Monday, December 30, 2013

new year's eve eve

My vacation is slipping away and I will be heading into the office on Thursday to start off 2014. But, I still have 3 full days to enjoy this slower pace. It has been wonderful to be home and to hang out with my hubby and our kids. We've played cards, read, cooked, watched movies, and just enjoyed the holiday.

I'm reading "Hild" by Nicola Griffith right now. The library texted me when the book was available. It is a 14 day loan, so I'm trying to finish it for my final book of 2013. Good book, but a slow read.

Not sure what plans we have for New Year's eve and day other than watching football. We need to come up with a menu for our snacks.

But, for now, I'm going to pour another cup of coffee and enjoy a quiet morning.

Cheers!

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Merry Christmas

It is Christmas night and what a wonderful day it has been! Time to watch Dr. Who!

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Christmas Eve

It's here! Christmas Eve has arrived. I'm drinking my special Christmas coffee out of a Christmas mug. I put the apple braid in the oven. Now, I must confess, I didn't make the pastry. Hubby purchased it from one of the middle school band students.

The cookie and candy tray was delivered to our neighbors. The presents are wrapped and under the tree.

It is time to celebrate!

Merry Christmas!

Monday, December 23, 2013

50 and 51

So, I am reading furiously in order to reach my goal and maybe even surpass it for 2013. Number 50 was "Married in Haste" by Cathy Maxwell, another free Nook download from several Fridays ago. Number 51 was a novella from Diana Gabaldon set in her Outlander world and featured Lord John Grey.

Had a lovely breakfast yesterday with the library director and her husband. So nice to see both of them and just relax and enjoy a good meal and wonderful conversation.

Up for today is a visit to the dentist for me. Time to have the teeth cleaned. The oldest needs to take her car in for an oil change. The middle one is off to see a doctor if we can get an appointment...her cough is now much worse. Bronchitis, round two, is my thought. The youngest is continuing to heal from his bout of flu. The hubby has his continuing education credits to complete for the year.

And that is it!

Happy Christmas Eve-Eve!


Thursday, December 19, 2013

two days and done

My Christmas vacation starts Friday at 3:30 and I can hardly wait. If we can just get everyone healthy, then we will be all set!

The boy is much better. Tamiflu is a miracle drug. The oldest has a nasty cough and is off to the doctor today. Home remedies are just not cutting it, time for some prescription meds.

The rest of us, knock on wood, are healthy.

The Elves made their first delivery today. The girls asked about it yesterday, but nope, the stockings were empty. Not so this morning....a cute little container of Goldfish await them. It is always fun to organize the slow build of the stocking stuffers.

Off into Thursday I go.....being out yesterday will mean a full email box. Oh Joy! Ha!

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

an at home day

The boy has the FLU! UGHHHHHH. So, I never managed to get him his flu shot this fall. Long story on that one, but suffice it to say, I'm kicking myself about it.

His finals start today. I emailed all of his teachers and his grade level counselor. Heard back from the Latin teacher and his forensics teacher. Bottom line is, he can take incompletes in everything and take all the tests after they return to school in January if he has to. If he can go to school tomorrow, he can take tests during his study hall/lunch.

But, he has to be fever free for 24 hours to go to school Thursday.

Lovely. Just lovely.

So, I'm taking a day of PTO to stay home with  him and keep and eye on his fever, make him food, remind him to drink his gatorade, and provide conversation.

Joy.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

work party

We are having our Thanksmas party today at work. I'm taking in a crab artichoke dip. From the sign up list, it seems that we will have plenty of food to eat. We will also be playing games and just enjoying some time together. It should make the afternoon fly by.

My boss was home sick yesterday and is iffy for today. The creeping crud strikes again. All three of my kids have a bit of a hacking cough. I doled out cough medicines and ibuprofen yesterday and sent the boy to bed early. He starts final exams on Wednesday.

I have a few last minute gifts to procure. It will be a quick trip to Target tonight or tomorrow.

I'm ready to be on vacation. Just four days until a nice long break!


Monday, December 16, 2013

what a weekend

The office party was fun; the after party was fun. Saturday was busy. Yesterday was sad.

First, the son of our town judge died. He was only 33. He had an autoimmune disorder called goodpasture disease. My heart is breaking for his family. So very tragic and senseless.

Second, our speech and debate teacher announced at our Christmas party that he is leaving our school to take a job with our former principal as the assistant superintendent over in another county. His last day is Friday. There wasn't a dry eye in the place. It was a shock to many of us, although he had told some of the parents ahead of time. He has been at our school for 27 years.

I had a hard time falling asleep last night as I thought of the young man who died. As I though of the 27 speech kids, including my son, who have lost such a fabulous teacher and mentor.

We all talk about how life is change. It is transition. It is never the same from day to day. I thought about Fr. Kris' homily yesterday morning about how we place value on the wrong things. How the value of time far exceeds anything else in this world. It is precious. We can't make more of it. We have to treasure it and not wish it away.

I have a heavy heart this morning. My son will be wearing his suit to school today as they are taking a team picture this morning for Mr. Hutson to take with him to Lebanon. He wanted one for his office; a photo of this team.

Godspeed Mr. Hutson and best wishes in your new job. God bless JWH, our town will be less without you in it.


Thursday, December 12, 2013

49

I'm slowly closing in on my 2013 reading goal. I finished a free Nook download last night. It was a collection of short stories based on Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice characters and world. A Darcy Christmas was entertaining, but nothing truly memorable.

I need to finish the Malcolm Gladwell book I'm reading and then find some quick, fun reads to enjoy over the Christmas holidays. I have a few other free downloads on my Nook. I'd love to get some B&N money for Christmas and be able to download away!

Off into Thursday I go. I'm so ready for the weekend and for our girls to be home. The middle kid arrives back in the nest tonight. The older one will arrive tomorrow. I'm sure they will both be in need of some TLC after a rough finals week.

Looking forward to hugs and kisses and long chats at the kitchen table.



Wednesday, December 11, 2013

trivia

Last night, hubby and I met some other couples for a trivia match. One of the local pubs has a trivia game every Tuesday night. While we were there with one group, my friend and her hubby were also there, so it turned out to be a very fun night. And as most of the folks playing are 'old' the match ends at 9:00 and the place is cleared out by 9:10!

Might be something fun for us to do on a more regular basis. The pub has really good food and the trivia questions are not so hard as to be discouraging. Our team finished in 5th place out of 10 slots, pretty respectable.

Today's errand will involve yet another run to Target. I did make it to Costco yesterday and picked up what we needed there.

Our office Christmas party is Friday night. That should be interesting....it always is.

Off into Wednesday we go!

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

running errands

I really don't like running errands in the afternoon, but I've grown accustomed to doing so. I was always the early in the morning type person when it came to going to Costco, Target etc.  This time of year, being early or late doesn't make one bit of difference it seems. The stores are packed.

But, we are almost done with our holiday shopping. This pleases me to no end. We have a few things to pick up for the boy and we are finished! Yeah! I have some wrapping to do, but I love doing that. The oldest is getting a ring and we are going to put it in the largest box we can find. That will be fun.

I need to swing by Costco and pick up our holiday cards as well as coffee and dog food. You know, the necessities of life!  I have made my baking list and have to procure the ingredients. I found a new cookie recipe I'm going to try: White chocolate, cranberry, macadamia cookies. Mom, if they turn out well, I will send you the recipe.

Okay, off to read the newspaper. The local muni school situation is heating up as the town next to us just found out that their three namesake schools will be retained by the county and not 'given' to the new muni district. Interesting times.

Monday, December 9, 2013

ready or not

The tree is up! The house is decorated. The front porch is almost decorated. We are on our way. The girls begin final exam week today. They will both be home by Friday.

Ready or not, Christmas is coming!

The icemaggedon storm of the century fizzled out. We had some icy spots and the trees took a pounding in some areas, but overall, it could have been much worse. I'm not walking Duke this morning as the sidewalks have some slick spots and the last thing I need to do is to slip and fall. I  may have to walk in the afternoons so that we can see where we are going and the ice will have melted after a day of above freezing temps.

I'm craving some sunshine. We haven't seen much, if any, of Mr. Sun for the past 5 days. Ugh. While we watched some NFL games yesterday, and saw the teams playing in the snow, I sort of missed the white stuff. I don't miss the lack of sunshine though. Not one bit.

Although it was quite funny to watch an NFL player making snow angels in the end zone.

Ten work days until vacation! Yippee!! Happy Monday.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

what is wrong with this picture

It is 70 outside at 5:00 a.m.

They are telling us to get ready for the ice storm.

What is wrong with this picture?



Happy Thursday.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

dragging

I'm dragging along this morning! Ugh! And we may be treated to an ice storm Thursday-Friday. Joy! This will impact us in several ways, most importantly it might cancel our speech/debate tournament on Saturday. Several teams drive into the area for the event and travel could be quite dicey on Friday. To top that off, a second weather event might hit us Saturday evening, just in time for everyone to drive home.

I don't like ice. I especially don't like winter weather here in the mid-south where they are not equipped to deal with it at all. Well, they do have some trucks that spray the overpasses with the blue stuff that is supposed to stop the ice from forming, but it always rains first and washes it all away. So, it is in many ways, wasted effort.

When the town closes the bypass, you know it is bad. It happens at least once each winter.

The other thing is work. If they close the office, cool. If they don't and you choose not to drive in for safety reasons, you lose a day of PTO. Fine. I have saved 3 days of PTO for just such foolishness.

In other news, we are heading out to dinner with the son of the man who owns the skybox at Bama. He is in town for work. It will be good to see him. He is a hoot and a half and loves to tell stories.

Something to look forward to.  Enjoy Wednesday.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

wowsa

This morning's walk will almost transport us to the English moors. It is that foggy outside. Thick. Pea soup. Kind of cool.

In other wowsa news, the boy learned yesterday that his braces can now be removed! Let the celebration begin! Apples. Popcorn. Carrots. All manner of crunchy, hard to bite into stuff, is now on the menu.

The gift bag we ordered from the KKG alumni at the middle kid's school did a wonderful job and delivered a very cute 'finals week' treat gift to her.

Our new municipal school board was sworn in last night and in their first official meeting they accepted the deal that will secure our schools from the county.

And that is all the wowsa news I have so far, but the day is young.

Oh, still no Christmas decor up in our house. Just didn't happen last night after I got home from the orthodontist. I have high hopes for today!

If I can get anything done before we head to the town square for the tree lighting! Now, that is a wowsa moment of huge proportions. Love. It.

Happy Tuesday!


Monday, December 2, 2013

it's the most wonderful time

Thanksgiving was great! It was so nice to have our girls home and it was extra nice to have my folks with us for Thanksgiving. I think we all had a great time being together and everyone enjoyed the extra long weekend. At the start of the week, we even had a visit from my uncle. Good to see him.

After the girls departed on Sunday, I had planned to start decorating the house for Christmas, but I just couldn't get motivated to do it. So, we sat around all afternoon and I decided to reread "Mockingjay." We had taken the family to see Catching Fire on Saturday afternoon. Great movie!

I didn't get very far in the book. Ended up falling asleep quite early last night. Guess that is okay as the hubby's alarm went off at 4 a.m. He has to go out of town today for work and I have to go in to the office early to make up time in order to take the boy to the orthodontist.

In other news....I'm a winner! I won a very cool tote bag from Lisa's promo contest for "Becoming Brigid." So excited!

Well, my plan for decorating is going to now involve doing a little bit each day. The girls asked that we leave the ornaments off the tree so they can place them when they get home for the holidays. I need to buy some new wide, wire-edged ribbon for bow making and garland wrapping. Looks like Costco is in my future.

Randomness abounds as we start into this new week. Fifteen work days until the longest vacation of my work year.

It is the most wonderful time of the year!