarding said rules - to use the journalist's expression (and yes, that's "l'opting out" in French. Doesn't that just hurt?).
But of course, the real evil is what Edouard Balladur (former Prime Minister of France) told Le Monde - credibility. Because, as Edouard Balladur (former Prime Minister of France) reminds us, the president of the European Council must have an attachment to the independence of Europe - and how, how, "how would Mr. Blair be credible to incarnate this ambition when, in the disastrous Irak affair, he always held zealously to the U.S. side?"
No, he's right, of course. A President of the European Council who sides with the U.S. is impossible. It would kind of defeat the whole point of the European Union.
Unfortunately, not everyone is completely enchanted by this idea, one being former French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing, who "didn't refrain from speaking all the evil he thought of it".
What evil? "The future president must be in sync with the majority of his own country, and belong to a country that respects all the European rules." The second clearly not something that the U.K. can overcome, seeing as they "practice the 'opting out' " regarding said rules - to use the journalist's expression (and yes, that's "l'opting out" in French. Doesn't that just hurt?).
But of course, the real evil is what Edouard Balladur (former Prime Minister of France) told Le Monde - credibility. Because, as Edouard Balladur (former Prime Minister of France) reminds us, the president of the European Council must have an attachment to the independence of Europe - and how, how, "how would Mr. Blair be credible to incarnate this ambition when, in the disastrous Irak affair, he always held zealously to the U.S. side?"
No, he's right, of course. A President of the European Council who sides with the U.S. is impossible. It would kind of defeat the whole point of the European Union.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Here we go in 2008
Life continues!
I guess I will give up those detailed updates I used to try.
2008 began like a a year should -- lots of snow to drive through between Iowa and Indiana. The trip was so interesting that I never got around to turning on the radio. Just like the trip out to Iowa, except that time I was having too much fun singing Christmas songs in the car.
I returned to an almost snowed-in apartment. So the first task was to clear out around the car's parking spot and the entrance to the drive, which had, of course, been liberally helped out our friendly neighborhood snowplow.
The next week, the weather decided to warm up, drastically. That is, it reached 64 degrees Fahrenheit, which is a 50-year record, and melted all the heaps and heaps of snow we had received, plus rained several days. So we have just had the worst flooding anyone has seen for a long time. Fortunately, Stacey and I don't have a basement. We did enjoy watching Center Lake lap up onto the parking lots as we drove by this morning.
Not much else exciting has been happening...
Stacey and I have not even set off the smoke alarm once this year, yet. We did make a whole crockpot-full of taco soup and have eaten every bite (practically) and it only took us a week.
Last night we had Kendra and Stacey's friend over and watched two movies in a row! Meet the Robinsons and Sahara. Our favorite line had to be from the second movie: the right-hand good guy hurling his rifle down and yelling, "I'm so tired of getting shot at!" Poor guy, I think he was really upset.
Chinese is getting more fascinating by the week. I think I can't resist studying it outside of class much longer, especially with the CDs Mommy got me for Christmas.
Well, that will have to do for this week. Time to run home and get ready for company!
I guess I will give up those detailed updates I used to try.
2008 began like a a year should -- lots of snow to drive through between Iowa and Indiana. The trip was so interesting that I never got around to turning on the radio. Just like the trip out to Iowa, except that time I was having too much fun singing Christmas songs in the car.
I returned to an almost snowed-in apartment. So the first task was to clear out around the car's parking spot and the entrance to the drive, which had, of course, been liberally helped out our friendly neighborhood snowplow.
The next week, the weather decided to warm up, drastically. That is, it reached 64 degrees Fahrenheit, which is a 50-year record, and melted all the heaps and heaps of snow we had received, plus rained several days. So we have just had the worst flooding anyone has seen for a long time. Fortunately, Stacey and I don't have a basement. We did enjoy watching Center Lake lap up onto the parking lots as we drove by this morning.
Not much else exciting has been happening...
Stacey and I have not even set off the smoke alarm once this year, yet. We did make a whole crockpot-full of taco soup and have eaten every bite (practically) and it only took us a week.
Last night we had Kendra and Stacey's friend over and watched two movies in a row! Meet the Robinsons and Sahara. Our favorite line had to be from the second movie: the right-hand good guy hurling his rifle down and yelling, "I'm so tired of getting shot at!" Poor guy, I think he was really upset.
Chinese is getting more fascinating by the week. I think I can't resist studying it outside of class much longer, especially with the CDs Mommy got me for Christmas.
Well, that will have to do for this week. Time to run home and get ready for company!
Saturday, January 05, 2008
So fascinating, so slightly pointless
Is there anything more entertaining than sitting around and listening to media members sit around and speculate over the possible election outcomes that they, in their vast political experience and foresight, kindly deign to provide us?
And you sit here and wonder, "Friends in the media! By December, most of your year of 2008 will be rendered obsolete. Doesn't that hurt?"
And you sit here and wonder, "Friends in the media! By December, most of your year of 2008 will be rendered obsolete. Doesn't that hurt?"
The latest in dentistry logos
Crocodile.
This is an important question. "Is this a suitable emblem for a service which wishes to emphasise trust and hygiene?"
This is an important question. "Is this a suitable emblem for a service which wishes to emphasise trust and hygiene?"
Christmas vacation report
In this lull of real life between the first caucus and the first primary...
Christmas vacation was a tremendous blessing. My kind employer and supervisor offered and encouraged me to take off the three days after Christmas. So I did, which made for over a week at home with my beloved family. That's the most I've seen them since last Christmas! (since the June Hoyt reunion was barely a week)
As mentioned before -- The drive home turned out to be an exciting race against oncoming freezing rain, which I won by 10:30 a.m. (Iowa time) and a good 4-hour margin. Then there was a nice short weekend with Ardith.
Driving from Cedar Rapids to the homestead was very interesting, with that good old Iowa wind blowing lots of snow -- one second whiting everything out, the next second clearing a panoramic landscape.
We had so much fun!
Christmas Eve was hunting up presents.
Christmas was, of course, kids counting down the minutes till presents... and testing out all three games Ardith gave the family, all day long... and watching a new Veggie Tales and then, of course, our new Christmas tradition of Narnia... oh, and there was a delicious dinner in there somewhere.
Wednesday was a shopping run for Mommy and Carolyn, which was fortunately extended with a $100 Goodwill gift certificate! Those that stayed home played more games. It was such a treat to make bread again (and pies, twice, though the crusts turned out abominably), and worked in the garage -- that is, Daddy did.
Thursday was Applesauce Day #2. Making applesauce is actually pretty involved:
1 - picking apples out of the boxes in the addition
2 - washing all the apples (with the smallest trickle of water possible that still has both hot and cold in it)
3 - halving apples
4 - coring apples
5 - slicing apples
6 - filling saucepans with apples
7 - cooking apples
8 - mashing apples in - that thing
9 - sugaring applesauce
10 - cooling applesauce
11 - filling containers with applesauce
12 - storing containers in freezer
Most of this is done on foot, so yep, it wears the old leg and foot muscles out, mostly from sheer inactivity. Ardith pitched in till she left for her home in the afternoon.
Friday - what did we do on Friday? I think the kids persuaded me to make that the Age of Empires MultiPlayer game day. Derek, Melinda, Carolyn, Ethan and myself, and it was a lot of fun, although I forgot to get out of the Stone Age (or some age) till the others realized I was getting wiped out in every skirmish. I think we finished on Saturday... that is, Carolyn, Ethan and I defeated Derek and Melinda.
Saturday was Mommy's and Kendra's night out, so I got to cook supper - spaghetti. All you need for good spaghetti sauce is tomato sauce (and meat) and some good spices to experiment with.
Sunday most of us made it to church.
Sunday afternoon we went sledding down the neighboring icy driveway! First we were just skidding down on boots... then we found out the sleds worked... then we hooked the two sleds together and went down five at once... then we tried four on one sled and made it down about 3 times, once with no wipeouts or injuries!
Monday night most of us kids made it back to church for the New Year's Eve party.
And New Year's Day was the day to drive to Indiana!
(...continued in a following post...)
Christmas vacation was a tremendous blessing. My kind employer and supervisor offered and encouraged me to take off the three days after Christmas. So I did, which made for over a week at home with my beloved family. That's the most I've seen them since last Christmas! (since the June Hoyt reunion was barely a week)
As mentioned before -- The drive home turned out to be an exciting race against oncoming freezing rain, which I won by 10:30 a.m. (Iowa time) and a good 4-hour margin. Then there was a nice short weekend with Ardith.
Driving from Cedar Rapids to the homestead was very interesting, with that good old Iowa wind blowing lots of snow -- one second whiting everything out, the next second clearing a panoramic landscape.
We had so much fun!
Christmas Eve was hunting up presents.
Christmas was, of course, kids counting down the minutes till presents... and testing out all three games Ardith gave the family, all day long... and watching a new Veggie Tales and then, of course, our new Christmas tradition of Narnia... oh, and there was a delicious dinner in there somewhere.
Wednesday was a shopping run for Mommy and Carolyn, which was fortunately extended with a $100 Goodwill gift certificate! Those that stayed home played more games. It was such a treat to make bread again (and pies, twice, though the crusts turned out abominably), and worked in the garage -- that is, Daddy did.
Thursday was Applesauce Day #2. Making applesauce is actually pretty involved:
1 - picking apples out of the boxes in the addition
2 - washing all the apples (with the smallest trickle of water possible that still has both hot and cold in it)
3 - halving apples
4 - coring apples
5 - slicing apples
6 - filling saucepans with apples
7 - cooking apples
8 - mashing apples in - that thing
9 - sugaring applesauce
10 - cooling applesauce
11 - filling containers with applesauce
12 - storing containers in freezer
Most of this is done on foot, so yep, it wears the old leg and foot muscles out, mostly from sheer inactivity. Ardith pitched in till she left for her home in the afternoon.
Friday - what did we do on Friday? I think the kids persuaded me to make that the Age of Empires MultiPlayer game day. Derek, Melinda, Carolyn, Ethan and myself, and it was a lot of fun, although I forgot to get out of the Stone Age (or some age) till the others realized I was getting wiped out in every skirmish. I think we finished on Saturday... that is, Carolyn, Ethan and I defeated Derek and Melinda.
Saturday was Mommy's and Kendra's night out, so I got to cook supper - spaghetti. All you need for good spaghetti sauce is tomato sauce (and meat) and some good spices to experiment with.
Sunday most of us made it to church.
Sunday afternoon we went sledding down the neighboring icy driveway! First we were just skidding down on boots... then we found out the sleds worked... then we hooked the two sleds together and went down five at once... then we tried four on one sled and made it down about 3 times, once with no wipeouts or injuries!
Monday night most of us kids made it back to church for the New Year's Eve party.
And New Year's Day was the day to drive to Indiana!
(...continued in a following post...)
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Today!
Do you know what today is?
It is a great day for any American who calls Iowa home, because --
1 - It is the very beginning of the U.S. presidential elections!
2 - It is the day that Iowa gets a showing at the top of BBC's home page, all day!
So we all, Iowans or not, wait eagerly to find out who breaks out of the gate first.
It is a great day for any American who calls Iowa home, because --
1 - It is the very beginning of the U.S. presidential elections!
2 - It is the day that Iowa gets a showing at the top of BBC's home page, all day!
So we all, Iowans or not, wait eagerly to find out who breaks out of the gate first.
Monday, December 31, 2007
The Very Last Birthday in the Year
Happy birthday to Jason! - who left the 'teens forever on 30 December.
(The following photos and message have not been approved by Jason.)
Photos -
[There has been a technical error. There are no official photos of Jason.]
[Override: The previous technical error is no longer valid.]
Jason's birthday, from Mommy's blog.
Words of polite commentary...
"What an unmitigated piece of junk!"
"I don't call that 'sprawling suburbs'. I call that an irresolute housing development."
...and words to eat later...
"Ardith prides herself on thinking she can cook."
Next to Daddy, Jason has probably put in the most work on the house. He's even now out in the garage, spending part of his Christmas break at helping Daddy to put up the wood sheeting that will finally permit complete and total garage insolation! What a milestone that will be.
(The following photos and message have not been approved by Jason.)
Photos -
[There has been a technical error. There are no official photos of Jason.]
[Override: The previous technical error is no longer valid.]
Jason's birthday, from Mommy's blog.
Words of polite commentary...
"What an unmitigated piece of junk!"
"I don't call that 'sprawling suburbs'. I call that an irresolute housing development."
...and words to eat later...
"Ardith prides herself on thinking she can cook."
Next to Daddy, Jason has probably put in the most work on the house. He's even now out in the garage, spending part of his Christmas break at helping Daddy to put up the wood sheeting that will finally permit complete and total garage insolation! What a milestone that will be.
Ethan's birthday!
Happy birthday to Ethan, who turned 11 on 17 December!
Photos -
Mommy has pictures of Ethan's birthday here.
Ethan has such a talent for fantastic faces! Just look at this and this.
Words of encouragement...
Melinda: "Nolan! This is a big day! You lost your first tooth! Now go look in the mirror."
Ethan: "You'll see a lot of blood."
Ethan (to Carolyn, the horse lover): "What can horses do? They could make you lose your lives, even!"
...enlightenment...
Ethan: "I know what I was born for! To be loud!"
...and wisdom...
Ethan (describing the laundry he carted down the stairs): "It was 2 feet by 2 feet, compacted-"
Kendra: "Really."
Ethan: "-like 500 clothes in 1 square foot!"
...and wheedling...
Ethan: "Carolyn, Melinda and I want to do something with you."
Carolyn: "What is it?"
Ethan: "It's a cree-tlimb -- a tree-climbing contest."
Carolyn: "How about we just climb trees for fun?"
Sharon (nailing in the garage roof above them): "You know, Ethan, that might result in..."
Ethan: "What, Sharon?"
Sharon: "Never mind. I changed my mind."
Ethan: "Come on, Sharon, what did you say?"
Sharon: "I didn't say it, so I don't have to finish it."
Ethan: "Come on, Sharon! Say it!"
Sharon (laughing helplessly): "Ethan!"
Ethan: "Come on, Sharon! Ple-e-e-ease?!?"
Sharon: "Ethan, do you know how tired it makes me to laugh on an empty stomach?"
Ethan: "Sharon, p-l-e-e-e-ea-s-e?! Please?"
Carolyn: "Ethan, stop acting like a baby."
But of course he wasn't, he was just being his cheerfully and loquaciously persistent self.
Photos -
Mommy has pictures of Ethan's birthday here.
Ethan has such a talent for fantastic faces! Just look at this and this.
Words of encouragement...
Melinda: "Nolan! This is a big day! You lost your first tooth! Now go look in the mirror."
Ethan: "You'll see a lot of blood."
Ethan (to Carolyn, the horse lover): "What can horses do? They could make you lose your lives, even!"
...enlightenment...
Ethan: "I know what I was born for! To be loud!"
...and wisdom...
Ethan (describing the laundry he carted down the stairs): "It was 2 feet by 2 feet, compacted-"
Kendra: "Really."
Ethan: "-like 500 clothes in 1 square foot!"
...and wheedling...
Ethan: "Carolyn, Melinda and I want to do something with you."
Carolyn: "What is it?"
Ethan: "It's a cree-tlimb -- a tree-climbing contest."
Carolyn: "How about we just climb trees for fun?"
Sharon (nailing in the garage roof above them): "You know, Ethan, that might result in..."
Ethan: "What, Sharon?"
Sharon: "Never mind. I changed my mind."
Ethan: "Come on, Sharon, what did you say?"
Sharon: "I didn't say it, so I don't have to finish it."
Ethan: "Come on, Sharon! Say it!"
Sharon (laughing helplessly): "Ethan!"
Ethan: "Come on, Sharon! Ple-e-e-ease?!?"
Sharon: "Ethan, do you know how tired it makes me to laugh on an empty stomach?"
Ethan: "Sharon, p-l-e-e-e-ea-s-e?! Please?"
Carolyn: "Ethan, stop acting like a baby."
But of course he wasn't, he was just being his cheerfully and loquaciously persistent self.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Why we have sisters
Today's entry is in honor of my older sister Ardith, who kindly put me up on the way home, not to mention put up with me - especially for getting there way too early.
This is Ardith shoveling her drive! - early on a Sunday morning with a windchill in the single digits.
Not to mention that she cleared all the snow away from my car.
And this was the view from Ardith's front window. Doesn't she have a lovely neighborhood? Especially when it's decked out with snow.
By the way, no matter what you may hear from skeptical acquaintances or cynical family, Ardith is a fabulous cook. She fixed up a delicious creamy chicken curry for Saturday's supper. Everyone who knows her should go pay her a visit sometime in 2008 and let her show off her cooking.
This is Ardith shoveling her drive! - early on a Sunday morning with a windchill in the single digits.
Not to mention that she cleared all the snow away from my car.
And this was the view from Ardith's front window. Doesn't she have a lovely neighborhood? Especially when it's decked out with snow.
By the way, no matter what you may hear from skeptical acquaintances or cynical family, Ardith is a fabulous cook. She fixed up a delicious creamy chicken curry for Saturday's supper. Everyone who knows her should go pay her a visit sometime in 2008 and let her show off her cooking.
Monday, December 24, 2007
How to beat the sleet
It is so good to be safely home for Christmas!
My very very first idea was to leave for Iowa right after work on Friday. That idea lasted all of about ten seconds. Because it then occurred to me that driving home in daylight on a good night's sleep with a properly packed car would probably work better. What were a few hours with a whole week of vacation waiting?
Of course, it didn't really work out like that.
Pack properly? The week before Christmas is full of all the non-family Christmas festivities. I had to make cookies and fudge for friends and colleagues, and get ready for the party that someone decided Stacey and I should host. It was fun, just a little late for a Thursday night. Then on Friday night I had to squeeze packing in around washing up the mountain of dishes and visiting a good friend just back for Christmas.
A good night's sleep? Well, I'm sure that would have happened if it weren't for 1) the excitement of going home the next day, 2) the excitement of driving home all by myself, and 3) the excitement of adventurous weather. Apparently the sleet was to hit Ardith's part of Iowa by early afternoon. So I set the alarm for 4 a.m.
Driving in the daylight? Yes, if you don't leave the house at 5 a.m. in December and drive west into dense fog, you might have daylight. Come to think of it, I don't remember even having gray skies till getting well past Chicago.
The most exciting parts of the trip?
1 - Getting off 30 West onto 65 North
2 - Getting off 65 North onto 80 West
3 - Trying to get out of the I-Pass lane at the 80 toll
4 - Getting almost completlely convinced that the car was tilted left and would flip at any moment - till getting back into the right lane
5 - Getting the car to go (around) 70 mph without the constant whine
6 - Getting off onto 380 North
7 - Getting off on the right exit and finding that the directions miraculously worked out to lead to Ardith's
9 - Driving onto Ardith's sidewalk, which was a solid sheet of ice, and trying to walk up to the door
Yes, Ardith's driveway was definitely the most treacherous part of the entire trip. But that's my fault. I arrived too early (10:30 A.M), before she could get back with the salt.
That was Part I of the trip home, and it was so much fun!
My very very first idea was to leave for Iowa right after work on Friday. That idea lasted all of about ten seconds. Because it then occurred to me that driving home in daylight on a good night's sleep with a properly packed car would probably work better. What were a few hours with a whole week of vacation waiting?
Of course, it didn't really work out like that.
Pack properly? The week before Christmas is full of all the non-family Christmas festivities. I had to make cookies and fudge for friends and colleagues, and get ready for the party that someone decided Stacey and I should host. It was fun, just a little late for a Thursday night. Then on Friday night I had to squeeze packing in around washing up the mountain of dishes and visiting a good friend just back for Christmas.
A good night's sleep? Well, I'm sure that would have happened if it weren't for 1) the excitement of going home the next day, 2) the excitement of driving home all by myself, and 3) the excitement of adventurous weather. Apparently the sleet was to hit Ardith's part of Iowa by early afternoon. So I set the alarm for 4 a.m.
Driving in the daylight? Yes, if you don't leave the house at 5 a.m. in December and drive west into dense fog, you might have daylight. Come to think of it, I don't remember even having gray skies till getting well past Chicago.
The most exciting parts of the trip?
1 - Getting off 30 West onto 65 North
2 - Getting off 65 North onto 80 West
3 - Trying to get out of the I-Pass lane at the 80 toll
4 - Getting almost completlely convinced that the car was tilted left and would flip at any moment - till getting back into the right lane
5 - Getting the car to go (around) 70 mph without the constant whine
6 - Getting off onto 380 North
7 - Getting off on the right exit and finding that the directions miraculously worked out to lead to Ardith's
9 - Driving onto Ardith's sidewalk, which was a solid sheet of ice, and trying to walk up to the door
Yes, Ardith's driveway was definitely the most treacherous part of the entire trip. But that's my fault. I arrived too early (10:30 A.M), before she could get back with the salt.
That was Part I of the trip home, and it was so much fun!
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
On a December evening
After a long, busy, enjoyable day at the office,
Is there anything more relaxing than stretching out on the living room carpet, to read the consolidation loan promissory note by Christmas tree light, and to laugh over its enchanting little remarks, such as,
Item 6: Enter the date of your birth. Be careful not to enter the current year.
Is there anything more relaxing than stretching out on the living room carpet, to read the consolidation loan promissory note by Christmas tree light, and to laugh over its enchanting little remarks, such as,
Item 6: Enter the date of your birth. Be careful not to enter the current year.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
The joys of winter
I had forgotten how exciting winter can be!
First, when you hop out of a warm bed into a chilly bedroom, then later put on your coat and scarf and gloves in anticipation of the cold outside... it wakes you up and makes you excited for the day.
Second, it is so much fun to drive in the snow. Especially when road work keeps creating new detours and you have to invent new ways to get to work every morning.
Third, power outages turn the morning get-ready-for-work routine into a new adventure.
Fourth, it's just so much fun to stomp around in boots.
There are lots more reasons, but my time is up. So please add to the list for me!
First, when you hop out of a warm bed into a chilly bedroom, then later put on your coat and scarf and gloves in anticipation of the cold outside... it wakes you up and makes you excited for the day.
Second, it is so much fun to drive in the snow. Especially when road work keeps creating new detours and you have to invent new ways to get to work every morning.
Third, power outages turn the morning get-ready-for-work routine into a new adventure.
Fourth, it's just so much fun to stomp around in boots.
There are lots more reasons, but my time is up. So please add to the list for me!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Goodbye Thanksgiving, Hello Christmas!
Actually, most people started gearing up for Christmas right after Halloween, but some of us did enjoy our Thanksgiving... especially those of us who made it home!
I know it was awfully selfish of me to spend all my time with my family and not to post when I actually had Internet. Sorry.
In other good news, my illegal status has been resolved. You were right, Jason!
(Nothing to do with music downloads, Derek.)
I know it was awfully selfish of me to spend all my time with my family and not to post when I actually had Internet. Sorry.
In other good news, my illegal status has been resolved. You were right, Jason!
(Nothing to do with music downloads, Derek.)
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Imagine it is 9 November 2007
I bet you thought I missed your birthday, didn't you, Melinda? Nope! I was just waiting this long to give an EXTRA BIG Happy 15th Birthday!!
I know you'd want me to share some of your words of wisdom with the world. Unfortunately, I just can't find more than one single quote in my notebook from 2004, but it has held true for these three years and I expect it will do so for another decade at least.
"Timers never lie. They just lay."
I know you'd want me to share some of your words of wisdom with the world. Unfortunately, I just can't find more than one single quote in my notebook from 2004, but it has held true for these three years and I expect it will do so for another decade at least.
"Timers never lie. They just lay."
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
13 years old!
Happy birthday to Carolyn, the newest teenager in the family! Here are pictures from Mommy's blog.
I cannot believe you are 13 years old!
In honor of Carolyn's birthday.... She would voluntarily sleep on a mattress on the floor and risk getting stepped all over, just to give me a bed when I came home on break. She potty-trained Trevor. That alone deserves some kind of Big Sister's Nobel Prize. She is just about the sweetest girl in the world who can still fight fiercely in her brothers' war games. And she definitely inherited Ardith's speed-reader genes. She can polish off one of the LOTR volumes in one or two days.
I cannot believe you are 13 years old!
In honor of Carolyn's birthday.... She would voluntarily sleep on a mattress on the floor and risk getting stepped all over, just to give me a bed when I came home on break. She potty-trained Trevor. That alone deserves some kind of Big Sister's Nobel Prize. She is just about the sweetest girl in the world who can still fight fiercely in her brothers' war games. And she definitely inherited Ardith's speed-reader genes. She can polish off one of the LOTR volumes in one or two days.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
9 days to go
I got stabbed! That should be good news for my family.
So now can I come home for Christmas?
So now can I come home for Christmas?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)