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!!