Laundry, Olympics, Grocery Store

That is my list of things to do this afternoon. Royce has left for work, Colleen is taking friends home, Sarah is hobbling around from soccer and doing homework, and I need to start to get ready for next week. The usual laundry needs doing and I need to get supplies for breakfast and lunch and some dinner foods. Don't really feel like doing it though. I am watching the Olympics to see what games are on today. Right now it is cross country skiing. Someday I hope to learn how to cross country ski - although I doubt I will ever race. It makes me think of the UP and wonder how the snow is up there. I never realized how much of the body it uses. I wish I was as good as Katie at pulling photos from other sources into a blog. Maybe this summer she will teach me.

Time to move clothes from the washer into the dryer.

sorry I don't have more to say - feeling very tired and lazy - like the dogs who are sleeping at my feet.

I got my hair cut and colored again - I now have distinct bangs. I hope I can do it like the woman that cuts it does. I'm getting better at it as I get used to the brush and style. The place I go is pretty expensive - but I have gotten so many compliments I don't mind paying it. I had forgotten how good it feels to have my hair look nice.

Postscript to Saturday

So I was in this grumpy bad mood and I took Colleen with me to try to start Tim's car. We put oil in and yes, the battery is dead. BUT the car is completely surrounded by 3 feet of snow with no way to get my car anywhere near it. And we can't get it into neutral to push his car out of the tiny driveway.

We make plans to return to take Tim and Marissa where they need to go later and try to leave. Did I mention the "driveway" was covered in icy snow? So I try pulling into Tim's driveway and get stuck. Colleen pushes me out - I pull forward but the road is blocked by more snow so I am backing out and just as Colleen tells me I am heading into the snow - I get stuck! I was so stuck I created a huge mud hole - Tim, Marissa, Colleen and Jax had a terrible time pushing me in and out of it...in fact, finally Tim told me to let him drive and he backed it out of the driveway to keep me from backing back into the same hole. By this time, the car and Colleen were covered in mud (really mucky). And all I can think of is how I'm supposed to have a "clean" car for them to transport.

To make this long story shorter - I really suck at backing up a vehicle - and I suck at getting cars unstuck (remember the ditch in Michigan????) BUT by the end of this "adventure" we were all laughing and my horrible mood had dissipated (that is the word I want - right).

So I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening watching the Olympics - walked the dogs at 10:30. Watched Apollo Ono get a silver medal and the woman's mogul get a gold - very cool sports (I think).

Happy Valentine's Day! We are going out for a late breakfast - ihop here we come! It has been months since we did this, I hope the line isn't too long and that Sarah and I are finally hungry. Colleen is out getting printer ink - not sure she will make it home.

Thanks for listening.

Saturday

So the car leaves on Monday (I hope) and i need to get it washed and empty of non car things.

Colleen is upset because she can't spend time with her girlfriend because the girl's parents are trying to limit the relationship - it is hard to feel like I understand both sides. Colleen needs to realize that Jessie's parents are trying to get a handle on their daughter dating period and with her not dating who they expected they are just reacting. It's a shame but having been through something like that I do understand where they are coming from. Colleen doesn't realize how lucky she really is.

Tim has an interview at the bank on Tuesday - he's going to take me to work so he can see where he will be going in the afternoon. I hope he does ok and gets asked back for some position. I had decided I wasn't going to worry about it and then a week after they did a job fair that I didn't push him to go to - he decides maybe he really does need a job. So I'm sitting here writing about him and he calls. His car doesn't want to start today and he is all upset. Like I can work a miracle from my bedroom to his car. why do they like to call me and yell about their lives not going well? He complains that he needs to get the oil changed and then says he doesn't have money to do it BUT he has money for McDonald's and iTunes and going out to eat all the time. AND he calls out one of the two days he had work this week (because he couldn't get his car out??? But when it is something he wants to do - he seems to get his car out). So this next week he will have NO money and I really am tired of bailing him out.

So tomorrow I am going to see if I can afford to buy a car while I still have a car payment...I'm paying off my car in March when my smaller CD matures. Not what I envisioned spending that money on.

Royce is working a second job - 8 hour shifts after working all day at his real job - sleeping a couple of hours in his car and then doing it all again. So I tell the kids he's doing this second job and they are all like "oh, poor dad..." I want to scream (and I do mention it to them) - I've been working two jobs for 6 years now and they have the audacity to be like poor dad????? I am so glad that they value all I do. Granted I'm not working 16 hour days but really - just because I don't make $60,000/year my job and salary don't matter?

Got to get off that topic...it really annoys me. And why is Royce suddenly working this second job, you ask? Well, his borrow from Peter to pay Paul and if we have a credit limit of $20,000 we should use it attitude finally caught up to him...to the point where we've paid bank fees for covering overdrafts...fortunately not my bank so I don't really know exactly HOW bad it is. And he had to borrow my money to cover some bill too - and I had to pay to transport the car - because he spent the money he was sent to do that. I really really hope he pays that bill. I just used most of my savings to pay off my charges and I don't want any credit card bills.

I'm tired of feeling broke because I paid my bills. I have to take Sarah to get her back x-rayed and then most likely either physical therapy or chiropractor because she has started twisting more than acceptable - which is causing her pain. And I still owe the dentist for Colleen's mouth guard which she doesn't wear enough to tell if it is working. And both Tim and Colleen need their wisdom teeth taken out...and I don't want to go into debt to go to Michigan this summer. Tim's wisdom teeth are impacted so I told him to call the name of the oral surgeon he was given and give them his insurance to see if what I have been paying $225/month for will cover it...And Colleen is dragging her feet on applying for scholarships to Embry-Riddle - where are we going to get money for that?????

good news - I think I'm a step-grandmother. Barb tried to contact Bill's wife - and got shut down - I apparently Amanda has a facebook page and when Barb friend requested her she locked her out. Her profile picture is of her and Bill and a very tiny baby. So think I should try?

Anyway, Tim's car still won't start and he wants me to bring him oil to see if that helps so I have to get dressed and head out. Which is a good thing since the car gas tank needs to be between 1/4 and 1/2 full and I filled it on Monday night before the snow and with not working Wednesday and no dance Thursday I haven't used as much gas as I normally would.

Anyone want to go to the movies with me? I want to see Valentine's Day...

Thanks for listening.

Sundays Adventure

Last weekend we went to the Franklin Institute to see the Body World. They use real cadavers - people who have donated their bodies to this exhibit. Using some special plastic they pump it thru the body and then we get to see all the body systems just as they really are. Very cool. Most of them were posed doing all kinds of things - kicking a soccer ball, doing a flip on a skate board, a dance pose, two ice skaters. Different things were highlighted so you could see how the bones and muscles and nervous system interact. Unfortunately, no cameras are allowed in the exhibit so all I could do was take a picture of the poster at the entrance.

In the lobby they have a bike way up on the 2nd or 3rd floor that goes across a tight rope - the picture does not show how high or how cool it must be to ride. Not that I could - I'm afraid of heights!


There is an area in the museum where you can try out different sports without really trying them out. There is also a spot where you can take a picture and it looks like you are getting gatorade dumped on you...Here is Renee celebrating!

Cool Blogs

So i was bouncing from blog to blog and found this really cute spot...
Check it out! Katie, i think you'd love it but I can't figure out how to get it to you...kelasworld-kela0052.blogspot.

Katie - today's blog was about creating bags like the ones you get at the grocery store - I think you'd like all her crafts. Thea I think there were some quilts too. If i could figure out how to get the Friday Freebie on my blog I'm sure you'd like those too.

Snow Day

See the car???


Well, we didn't get as much as further south but we got enough...I was out starting to shovel and thought you'd like to see my front yard. That's my new haircut too - although it usually looks better after I've done it - I had my goofy purple hat on to walk the dog which flattens it. Enjoy the snow!

Wednesday Again

We woke to snow this morning. It was very peaceful and quiet when I walked the dog and I just LOVE the way the snow was on the branches.


I love it when the snow is all clean with no foot prints and people aren't out blowing the snow.

Mom's Watercolors

When cleaning out the cabin in the Harbor, Katie and I found these pictures.  My photos don't do them justice but I wanted to share them with you.
I'm sure you recognize this lighthouse.

I wonder where this creek is - think we can find it?
I think this is Lake Bailey - perhaps we will see this view this summer

And this is the Copper Harbor lighthouse.


If I make it to visit you, let me know which one you want - I think we should each get one. I'll bring them north this summer if I don't come visiting.