Happy 4th of July!!!!!!!

Thursday Update

Yesterday at work I was getting ready to leave and it started to down pour, so I thought I will wait a little bit before I leave. Then while I was waiting the sirens went off. They never actually told us what to do in this case, except go to the tunnels. We were never told where the tunnels were. I thought well I can just go to the ground floor hallway. When I got downstairs the rain had let up and a bunch of women were trying to figure out what to do, they were not told what to do either. I decided to just go after talking with Doug. Not much chance of a tornado hitting Mt Mercy anyway.

Today we get to leave at 3:00 for the holiday, yeah! I hope today goes fast. Not sure what we are doing for the 4th. Not many people will be around. Everyone is either working or has other plans.

Monday Update

This weekend went very fast. Yesterday was fun though. We celebrated Deb and Matt's birthdays. Deb brought her sister Katie and her sister's new baby, Levi, along. Hunter also showed up again. I guess he likes the food and conversation. The riblets were excellent and so was all the other food. After eating and talking for a while we went outside and had a fire in the pit.

This will be a short work week due to the 4th on Friday. With the strange weather and the recent flooding, it just doesn't seem like it should be the 4th already. This week and part of next, I will be in charge of picking up the mail for my company. That means an extended lunch for me. I have to drive from Mt Mercy to the Hy Vee Drug on Mt Vernon Rd. I had to ask Doug to make a business card for me to use when picking up the mail. He did a very nice job on it and I think it looks better than the one my supervisor has.

That's all I have for now. Have a good week everyone.

Sunday Update

The internet is working just fine for me know. Yeah!!

I slept in this morning until almost 8. Guess I was tired from all the OT last week and then going out with Mark & Wanda last night. The food at Hamburger Mary's is very good and you get a lot for the money. Who knew you would get such a big plate of Chili Cheese Fries for $2.99. And they said Mary's Handbag was just a little sampler. Sorry, that was a meal for two. Fried Twinkies are not my favorite, but the raspberry sauce was very good. It was fun watching Gayla perform on stage.

Today we celebrate Matt's 18th birthday. That means I need to get going. I am making the birthday cake and potato salad. I am just glad the weather will be cool for the next few days. With the air conditioner broken, it may have gotten rather hot in here with the oven on.

Friday Update

It figures, my only way into College is having my work relocated to one. I like the room we are in, however, the Internet phone is not ideal. It is hard to hear most callers and sometimes they have trouble hearing me. Most people are understanding that we are not running 100%. Others don't care if we were flooded and get very verbal about it. So, it is business as usual.

The cable man came to fix our connection problems to the internet yesterday. He gave us a new modem and it was working faster than ever. Just my luck I connected just long enough to login to hotmail and my blog and then the connection failed. It says connected, but pages won't load and it keeps saying connection was reset. I'm not as impressed as Doug was yesterday. Aaargh.

Trash from Theater Cedar Rapids.
Trash piled up along First Ave. NW.
Trash near the Asian Market on First Ave. NW.
Time Check Park.

Displaced garage.

A&W during the flood of 2008.
A&W during clean-up after the flood of 2008.
A&W during clean-up after the flood of 2008.

House at 319 5th Street NW where the kids and I used to live.
Notice the water line is even with the porch railing. This house had the yellow notice.
House at 330 G Ave. NW where I lived for 13 years, 7 of which I had kids.
The 2nd story which was not touched by the flood was unlivable
when we lived there. This one has the pink notice.
I don't remember the house number for this one. It is on 5th Street NW 1 block from Timecheck. It was given the yellow notice. We lived here for about 1 year before moving to the other house on 5th Street.

Friday Update

It has been strange working from home these last few days. I never thought I would see the day. It will be coming to and end after today though. They have found a temporary work place for us until we can go back to the Armstrong building. Starting Monday, I will be working at Mt. Mercy College. At least I did not have to answers the phones while I was working from home. I would have been nice to have a laptop at home, instead I will be using one in the new work place instead. The city of Cedar Rapids just reeks right now. Every now and then you get a whiff of the smell. I guess it is pretty nasty smell over at Johnny's house and I can't imagine what it smell like downtown.

Mao can't understand why I am at home all of the, but ignore him through most of the day. Several times he has jumped onto the dining room table and knocked over the flowers Cathy Thomas gave me. That is all I have for now. It is time for me to shower and get ready to set down at the computer to work for the day.

Green Porno by Isabella Rossellini

(Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

The Paramount Theatre's front doors, seen Monday, were blown in when floodwaters overcame the historic venue Thursday, leaving its Wurlitzer organ under water. Most of the furniture had been moved.

Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette

Muck and debris litters the floor at Zins on Monday, June 16, 2008, in southeast Cedar Rapids.

Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette

Appliances lay on the sidewalk after flood water smashed in windows at Smulekoff's Furniture along First St. SE on Monday, June 16, 2008, in southeast Cedar Rapids.

Enter to win a lifetime of Maytag kitchen appliances!!

o

Thursday Update

Wow, a lot has happened since my last update. We had a wonderful birthday party for Doug on Sunday. The kids showed up. Chloe had been telling us all along she would not be able to make it due to work and then when Thomas and Diedre pulled up, Chloe popped up from the back seat. What a surprise. Ross even showed up!

Work has been very busy and after work I have been making preparations for the grad party on Saturday. The rain and water just won't quit. Yesterday at 12:30 they evacuated downtown Cedar Rapids which included the building I work in. I do not know how long it will be before we can go back to work. They are calling it the "500 year" flood. And of course it is raining pretty good right now.

Free Ayn Rand classroom books. For teachers only.

Friday Update

Last night Doug and I went to the city council meeting. We accomplished what we went for. After the meeting we went to Red Robin to celebrate Doug's 46th birthday. We got stuffed and came home around 9:30. I got sucked in watching the new Green channel and didn't go to bed until about 10:30. I'm a little tired this morning, but Mao decided to be very vocal this morning and I couldn't sleep a little later than usual. Chloe is coming home for a visit today, I hope she can stay late enough so I can see her. I suppose it will rain again today and I will never get a chance to mow this grass field of a yard we have going. Have a wonderful Friday everyone.

Happy Birthday Honey!!!!

Thursday Update

I finally got the rest of my garden in last night. Now I wish the rain would let up for a few weeks. I can't wait for this weekend. We can finish painting and shiska stuff on Sunday!

Monday Update

Saturday morning I slept in until 7. I must have been very tired! After breakfast, I started to plant the garden. I only got a few plants in as I decided I needed to get more topsoil and some compost. I cleaned up and went to the bank, Walmart and Hy Vee Drug. When I got home Doug helped me unload the topsoil and compost from the van. By this time it was time to go to Amber's graduation party. We meet Mark's grandfather, father and stepmother. His grandfather told an interesting story about a tornado in Mt Vernon a long time ago. He had seen it coming and drove his tractor back to the barn. He sat on his tractor in the barn through the whole thing. He is lucky the storm did not take the barn. It did take the roof off of his house though. After we left Amber's party we went to Sears to buy the birthday/father's day gift Thomas and Chloe picked out for Doug. It is a Kenmore Stainless Steel gas grill. In looking at the reviews, the only thing most people complained about was the assembly because there are no clear instructions and the fact that the food sticks if you do not spray the grill.

Sunday was another busy day. Once again I worked in the garden. First I mixed the topsoil and compost. After it was mixed I put some in planters and the rest I distributed through the garden. In the planters I put the Big Boy, German Queen and purple tomato. I also put a Big Bertha green pepper and zucchinis in planters. I got about half the garden planted before the sun came over the garden area and it got to hot. I still have 15 tomato plants to put in and green beans to plant. After planting I had lunch and then went to Menards to buy paint for the bedroom walls and a new fan. We put the fan together when I got home and then took a break for a while. Around 3 we started painting in Chloe's room. We have the ceiling completed. Mark and Wanda stopped by just as we were finishing up. They stayed for a little while. We did not eat supper until around 9. Needless to say I was tired. And I never even got around to mowing the yard. I will have to do it after work one of these nights. I will also have to fit in the rest of the garden.

The Mole starts tonight, so I will have to make time to watch it. Yeah!!

Friday Update

Rain, rain , go away. I am tired of all this rain. We have the garden plants and need a nice day in order to plant them. It looks like we will have water in the basement yet again this weekend. I have been working lots of OT this week, so there is not much else to write about today. Have a good Friday and try to stay dry.

Monday Update

Thomas and Team Depot helped clean up after the Sunday storm in Dunkerton yesterday. He says they pretty much picked up what was left of a whole house. Once again, we are very proud of him. Yesterday morning I cleaned up the branches and sticks in our front yard from the storm we had in Marion on Sunday night. I also started to prepare the garden for planting. This year we plan to have cucumbers, eggplant, yellow squash, zucchini, green beans, assorted tomatoes and green peppers. Last night we had a BBQ. Wanda and Mark came along with Wanda's mom, brother and sister. Johnny, Jamie and Justin also showed up. After Johnny, Jamie and Justin left we went inside and looked at graduation pictures and then played Apples to Apples. It was a lot of fun.

Oh no, Thomas has finally graduated!!!

It's official and he has the diploma to prove it.

Our beautiful Raven has graduated too!!

Way to go Thomas! We are so proud and wish you luck in your teaching career.

Love, Mom and Dad

Wartburg to host 156th Commencement

WAVERLY, Iowa — More than 300 May and August graduates will participate in Wartburg College’s 156th Spring Commencement ceremonies Sunday, May 25.

Commencement will begin at 1:30 p.m. in Hoover Field House and Track of Wartburg-Waverly Sports & Wellness Center. The event is free and open to the community. A reception for graduates and their families and friends will follow.

The academic procession, led by faculty marshals Dr. Fred Ribich, professor of psychology and director of institutional research, and Dr. Ann Henninger, professor of biology and chair of the Biology Department, will begin the ceremony. International students bearing the flags of their countries, emeriti faculty, current faculty members, the graduating class and platform party will join the procession. The Wartburg College Concert Bands will provide music throughout the ceremony.

A member of the graduating class will speak. President Dr. Jack R. Ohle will also speak about his years at the college, marking his final Wartburg commencement address. He has accepted the position of president at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn.

During the ceremony, the college will confer honorary doctorate degrees on Dr. Gerald Kleinfeld and Dr. Richard L. Wahl and honor high school teachers Ryan Cooley and Jessica Jones.

Congratulations Diedre!! I knew they would choose you!

Looks like someone likes thier birthday gift.

Here are my beautiful flowers. Thank you Diedre and Wanda!

Monday Update

Today's the day! See everyone later. Very exciting.

50 Stunning Photos

Friday Update

It has been a busy week. Worked OT every day. This weekend I have to mow the yard as usual. I also have to search for a birthday gift for Mark, make sure Chloe's room gets emptied out and cleaned and possibly paint it. Although we my not paint until after Tommy's graduation. I also need to start prepping the garden for planting. Although, Matt borrowed some of our tools for his Eagle Scout project, so I'm not sure how much I will be able to do this weekend.

It sounds like Diedre's interview went well. The hardest part will be the waiting. I wish her luck.

Wednesday Update

I am so excited for Thomas and Diedre, this is such a wonderful time in life for them. Good luck Diedre with your interview on Thursday. I know you will do very well!

Tuesday Update

It has been very busy lately. Work is picking up again. And it doesn't help that our order management system has been breaking every morning since last Thursday.

I mowed the yard on Saturday. Just as I was getting done in the yard, my Dad and Ilse stopped by. They brought me a nice rubber plant for Mother's day. After they left I went to Menards for bug and weed killer and a Mother's Day gift for Ilse (never found the gift), to Hy Vee for a few things and stopped for McD fries to go with supper. While I was at Menards Doug called to say he was having a bad day because he had just blown the speakers on the stereo for the TV in the day-kitchen. It was getting late and by the time I got home Thomas was here. We ate supper and then he went with me to Walmart. We went to get water and a Mother's day gift for Ilse. We still did not find a gift for Ilse, but Thomas got me a nice plant pot for the new rubber plant. This was my Mother's Day gift from him. We also found aPhilips DVD home theater system for Doug. It is an early birthday.Father's day gift for him.

Sunday Thomas got up early to go to breakfast with Diedre's family. While he was gone I made potato salad for our BBQ. When he got home we went to Gordmans and finally found a tacky roaster thingy for Ilse's gift. We came home and had lunch and then went to give the gift to Ilse. She loved it of course. She also had to show me her new toilet with the butterfly seat. We visited for a while and before leaving she gave Thomas his birthday card and a graduation card. She made me read them both before she brought them out to give to him. I think she could not wait, but she kept saying I think he needs the money.

For the Mother's Day BBQ we had brats, hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, chips, potato salad, cole slaw (Wanda) and lemonade (Diedre). Wanda also brought a cheese cake assortment. Wanda's mother was here visiting for Amber's graduation, so we got to meet her. It was a great Mother's day, although Chloe was not here.

Things younger than John McCain

Tuesday Update

Not much to report today. Sunday turned out great for an unofficial Soup Sunday. We were just BBQing and if anyone wanted to show up they could. So who shows up? Mary and Jordan. We hadn't seen them in some time. It was a small group, Mary, Jordan, Mark, Wanda, Chloe (after 7), myself and Doug.

Is seems that Diedre has some great possibilities in her future. Good luck Diedre!!

Saturday Update

We have decided the friendship bread is better when made with vanilla pudding instead of chocolate. I got tired of making it every ten days and threw out the rest of my last batch though. I just looked it up online and found a starter recipe. And now after it is too late I found out Diedre was right, you can freeze in one cup measurements.

Our last child is leaving the nest. Chloe has been packing her things all week into boxes. This does not make Mao very happy and he lets us know it every once in a while. She is taking a load of her things up to Cedar Falls today. We have been helping her get ready for living on her own. Last week we gave her two laundry baskets, two bath sheet towels, kitchen utensils, wooden spoons, a lemon shaped cutting board and a cupcake tin. She can't leave home without a cupcake tin to make her famous colorful cupcakes. Today we will be buying a full size bed for her room. She will not have room for a queen size, which is what she has now. Since we will not be getting her a pillow top, Chloe and I went to Walmart last night to pick out a mattress pad. We choose a Dream Puff (down alternative filled) Pad. It is like the one we have on our bed. She is very happy with it. And since Chloe loves to live on cereal, I had her pick out a super size bag of MOM cereal. She choose Berry Colossal Crunch.

Thomas has been busy getting ready to move in with Diedre. In a few short weeks he will be moving out of his apartment at Wartburg for the last time. Has it been four years already!! Yesterday he purchased and assembled a desk for his computer. It is a good thing that their apartment has a large bedroom, so they can fit in two desks.

Today is Afton's 1st birthday party. Jessica requested we make BBQ sauce for the pulled pork. So, of course we did. We will probably be too busy to make it the the party though. Mark and Wanda are working on putting new carpet on their basement stairs. We offered to help because of all the help they have given us. They thought it would be too crowded in the stairs for all of us. So, we are treating them to supper tonight instead. Not sure if we will be taking them KFC or ordering pizza.

Congratulations Thomas!! I am so excited for you.

Love,
Mom

Wednesday Update

Not much going on here. Chloe had a good interview at the coffee shop in Cedar Falls. She said they already started checking references. I have been busy at work getting caught up from my days off. This evening Thomas and Diedre are going to visit Eldora. I'm sure Diedre will like it there. I wish them luck. It's getting late and I have to leave for work now. It looks like it will be a nice day.

Sunday Update

It has been a nice vacation, despite all the mopping in the basement. It is alway nice to have Thomas home for a visit. We watched a lot of Trailer Park Boys together. I am so excited for Thomas. He had a job offer from South Hardin Community Schools in Eldora, he turned it down and now they are still trying to get him to accept. They are looking into getting money for Diedre to get certified in the Gifted and Talented Program "GAP". If both Thomas and Diedre can find a job in the area, Thomas will take the job. Eldora looks like a very nice community to live in. I hope it all works out for them both.

Wednesday Update

Yesterday was very busy at work. I stayed until 5:45 to try and get caught up before my vacation. On my way home Diedre called and said, "Have you seen your son yet?" I said, "No, I'm on my way home. Why?" She said, "Don't worry, it's nothing bad." So of course all the way home I wondered what they were up to. When I got home I rushed into the house and Thomas said, "Diedre thinks she worried you." I said, "What is Diedre up to?" He went into the dining room and brought out this beautiful Bromeliad plant. She got it for me because I had taken care of her plants all these months. I miss her plants.



This is a Bromeliad. Not the one Diedre gave me though. I need to take a picture of it. Once I do, I will post a picture of the real one.

Tuesday Update

Today is my Friday for the week. I have a lot of things to get done at work today, so I hope the phones are not too busy. I may end up having to stay late. I will probably have to work a little OT next week to get caught up, since no one does my purchase order work while I am out.

Thomas had a very good interview yesterday and I hope todays goes good as well. I am keeping my fingers crossed for him.

I hope the weather is good the rest of this week, so I can get outside and finish clearing the yard of sticks. It looks like we may have to start mowing this week as well. It would also be nice if it did not rain again for a while. I don't like having to watch the basement for water all of the time.

Monday Update

Saturday was very fun. We had a nice drive up to Waterloo with Mark & Wanda. Everyone liked Thomas and Diedre's apartment. The food and service at Gary's was very good. It was strange not having to cook for a crowd on Sunday. We made a big roaster of riblets for ourselves anyway. I made potato salad and we had supper with Chloe after she returned from putting in applications at various places in Cedar Falls all day Sunday.

I wish Thomas luck today with his job interview. One more tomorrow and then we get to see him for a few days again.

Saturday Update

Road-trip to Thomas and Diedre's place in Waterloo.

Friday Update

I don't have too much to say. This weekend will be nice, we are actually going to leave town for a few hours. It will not be nice how much the gas will cost. But that is life in a 'Bush' world.

Our shows were good last night. Although, Lost was a rerun again, so I did not watch it. I don't know when they will actually have new episodes. Thomas watched all of the shows except Scrubs with me. Doug was in the other room on the phone most of the time talking with Jessica about Johnny's adventures in China. He was also talking with Wanda part of the time.

Like I said, I don't have much. I am so looking forward to the weekend.

Thursday Update

This week has not been very busy at work, so the time is going slow. But when I get home the time goes very fast. The time at home is going very fast because Thomas is home and I want to spend more time with him not less. At least he is here until Saturday and we are going up to Waterloo that same day to visit him and Deidre and to eat out. He will be back next week from Wednesday through Sunday and I have vacation those same days. Yeah!

Doug and Thomas have been watching 'Trailer Park Boys' it is a funny mindless series with some pretty crazy characters. I hope I can watch my Thursday night shows this week. Last week the bad weather preempted the shows and I never got to watch them. You know the shows; My name is Earl, The Office and Lost.

Monday Update

This weekend went very quickly, I guess because it was a busy weekend. On Saturday I did my usual shopping, plus I had to find a 'First Communion' gift for Holland. I also did laundry and a little cleaning. Sunday morning I made a Strawberry Swirl cake with sliced strawberries in the middle and on top of the frosting. It was yummy. I also made potato salad. In the afternoon we went to Holland's 'First Communion' celebration. They had the good sandwiches from Walmart and a Coldstone ice cream cake. Later Sunday afternoon, Ilse and my Dad stopped by. She wanted to see Thumper and give me a winter scarf she had bought on clearance.

We had junk-yard dogs, pasta salad, potato salad, and baked beans for supper. Lauren brought the baked beans and Wanda brought cereal treats. Wanda was tired because she had chaperoned a prom party for Matt and his friends the night before. We also got to see Amber and give her birthday gift before she leaves for China.

I hope Johnny and Ethan made it to China alright. They left yesterday right after Holland's 'First Communion'.

Saturday Update

It's nice to have weekends. I wish they lasted longer. It looks like I will spend a share of this weekend keeping water mopped up in the basement. It is not too bad. It is coming through cracks in the floor in the first room, a little puddle formed by the door to Tommy's room and there is a puddle over where the ping-pong table was set up.

We ate supper very late last night, it was after 9:30. Doug was busy on the computer and then Johnny stopped by with his new camera. We ended up getting Whoppers at BK. The young girls working there were so silly. The one said she has ADHD and ate lots of sweets and had two bottles of powerade. So she was pretty much jumping off the walls.

Diedre had excitement at her apartment building yesterday. Some neighbors were arguing and the cops were called. Diedre called 911 and other neighbors had done the same. I have not talked directly to Diedre yet for all the details.

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Thursday Update

I just want to wish Thomas good luck with his interview with the Independence Schools today.

I don't have much else. The customers have been very nasty this week. I can't wait for Friday to be over with. We are looking forward to having Thomas home next week.

Monday Update

Yesterday there were two firsts. We went to Afton's baptism reception and when we pulled up to Johnny's house we saw him getting out of the van and he was wearing long pants! In thirtenn years that is the first time I had ever seen him wearing long pants. Doug said it was only the second time he had seen it. I would post the picture Doug took, but I did not check to see if would be okay. If it is, I will post it tomorrow.

Last night Deb and her boyfriend Tim came for supper. They were a bit late though. Most of us were finished eating by the time they got here. This was the first time we had meet him. He seemed nice enough and he and Doug had a lot to talk about because he had been stationed in Germany in the service.

That's all I have for now. Have a great day everyone.

Saturday Update

The weather is supposed to be nice today. I hope that is true. The yard really needs some attention. There are still so many little sticks out there that I need to rake up and sand near the curbs from all the snow that sat there over the winter.

Last Night we watched 'Walk Hard - The Dewey Cox Story'. I thought it was okay. But, it wasn't one of my favorite movies.

Lately it seems to be all about China. Johnny and Ethan are going over there for a week this month. And yesterday we found out that Amber just got a job teaching 7 and 8 year olds English in a school over there. She will be leaving next month. We are very excited for her and wish her luck. If I were to visit China, the main thing I would want to see is the great wall.

Doris Day turns 84 today. Here is a list of the movies she was in.

Romance on the High Seas My Dream is Yours It's a Great Feeling Young Man With A Horn Tea For Two The West Point Story Storm Warning Lullaby of Broadway On Moonlight Bay I'll See You in my Dreams Starlift The Winning Team April in Paris By the Light of the Silvery Moon Calamity Jane Lucky Me Young at Heart Love Me or Leave Me The Man Who Knew Too Much Julie The Pajama Game Tunnel of Love Teacher's Pet It Happened to Jane Pillow Talk Please Don't Eat the Daisies Midnight Lace Lover Come Back That Touch of Mink Jumbo The Thrill of It All Move Over Darling Send Me No Flowers Do Not Disturb The Glass Bottom Boat Caprice The Ballad of Josie Where Were You When the Lights Went Out? With Six You Get Eggroll

Thursday Update

I thought I should do at least one update before the weekend. I don't have much going on. It looks like we lost another new temp at work. She went through over a week of paid training. On the day she was supposed to go on the phone in the afternoon, she asked to go home sick and the next day she did not come in at all. Hopefully she really was sick and will be back, but it usually doesn't work that way.

Tonight is the beginning of the new season for our Thursday night shows, The Office and My Name is Earl. It hope they are good as they have been in the past.

Thomas has a couple of busy days ahead of him. He will be camping with around 50 kids for the next two days. Good luck with that Thomas. Be safe and have fun.

Monday Update

The weekend went too fast. I just hope the work week goes that fast.

Saturday was fun, Diedre came over and went shopping with me. We went to the library and the moving sale at Pine Needles Sewing Center. Then we went to Hy-Vee. After we were done shopping, we had to stop at her parents house and let her dogs out. I threw the orange buoy thing a couple of times for Ellie (?), but I could never throw it very far.

It was also very nice having Thomas home all weekend. He finally gets a break from school in a couple of weeks. He plans to spend most of the break at home. However, on the 19th he will be going up to stay with Diedre a few days. The Sunday Group plans to go up to Waterloo to see Diedre and Thomas' apartment on the 19th and then go out to eat with them. I hope it works out so we can all get together.

Mao is crazy, he just now came running through the house from the Day-kitchen yowling. I know he wants treats. Crazy cat!

Saturday Update

Last night we watched two old Frank Cappra movies. The first was from 1934, 'It Happened One Night' with Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert. The second was from 1938, 'You Can't Take It With You' with Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore and James Stewart. Lionel Barrymore actually played a part that was the exact opposite of his part in 'It's a Wonderful Life'.

Today we are going to have Sheppard's Pie with real lamb. Not sure if Chloe will be here to try it. And I hope Thomas and Diedre will like it.

Of course I will do my usual Saturday shopping and maybe look for some plants to replace those that Diedre confiscated. I think I just got too attached to her plants. Sorry Diedre! I also need to stop at the library to return movies and maybe look for more. They seem to have some good old movies.

Friday Update

Yeah, the weekend is almost here. Thomas and Diedre will be driving down this afternoon for the weekend. Diedre is going to be dog-sitting for her parents. I hope to be able to sit down and watch a movie with them this weekend.

I don't have to much else to say today. I hope yesterday's snow is the last for this season. But, something tells me it probably won't be. The snow just will not go away!

Tuesday Update

I wish every work week either started on Tuesday or ended on Thursday. Yes, a four day work week all of the time would be good. I don't have much at all today. Thomas' interview went well yesterday. I took Easter leftovers to my dad and Ilse and listened to stories they have told me many times already. After about an hour I couldn't take it anymore and came home. Other than that I did some laundry, washed dishes, moved a few plants around and watched TV. Not an exciting day off. But, still better than working.

Monday Update

What a busy weekend. I'm glad that I had two extra days. Friday Thomas and I went to Irwin's to pick out his suit. The kid really wears a three button suit well. The shoes he liked were all out in his size, so we went to the mall. We looked at Sears, Younker's and Von Maur. None of their shoes compared. It was a good thing that Irwin's called while we were looking to say the shoes came in on the UPS truck about two minutes after we had left the store. Thomas had even opened the door for the UPS man and we drove around his truck. Anyway, we ended up going back to Irwin's and got him the nice black shoes made with deer skin.

Saturday I went shopping for a white shirt for Thomas. Because his neck is so small, this was not an easy task. Sears was out of white shirts in a 14-1/2 neck size. Von Maur and Kohl's did not have them. And Younker's said they haven't had that size in 2 years. Then I remembered the new Mens Warehouse at the mail. They had his size thank goodness. I also stopped in at Barnes & Noble to pick up the Hello Kitty Uno for Chloe's Easter basket. She was thrilled.

On Saturday, I also made three flavors of jell-o jigglers with my new jiggler molds; lemon, lime and tropical passion (taste like fruit punch). And I mixed up the fruit for my Ambrosia, which by the way was excellent. And Chloe made chocolate cupcakes with bright pink, green and purple frosting.

Easter supper was excellent, all of the food was so good. Of course I almost hurt myself. I was as full as at Christmas and we didn't even have turkey. It was very good to see Jamie, Lauren and Justin make it, despite Jamie's recent loss. We ordered flowers to be sent to the funeral home today from the whole Soup Sunday Group. We are also sending a sympathy card.

This morning is Thomas' interview at Benton Community Schools. I know he is going to do very well. I would hire someone who looks as sharp as he does in that suit! It would be very nice to have him teaching so close to home.

I am going to spend my last day off relaxing. However, I am going to take some food over to my Dad and Ilse since they were not able to make it over yesterday. I am also going to move some of my plants around in the day kitchen, since Diedre took some more of her plants to her apartment yesterday.

Happy First Day of SPRING!!!

Wednesday Update

This week is not moving as fast as I would like. I only want today and tomorrow to move fast, then it can slow down again. Starting Friday, I have another 4 day weekend. Nice!

It will be nice to have Thomas home for a few days. He will be driving down Thursday after school. On Friday I am taking him to Irwin's to get fitted for a suit. He is hoping to get it by Monday for his interview, but I'm not sure if that will happen.

In the afternoon on Friday we hope to take Ilse out for her long awaited birthday lunch. I will stop by after work on Thursday to ask her, that way she won't have a long time to think about getting out of it. Although, I'm almost positive that she will be happy to be getting out of the house after this winter.

Easter Sunday should be a wonderful feast. It will be so much fun having the whole group here. Well, almost the whole group. I few people may be missing.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Saturday Update

I hope it is nice out today. I would like to get in the front yard and clear out some of the fallen branched and sticks. There are a lot of them. I also need to get the Christmas tree and stuff out to the garage now that there is a clear path to it finally. Puck also needs a good cleaning inside and out. The rest of the day I will spend doing my usual Saturday stuff; laundry, grocery shopping and cleaning.

I worked until after 6 yesterday. So, when I got home I didn't feel much like making supper. We decided to watch the new series "The Return of Jezebel James" and then go out to eat. I thought it was very funny. I hope it makes it for awhile, but it looks like the reviews may not be that good.

For supper we went to Red Robin. Doug had been there once before with Johnny and I had never been there. It is a bit pricey, but the food is very good. You also get unlimited refills on pop and steak fries.

Friday Update

The last work day of this week. I didn't think it would ever get here. It has been a bad week! That's OK though because the weather is getting nicer. Thumper has started eating again and we all know that means the worst is over. I plan to wash and vacuum out the van this weekend.

I am looking forward to my 4 day weekend next week. Thomas will come home on Friday and we plan to get him fitted for the suit we are getting for his graduation gift. That will be coming up before we know it. The party will be a lot of fun because of all the graduations we will be honoring, Thomas, Diedre, Chloe, Raven, Matt, Amber, Lauren and Jamie. Did I miss anyone? It is too bad that Thomas, Raven and Matt are all graduating on the same day.

It's getting late, I had better get ready for work. Have a wonderful day everyone.

Teachers

I thought a couple of teachers that I know might be interested in this. A free DVD every school year for as long as you teach from izzit.org. The DVDs are for teachers, grades 4-12. All they ask in return is for you to submit a simple online video feedback form once you have used the DVD. I did not sign anyone up for this one because it requires the feedback and that would be up to you if you want to do it.

Win free books for a year sweepstakes.

Wednesday Update

Yeah, it may get up to 50 today. I will be happy to see some of the dirty snow go away. I actually started to see the sidewalk leading to the patio through the snow yesterday. I haven't seen that for a few months!

Last night we felt like pizza and Chloe was actually here to eat with us. So, we ordered Domino's pizza. It wasn't bad, although the bread sticks are whimpy. Ross showed up a little while after we were done eating, so Doug sat down with Ross while he had some pizza too. We watched Idol. It was on for two hours because they are now down to the top 12. They sang Beatles songs. Some were very good, others were awful. It's hard to say who will go home. I hope not David, he just had a bad night I think.

Mao is currently crashed in the corner on the floor. He is so adorable right now.

Tuesday Update

I don't have much to update about. Thomas is getting excited about his NSTA trip to Minneapolis. He has also convinced the group to give the three Seniors an Ipod for a graduation gift this year. Way to go Thomas! He has really done a lot of work for the group over the last four years. So he really does deserve it.

On Sunday night we watched Trilogy of Terror with Wanda. What a classic! You have to love the Zuni doll. And to balance out the night we also watched Enchanted. What a feel good Disney movie.

Even though I don't look forward to a summer of mowing the yard, I do wish all of this snow would melt. I want to get into the garage again. I think we need to start planning what we will put in the garden this year. I love the squash and tomatoes. Peppers are great when they do well. I think we are tired of cucumbers and pickling. Maybe I will plant green beans this year.

Saturday Update

Yesterday was a good day. I got a $0.45 raise at work and will receive retro pay from the first of the year on my next check. Not a lot, but hey, it will help pay for the raising cost of gas. I don't like this $3.09 I am seeing at the pump!

Chloe is already up and out the door this morning. She has to go to Cedar Falls and spend the day with Jim's family. Not exactly her favorite people, but she says she is doing it for her mom.

Ross' father had an accident yesterday. A large equipment tire exploded and broke his femor bone in his leg. He had surgery and Chloe says he is doing well. He has a pin in the leg. The skin on his right hand was also torn back. He is very lucky because many times when a tire explodes the person is usually either killed or blinded.

My dad called yesterday and said his sister Mary Ellen is in St Luke's hospital. It sounds like she is forgetting to take her insulin because of her alzheimer's. Once she gets out of the hospital, my cousin Julie is having her put in a nursing home in Mechanicsville and eventually in Mt Vernon where Julie lives. It's kind of creepy how my aunt is now looking almost exactly like my grandmother did at her age.

Two of Diedre's plants have safely made the trip from our house to her apartment in Waterloo. I hope they are happy there. Tear :(

Wednesday Update

Not much to write about today. I went back to work yesterday after my 4 day weekend. It wasn't too busy, so I was able to catch up some of my work. Last night they were showing a basketball game on channel 8, so Idol was delayed. It started too late for me to be able to watch it all. I guess I will just have to catch up tonight when they show the voting results.

We think we have an ugly kitchen, actually, two ugly kitchens. So, we are going to enter our kitchen in the AR-JAY Center 'Ugly Kitchen' contest. We could win a kitchen package valued at over $10,000. We just have to take them a picture of our kitchen and register. That would sure help with our remodel plans. Wish us luck.

Monday Update

I am certainly glad I did not have to go to work today. I went out this morning to shovel the walk and take the trash out. The wind is blowing like we are in the Arctic. Cold!!!!!!

The fish chowda was very yummy yesterday. My Warm Winter Lemon Cake was also very good. Diedre if you want this one, it is the recipe in the back of the Food & Family. Last night we were setting around talking with Wanda (everyone else had left) and we kept seeing cop cars with lights flashing going in both directions on 15th. Doug decided to go outside to get a better look. He just stepped out the door and then made a funny little noise and came right back in. He said, " There's a possum on the porch!" I guess the possum saw Doug and he turned around and left. Chloe says his name will be Blossom the Possum. She thinks possums are cute, I think they are ugly. I do know they are very vicious. Now we have raccoons sleeping in our trees and possums on the porch. What next?

Stay warm everyone and have a wonderful day.

Bionic Turtle

Eric Gay / AP
Jeff George, the curator at the nonprofit Sea Turtle Inc. holds Allison, a three-year-old Atlantic Green sea turtle, at Sea Turtle, Inc., in South Padre Island, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008. Allison lost three of her flippers to a predator attack and is being evaluated for experimental prosthesis for a rear flipper. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Allison, a three-year-old Atlantic Green sea turtle, swims in a holding tank at Sea Turtle, Inc., in South Padre Island, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008. The turtle was missing three flippers when tourists found her two years ago and took her to Sea Turtle Inc., a turtle hospital started by a local woman 31 years ago to treat and return injured sea turtles to the wild. Her caregivers and a group of volunteers hope to make her what's believed to be the first sea turtle fitted with a prosthetic flipper. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Jeff George the curator at the nonprofit Sea Turtle Inc., holds Allison, a three-year-old Atlantic Green sea turtle, at Sea Turtle, Inc., in South Padre Island, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008. When tourists found the green sea turtle two years ago she was bloody and missing three of her flippers. A group of veterinary and medical professionals _ including an assistant professor at the world-renowned University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and the UT Dental Branch in Houston _ have volunteered to help fit a prosthetic flipper to her left rear side. 11:33 p.m. ET, 2/27/08

Saturday Update

Not much going on this weekend. I am glad I have a four day weekend. I don't go back to work until Wednesday. I don't have much planned, I just need to take a few days off here and there so I use up my vacation time. I can no longer roll it over to the next year. Last night we watched "Jeremiah Johnson". It's a good movie. I will probably watch several movies in the next few days. Maybe I will go to the fabric store to see if I can find fabric to make Chloe's PJ bottoms. Wanda's birthday is Wednesday, so I need to get her a gift.

It is supposed to be a little warm over the next few days. I really hope some of this snow melts. I love snow, but after awhile you get tired of shoveling. I don't have much else to say. Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!

Happy Leap Day!!!!!!!

Wednesday Update

They delivered our new mattress yesterday. I wasn't sure how I felt about the firmness. Today I woke up with my back feeling better than it has in years, I guess I like the firm bed after all. Not much else is going on. Thomas told me has completed a few more applications to schools. I'm sure he won't have a problem finding a job once he graduates. The hardest part will probably be choosing which job offer he wants. It sounds like Chloe is lining up a new job for when she starts at UNI. I'm not sure where it is, I will have to get more details from her.

That is all. Have a wonderful day.

Congratulations Diedre. I am very happy for you. You not only got a raise, but you also don't have to worry about where you will be working each day for the next 4-6 weeks. I think you are headed for very great opportunities.

Monday Update

Supper was very good last night. Pork & Noodles and Chicken & Noodles. Not exactly soup as they were thick, but very, very yummy. The Dreamsicle cake was a real hit. Wanda and Diedre both asked for the recipe. And Diedre wasn't even here to try it. As usual Johnny's cheese cake was superb. Matt and Rachel even showed up, which was a nice suprise.

We watched the Oscars after supper. That was not too exciting. It was funny watching Wanda get upset when Doug started talking about todays weather. She said "No, I'm tired." I think she is tired of shoveling snow. I think we are all a bit tired of this weather.

Sunday Update

Yesterday was a good day. Ilse was not feeling well and not up to going out, so we decided to eat out anyway. Doug and I went to Buffalo Wild Wings. I had never eaten there, although he has. We both had the Buffalo Ranch Chicken sandwich. I ordered potato wedges with chili and cheese and he ordered onion rings, with boneless wings to go. I think those were for a midnight snack.

After eating we went to Lebeba Mattress Factory and picked out a new mattress for our bed. It has a 15 year warranty, so should just about out last us. They will be delivering it on Tuesday. Thomas' bed in the basement will get our old mattress and the old droopy one will be going. His bed is also getting a new frame, which Doug so cleverly had thrown into the deal at no charge.

I had a good grocery shopping day as well. I had free coupons for 15 bottles of water from Hy-Vee, a free box of Nabisco 100 calorie candy bites and Fareway had frozen rolled pie crust, 2 boxes for $1.00. The boxes had a $1.00 off coupon if you bought 2 boxes. So they were free also. Now I think Doug will make me an apple pie sometime soon. Yummy!!!

That is all, I have a Dreamsicle Cake to bake this morning.

Saturday Update

Yesterday was a long day at work. We had two people missing, that means non-stop phone calls. I had to stay late to find time to work on the PO's. We have been getting a lot of them in lately and with someone always missing at work there is hardly any down time to process them. It gets frustrating at times.

Last night we watched The Mighty Boosh Live. It is so random and crazy, at times you wonder why you are laughing, but you just can't help it. I wish they would come to the US with the show. We would travel to go see them.

Not much going on here today. We will probably try to get Ilse and my Dad to go out for lunch to finally celebrate Ilse's birthday. Not sure where we will go. Other than that I have no plans. Well that is all I have for now. Have a wonderful weekend!

Friday Update

On Wednesday morning Puck reached a milestone, 111,111 miles. That same day driving home the water pump broke. Puck is all fixed now and I am happy to have my wheels back.

Thomas had his last day at Denver Schools yesterday and will have a week before starting at Waverly. At least he will not have to travel as far now and if the weather ever gets nice enough, he will be able to walk to school.

As you can tell by this update, I don't have much to say. Hopefully the weather will be nice enough this weekend so we can finally take Ilse out for her birthday.

Tuesday Update

I am glad that Thomas and Diedre made it back to Waterloo and Waverly. Their trip was delayed by a semi that had jack-knifed on I-380. It sounds like it was quite a drive. Lots of ice and Thomas counted 54 cars in the ditch. One car lost control right in front of him as he was pulling off the highway to Waverly. I never trust those SUV drivers. It looks like quite a few schools are still closed today, including Denver and Kirkwood.

Monday Update

I hope the roads are cleared enough for Thomas and Diedre to have a safe trip back to Waterloo/Waverly this morning. Thomas also has to travel to Denver this morning. At least Denver has a two hour delay. The Waterloo schools have no delay for Diedre. Chloe and Ross can sleep in, Kirkwood is canceled.

New update Denver and Waterloo are now closed. This makes me feel better.

Saturday Update

It turned out the bag I made for Thomas' TomTom is too big. Doug is going to keep this bag and I am going to redesign the pattern for a smaller bag. I hope it turns out.

Last night Thomas went to Outback with Diedre and her parents. This evening Thomas is taking Diedre out for her birthday which was yesterday. They are going to Vino's of course. On Sunday Diedre is going to come here to visit for awhile. And of course we will be making her favorite, French Onion Soup.

Yesterday was a good day off. I shopped for Diedre's B-day gift, ran some errands and baked mint brownies. In the evening we watched 'Little Big Man', finished watching a silly movie that Doug had started watching called 'Hot Rod' and then watched 'Ocean's 13'. Needless to say by 1:00 I was very tired and of course I had dozed off several times during 'Ocean's 13', so I really only watched part of it and was confused part of the time.

I'm not sure what I will do today. I will need to go to the grocery store some time today. Other than that, it will probably be laundry and house cleaning. Okay, this is getting very boring, so that is all.

Payless is giving away one free pair of shoes a week for a year.

Happy Birthday Diedre!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

Tuesday Update

Monday was the same as usual. Two people were gone again, which caused none stop ringing phones. I wish we could have a Monday where everyone showed up. Only three more work days this week. I guess I will be one of those missing people on Friday. Although, Fridays are never as busy as Mondays.

I am anxious to see Diedre and Thomas this weekend. Although something tells me I will not see a lot of them. If the weather cooperates, Chloe will be going to Cedar Falls this evening for a show. She is excited because if she does go, Laura is also going to show her the house they will be living in this fall.

Well I don't have anything else right now. Have a great day everyone!

Monday Update

Here it is Monday and snowing again. I will be very happy when Spring arrives. I love all of the beautiful snow, I am just getting a little tired of shoveling it. I hope this week goes by quickly. This coming weekend is a four day weekend for me. Friday I took a vacation day and Monday is Presidents Day. It's nice to work for a company that takes all of the little holidays off.

Both soups were very delicious yesterday. And for those of you who were not here, you missed out on Wanda's yummy sugar cookies. They disappeared quickly.

Free Rice for the United Nations World Food Program.

Sunday Update

Yesterday I finished the bag I was making for Thomas. It was difficult because; the instructions were not always very clear and the material was very thick when you had to sew through several layers. I even bent my needle. I am glad the machine came with three spares. I ended up using velcro instead of a zipper. Doug says it turned out very nice. He can't wait for me to make one for him.

Thomas has been feeling under the weather. I am glad he has Diedre to take care of him. Yesterday morning when I talked to him he sounded horrible. When I talked to him later in the day he sounded much better. He said he felt 100% better because Diedre had given him something with Tylenol for colds.

Chloe and Ross have been planning their Spring break trip to Arizona. Last night Chloe said, "I can't believe some people are working and doing stuff like calculus on Spring break. Not me, I will be lying by a pool all week!" She cracks me up.

I did my house cleaning last night and will have to go grocery shopping today. I didn't feel like going out yesterday. It is so cold today, maybe I should have gone yesterday. Well, that's all I have for now.

Here is a recipe for Diedre.

French Onion Soup with Cider: (pg. 1 of Soups - Freebie Fix forum)
5 1/3 ounces unsalted butter, chopped
4 1/3 ounces onions, halved, thinly sliced
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
1 1/2 cups alcoholic dry cider
6 1/3 cups beef stock
1 baguette, cut into 12 slices
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
5 1/3 ounces gruyere cheese, grated

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and sea salt and cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes or until onions are deep golden.
Add cider and simmer until reduced by half, then add stock and simmer for 10 minutes. Season with pepper.
Meanwhile, place bread on a foil-lined tray and cook both sides under a hot grill until dried but not browned. Spread with mustard and top with cheese, then grill until cheese bubbles and browns.
Serve soup topped with the croûtons

Tuesday Update

The Super Bowl party was a big hit. Way too much food as usual, but very tasty! I don't think any of the commercials were very outstanding. But, Doug's Super Bowl Trivia Quiz was a big hit. I think Matt really liked the prize he won. I was also very happy that Thomas and Diedre could make it.

Yesterday was very busy at work, as usual. We are always missing at least two people on Mondays.

Chloe stayed home last night! That doesn't happen too often. Robin came over and they watched movies and ate popcorn. At about 9:30 they made an ice cream run to Walgreens. Silly girls.

Saturday Update

Okay, I lied. That was not my last update. I received requests to continue updating. So here I am. To the rest of you, I guess you are just missing out.

Yesterday after work I stopped to see Ilse and Dad. That wasn't too exciting. She showed me pictures of Kolleen's black cat. Kolleen is Isle's daughter. It is a beautiful cat. Of course my Dad had to complain about being cold, even though he said the thermostat was set at 75. He also complained that car washes recycle the water, so they just spray the salt back onto your car. He also thinks the scrubbers scratch the paint.

Today I am going to try to work on the bag I am making for Thomas. I hope it works out because it looks like I may have enough extra material to make a bag for all of us; Doug, Chloe and myself. My next project will be Hello Kitty PJ bottoms for Chloe. I will have to think of something I can make for Diedre. (Any suggestions Diedre? Make it simple:)

Mao is a cat nip treat addict. He thinks he can have them any time of the day, even if he has already had them. He will trick someone else into giving them to him while I am at work. Even though that is the first thing he begs for in the morning. He won't be quiet until he gets some.

Today is Super Bowl prep day. That means shopping and lots of munchies to prepare. You all know what the menu is so far and I'm sure all of the regulars will bring lots of goodies as well. See everyone tomorrow!