Hello again. It is getting harder and harder for me to get on my own computer anymore. Nathan plays games with his friends for hours and by the time I boot him off at night, I'm too tired to compose anything. We are all doing fine, even our dog, Belle.
Jim has been working 12 hour nights 6 times a week. That pretty much messes up everything around here, but the overtime is nice. I am feeling overwhelmed with tasks at work, so that also adds stress. We had a staff training day, training for the summer reading software, training for library software, and coming up...training for serials. All of this takes time away from tasks needing to be done as well. We are really looking forward to seeing the musical Wicked next week and our overnight stay in Kansas City. I found a beautiful pearl bracelet today to complete my theater ensemble. It is handmade by a really dear woman I know, and it was 50% off! I'm pretty sure I'm going to have another crappy mother's day this year, so I decided to just treat myself. I finally got Jim to the Goodwill today and we found a sport coat. It is navy blue, looks brand new, and fits him well. I'll get it dry cleaned and then we'll work on the rest of the outfit. We also have plans to go to North Carolina next month. Jim has a business trip, and afterwards we are going to Asheville for a couple of days. I want to see the mountains and Biltmore estate. I just hope I have enough clothes for the trip! I have lost 36 lbs to date, and now have very few clothes to work with. I have been lucky recently and found many new things on clearance. While some of them are appropriate for work, they won't work for a summer trip down south. I don't have a bathing suit or any shorts at this point. Looks like I'll have to do some more shopping!
The boys have been doing well. Noah only has one final to take-chemistry-and he will be done with his first year in college. He did so well in his other classes, that he didn't have to even take the final and he would still get an A. He is excited to come home, but he'll be home less than a week and will be fighting with me again. He just needs to be on his own. He did find an apartment, but many things about next year are up in the air and I wonder how it is all going to work out for him. The college has yet to confirm in writing the scholarship they offered him at registration. It seems to me that they are giving him the run around and trying to put him off when he asks about it. He was advised not to get an apartment near the expressway (lots of break-ins), but that is where they are going to live. He doesn't seem to have a real good grasp of how much money he needs to come up with, or that he will not get it from me next year when he comes up short. He did get his old job for the summer, but he says it is just until something better comes along. I bet he doesn't look real hard for something better and while he is busy socializing with his friends at night, the summer will slip away. I really struggle with the fine line of giving too much/too little. This year he did not meet his financial obligations, but we covered for him. Obviously we gave him too much, since he didn't feel much of a need to work. Next year we have told him that we won't cover for him. He will need to be more responsible and work. We flat out told him that next year if he comes up short (because he hasn't been working) and asks us to cover for him, the answer will be "No". What I hate the most is being put in that position. We've let him know what is expected, and unless he starts growing up and changing, he's going to come asking-and I hate that he would do that to us. We had a little breakthrough with Nate last month when we figured out that his medicine was running out at the end of the day. The only two classes he failed, were those that were at the end of the day. So he takes another short acting dose at school before those two classes, and the results are really something! He has gone from failing math to getting a 3, and has NO MISSING ASSIGNMENTS! English has risen about 6 points, and he's passing, but not too many assignments to raise it further. He did do well on his last two vocab tests though, and he has failed nearly all of them this year. He still hasn't begun to look for a job, so we are going to have to boot him off the computer until he does. That is not going to be a pleasant start to the summer.
The weather has finally warmed, and there is so much outside work. Unfortunately, my back has been really bothering me and I have not been able to do much. It is a different pain, very sharp. The chiropractor thinks I may have a bulging disc. I did manage to fill a hole in the yard with dirt from my falling apart whiskey barrel. I finished digging up the rest of the barrel and am going to let the lily of the valley just fill in where it stood. I talked to Jim today, and am going to get some prices to have both of my decks cleaned and finished. When Noah gets home, maybe he will help me get some mulch down. I've opened a few windows, but Nate's allergies are bothering him this spring and that makes things worse, so I limit it. Jim's car broke AGAIN. This time it was the radiator. It had been replaced recently, so it was still under warranty. This seems to have finally taken care of the problem.
So that's about all that is new for now. I always like to hear from you too!
Friday, May 9, 2008
Saturday, April 5, 2008
April Update
Today was our best day so far-the forecast called for a high of 70 degrees! We got out a bit today, but spent most of the day getting caught up on chores. We bought and installed a new screen door for the patio slider. Our other one broke this winter and thus has been perpetually open. That wasn't going to work with the warmer weather. We also replaced all of our kitchen light ballasts. They went out last fall, and Jim had promised to fix them.........it was an easy repair, that didn't take very long, and I appreciate what he did do, but I just wish he had taken the initiative to do it himself. I have to be the driving force for all that is done around here, and it is exhausting. We also bought a new faucet for the bathtub, another easy fix for something that has been broke almost as long as the lights. We are saving that project for tomorrow. So tomorrow I should be able to get a SHOWER, cook a meal with enough LIGHT to see what I am doing, and enjoy the wonderful BREEZE coming through the back door! Maybe you all take these things for granted, but I sure am grateful.
Noah was home for spring break. He was supposed to look for an apartment in Lincoln, but his roommate kept backing out and it just didn't happen. He came home the following weekend to register for classes, and stayed in Lincoln to look for apartments. Again, the roommate was too busy to look and they didn't accomplish much. He doesn't seem worried about it though, so I'm not going to fret either. It is his problem after all. He asked us to come to his class registration. We were very frustrated before we even made it into the welcome session! He asked us not be be grumpy all day, because he was really excited. I guess we weren't hiding it very well. They kept the students away from us all day, and just presented generic stuff to the parents to keep us busy. It was such a waste of time for us to even go. Jim and I walked away pretty unimpressed. He changed his major to biochemistry and his adviser arranged a $1,000 scholarship for him if he pursued the degree through the College of Agriculture instead of the College of Arts & Sciences. So that was one good thing that happened that day!
Nate failed two classes last quarter-by one and two points! He had been riding that line all quarter, so it was disappointing that he fell just below at the end. The rest of his classes were all 2's and a 3 in biology-very good for Nathan. He still is taking no interest or initiative in driving, so I haven't signed him up for driver's ed. I told him he had to get a job this summer, but he doesn't want to and he isn't doing anything to make that happen.
Work is going fine for me. I did get another raise, which is wonderful. I have been very busy with one of my tasks, the online events calendar. I am in charge of entering the events and keeping the statistics. The library director has added two extra events this month, the young adult librarian added two new events, and the children's librarian has me entering the summer reading events (and there are a lot of them). It isn't hard to do, but it is something that I need to concentrate on and not be interrupted, and that is the hard part! I hope to have everything done this week. My diet continues on. So far I have lost a little over 26 lbs. It has slowed down, which is frustrating, but I will persevere because I am feeling better. It just makes clothes such an issue. My clothes are all so loose, but I only want to buy summer clothes right now because I don't know what size I'll be next fall. Problem is, that it is too cool to wear summer clothes right now, so I am stuck wearing baggy loose clothes. Jim & I are going to see the musical, Wicked, next month. I am so excited. Since my clothes are all too loose, I went looking for something new to wear to the theater. I found the cutest little black dress at Old Navy-on clearance for $2.99. I saw it after Christmas on clearance for $19.99 and loved it then, but didn't want to spend the money when I was just beginning my weight loss journey. Since I got the dress so cheap, I decided to splurge on a pashmina and silk shawl in a beautiful raspberry shade. I ordered it on overstock.com and it should be coming this week. I went shopping at a more upscale department store and found a beautiful sparkley necklace and earrings on super clearance. It had already been marked down 50% and you got to take another 40% off the markdown price! I got both for a little over $20!! I already have the shoes so I just need a pretty evening clutch and I'm all set. I am going to look so good!! Jim says he is just going to throw on a pair of jeans and his work shirt!
There was a problem at Jim's work and he got to put in some overtime. That was a nice unexpected bonus. And then his car broke down again! New water pump this time. The outage starts soon and Jim is working the first month on night shift-which means he is useless to me that month.
Our dog is hanging in there. Seems to do ok with medicine every other day and I come home everyday at lunch and let her out. The day we went to Lincoln she made it all day with no accidents. I finally broke down and bought her more dog treats. She was making me crazy taking so long when I let her out. If I bribe her with a goodie, she hustles right back.
We had an ok Easter. Nate was sick and Noah didn't wake up, so I went to Easter service alone. Jim had to work, so we did all the Easter stuff without him. I got these cool eggs that you could hide in tough places. Some glowed in the dark, some had suction cups attached, some had sticky tabs, and some hung by string. I think it jazzed up the egg hunt, even though the boys think they are too old for such things.
So that is about all that is new for now. I'll write again soon.
Noah was home for spring break. He was supposed to look for an apartment in Lincoln, but his roommate kept backing out and it just didn't happen. He came home the following weekend to register for classes, and stayed in Lincoln to look for apartments. Again, the roommate was too busy to look and they didn't accomplish much. He doesn't seem worried about it though, so I'm not going to fret either. It is his problem after all. He asked us to come to his class registration. We were very frustrated before we even made it into the welcome session! He asked us not be be grumpy all day, because he was really excited. I guess we weren't hiding it very well. They kept the students away from us all day, and just presented generic stuff to the parents to keep us busy. It was such a waste of time for us to even go. Jim and I walked away pretty unimpressed. He changed his major to biochemistry and his adviser arranged a $1,000 scholarship for him if he pursued the degree through the College of Agriculture instead of the College of Arts & Sciences. So that was one good thing that happened that day!
Nate failed two classes last quarter-by one and two points! He had been riding that line all quarter, so it was disappointing that he fell just below at the end. The rest of his classes were all 2's and a 3 in biology-very good for Nathan. He still is taking no interest or initiative in driving, so I haven't signed him up for driver's ed. I told him he had to get a job this summer, but he doesn't want to and he isn't doing anything to make that happen.
Work is going fine for me. I did get another raise, which is wonderful. I have been very busy with one of my tasks, the online events calendar. I am in charge of entering the events and keeping the statistics. The library director has added two extra events this month, the young adult librarian added two new events, and the children's librarian has me entering the summer reading events (and there are a lot of them). It isn't hard to do, but it is something that I need to concentrate on and not be interrupted, and that is the hard part! I hope to have everything done this week. My diet continues on. So far I have lost a little over 26 lbs. It has slowed down, which is frustrating, but I will persevere because I am feeling better. It just makes clothes such an issue. My clothes are all so loose, but I only want to buy summer clothes right now because I don't know what size I'll be next fall. Problem is, that it is too cool to wear summer clothes right now, so I am stuck wearing baggy loose clothes. Jim & I are going to see the musical, Wicked, next month. I am so excited. Since my clothes are all too loose, I went looking for something new to wear to the theater. I found the cutest little black dress at Old Navy-on clearance for $2.99. I saw it after Christmas on clearance for $19.99 and loved it then, but didn't want to spend the money when I was just beginning my weight loss journey. Since I got the dress so cheap, I decided to splurge on a pashmina and silk shawl in a beautiful raspberry shade. I ordered it on overstock.com and it should be coming this week. I went shopping at a more upscale department store and found a beautiful sparkley necklace and earrings on super clearance. It had already been marked down 50% and you got to take another 40% off the markdown price! I got both for a little over $20!! I already have the shoes so I just need a pretty evening clutch and I'm all set. I am going to look so good!! Jim says he is just going to throw on a pair of jeans and his work shirt!
There was a problem at Jim's work and he got to put in some overtime. That was a nice unexpected bonus. And then his car broke down again! New water pump this time. The outage starts soon and Jim is working the first month on night shift-which means he is useless to me that month.
Our dog is hanging in there. Seems to do ok with medicine every other day and I come home everyday at lunch and let her out. The day we went to Lincoln she made it all day with no accidents. I finally broke down and bought her more dog treats. She was making me crazy taking so long when I let her out. If I bribe her with a goodie, she hustles right back.
We had an ok Easter. Nate was sick and Noah didn't wake up, so I went to Easter service alone. Jim had to work, so we did all the Easter stuff without him. I got these cool eggs that you could hide in tough places. Some glowed in the dark, some had suction cups attached, some had sticky tabs, and some hung by string. I think it jazzed up the egg hunt, even though the boys think they are too old for such things.
So that is about all that is new for now. I'll write again soon.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
March is Here
I just realized that Noah will be home this week and Easter is right around the corner! Better get my Easter decorations out today and start planning. It sure is early this year.
Nate is doing ok. His grades are very slowly improving. Yesterday was a rather rough day for him because we wanted him to go to the state basketball tournament with us, and he wanted to stay home alone and play his computer game all day. So he decided to go, but make us pay for it by acting sullen and ugly all day. He knocked over his pop in the car and after the game he really wanted a rootbeer float, but they were out of rootbeer at the Cracker Barrel. Just not his day either! He isn't running track. He says it is because of his grades, but I suspect he doesn't want to do the work, or he is scared he won't be any good, so why try. He wants to take drivers ed, but hasn't looked for his permit and isn't practicing, like I asked him to do, so I feel torn. He has put off getting a job, but I made it plain he will get one this summer-and he is resisting that. He won't get a haircut and is refusing senior pictures this summer. Life is so tiring with Nate sometimes.
Noah did get the job reffing intramural basketball games. They kept him pretty busy last week, which is good because he needs the money. He hasn't made his mind up about which college he will attend next year, but his friends are putting pressure on him to do so over spring break so they can finalize their plans.
I went through my grief counselor training. It was one of the best things I have ever done in my life. I learned so much and grew as a person. I am more convinced of the importance of understanding and dealing with grief, and am very excited (and scared) for the fall when I will actually put my learning to use and lead a group. As I mentioned, we went to the state basketball finals yesterday to watch the boys basketball team. Last year they only made it to the semi-finals, and hadn't been to the finals since 1971, so it was very exciting. I think half the town was there! It was a great game, that came right down to the last few seconds, and unfortunately we lost. I'm plowing my way through a book-Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. It is over a thousand pages, and it's been a long time since I've read a book that lengthy. It is very good so far. Next month I volunteered to be a greeter at a women's retreat. It is at a different church and the speaker is thought of highly by my friend Arlene, who I think so highly of. It is just Friday evening and Saturday morning-no overnight stay or meals, so that is better for me right now too. I continue on the Prism program. I had a week of struggles, but still managed to do well. So far I have lost over 22 lbs. I still have a ways to go, but warmer weather is coming and I am starting to feel better, so I hope to continue the program and add exercise. I have no idea how far I can go, but I have already had to buy some new clothes.
Jim and I got sick last week. I just had a bad cold, Jim's turned into bronchitis. The dog is still hanging in there. Sometimes she has a bad couple of days and I start to think, this is it; we'll have to put her down this week......and then she bounces back. Otherwise, not much is new here to report.
Nate is doing ok. His grades are very slowly improving. Yesterday was a rather rough day for him because we wanted him to go to the state basketball tournament with us, and he wanted to stay home alone and play his computer game all day. So he decided to go, but make us pay for it by acting sullen and ugly all day. He knocked over his pop in the car and after the game he really wanted a rootbeer float, but they were out of rootbeer at the Cracker Barrel. Just not his day either! He isn't running track. He says it is because of his grades, but I suspect he doesn't want to do the work, or he is scared he won't be any good, so why try. He wants to take drivers ed, but hasn't looked for his permit and isn't practicing, like I asked him to do, so I feel torn. He has put off getting a job, but I made it plain he will get one this summer-and he is resisting that. He won't get a haircut and is refusing senior pictures this summer. Life is so tiring with Nate sometimes.
Noah did get the job reffing intramural basketball games. They kept him pretty busy last week, which is good because he needs the money. He hasn't made his mind up about which college he will attend next year, but his friends are putting pressure on him to do so over spring break so they can finalize their plans.
I went through my grief counselor training. It was one of the best things I have ever done in my life. I learned so much and grew as a person. I am more convinced of the importance of understanding and dealing with grief, and am very excited (and scared) for the fall when I will actually put my learning to use and lead a group. As I mentioned, we went to the state basketball finals yesterday to watch the boys basketball team. Last year they only made it to the semi-finals, and hadn't been to the finals since 1971, so it was very exciting. I think half the town was there! It was a great game, that came right down to the last few seconds, and unfortunately we lost. I'm plowing my way through a book-Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. It is over a thousand pages, and it's been a long time since I've read a book that lengthy. It is very good so far. Next month I volunteered to be a greeter at a women's retreat. It is at a different church and the speaker is thought of highly by my friend Arlene, who I think so highly of. It is just Friday evening and Saturday morning-no overnight stay or meals, so that is better for me right now too. I continue on the Prism program. I had a week of struggles, but still managed to do well. So far I have lost over 22 lbs. I still have a ways to go, but warmer weather is coming and I am starting to feel better, so I hope to continue the program and add exercise. I have no idea how far I can go, but I have already had to buy some new clothes.
Jim and I got sick last week. I just had a bad cold, Jim's turned into bronchitis. The dog is still hanging in there. Sometimes she has a bad couple of days and I start to think, this is it; we'll have to put her down this week......and then she bounces back. Otherwise, not much is new here to report.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Plans Change
Well, we are no longer going to KC. Great Wolf Lodge is just too expensive on the weekend. Also, Belle is still hanging in there and I don't want to board her with her health issues right now. We cut her medication down to every other day, and she stopped getting sick and started eating again. She is not as comfortable, but we don't feel she is suffering, so we bought her a little more time. Also, we did not go to the Point of Grace/Selah concert for Valentines Day. It was a very busy week and I just was too tired to go. We are going to see the musical Wicked in a few months though-and I'm very excited about that! We also have a new waterpark here in town, so we may spend a night there when Noah comes home for spring break instead. It is a heck of alot cheaper.
I have been working alot, but that is coming to an end. I now have to stick to my 20 hours a week and NOT go over. It doesn't matter if we are busy, or if I can't get my work done in that amount of time, or if there isn't enough coverage.....I was over last week because I attended Legislative Day and my boss had me scheduled to work an 8 hour day on Saturday, so I was able to take extra time off during the regular work week (which made them shorthanded, but that is not my fault). I continue to work with the Prism program, and so far I have lost 17 lbs! I think sugar was driving my appetite and the white flour was causing me digestive problems. I no longer have gas/bloating etc... and though I am only eating 1000-1200 calories a day, I am rarely hungry. I starting using Udo's oil last week, and finally feel like my fibromyalgia symptoms are improving. Warm weather is coming soon, and I feel like I am finally able to get some exercise. I'm looking forward to that-both warm weather and moving my body again! It can't come soon enough. We have had snow on the ground since November and tomorrow it is supposed to be a high of 7 (with a wind chill of -25 degrees). The Udo's has even helped improve my "tennis elbow". It is still stiff and a little painful, but is also much improved. I went to the doctor last month and he said I could either have cortisone shots (which don't last for me) or surgery. I hope the Udo's helps me to avoid that. I have been having pain in my hips/legs pretty bad this month. My chiropractor said I have bursitis. I'm so sick of hurting! Later this week, I will do my training to be a become a certified child grief counselor. I'm really excited about that!
Barring a huge scholarship offer, Noah will be switching colleges next year. He is just plain homesick. I don't know how much he misses us, but he misses his life here and all his friends. He has an interview for a job reffing intermural basketball games. It would be a great job for him-and we all know he needs a job-so please remember Noah in your prayers this week! He witnessed some vandals causing damage to his friend's car over the weekend. It was a rather large amount of damage, so it is considered a felony and he thinks he will have to testify in court.
Nate is doing good this semester. Last week was parent/teacher conferences, and we had the best updates we have had in a long time! He still has some work to do, but he seems to be caring a little more about his grades and taking some positive actions to improve them. Yesterday, we went to the doctor, because Nate had a white spot on his lip that wouldn't go away and was getting bigger. The doctor determined it was a wart! Unusual place to get a wart, but it happens. Hurt like heck when he froze it with the liquid nitrogen! Of course, Nate can't leave it alone and let it blister; he picked at it until it is raw. Hope it heals decently. I want him to look good for his senior pictures this summer-but right now he is refusing to take senior pictures! He is planning on running track this spring and taking driver's ed in the summer. He decided doing both and keeping up with school probably wasn't a good idea.
Jim's car broke again last week. If you guessed it cost about $300 to fix it, you'd be right. We have had about seven $300.00 repairs these past few months. Just get one paid off, and rack up another one. Today, he dropped his cell phone right into his ice fishing hole and it sank like a rock. In May, he could have got another phone for free, but now we get to pay a couple of hundred dollars for a new one!
Well that's about all for now!
I have been working alot, but that is coming to an end. I now have to stick to my 20 hours a week and NOT go over. It doesn't matter if we are busy, or if I can't get my work done in that amount of time, or if there isn't enough coverage.....I was over last week because I attended Legislative Day and my boss had me scheduled to work an 8 hour day on Saturday, so I was able to take extra time off during the regular work week (which made them shorthanded, but that is not my fault). I continue to work with the Prism program, and so far I have lost 17 lbs! I think sugar was driving my appetite and the white flour was causing me digestive problems. I no longer have gas/bloating etc... and though I am only eating 1000-1200 calories a day, I am rarely hungry. I starting using Udo's oil last week, and finally feel like my fibromyalgia symptoms are improving. Warm weather is coming soon, and I feel like I am finally able to get some exercise. I'm looking forward to that-both warm weather and moving my body again! It can't come soon enough. We have had snow on the ground since November and tomorrow it is supposed to be a high of 7 (with a wind chill of -25 degrees). The Udo's has even helped improve my "tennis elbow". It is still stiff and a little painful, but is also much improved. I went to the doctor last month and he said I could either have cortisone shots (which don't last for me) or surgery. I hope the Udo's helps me to avoid that. I have been having pain in my hips/legs pretty bad this month. My chiropractor said I have bursitis. I'm so sick of hurting! Later this week, I will do my training to be a become a certified child grief counselor. I'm really excited about that!
Barring a huge scholarship offer, Noah will be switching colleges next year. He is just plain homesick. I don't know how much he misses us, but he misses his life here and all his friends. He has an interview for a job reffing intermural basketball games. It would be a great job for him-and we all know he needs a job-so please remember Noah in your prayers this week! He witnessed some vandals causing damage to his friend's car over the weekend. It was a rather large amount of damage, so it is considered a felony and he thinks he will have to testify in court.
Nate is doing good this semester. Last week was parent/teacher conferences, and we had the best updates we have had in a long time! He still has some work to do, but he seems to be caring a little more about his grades and taking some positive actions to improve them. Yesterday, we went to the doctor, because Nate had a white spot on his lip that wouldn't go away and was getting bigger. The doctor determined it was a wart! Unusual place to get a wart, but it happens. Hurt like heck when he froze it with the liquid nitrogen! Of course, Nate can't leave it alone and let it blister; he picked at it until it is raw. Hope it heals decently. I want him to look good for his senior pictures this summer-but right now he is refusing to take senior pictures! He is planning on running track this spring and taking driver's ed in the summer. He decided doing both and keeping up with school probably wasn't a good idea.
Jim's car broke again last week. If you guessed it cost about $300 to fix it, you'd be right. We have had about seven $300.00 repairs these past few months. Just get one paid off, and rack up another one. Today, he dropped his cell phone right into his ice fishing hole and it sank like a rock. In May, he could have got another phone for free, but now we get to pay a couple of hundred dollars for a new one!
Well that's about all for now!
Friday, February 1, 2008
February Already
Hey everyone,
The month of January just flew by! Spent the first half taking down Christmas decorations and packing them away. Spent the second half gathering papers to do our taxes. I think the last of the paperwork came yesterday, so we can do them this weekend. Then we will have to do the FAFSA right after that. Wow, another fun and exciting weekend!
Noah went back to school in the middle of January. He is not happy where he is going to college and applied to a university closer to home (where all his friends are) over the Christmas break. It is more expensive, and I don't know how he is going to swing that-other than with more loans-but that is his choice. Hopefully we made it clear to him that our pockets only run so deep, so he can't count on us for the extra cost. Even this year has been tough financially, and we had the money to cover it. All the extra expenses really add up. He finished his first semester strong and made the dean's list, so that made us proud. Back at school he is finally taking care of some things we asked him to do (repeatedly) the first semester, but he is still stalling on finding a job. It was good to have him home for a month-because we really do love and miss him-but it was also good to have him go back. It is much neater and more peaceful without him and I do like that.
Nate is doing pretty good. He is doing well in most of his classes except Geometry. He is falling behind and not understanding things, but instead of taking some helpful steps-like asking for help, staying after school with his teacher, calling a friend when he can't figure out his homework-he tries to bury his head in the sand and hope it goes away and lies to try and cover it up. So he is failing very badly. We had another good talk about it this week, and he has stayed after several times to make up work, but he is slow and it isn't quality work at this point. He was sick a couple of days last week on top of the day he missed the previous week for ski trip-and that doesn't help either. Ski trip was really great. He absolutely loves snowboarding and the mountains of Colorado. In fact the only plan he has for the future is to live there so he can do what he loves even more.
With all the cold weather and snow, it has been a banner year for ice fishing. Jim is loving it. He received a gadget for Christmas that turns his ice auger into a motorized version using a power drill. When he went to attach it, he found out that the person who assembled his auger welded the handle to the shaft, so his gadget wouldn't work. He has some other issues with his auger, so he was lucky enough to find one online and ordered it. I don't think it works like he thought it would, but maybe he needs more practice.
I worked a little more than usual last month, covering for a co-worker that had surgery and others that called in sick. I started a program at church that teaches nutrition and helps with weight loss. I am losing the weight at a healthy rate and have noticed some positive health changes, so I'm grateful for that. I have not had improvement with the fibromyalgia yet, which was a huge motivator to do this, but it has only been a month. Exercise would probably help, but it is hard to do when I hurt so much. Today, I am meeting with a friend to plan another get together for our old bible study group. It has been three months, so it will be fun to see everyone again. I signed up for training to be a child grief facilitator which will take place at the end of the month. Afterwards, I can volunteer with a wonderful organization here in our town that helps kids through their losses. I'm really looking forward to it. I took an online class last month that gives me CE credits towards my librarian certification. I am also going to the capitol this month to have lunch with my senator and discuss library matters. That should give me enough credits to renew my certification in March. Whew-that's done for another three years!
We are planning a trip later this month to Kansas City. Noah is going to come up and meet us there for the weekend. We are going to do one night at Great Wolf Lodge-the boys still love that place-and one night somewhere else. We want to show the boys around KC and just have a fun time together. Jim and I are going to see Selah & Point of Grace on Valentines Day. He suggested it (surprised). Our dog's health is declining. She sleeps so much and is getting sick pretty regularly. We tried giving her medicine after she ate, but it doesn't seem to be helping. She is starting to suffer, and I don't want that, so we will probably be putting her down sometime in the next week or so. Our furnace broke again, during a bitter cold streak. The same part that broke last year!
Well, that is about all for now! I need to get busy with the laundry and paying bills so Au Revoir for now!
The month of January just flew by! Spent the first half taking down Christmas decorations and packing them away. Spent the second half gathering papers to do our taxes. I think the last of the paperwork came yesterday, so we can do them this weekend. Then we will have to do the FAFSA right after that. Wow, another fun and exciting weekend!
Noah went back to school in the middle of January. He is not happy where he is going to college and applied to a university closer to home (where all his friends are) over the Christmas break. It is more expensive, and I don't know how he is going to swing that-other than with more loans-but that is his choice. Hopefully we made it clear to him that our pockets only run so deep, so he can't count on us for the extra cost. Even this year has been tough financially, and we had the money to cover it. All the extra expenses really add up. He finished his first semester strong and made the dean's list, so that made us proud. Back at school he is finally taking care of some things we asked him to do (repeatedly) the first semester, but he is still stalling on finding a job. It was good to have him home for a month-because we really do love and miss him-but it was also good to have him go back. It is much neater and more peaceful without him and I do like that.
Nate is doing pretty good. He is doing well in most of his classes except Geometry. He is falling behind and not understanding things, but instead of taking some helpful steps-like asking for help, staying after school with his teacher, calling a friend when he can't figure out his homework-he tries to bury his head in the sand and hope it goes away and lies to try and cover it up. So he is failing very badly. We had another good talk about it this week, and he has stayed after several times to make up work, but he is slow and it isn't quality work at this point. He was sick a couple of days last week on top of the day he missed the previous week for ski trip-and that doesn't help either. Ski trip was really great. He absolutely loves snowboarding and the mountains of Colorado. In fact the only plan he has for the future is to live there so he can do what he loves even more.
With all the cold weather and snow, it has been a banner year for ice fishing. Jim is loving it. He received a gadget for Christmas that turns his ice auger into a motorized version using a power drill. When he went to attach it, he found out that the person who assembled his auger welded the handle to the shaft, so his gadget wouldn't work. He has some other issues with his auger, so he was lucky enough to find one online and ordered it. I don't think it works like he thought it would, but maybe he needs more practice.
I worked a little more than usual last month, covering for a co-worker that had surgery and others that called in sick. I started a program at church that teaches nutrition and helps with weight loss. I am losing the weight at a healthy rate and have noticed some positive health changes, so I'm grateful for that. I have not had improvement with the fibromyalgia yet, which was a huge motivator to do this, but it has only been a month. Exercise would probably help, but it is hard to do when I hurt so much. Today, I am meeting with a friend to plan another get together for our old bible study group. It has been three months, so it will be fun to see everyone again. I signed up for training to be a child grief facilitator which will take place at the end of the month. Afterwards, I can volunteer with a wonderful organization here in our town that helps kids through their losses. I'm really looking forward to it. I took an online class last month that gives me CE credits towards my librarian certification. I am also going to the capitol this month to have lunch with my senator and discuss library matters. That should give me enough credits to renew my certification in March. Whew-that's done for another three years!
We are planning a trip later this month to Kansas City. Noah is going to come up and meet us there for the weekend. We are going to do one night at Great Wolf Lodge-the boys still love that place-and one night somewhere else. We want to show the boys around KC and just have a fun time together. Jim and I are going to see Selah & Point of Grace on Valentines Day. He suggested it (surprised). Our dog's health is declining. She sleeps so much and is getting sick pretty regularly. We tried giving her medicine after she ate, but it doesn't seem to be helping. She is starting to suffer, and I don't want that, so we will probably be putting her down sometime in the next week or so. Our furnace broke again, during a bitter cold streak. The same part that broke last year!
Well, that is about all for now! I need to get busy with the laundry and paying bills so Au Revoir for now!
Monday, December 31, 2007
A New Year
I haven't blogged in awhile with the holidays to keep me busy! We had a nice Christmas. I am starting to realize that things will probably change in a few years and we may not have the blessing of being all together. So I'm thankful for having my family to celebrate with this year. I finally got my IPod!!! I'm having fun putting music on it and downloading podcasts. Jim's mother bought us some beautiful crystal sherry glasses from Ireland and sent several bottles of wine from the Chateau Grand Traverse (http://www.cgtwines.com/vineyard.php). So I'm feelin' pretty hip and fancy! This year marked our 20th anniversary. We finally figured out what we wanted to do, but it was just too late! We wound up in Lincoln at a holiday jazz show and stayed overnight in a fantasy suite hotel. Not as great as that trip to Chicago (which we are going to do next year), but it was still memorable and fun.
This season was also marked with unbelief and sadness as a teenager shot and killed eight people at the Westroads Mall before turning the gun on himself. This is a mall 15 minutes from my home. A mall where I shop. These people were from my community. Even though I didn't know anyone that was personally affected, it deeply affected me. It was just so senseless and destructive and painful, and the media kept dragging us through it all daily. The store recently reopened, the snowflake memorials that people posted were collected and preserved, and things are starting to feel normal again-but they will never be the same.
Noah made it home for the holidays, a few days later than planned. Four ice storms moved through the area making travel very dangerous. Finals were cancelled for a few days, the university lost power several times, and damage to the town was heavy. A couple of days after his arrival, his car broke down. The water pump froze up and in doing so ruined his belt. Again, much to be thankful for....that he wasn't traveling when it happened, that he was very close to our auto repair shop and didn't require a tow, that the pump and the belt were still under warranty which cut our bill in half. Noah finished his first semester of college with all A's and one B (chemistry lab-he was so mad!!). When he got home, he went back to the grocery store where he used to work and asked if they needed any help over Christmas break. They were so short handed and gladly welcomed him back. He has been working 35-40 hour weeks. He was down to his last $13.90 so he was glad too! Nate has been really slacking in school lately and falling behind. We tried some things to get him caught up before the Christmas break, but I haven't had the courage to look at his grades online. He has been using all of his old tactics again-as if I didn't have enough stress already this time of year. He says he is ready to take driver's ed, he wants to run track in the spring, and he wants to get a job at a restaurant that is going to open up soon. All very positive things, but if he's slacking in school now adding more is only going to make it worse. He is looking forward to a snowboarding trip to Colorado with the youth group in a few weeks. Our dog is holding her ground for now with the cancer. We had some unusual things going on with her last night, and I started thinking to myself... this is it. Jim's reaction showed me that I am going to be the one making the decision to put her down. She has been caught several times during the day sleeping on the loveseat (a big no no). She doesn't even make an attempt to get down and the boys feel sorry for her and let her stay! Jim and I were sick over the holidays-someone in our family had to be or it just wouldn't be Christmas! Hopefully I've disinfected enough to protect the boys from the nasty little bug. I've continued to practice my knitting skills and am making another scarf. I signed up for a weight loss class that starts next week at church. I want to (and need to) lose weight, but it really teaches so much about good nutrition and I want to learn that even more. I need to make some big changes this year to regain my good health. I am also signing up for a class to become a grief counselor for children. I want to volunteer with an awesome organization called Teddy Bear Hollow (http://www.tedebearhollow.org/), but I need the training first.
Until next time......
This season was also marked with unbelief and sadness as a teenager shot and killed eight people at the Westroads Mall before turning the gun on himself. This is a mall 15 minutes from my home. A mall where I shop. These people were from my community. Even though I didn't know anyone that was personally affected, it deeply affected me. It was just so senseless and destructive and painful, and the media kept dragging us through it all daily. The store recently reopened, the snowflake memorials that people posted were collected and preserved, and things are starting to feel normal again-but they will never be the same.
Noah made it home for the holidays, a few days later than planned. Four ice storms moved through the area making travel very dangerous. Finals were cancelled for a few days, the university lost power several times, and damage to the town was heavy. A couple of days after his arrival, his car broke down. The water pump froze up and in doing so ruined his belt. Again, much to be thankful for....that he wasn't traveling when it happened, that he was very close to our auto repair shop and didn't require a tow, that the pump and the belt were still under warranty which cut our bill in half. Noah finished his first semester of college with all A's and one B (chemistry lab-he was so mad!!). When he got home, he went back to the grocery store where he used to work and asked if they needed any help over Christmas break. They were so short handed and gladly welcomed him back. He has been working 35-40 hour weeks. He was down to his last $13.90 so he was glad too! Nate has been really slacking in school lately and falling behind. We tried some things to get him caught up before the Christmas break, but I haven't had the courage to look at his grades online. He has been using all of his old tactics again-as if I didn't have enough stress already this time of year. He says he is ready to take driver's ed, he wants to run track in the spring, and he wants to get a job at a restaurant that is going to open up soon. All very positive things, but if he's slacking in school now adding more is only going to make it worse. He is looking forward to a snowboarding trip to Colorado with the youth group in a few weeks. Our dog is holding her ground for now with the cancer. We had some unusual things going on with her last night, and I started thinking to myself... this is it. Jim's reaction showed me that I am going to be the one making the decision to put her down. She has been caught several times during the day sleeping on the loveseat (a big no no). She doesn't even make an attempt to get down and the boys feel sorry for her and let her stay! Jim and I were sick over the holidays-someone in our family had to be or it just wouldn't be Christmas! Hopefully I've disinfected enough to protect the boys from the nasty little bug. I've continued to practice my knitting skills and am making another scarf. I signed up for a weight loss class that starts next week at church. I want to (and need to) lose weight, but it really teaches so much about good nutrition and I want to learn that even more. I need to make some big changes this year to regain my good health. I am also signing up for a class to become a grief counselor for children. I want to volunteer with an awesome organization called Teddy Bear Hollow (http://www.tedebearhollow.org/), but I need the training first.
Until next time......
Friday, November 16, 2007
November News
Jim and I went camping at a nearby state park. It was nice to get away, since it has been awhile. The nights were cold, but during the day we enjoyed beautiful fall weather. We went to a prime rib/seafood dinner at the lodge and then to see a melodrama at the park theater. We have never done that before and it was so much fun! When the hero entered the stage the audience was told to say-Yaaaahhh. When the heroine entered, we were to say-Aaawwww (and she would respond by lifting her leg and placing her finger on her cheek). When the villan came onstage, we were to yell-Booooo, Hisssss and throw popcorn at him. There were even a couple of chase scenes that went into the audience! In between Act I and Act II, we had an old fashioned sing along. I laughed so much-an unexpected great time! We had our bible study fall reunion. Arlene has the gift of decorating, so her house was very inviting. I tried a couple of new recipes-everyone loved the Pear Custard Bars. A lady who is in the Air Force Band played two songs for us on her clarinet. She is very talented. And when we closed, another woman spontaneously sang a blessing over us that was just beautiful. All in all, it was a really nice evening.
We have a new person at work. She came from a different branch and is helping us to learn things that our brief training didn't cover. I've been picking up a few extra shifts-I have a huge Visa bill coming next month. Jim's car was in the shop again (he needed a new battery, alternator, and plugs/wires/distributor cap). I had my brakes done in between, the dog had an ultrasound, and Noah didn't get a job so he needed me to cover his car insurance until he can pay me back. All on the card. I really need tires, but was hoping to get this paid down first. It doesn't look like the weather is going to cooperate; snow is in the forecast next week.
I took a bunch of stuff to Goodwill last week and I recycled our old computer. I am so excited that it is gone. It sat in our basement for three years. Jim wasn't happy when I told him of my plan to recycle it. He was even less happy when he found out we wouldn't get any money for it, but instead had to pay money for them to take it. I told him he had three years to come up with a solution, he hadn't done anything about it, so this was what was going to happen. With that old computer gone, I got motivated to really clean my basement. Today I decided to put up the Christmas decorations in the basement. I also ironed all the Christmas stuff that will go upstairs after Thanksgiving, got my Thanksgiving table linens ironed, washed a bunch of windows, and ran some errands in town. I still need to clean my fridge and get the turkey out of the freezer. We are doing our usual thing-just our family and I cook everything. Noah will be coming home Monday night. This will be his second trip home. He came home for a long weekend in October-and I can report he is back to his normal self! I am triple excited! I am excited for my son to be home again-I am excited because he will be here for almost a whole week-and I am excited because he will be meeting Jim in Kansas City Monday night to watch a basketball tournament and then following him home. The original plan was that they would go their separate ways after the game (I was uncomfortable that he would be on the road, back to school, so late, alone) but Noah was able to rearrange his schedule so he could come home with Jim instead. He is doing well at school, with very good grades. He seems to finally be adjusting. He doesn't complain so much when we talk to him and he is thinking about next year at Pittsburg. He is still not sure, but that is a change to see him looking into some things there. He continues to tutor kids in Biology. Last I heard he had 5 or 6 kids. He got another advisor (his was on sabbatical until spring semester) and has been meeting with him weekly, which has also made a difference. Now if he would just get a job! Nate is doing well. He's starting to slack off in school a little, but I think he got back on track this week. He went on fall retreat with his youth group and didn't come back sick. I think that's a first!
My fibromyalgia isn't improving. On top of that, I have various small health issues that are interfering with my recovery. It is all very frustrating and I have days where I want to sit down and give up. I'm just so tired of it all. I finished my Beth Moore study. I'm so proud that I did my whole workbook! I took my second knitting class and am finishing up my first project. I really like knitting. It is very relaxing. I'm going to take more classes and keep learning. Last weekend our branch manager's mother died. I baked some cookies and chipped in for some flowers, but I didn't make it to the wake. I feel so bad, like I let her down.
Well, I have to work tomorrow so I better sign off for now. It sure would be good to hear from someone.
We have a new person at work. She came from a different branch and is helping us to learn things that our brief training didn't cover. I've been picking up a few extra shifts-I have a huge Visa bill coming next month. Jim's car was in the shop again (he needed a new battery, alternator, and plugs/wires/distributor cap). I had my brakes done in between, the dog had an ultrasound, and Noah didn't get a job so he needed me to cover his car insurance until he can pay me back. All on the card. I really need tires, but was hoping to get this paid down first. It doesn't look like the weather is going to cooperate; snow is in the forecast next week.
I took a bunch of stuff to Goodwill last week and I recycled our old computer. I am so excited that it is gone. It sat in our basement for three years. Jim wasn't happy when I told him of my plan to recycle it. He was even less happy when he found out we wouldn't get any money for it, but instead had to pay money for them to take it. I told him he had three years to come up with a solution, he hadn't done anything about it, so this was what was going to happen. With that old computer gone, I got motivated to really clean my basement. Today I decided to put up the Christmas decorations in the basement. I also ironed all the Christmas stuff that will go upstairs after Thanksgiving, got my Thanksgiving table linens ironed, washed a bunch of windows, and ran some errands in town. I still need to clean my fridge and get the turkey out of the freezer. We are doing our usual thing-just our family and I cook everything. Noah will be coming home Monday night. This will be his second trip home. He came home for a long weekend in October-and I can report he is back to his normal self! I am triple excited! I am excited for my son to be home again-I am excited because he will be here for almost a whole week-and I am excited because he will be meeting Jim in Kansas City Monday night to watch a basketball tournament and then following him home. The original plan was that they would go their separate ways after the game (I was uncomfortable that he would be on the road, back to school, so late, alone) but Noah was able to rearrange his schedule so he could come home with Jim instead. He is doing well at school, with very good grades. He seems to finally be adjusting. He doesn't complain so much when we talk to him and he is thinking about next year at Pittsburg. He is still not sure, but that is a change to see him looking into some things there. He continues to tutor kids in Biology. Last I heard he had 5 or 6 kids. He got another advisor (his was on sabbatical until spring semester) and has been meeting with him weekly, which has also made a difference. Now if he would just get a job! Nate is doing well. He's starting to slack off in school a little, but I think he got back on track this week. He went on fall retreat with his youth group and didn't come back sick. I think that's a first!
My fibromyalgia isn't improving. On top of that, I have various small health issues that are interfering with my recovery. It is all very frustrating and I have days where I want to sit down and give up. I'm just so tired of it all. I finished my Beth Moore study. I'm so proud that I did my whole workbook! I took my second knitting class and am finishing up my first project. I really like knitting. It is very relaxing. I'm going to take more classes and keep learning. Last weekend our branch manager's mother died. I baked some cookies and chipped in for some flowers, but I didn't make it to the wake. I feel so bad, like I let her down.
Well, I have to work tomorrow so I better sign off for now. It sure would be good to hear from someone.
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