Wednesday Update

Today is my last day of working this week. I have Thursday and Friday off. I'm not sure what I will do with my days off. Probably read and I plan to take Ashley birthday shopping. Thomas is coming home on Friday for a little break from school. I hope we don't get as bad a storm as the last one so that everyone has safe travel conditions and there are no power outages. That's all I have for today. Have a great day everyone.

Tuesday Update

I have writers block. Hmmm...It must have something to do with my staying up until 10:30 last night. I'm a bit groggy this morning.

Ice Storm 2007

Photo taken 2/24/07 in Riverside, Iowa

2/24/07 Ice Storm

2/24/07 Ice Storm

2/24/07 Ice Storm

2/24/07 Ice Storm

Monday Update

What a weekend. The bad weather started on Friday evening. The rain started to freeze on our front window Saturday morning. This upset Mao because it made it hard to look outside. Then the ice made branches fall from the trees and this upset him and Doug. The branches continued to fall all Saturday and into the night. The branchs were pretty good sized until they hit the ground, then they just shattered like glass. Diedre lost power for a little while on Saturday, but her power came back before evening. At 5:53 PM Saturday we lost power and it stayed off until around noon on Sunday. It never got lower than around 52 degrees in the house and the refrigerators and freezers stayed cold, so we did not lose any food. Mark and Wanda got power back around 11 Saturday night. Johnny got power around 12 AM Sunday. Jacob and Sara got power around 2 AM Sunday. Cornell got power back around 6:30 Sunday evening. As far as I know, Jamie and Lauren still do not have power. Chloe thought it was fun for a while, until she had to go to work on Sunday. She had to rough it because she could not straighten her bang. Oh the horror!

Saturday Update

Packing files at work kicked my arse yesterday. I got off work at around 3 and came home. I laid down around 5 for a nap and woke up around 6:30. We ate supper and watched a documentary about They Might Be Giants and then I fell asleep on the couch until Doug woke me up to say he was going to bed. I think that was between 12 & 12:30.

One of my favorite things they talked about on the documentary was the dial a song. They recorded songs on an answering machine and then posted an add with the band name and a telephone number. You dailed the number and heard a song. Doug said he actually called the number.

Friday Update

I have to go into work early this morning, 6 AM. Our ordering system will be down because they are moving the server location today and over the weekend. We are going to be busy packing up financial records that have to be shipped to our San Francisco office. We decided to come in early and get out early to hopefully beat this winter storm. Have a good day everyone.

Thursday Update

I love it when it is still Winter and the weather turns warm. The snow is almost all melted and it will look all dirty for a while. But just wait, the Spring rains will be here before we know it to wash it all away. Wow I sound pretty corny this morning. I guess I really don't have anything to say.

Wednesday Update

I'm back. Yesterday morning I wasn't able to get an online connection. Doug has told me several times which thingy to unplug and then plug back in. But, I always forget whenever I actually need to do it. Today I get to have lunch at the Blue Strawberry. Yeah for free hour long lunches! Last night the men sang on American Idol, tonight will be the women. Most of the men did not sing as well as they did in the auditions. I can't think of anything else to write. Have a good day everyone.

Wednesday Update

I'm back. Yesterday morning I wasn't able to get an online connection. Doug has told me several times which thingy to unplug and then plug back in. But, I always forget whenever I actually need to do it. Today I get to have lunch at the Blue Strawberry. Yeah for free hour long lunches! Last night the men sang on American Idol, tonight will be the women. Most of the men did not sing as well as they did in the auditions. I can't think of anything else to write. Have a good day everyone.

By Uulargh Of The Prairie

Sunday Update

I was tired, I slept in untl 7:20. I don't have much to write about today. Yesterday I went grocery shopping. When I got home Thomas was here and he helped me carry in the groceries. Then we went to Jiffy Lube to get his oil changed. Next we stopped at the car wash in Marion and got his car washed. The car wash was very excited about his credit being approved, it was also very nervous that we would not wait, as the car wash was in use. We had a good giggle over this. Then we went to get Diedre a birthday gift. Walmart didn't have what I had wanted to get her, so I had to settle for something else. I think she still liked her gift. Shortly after we got home Diedre came over to go to Vino's with Thomas. Doug and I had Rissotto for supper. It was very good. The rest of the night I spend washing dishes and folding laundry. I read a little of Aragon before going to bed. I have about 100 pages left to read. I think I am going to read Darkly Dreaming Dexter next.

You have to watch this video. It is titled Stupidest Woman Ever.

Saturday Update

I'm not sure what all I will be doing today. Probably work on menus and a grocery list. And then go shopping. Before all of that, I am sure I will go out and shovel snow. We got a good coating overnight. Thomas and Diedre are coming into town this afternoon. When Thomas gets here, I want him to go birthday shopping for Diedre with me. After that we will make supper and watch TV.

Pictures of a frozen Tidal Wave.

Friday Update

Friday at last!! It is -9 and feels like -23. Brrrrrr!!!!!! It is supposed to gradually warm up next week. I hope so, because Dad and Ilse will finally be on thier way soon. We are supposed to get the keys for thier house from the realtor on the 26th.

Yesterday was Diedre's 22nd birthday. Thomas and Diedre are driving down on Saturday to go out to eat at Vino's. Next week I am invited to have a 1 hour lunch with my old superviser, soon to be my new supervisor, at the Blue Strawberry. She has invited all of the employees that she had asked to stay on with the company for lunch. Of course, only the people who said they would stay on are going out to lunch.

I am also happy that this is Friday because I get to have a 3 day weekend. Monday is Presidents day and a paid holiday for me. Have a good weekend everyone.

Happy Valentines Day !!!!!!!!!

Tuesday Update

It snowed last night. I am very concerned for Chloe. She went to a concert in Des Moines last night and stayed in Des Moines. She has a class at noon today. As of 4:50 this morning Interstate 80 is completely snow covered. Please be safe Bobo! Ashley was let out of work early last night and she made it back to Cornell safely before the snow started to fall. Thomas is supposed to teach today, I am not sure what highway he has to travel on. It looks like the roads near Waverly are mostly snow covered. I hope he stays safe as well. So far Cedar Rapids has a snow emergency and a two hour school delay. Linn-Mar has a two hour school delay. Mt Vernon also has a snow emergency and two hour school delay. Marion has just announce a two hour school delay as well.

Monday Update

The weekend always goes way too fast. It snowed last night, I guess I will need to do a little shoveling before I take out the trash this morning. I really can't think of anything to post about right now. Sorry.

Sunday Update

It is actually 17 above zero this morning! Love that above zero weather.

Yesterday I went grocery shopping by myself. While I was at Hy Vee a got a phone call from Ashley, she was on break and wanted me to join her at the restuarant area. She was eating a blood orange and drinking cappacino. When I got home Doug told me that Chloe had been home for lunch and she had bought me another present. He had me close my eyes and open my hand. The gift was a key chain with 2 gnomes and a penguin. It says "Chillin with the Gnomies". Oh that Chloe!

Saturday Update

Happy Saturday everyone. Yesterday I signed the paper that says I will be staying on with the company. The paper that I signed said "We have determined that your position is necessary to the Company's operations and we would like you to continue employement with the Company after the facility closure. If you continue employment, you will work at a location to be determined."

Last night Chloe came home and immediately said "I've got a present for you, close your eyes!" She gave me a tee shirt that has a gnome on it, with two mushrooms and two hearts. It says "Friends Gnome Matter What." I love it.

Does anyone remember the Disney movie The Gnome-Mobile?



There is also the movie A Gnome Named Gnorm.

Thursday Update

It is currently -6, the ice age has not left Iowa. Last night my Dad called and said everything is going pretty well. He said they got an extension on the house here and they should know if the people buying his house are approved for thier loan by a week from Friday. He said that if all goes well, they will be leaving for Iowa around Feb. 23rd. I am hoping the weather warms up a little by then.

Last night we watched a show about cars of the future, then we watch American Idol and then the first new episode of Lost. It was a good episode, but I really don't like the character 'Ben'. Ashley spent the night here after work. I think it is so much better than driving back to school at night in the cold weather. We don't have to worry about something happening to her or Scout this way.

Apparently this ice silo is outside of Cedar Falls and people who like to be cold and crazy in the winter are climbing it. This was the idea of Don Briggs, a physical education instructor at the University of Northern Iowa. He hoses down the silos on a friends farm at night and the cold weather does the rest.

Monday Update

It is like the Arctic outside and don't want to go out. Oh well, guess I have to. I'm glad that I have a new battery and a new thermostat in the van.

The Colts kicked the Bears in the pouring rain yesterday. I hardly watched any of the game. I find football very boring. I did like watching Prince. He was amazing even though it was raining.

Here is what they are saying at PrinceFams.com.

Prince wowed the audience and the television viewers with a 12 minute long display of genius!
Showing off his guitar playing skills, he played an interesting set where he included a few short tributes to other artists, as well as his own material.
The press had reacted very positively, with some commentators calling it the Best halftime show EVER!

Sunday Update

It is -7 and feels like -21. Very cold!!! But we don't care, Super Bowl XLI party here, tonight!

Yesterday was very busy and very productive for Doug and I. We started shopping around 10:45 AM and got home around 1:30 PM. We went to the Post Office, the bank, Aldi's, Hy-Vee, Fareway and Sam's. Food samples were abundant at Hy-Vee and Sam's, Fareway even had a couple. When we got home we did our usual scanning for ACNielson-Homescan. Then we cleaned out our spice cupboards and the refrigerator in the main kitchen. The refrigerator had more than one science experiment living in it. After supper Doug made Chex Mix and I made blue Jello jigglers in the shape of footballs and helmets. Today will be a very busy day as well.

Saturday update

Right now it is -4 and feels like -11. It will be a rather chilly shopping day. But, the Super Bowl party must go on. Last night Doug made lemon pepper fish. It was very yummy served over mashed potatoes. Ashley and a group of her college friends stopped in last night. They were having a piercing party for Mary's birthday. Mary and Leather got an eyebrow piercing. Grace got her belly button pierced and Ashley got the upper part of her left ear pierced. I can't remember if there were any other piercings. Not much else happened last night. Television was bad and I was cold and tired, so I went to bed at my usual time.

EARLY SPRING!
The Prognosticator of Prognosticators has spoken! Phil says we'll have an early spring.

Watch the video.

Friday Update

I did not update my blog yesterday because blogger was having issues in the morning. It is friggin cold out right now. It is -1 below and feels like -24 below. I am not looking forward to going out into the Arctic! I am so glad that my Dad's move has been delayed. This would not have been a good time to be moving.

Happy Groundhog Day!

Six more weeks of winter?

If Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, it means six more weeks of winter. If he does not see his shadow, it means spring is just around the corner.