so long until 2013

I'm on vacation after today until 2013! Yippee!! So, I won't be posting until New Year's Day. This past year has been a good one. Lots of changes, lots of new challenges, but a good one. As Christmas approaches and the year comes to a close, I'm thankful for so many things. I'm also looking forward to the year ahead and the opportunities it will bring.

On this Winter Solstice, I wish you Glad Tidings, Peace, and Joy!

the countdown

I forgot to put the elf gifts in the stockings this morning! I overslept and was totally out of my routine. Ugh! Well, I guess they will all get double prezzies tomorrow morning.  I'm guessing they won't complain too much.

The number of folks at work is decreasing daily. We are on a skeleton crew now, and tomorrow will be even more quiet around here.

I finished the Deanna Raybourn Christmas novella last night and started to read the second book in the Ally Condie trilogy.  I didn't get very far. The oldest came in to chat and then after she left I dozed off.

I think we are in pretty good shape for leaving Saturday morning. Duke is going to see his Aunt Angela next door on Friday and I told the kids to sleep in what they wanted to travel in! Laundry is pretty well caught up for 3 of us and the girls are on their own. Presents are wrapped and in bags.

Christmas is coming!!

wednesday

Wednesday is here. The middle of the week. The boy had a half day of school yesterday and is now on break. All of the grades are in for the kids and they did quite well. Another batch of cookies/candy was made last night, so we only have one left to do. And if those don't get made, no big deal.

Wrapped presents are appearing under the tree. Holiday parties are keeping the kids entertained. Holiday lunches and snacks are keeping us all well fed - maybe too much so.

Off to work I go....although there isn't much work to do this time of year! Lots of laughter and chatter at work as everyone is looking forward to a nice break for the holidays.

Happy Wednesday!

two cookies down two to go

The girls made skillet cookies and pecan sandies yesterday. It was very fun for me to come home from work and see those two lovely girls baking away in the kitchen. I've given them quite a 'to do' list for the week and they have a plan to knock it all out.

The elves delivered a small container of bite sized oreos and a holiday Hershey bar today.

On the work front, today we are having our department Christmas lunch. We are heading over to one of the nicer restaurants near our office and will enjoy a good meal and I'm sure some interesting conversation.

Now that the boy is finished with Oliver Twist and has completed two of his three worksheets/books for his language arts author study assignment, I have my Nook back! I am reading Deanna Raybourn's Christmas novella featuring Lady Julia and her hubby Brisbane. So nice to have my Nook back and I think we made a good choice in getting one for the boy for Christmas.

Off to read the paper and get the day going. Happy Tuesday.

the elves are now delivering

The elves made their first delivery of the year. Way back when  my girls were little, they tag-teamed me on a daily basis about opening their presents. They were relentless and adorable. So much so that I needed to come up with a plan. I had purchased a ton of little things for their stockings and thought, why not spread those gifts out and drop one item in each of their stockings every day until Christmas arrived. Thus, the elves were born.

So, for the week before Christmas, my three wake up to some little something in their stockings every morning.

Today it is a box of Tic-Tacs and a package of gum.

The older two actually asked me if the elves were coming this year and in my brief moment of hesitation, they  pleaded for the tradition to continue!

I'm working a full week this week so they are going to be quite busy helping around the house cleaning, baking, and doing laundry. Good behavior all around, after all, the elves are watching!

stuff

12.12.12

I think I need to create lots of files at work today just so I can see the above date on everything! Actually, I need to start reading all of the article submissions for the magazine and begin the process of editing. Ugh. Just a little bit of holiday work stress. Ugh. My boss, poor guy, has been suffering from ear problems. He was off to a second ENT yesterday to get yet another opinion. He has been less than focused on what we need to be doing in order to get this stuff to the design team so they can begin to layout this magazine.

It is COLD here this morning. It was 29 when I let Duke out for the paper. The middle daughter needs to get up and moving so she can defrost her car before heading off to school.

And on that note, I better go and wake her. I haven't heard her alarm yet and on mornings like this, it is so nice to stay in that warm, comfy bed!!

bitterblue

I finished Kristin Cashore's "Bitterblue" over the weekend. Good Stuff! Cashore has created a very interesting world full of even more interesting characters. These novels are for the older YA crowd as they tackle some pretty serious topics and are fairly dark in tone.

Now I need something new to read! The boy has been reading Oliver Twist on my Nook for his Language Arts author study project. I may have to go to the library and actually check out a book instead of downloading it from the e-library.

Off into Monday I go. I hope the week flies by! The oldest will arrive home from school on Friday. She takes her first exam today.

almost back

Almost back to normal! Just a bit congested this morning and thanks to a Tylenol PM I actually slept rather soundly last night. Yeah!

Lots to do this morning! Off I go........

feeling a tad bit better

I left work thirty minutes early yesterday and came home. I couldn't get into bed fast enough, but between the extra rest, lots of hot lemonade, and a few boxes of Puffs Plus, I seem to be on the mend. I am feeling okay this morning. Not great, but okay enough to head into work.

My voice sounds rather raspy and odd, sort of like Kathleen Turner!

I've been reading the third book from Kristin Cashore, "Bitterblue." I really enjoy her writing.  I need to visit the library's website and reserve a couple of books that just came out. I'm sure the holds on them are in the double digits. One is the latest Janet Evanovich book featuring Stephanie Plum. The other is the latest from Jim Butcher featuring Harry Dresden.

Go forth into Tuesday and make it a great day!

blerg

Going to be  a rough start to the work week. I started to get a cold over the weekend and as of this morning it is a full on raging, sinus aching, eyes tearing, head cold. Blerg.

Twelve hours Sudafed will be my friend for the next few days along with lots of hot liquids, Puffs Plus, and Tylenol.  I can't afford to take a PTO day if I want to take a vacation at Christmas.

It is mornings like this that having to work full time really, really sucks.

the speed round

I think I may bribe hubby with a dinner date night and get him to tag along on the final Christmas shopping excursion tomorrow night. It could be like a game show speed round - take no prisoners - get the stuff and get it home in record time.

His gift will be coming via Amazon sometime soon. I need to check the delivery tracking and see exactly where this amazing meat smoker is. I consulted our neighbor before purchasing this outdoor appliance, and was able to get a good price on it during the cyber Monday sales.

Most of the other things I had to order online have already arrived. I like to shop local when at all possible and frequent our Town Square merchants as often as I can. But, a trip to the mall is going to be needed in order to finish the gift buying this year.

I also need to make my list of stocking stuffers for the kids. The seven days of 'elf' gifts tradition continues. I have some things for the girls, but need to pick up items for the boy.

Okay, off into Thursday we go!

hoosier hysteria, baby

It was so much fun to watch the Hoosiers put the proverbial 'smack down' on the Tar Heels last night. Impressive. Awesome. Assembly Hall was a sea of red and was rocking!  Too much fun! And listening to Dickie V call the game.....he gets so excited and so animated, it is hard to resist!

In other news, our town had the tree lighting last night down at our historic square. This is probably my favorite town event. We haven't been able to go for the past two years because of soccer, but we were able to attend this year and it was as magical as ever.

The rest of this week and into the weekend is going to involve a concerted effort to finish the Christmas shopping. I have made my list and know exactly which stores I need to visit in order to complete this part of the holiday festivities. Getting some wrapping paper and a few spools of gorgeous ribbon are also on my list of things to do.

Happy Wednesday!

christmas decor at work

Our Christmas decor at work is the most pitiful stuff you've ever seen. The tree is one step away from a Charlie Brown tree, just a plastic version. The wreaths have all seen better days, or make that years. The ornaments are shabby and sad.  Everyone thinks it is tacky, ugly, and pretty darn pitiful.  If I had a few more years under my belt, I'd be reworking all of it. It is actually sort of funny, in a depressing sort of way.

Back in my banking days, the branches had contests to see who had the most creative, pretty, and neat Christmas trees and decor. We spent money, time, and talent making the place look amazing. It was fun and made the staff proud of their efforts. The customers loved it.

Our workplace isn't open to the public, so nobody cares if we have crappy Christmas decor. My little cubicle has a few Christmas decorations in it: my favorite woodland Santa statue, a cute snowman, and a framed Charles Dickens quote.  I also printed off a few pictures including the Mary Englebreit "Believe" Santa rising out of a chimney and of course, the Charlie Brown crew gathered around a Christmas tree.

My little spot of holiday cheer....just have to grin and bear it as I make my way past the sadness in the foyer to my department!

the countdown is on

Those five days sure went fast! Now the countdown is on to Christmas. The oldest will be back home in 3 weeks. Then we have a week before we head south to spend Christmas with my folks. Then back home for a few days of local fun and relaxation.

Hope your Thanksgiving was a good one! We all ate way too much, but our house is decorated inside and out and I even did a little shopping on Saturday afternoon.

Happy Monday. Off into the work week we go!

talking turkey with a side of roll tide

Today is my Friday for the week. I'm taking tomorrow off! I can't tell you how excited I am to have 5 days off in a row. It has been a long time since I've had that kind of break and I'm more than ready to enjoy some time at home.

I braved Kroger yesterday to get the few things I needed to prepare the Thanksgiving feast. I had most of it already stashed away in the pantry and the freezer, but I had to buy a turkey and a turkey breast. The hubby is going to deep fry the bird and I will roast the breast. Not too much to choose from at Kroger and the turkey aisle was jammed pack. I told the middle daughter I had to hip-check an old guy out of the way to grab the bird I wanted! She then, of course, sent that out on twitter. Lovely! Ha Ha.

The other funny thing about my trip to Kroger was the number of Roll Tides I heard. I wore my new Bama sweatshirt to work yesterday. We are on blue jean dress code until after Thanksgiving. I had four people give me the Roll Tide greeting. It truly is a cultural thing. I gave them a nice drawled out Roll Tide right back! It is a substitute for hello among these people. And it is really kind of funny! I've never heard anyone wander a store aisle greeting folks in ND or IU garb with a Go Irish, or Go IU- Fight, Fight, Fight! But, wear some Bama gear and you get Roll Tides in every aisle of the store.

Note to self-when in a grumpy, quiet mood, don't wear the Bama shirt!

Happy Thanksgiving! Roll Tide! Watch out for the old guys in the turkey aisle who can't decide which bird they want.

Bama

The Family at Bama - ROLL TIDE!

Yep, that is all of us over there to the left. We had such a spectacular weekend of family, friends and football.

Our hosts for the weekend are business colleagues of my hubby. They rolled out the Crimson Carpet for us.

We started the weekend by dropping off the middle kid with the older one and let her experience a college Friday night. Needless to say, they both looked a bit tired Saturday morning. But, I'm getting ahead of myself. After we dropped her off we headed down to the "C" family's 546 acre hunting lodge - complete with sleeping for 32. Unreal how beautiful this place was. They had dinner waiting for us and we dined outside in their outdoor living room which was heated by a huge fireplace and two huge gas heaters. Perfect.

Saturday we drove into Ttown to watch the game. I had no idea we'd be watching from a luxury skybox. Never been in one of those before, and I fear I am now spoiled forever. Fantastic food, lots of beverages and a perfect view of the field.

I've been to big football stadiums before, but Bama does it right. It was awesome. The Tide rolled to an easy win. We brought both girls back to the lodge with us for the night and enjoyed another nice meal with our host and another couple there to decorate the lodge for the holidays.

The men then settled in to watch the other football games; pivotal match ups that left hubby's fave team, Notre Dame, the only bowl eligible undefeated team in the nation.

I got up early Sunday morning and was able to see 3 deer grazing in the meadow. Later we had a great breakfast and then after a nice long visit with our host and his son, we slowly made our way back to campus. The oldest packed up and came home with us for the Thanksgiving holiday. We stopped for lunch and to buy some Bama gear before we left.

So, that was our amazing weekend. Rammer, Jammer, Yellowhammer, Give'm Hell Alabama!

Fun, fun, fun.

hoosier hysteria

I about dropped my coffee cup this morning! As I sorted out the newspaper and all the sale inserts it contained, I found one covering college basketball. The cover featured Indiana's own Cody Zeller!! You know Hoosier Hoops are back when Btown's star player is on the cover of a national magazine! I'm so excited!!

Hubby must be excited too as he called me yesterday to tell me that Tom Crean was on Mike & Mike. Not that I can listen to sports interviews at work.........ha ha.

So, happy it is Thursday. So ready to head to Ttown to see my girl. I think I have procured everything she asked for. I'm such a good mom I even washed those new flannel sheets for her so she can slap them on the bed right away!

Enjoy the day.

writing letters

My boss sent me a link for the most wonderful blog. Letters of Note offers a variety of historic letters for your reading pleasure. Sometimes the letters are sad and sometimes they are funny, but in the week I have been subscribed to their email list, I've never been disappointed in the writing, content, or topic.

I was once an avid letter writer. I wrote to my grandparents on a regular basis. I had two pen pals in England and one in Virginia. I wrote letter after letter all the way through college.

Letters were the thing until the arrival of the first home computer and the dawn of the email age. Now people tweet, facebook, instant message and email. Letters are not written too often. Although while they live under my roof,  I do insist my children write thank you notes when they receive a gift.

My grandmother kept the letters I sent to her and my mom just recently returned them to me. She found them when she was cleaning out my grandmother's home. It is such a window into the past, a quick glimpse of my teenage self.

Take a peek at the Letters of Note blog and read some of the letters there.

Happy Wednesday!

flannel sheets and cupcakes

We are going on a road trip this weekend to see the oldest! Yes, she will be home for Turkey Day, but we wanted to experience a football game at the Southern mecca of football and we were invited down for the weekend by one of the hubby's colleagues. It should be fun!! The weather looks good and we are staying at the personal 'hunting & fishing' lodge of the gentleman hubby knows. Cool. I've seen pictures of the main house - way cool!! I'd be happy to stay in one of the cabins on the property as well. After the game it looks like the boy can do some fishing. Good Time for All.

Anyway, I asked the daughter to go ahead and give me her shopping list now as I really didn't want to have to make a Target run next week in the midst of Black Friday or Saturday.

Flannel Sheets and cupcakes. I know I can get the first item at Target, the cupcakes will have to be procured elsewhere.

She follows our local cupcakery on Facebook as I do and when she saw the flavors for the week she called me to see if I could bring her a dozen.  She said she might even share them! LOL

So, I'm off to Target today to get the items she needs from there. And then before we depart on Friday, I will stop by and get those cupcakes.

iced

No, the title does not refer to the weather. It is a quite balmy 55 outside right now, but the way the wind is blowing, that might be our high for the day.  The latest book I read was titled "Iced" and it was written by Karen Marie Moning. I go 'way back' with this author. I picked up her first novel when my girls were toddlers and have thoroughly enjoyed her storytelling ever since.

This latest novel is no exception, although the age of the heroine did give me pause.  Dani 'Mega' O'Malley is 14 and is one of the few folks who stands in the way of Faery totally taking over the planet. Set in Dublin, "Iced" is full of characters Moning developed in her Fever series featuring MacKayla Lane.

These stories are great combinations of urban fantasy and romance. "Iced" features a 14 year old heroine. The romance isn't happening in this novel. It is not what I'd call a coming of age story as Mega is old beyond her years in many regards. Warning, even though the novel features a 14 year old heroine, this is not a book for the YA audience. Not. At. All. This is a full blow urban fantasy with all the grit and gore you'd expect. It also has strong sexual overtones.

The basic plot is that folks are getting iced to death in Dublin. And Mega needs to find out who so she can slay them. If some of the adults/immortals she hangs out with want to help, great!

This is a fast paced read, like all of Moning's novels. Thumbs up. I look forward to reading more of Mega's adventures and watching her grow up.

frosty morning

I stopped in the library yesterday after I got off work to pick up a book I had on hold. I still haven't finished the Deborah Harkness novel. I'm just having a difficult time plowing through this one. Not sure if it is me or the book! I'm feeling a bit distracted and scattered at the moment. I need to get myself organized. I've started making the Christmas List, but it doesn't seem to be helping. 

Usually our office experiences a major slow down after the national meeting. Our department won't enjoy that luxury this year as we have to begin work on the new magazine. My boss should have arrived back 'home' last night and we expect him in the office tomorrow. It will be interesting to see what he did and didn't do at the meeting.

Lots of frost outside this morning. When I let the Dukie-dog out to get the paper, the grass was white with frost and the middle kid's car is covered. Brrrrr.

Off to wake the troops. Enjoy the day.

elections big and small

The candidates we supported locally won and the ones we supported nationally did too. Now, perhaps both sides of the aisle can learn to be grown ups and actually govern. Negotiation isn't a four letter word.

I get humored by the hysterics, the oh my gosh, the country is going to go to hell. Really? Get out of your fishbowl, leave your state, heck leave your county for a change and see how folks live in other parts of our country. If you can, visit another country....really, they are human too. Expand your mind. Read more than one newspaper. Watch more than one media outlet. Heaven forbid, read or watch 'news' from a source beyond our shores!

Think!! It is a lot to ask, but I needed to say it after some of the comments I have read online this morning. Living in the heart of the red swath that is the south, it can try my patience dealing with the constant barrage of the doom and gloom that comes with electing and then reelecting an African American to the presidency.

Life will go on, really it will. The sun is rising. The aliens haven't invaded. Go forth and enjoy the day!

election day

Four years ago the hubby and I manned the polls for election day. Today he is heading off alone to be on hand and do some last minute campaigning for our picks for alderman, mayor and school board. I will be heading off to the office for another quiet, dull day.

I will be so glad when the election is over. I'm tired of all the signs in our town on every vacant lot, every open corner and every yard.

So, happy election day!

what i'm reading

I finished Justin Cronin's sequel to "The Passage" this weekend. "The Twelve" picks right up where the first book of this trilogy left off in regards to intensity and complexity even if time has passed. I had a bit of struggle getting started as I had forgotten some of the characters and their plot lines. It was a good read and I will look forward to the third and final book.

My last visit to the library also allowed me to pick up another novel, also the second book in a trilogy. This one is the latest from Deborah Harkness, author of "A Discovery of Witches." Matthew and Diana have time traveled back to 1590 to search out a witch to train Diana. "Shadow of Night" is entertaining and starts off filled with a variety of historical characters. I'm not very far into this one, so I will comment more on it once I am halfway finished.

I have also put in a request for the latest from Karen Marie Moning. I loved her "Fever" books and this new title returns to that world.

That's what I'm reading this week!

on to thanksgiving

The first holiday in the end of the year trifecta is now over! On to Thanksgiving!!

I've already roasted and pureed my pumpkin for the holiday pies. I will pick up a couple of turkeys over the next few weeks. I'm going to need to take a different approach to holiday shopping this year and the internet will most likely be my new best friend along with Target, of course.

May spend some time today making lists and getting organized.

Happy Thursday and Happy November!

happy halloween

I've been thinking about Halloween costumes. My favorite costume growing up was my gypsy outfit. My mom made that costume for me and I loved it, even the nasty black wig! The big hoop earrings were pretty cool too. I also liked being a hobo and having my face dirtied with a burnt wine cork.

My kids have had a variety of costumes. The boy went as Thomas the Train during his preschool years. The hubby created an amazing costume for that Halloween. I think it is still up in the attic. The girls have been Powder Puff characters, fairies, ninjas and a whole host of other things.

I love handing out the candy and seeing all the cute costumes! Best part of Halloween!!

Happy Haunting to all the little ghouls and goblins!!

oddest thing

Yesterday was a beautiful fall day in my neck of the woods. Of course, a huge part of our country was enduring Hurricane Sandy. After looking at video and reading news reports throughout the day, I almost expected stormy weather when I left the office. I wasn't alone. Several folks commented that when they'd get a glimpse of the outside, it was weird that the sun was shining and the sky was clear.

So often when we watch the weather news, it is about weather that is happening to us or will happen to us once it travels a bit further inland.

Very strange to see a hurricane and know that we aren't going to get any of that water or wind.

the pumpkins

The Halloween Pumpkins carved by the hubby, the girl and the boy!

trick or treat

We bought pumpkins on Saturday and the hubby and kids carved them yesterday. As soon as the sun set, we had to light them and see how they looked. As always, they are fantastic. I will take a photo and post it.

The end of October is here! Halloween is upon us!

Speaking of trick or treat, watching the coverage of Hurricane Sandy and the anticipated weather has been interesting and a bit scary. I've been thinking of my oldest daughter's best friend who is away at school in NYC.

Off to bundle up for the morning walk. It is about 41 outside, but we are going. As my brother says, there is no bad weather, just bad gear. Now that they've moved from the gulf hurricane zone to what I guess is the Atlantic hurricane zone, I hope he has good gear for the days ahead.

college part two

The acceptance letters are starting to roll in for the middle kid. It is rather weird to be doing this again. Our life is in a senior year loop. I sort of think, however, that this daughter will make her decision sooner than the oldest one did. She is already leaning heavily towards one university - not the one her sister attends.

Now that soccer is over, the only event we have left is the banquet. Then our days with that group of folks will come to an end. We've been involved with that program for five years. Sort of odd to think that we are now finished and moving on to other things.

The holidays are approaching and while I was in Target yesterday buying some cards I noticed the Christmas stuff is being stocked, staged and highlighted. Last year at work, the holidays were sort of a non-event for me as a department of one. This year I will be part of a larger group and it should be more fun.

Off into Thursday I go and on the way home from work I get to stop and pick up the latest from Justin Cronin. Looking forward to reading "The Twelve" over the weekend!

soccer is over

Our girls lost last night 2-1. After a season that had many of the sideline coaches scratching their heads and wondering just what exactly the coaching staff was trying to do, or not do, the team lost in double overtime on a golden goal with only 20 seconds left before PKs would have begun.

This opponent was beaten at the beginning of the season 4-0.

I didn't go to the game last night. I stayed home with the boy and helped him with his confirmation essays. I thought it would be an easy win.

I was wrong.

We are all devastated. It is the hardest thing to watch your child cry and know that you can't fix it or make it better. No words will take away the hurt and the disappointment.

Time will lend perspective and will allow her to see the lessons to be gleaned from this season. We've always told our kids that you can learn things from any situation. Sometimes you learn what to do. Sometimes you learn what not to do.

Life goes on, even for soccer girls and their soccer moms and dads.

XOXO to our Ladies.

zippity do da

Ran out of time this morning before I left the house and didn't have a change to even think about composing any sort of blog post. Before I lose myself in the world of lynda.com and the take a tutorial on google+, I thought I'd jot a few things down.

Nothing is better, clothing wise, than a brand new white shirt. What is it about white shirts? I just adore them.  I found one on super sale at Land's End a few weeks back and decided to wear it today. Perfect!

Our Dukie-dog had his annual visit to the vet yesterday for his wellness exam. He is now a 'senior' dog according to the report we received after his exam. He was still a bit off his game last night at bed time. They have to sedate him to trim his nails and it takes several hours for that to wear off. But, his overall health is good and he doesn't have to go back for a year.

The soccer girl has a match tonight and most likely a match on Thursday night. I'm savoring these last few nights of sitting in the bleachers. Our days are numbered. My soccer mom status is rapidly coming to an end. I need a new 'identity' and I guess with the boy arriving at the high school next year, I will become a 'band mom'! Not sure they are as sassy/feisty as the soccer moms, but I will find out.

Off to listen and watch this tutorial. Our national meeting work is complete and I can hear the pallets of stuff being wrapped, taped and readied for shipment to the convention center.

Happy Tuesday.

slipping away

October is slipping away. At work our list of things to do for the national meeting is basically complete. At home, with the flower beds back under control, the outside chores are winding down as cold weather begins to move into the region. Inside the house, I was able to buy two pie pumpkins yesterday and prepared and froze enough pumpkin for both Thanksgiving and Christmas pies.

I also made braciole yesterday! Delicious. I only did 6 of the meat rolls as the store didn't have that much tenderized round steak. It was so good and so nice to enjoy a real Sunday dinner.  I also put away some extra boiled potatoes for potato corn chowder later in the week.

The soccer girl will have another game on Tuesday night. This will be a 'must win' situation as well.

I've been reading quite a bit of late. I have found a cozy mystery series featuring a pizza restaurant and the two sisters who run it. Very light and easy to read.  Our library has them for download, so my Nook is being used daily.

And that is about it! Happy Monday...the week is about to begin.

the rare friday post

I sort of gave up on posting this week. The mornings went by fast and Friday arrived in short order. I'm not complaining. We had a good week.

The soccer girls managed to win their first game in their march to the state championships. Whoop! The middle daughter saw a decent amount of playing time and did a fantastic job.

The oldest daughter seems to have survived her first trip to the student health center at her university. She walked away with two prescriptions, one for a z-pack and one for tamiflu. While her flu test was negative, she was exhibiting the classic flu signs and the doctor went ahead and made a preemptive strike. Dr. Mom approves. Now, if she will just get healthy and stay that way for a while so she doesn't catch every creeping crud bug that crawls her way.

Both the 'at home' kids did well with their first quarter grades. Straight A's all around. Whoop!

Hubby's car finally went kaput, but it at least got him home from the job site he was visiting and is now being repaired. He should have his wheels back tomorrow.

Work was steady and quite entertaining this week. My coworker is drafting her statement of purpose for the PhD program at the local university and that letter along with her regular papers gave me my dose of what it would be like to be finishing up a Masters degree in English and getting ready for a PhD program. Yikes. I will continue to live vicariously through her and enjoy learning and relearning things about Shakespeare and the British Early Modern period. Love it!

I put the second Justin Cronin book on hold at the Library and am anxiously awaiting my turn to read "The Twelve."

Happy Friday, enjoy the weekend and see you next week!

the reclaiming of my flower beds

Back in the early spring, before the oldest's graduation party, we had made a big push to clean the flower beds and spread down some mulch.

Then the next thing I knew, it was October. Yes, I don't believe I did a darn thing to those beds all summer long. The bed on the east side of our house was so overgrown, I was embarrassed. I love to garden and putz around with the landscaping, but when I went back to work full time, I just didn't have enough hours on the weekend to spend that sort of time digging in the dirt.

Hubby graciously offered to help and I accepted, knowing I would be advising him all day long on what was a weed and what was a perennial. It took us 3 hours, but we managed to weed, trim, and reclaim all of the flower beds and shrubs. It actually looks nice again!

We still have a few things to do once the grass goes dormant. The liriope needs to be cut down along with the irises, the mexican petunias and the sedum.

This gardening effort was just one item on our to do list for the weekend. I'm happy to report we checked off all the other items as well.

Happy Monday!

no book sale for me

The Friends of the Library held their fall book sale last weekend. This was the first sale in years that I didn't attend. Due to a variety of events last week, I just never was able to schedule some time to be over there. I'm feeling quite disconnected with that group at the moment, and I guess it was just bound to happen.  I really wanted to stop in and give the lady who has 'managed' the sales for the past 5 years a big hug and say to her loud and clear "Thank you for your hard work."

I guess I will need to find another way to thank her. When I became the president of the group I begged her to keep on as the sale manager until my term was over! She was so reliable, so organized, so good at that job. I knew I didn't have to worry or focus any energy in that direction with her in charge.

Well, I guess I will learn, along with the rest of the members, how the sale went in the next newsletter.

better late than never

I never had a chance to blog this morning. Rather difficult to have quiet time with house guests. So, as the afternoon comes to a close here at the office, I thought I'd sneak a minute or two and jot some thoughts down.

We had some truly chilly weather this morning. It was 43 when I let our dog out to fetch the newspaper. I actually bundled up, ear muffs and gloves, for our morning walk.  Our lunch time stroll was really pleasant, but I kept my jacket on.  I'm not sure if it even hit 70 today, but the weekend looks to be more seasonal with temps back up near 80.

My Nook is without a book right now.  Something wonky is going on with the library's download and go ebook service. Not sure what is happening, but the books I tried to return didn't show as returned. So, I will need to let them expire. Which means, nothing to read for the next four days.

I caught up on my guilty pleasure television watching yesterday while the kids and my sister in law went to the movies. I stayed home with the two dogs and the two roasts I had in the oven.

Looking forward to a soccer match tonight! Off I go!  Hope your day was a good one.

slow down....weekends go by too fast

The long holiday weekend is going by too quickly for me! Today is Monday and although we have today off from work, I wish I could press a rewind button and turn the hands of time back so we could relive Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Senior Night was so much fun. The girls had a great time and it was wonderful to see so many smiling faces. Players, parents, and families enjoyed a friendly inter-squad scrimmage and then a cookout.

Saturday I took the girlies shopping and boy did we shop. The oldest needed some things for fall/winter and the middle kid coerced me into buying her some new sweaters as well as a dress for the soccer banquet and a skirt. Lots of good sales going on, so the bill wasn't too bad.

Yesterday the oldest had to head back to college as her fall break was over. It was so much fun to have her home. Ahhhh, I miss her!!!

Today I am off to Costco with my sister in law to doing some pantry restocking for the next month and she can have fun helping. They don't have Costco up in her part of Indiana, so she enjoys going.

Fantastic start to Fall Break!

countdown to the weekend

I decided to take a half day off tomorrow! I'm so excited. The oldest arrived home and went with us to watch the soccer match. She had fun visiting with her former teachers, the principal she worked for during her study hall, and of course the soccer girls and their parents.

Unfortunately, our ladies lost 2-0. It was heartbreaking. Both goals were scored in the first half on breakaways. Our daughter, yet again, didn't get a lot of playing time. She was heartbroken. This was a very important match and the coach continues to screw around with the rotation and field positions. Middle kid's very best buddy played in 7 different positions last night. Unreal. Unreal. Her mother was livid.

The coach still says, after being with this group of young ladies since July, that he doesn't 'know' them. Really? OMG.

Enough of that though.....as with many things, time will cure this as the season ends at month end.

Off to work and then home tonight to watch the middle kid be inducted into the Cum Laude society. We got her official transcript yesterday....she is number 21 out of 478. One more spot to climb for 'special' recognition. She is amazing!! So very proud of her to have been able to achieve such academic excellence while still playing a competitive sport year round and doing all the extracurricular activities she does.

Enjoy your Thursday!

i'm late!

Oops, running late today. Got a late start on the morning walk and then I've putzed around too long in the kitchen.  Short post, folks. Good day ahead, the oldest comes home for a visit and the middle kid's soccer team faces off against their arch rivals for a major match tonight.

Enjoy your Wednesday!!

banned book week

Banned book week is underway. The event actually received some coverage in our local paper. In the student union at our nearest university, professors are taking time to read aloud from several banned/challenged books. I have also seen some neat posters celebrating the week on facebook.

We did a display in our local library a few years back and created paper chains to wrap up the table where we had placed copies of the banned books. It was quite impressive and garnered several comments.

I had only one book challenged during my two years on the library staff. It was a YA title, one of the few ones geared to boys, that had some 'locker room' language in a scene set in a locker room. Oy vey.  The book stayed put as it was clearly geared towards older YA audiences. This week also reminds me of the set of parents at a local middle school who tried to ban Harry Potter. Then of course there is the whole incident of when our then middle school aged daughter checked out every copy of "The Golden Compass" so the kids who wanted them banned couldn't get to them. I did get her to return them so kids could check them out and see for themselves what the issue was or wasn't.

Happy Tuesday. Be a rebel, go read a banned book!

why, hello there Monday

Monday is here again! What a week it will be. The oldest comes home for a visit. Company arrives for a visit. The dog next door arrives for a visit. Lots of folks arriving and we have something going on almost every evening.

From election debates to the middle kid's induction into Cum Laude to the Senior Night festivities at the soccer field - it is going to be one action packed five days.

And Birthdays abound as well! Today is my uncle Matt's Birthday!! Happy Birthday to you!

Tomorrow is my best friend's birthday! Happy Birthday to Cindy!!

So, it can't help but be a fantastic week. Let's dive in and enjoy the day.

This happy go lucky attitude is brought to you by my sheer determination to ignore the pouring rain outside and imagine a glorious fall morning.

woohoo wednesday

Woohoo! It is Wednesday!!

I'm finding it really hard to believe that this is the last week in September. Wow. October is approaching and as we left the house this morning for our walk, I realized I really need to take the summer flowers out of the basket on the front door and replace them with the fall foliage items I have stored somewhere.

I'm not a floral arranger by any stretch of any imagination. I just stick them in the basket and hope they look okay.

I'm still reading the novel "Fire" by Kristin Cashore. I am enjoying it and need to finish it up before it disappears from my Nook.

The hubby attended the boy's IEP meeting yesterday. Yes, our son has a disability according to our fair state. Being labeled as 'gifted' comes with reams of paperwork. This will be our final meeting as the IEP expires next year once he hits high school. Then the world of AP classes kicks in for him.  The meeting went well and the teacher that attended is one we have known for years and he is getting a big kick out of teaching the boy.

In other news, a young lady who babysat the girls for us back in the day is getting married this weekend. Married! Yikes. She teaches art in the Chicago public schools. Seems like just yesterday she was at our house for a weekend and reading the latest Harry Potter book with the middle kid while the boy napped and I was off to the theater with the oldest for her Nutcracker performance.

Off to work I go! Enjoy the day.

yawn

For some reason, I had a very difficult time falling asleep last night and this morning I'm paying for it. I am so tired and the morning walk did nothing to invigorate me. The coffee would have to be in an IV drip to impact me today.

Our cool weather is giving way to one, I hope, last blast of summer weather. It might reach 90 today.

Today would be a great day to watch some mindless TV and take a nap. Instead I will head off to work and continue to work on the October newsletter(s).

And prop my eyelids open...........

a brand new week

What are we going to do with this brand new week? Even when I wasn't working, Mondays were not my favorite days. There always seems to be a vibe about Monday that screams, the weekend fun is now over, time to get the chores/work/laundry done.

Today I had to go on the morning walk alone. Hubby wouldn't get out of bed, so Duke and I hit the trail and did it in record time. I feel much better for it and am actually looking forward to today.

The girl has a soccer match tonight against one of their local rivals. Should be a good game, or at least I'm hoping it is a good game.  She did talk to one of the coaches on Friday about her playing time, or lack there of. Interesting conversation. Apparently at 12 games into the season, they are still looking at girls and trying to figure out the best positions to play them in for the different lineups. Okay. Really?  We will see how things go tonight. I think she is about ready to write the season off. Really sad what has happened to this squad under the new coach. Our daughter isn't the only one left shaking her head at some of the decisions being made.

As they say: SMH aka Shake My Head.

Okay, off into Monday I go! Think some oatmeal is in order for brekkers today. It is only 51 outside this morning! Whoop!!

Enjoy the day.

yawn

I can't seem to stop yawning this morning. Ugh. The rainy weather moved out of the area in time for my coworker and I to take a nice walk on our lunch break. Beautiful, breezy, sunny, cool weather settled in. It was glorious. Today should be more of the same.

Soccer last night was awful. The team lost to a private school team that we have beat in every match we've played them over the past 5 years. We lost 1-0. The daughter is not happy. She played 14 minutes in the first half and never went back in. To say she is pissed, might be an understatement. But, she told hubby/daddy, that she didn't want to be one of 'those' girls who complains to coach. He told her no one will advocate for you unless you do. If you feel you deserve to be on the field, you need to say something and ask for an explanation.

The season is half over and I seriously doubt this team will make it to state. Another streak will end. I don't know what is going on with the team or with the coach.

In other interesting news, I found out yesterday that I will not be going to the national meeting after all. Registrations are way down and they are cutting the staff who would go. So, three of us are being left at home. Fine by me. Not so fine with the other two. One looked shocked and one looked ticked off. Oh well, get over it ladies. For me, I'd rather they save money and I have a job than the three of us go to a convention for a week.

Happy Wednesday!

rainy day, again

It is yet another rainy day. I managed to get from work, to the grocery store, and home before it really started to come down yesterday afternoon! Today when I let the dog out to retrieve the paper, it was sprinkling and quite humid outside.

This may impact whether or not we have a soccer match to watch tonight. I'm sort of hoping for a rain out. I think I have more going on after work this week than during work this week.

My trip to our national meeting may be curtailed or kaboshed. The directors are meeting today and I imagine that the lack of enthusiasm for the meeting may impact who we send up there. Truthfully, I don't care if I go or not. I can interview people over the phone just as well as I can in person. The face to face dynamic is important, but these folks want to be in the magazine and have their work publicized, so they will cooperate and be flexible.  I'm not worried about it, but my boss is. He has to go and he wants me there.

Still reading and enjoying "Fire" by Kristin Cashore.

That is all! Happy Tuesday.

rain, more rain, and some birthday greeting

The rain forecasted for the next two days is okay with me as it will usher in the cooler temps we have all been waiting for.

Soccer was less than what we hoped for this weekend as the ladies walked away with only one win and two losses. Ugh. This seems to be turning into a long, ugly season.

This weekend I read a very enjoyable YA title, "Graceling" by Kristin Cashore. I have started another one by her, "Fire." Definitely written for an older YA crowd, or the the adults that enjoy reading YA, but I liked the heroine and the storytelling was much better than anything I've read of late.

And that is about it...other than to wish my Mom a most HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!  xoxoxoxo

silence is golden

Our usually loud department was very quiet yesterday as we were working on the national meeting signs. Some periodic sighs and grumbles, but for the most part, it was quiet.  I will be glad when this portion of our work is completed and we can send them off to the printers and be done with it. 

Our 'big' boss gave us a new toy the other day. Animoto will let us create videos of pictures, set them to music and upload them to our social media outlets. I had some fun listening to the songs available. When things settle down, this will be fun to play with.

And that is it for my week. It has gone by quickly and we have plenty of work to go around. I'm ready to slide on into the weekend.

hump day

Ah, Wednesday, my dear friend! So good to see you.

It was a very busy day at work yesterday as we tried to finalize the convention center signs for our national meeting. I spent the day in InDesign land with a few detours into Photoshop world and a side stop at Illustrator.

Today will be more of the same as we make the corrections and updates the departments need on their signs.

Day 3 of our walking is now behind us. The temp is a bit warmer this morning than it has been, but we did have quite a bit of cloud cover as opposed to clear, starry skies.

Read another chapter in my latest book. I downloaded Kristen Cashore's "Graceling." So far so good!

Enjoy the day.

cooler weather

Hubby and I have hauled our sorry selves out of bed the past two mornings to walk. It has finally cooled  enough and the humidity has dropped enough that this is a quite enjoyable way to say 'good morning!' I even snuck out on my lunch break to walk yesterday at work. That was a fantastic treat. I hope to do so again today.

The skies have been clear, lots of stars to see, and the air so brisk and clean.

I had a lot of fun last night watching the powderpuff football games. The seniors won it all and the middle kid had a chance at three interceptions, but soccer players don't use their hands much, so she sort of dropped the ball. But, she did a great job and her boyfriend, and coach, seemed to be quite proud of her.

Fall is in the air. Thank goodness.

I read two books this weekend

I read two books this weekend. Yeah! One was a time travel romance and one was a YA fantasy. I enjoyed both of them, although I wouldn't call either of them 'great' books. They were solid and very entertaining. Just what I needed.

Even better, I downloaded both of them from the library for free. Yeah! I do love our e-library, and the convenience can't be beat.

Over on the side of the blog, I have listed those two books along with one of the B&N "free Fridays" titles I downloaded and read a few weeks ago. That title by Jaye Wells was very fun and I would like to find the rest of that series to read. Our library, however, doesn't own any of them and I would have to purchase them. Bummer.

Off into the work week I go. Should be a busy one as our National Meeting to do list becomes a bit more critical.

Happy Monday!

ready for fall

This blistering heat can leave any time now. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. I am so ready for the clean, crisp fall air. It has been super hot and sticky ever since the remnants of hurricane Isaac swept through our region. Everyone is just worn out with the dog days of summer weather we've endured.

I want to wear jeans and sweatshirts. I want to wear slippers and thick socks.

Come on fall! Get a move on!

needing to read

Oh my gosh. I am feeling a distinct lack of reading in my life! It seems that either I don't have the time for it, or when I do have the time for it, reading is the last thing I want to do.

Ugh!! I looked at my book list on the right side of the blog page and feel sad. I have read more than what is recorded, but wasn't motivated to list those titles. Why? Well, most of the books were pretty lame. Yep. Lame.

I haven't picked a great book in what seems like ages. Is it the books or is it me?

I just finished skimming an Ursula Blanchard mystery. I used to adore this series, but this one couldn't hold my attention. Very disappointed to say the least.

Perhaps if I stop by the library after work today I can find something that will fill this void in my life.

good weekend

Had a wonderful surprise Friday evening. The oldest daughter came home for a visit! She had me totally fooled, as did the hubby, and I had no idea.  We spent the weekend just hanging out, no big events, just a lot of eating and talking.  It was perfect.

I am slowly beating this cold. Feel better today, but still have some lingering yuck/crud.

Off into the work week we go! Happy Tuesday.

the cold from hell, day two

Ugh. Blerg. Sniffle. Hack. Ugh.

Although I did manage to sleep last night, I am feeling pretty nasty this morning. I hope a hot shower can work some miracles as I have quite a bit to do today at work and need to get those things done.

the back to school cold

It never fails. Within three weeks of the kids going back to school, we all end up with colds. The daughter brought this lovely virus home and it then hit the boy and now I have it. Lovely.

Didn't sleep well last night and I feel pretty rough this morning. Ugh.

As long as I'm over the worst of it by the weekend, I will be happy. I don't want to spend my Labor Day holiday on the couch with a big box of tissues next to me.

soccer season

So far so good. The ladies won again last night and our soccer girl scored her second goal of the season, a header this time. Making it even more 'fun' is she is scoring coming off the bench. She, for the first time in a very, very, long time isn't in the starting lineup.

To make matters more interesting, the starting goalie is 'uncertain' for the weekend after a nasty collision in the second half. So, our daughter will be doing some goalie work at practice the next two days as the team prepares for a trip to the eastern section of our state.

Never a dull moment!

smile, it's Monday

Monday. Already.

Where did the weekend go? Well, Saturday was spent doing laundry, cleaning the house, stocking the pantry and then stocking it some more. Sunday was spent at church almost all day as the youngest is confirmed this year and we had a special Mass for all the 8th graders and their families followed by a picnic and the information packet handout/lectures. As he is our third to be confirmed, we sort of know the drill. Didn't see anything in the packet that has changed one iota from when the oldest did this 5 years ago.

Off to work I go. Tonight the soccer team faces the suburban Catholic high school. I usually looked forward to this match as we would get to see some players and families we knew from club soccer season. However, all those kids are now at college!  This match will be a real test of how they are doing. The first two were easy wins, this one won't be.

Okay, Monday, here we go into the week!  Looks like it could be a rainy one for us - Isaac is making his way toward the Gulf Shore and we will see 'weather' from when this storm hits land.

It is Thursday all day long

Oh my, how I wish today was my Friday! It has been a very busy, hectic, crazy week and I am so ready for the weekend.

Soccer match tonight for the middle kid. Love it! The senior banners have been hung up at the field and they look awesome.

I have social media stuff to do all day at work, plus more abstract/platform editing to do. Then there is the after work-work on this political campaign. More social media stuff to accomplish there. I really want to get my part done before Saturday, I'd like a weekend to do my more mundane jobs like clean the house and stock the pantry.

Talked to the oldest yesterday afternoon. She loved her first day of classes. I believe she attended three of them: Honors Calculus, Chemistry and an Intro to Engineering session. Today will hold more of the same for her as the Calc and Chem classes meet almost daily and she attends a different Intro to Eng class. She is also enjoying being able to eat at her sorority house instead of the dining hall. She said a roasted turkey, a baked potato, salad and fresh fruit never tasted so good. No fried, greasy food choices to be found.

So exited I had a chance to pop in the library and grab a book to read. I found the latest Ursula Blanchard mystery. Ursula is a 'wrong side of the bed sister' to Queen Elizabeth and has also served as one of Cecil's spies. Good stuff.

It is Thursday all day long. Make it a good one!

first game of the season

The middle daughter scored a goal last night! Of course, her Daddy and I weren't on hand to see it. Ugh. The oldest had called home and we had a multitude of things to discuss. We arrived seven minutes into the first half and our team was already up 2-0. They went on to win 7-0.

It was so much fun to be back in the stands with our soccer parent buddies watching the girls play. A lot of the students came and watched - a very male dominated cheering section. Even the principal remarked how well supported the team is, to which the female assistant principal said that it doesn't hurt that the girls are super cute. The asst. principal has taken the team and the program under her wing and really looks out for the players.

All in all a very good night!

the daily grind

Life has been a bit of a grind, especially as work of late. We are trying hard to finish the abstracts and get those off our plate. We also have a newsletter to layout, edit and send off. We have the next journal to finish up.  Lots of bits and pieces and lots of 'grind.'

I saw the following on facebook this morning and thought I must just have to print it off and hang it on my cubicle wall so I can see it.

“You must write every single day of your life... You must lurk in libraries and climb the stacks like ladders to sniff books like perfumes and wear books like hats upon your crazy heads... may you be in love every day for the next 20,000 days. And out of that love, remake a world.”―Ray Bradbury

I guess I could wear our scientific journals on my head like a hat. In our department, that might draw a chuckle, or two.

Happy Tuesday!

sorority girl

So the oldest is now a sorority girl. She received her bid on Saturday morning and is now on a retreat with her new pledge sisters and other members of the ADPi house at her university.  She is thrilled, excited and very happy that she went on the adventure that is rush.

I'm happy because this sorority has the highest GPA on the university campus and hope that the advice and encouragement of her sisters keep her on task!

And as it is Monday, I'm still rather groggy and not quite capable of putting together more of a blog post. So, farewell for today......enjoy Monday!

quick updates

Well, it has been a crazy, emotional rollercoaster of a ride the last ten days. Oy vey!  We got the oldest to the university and she is doing super-d-duper so far. She is loving sorority rush and has made several new friends. Funny thing about the girls she found to hang out with; they are all from up north, or were born up north and moved south due to job relocation like she did. Does my heart good to know she found some Yankee sisters. She heads into the final round of rush on Friday, we hope. She had 6 houses to visit for Skit Days and will have to select her top three houses at this next 'cut.' Then she will get her invites back for Preference Night. Ugh. Hoping she lands in one of her favorites - she has four houses she really likes.

We made it to Missouri and back for my grandmother's funeral. Saw a lot of family I hadn't seen in almost a decade. The weather was perfect and the service was really nice. The flowers my mom ordered were gorgeous. My grandmother would have loved them. My mom delivered a beautiful eulogy and I was able to stumble through mine. Didn't quite have the 'ugly' cry going, but I didn't hold it together very well. Oh well, I said what I wanted to say and I feel good about it.

Now I have to return to work for the next two days. I kind of feel like a zombie. I'm mentally tired. Lots of chapters closing in my life with the oldest daughter off on her own and my grandmother passing away.

But we are moving forward! On a funny note, the soccer fanatics that we are, the girls follow several of the US Women's National Team and of course they cheered them on during the Olympics. On Twitter, Megan Rapinoe has a follower called the Rapignome. It is a little gnome who randomly shows up in photos with Megan and tweets about his adventures on the pitch.  The girls love this and hats off to whoever thought up this bit of brilliance.

Yesterday while the hubby and I were out running errands, we swung by Lowe's and picked up a gnome for the middle daughter and the senior girls to enjoy.  His name is Rondo the Dragongnome. Rondo is the name they use for a set play on a corner kick and has evolved into a word that describes just about anything they do on the field now! Rondo the gnome magically appeared in the middle daughter's soccer bag. When she left for practice last night she found him and a note explaining how the Rapignome sent his friend Rondo to the team.  She was laughing so hard she could hardly breathe. I may post a picture of Rondo. He is quite dapper.

Okay, off into the day I go. The weekend is approaching, thank goodness!

my grandmother

My grandmother died yesterday morning. Her funeral will be next Tuesday. If I can, this is what I'm going to try and read in her memory.

In many ways it doesn’t seem all that long ago that we gathered here to say goodbye to Grandpa Gibbs. 

Back then my children were all in elementary school. But time has passed. Just last week Scott and I drove our oldest daughter to the University of Alabama to begin college. Yes, time has passed.

We are now gathered here to say goodbye to Grandma Gibbs. I debated about trying to write an essay about her. It was difficult for me to share my memories of Grandpa and I just wasn’t sure if I’d be able to get through reading whatever I was able to write down.

But, my need to talk about her and remember her outweighed my reservations. You see, just this past Saturday I was in the kitchen making Julia her ‘send off’ meal. She had asked for chicken and dumplings, cornbread, green beans, squash and chocolate cake. When I started getting out the eggs, shortening and flour to make the dumplings, I called Julia and Abbey into the kitchen so they could watch and learn. They love to eat chicken and dumplings, but making them, well, that is another matter.

Abbey’s comment was, “It would be a lot easier if you had these measurements written down.”  I laughed. Yep, it sure would, but that isn’t how I learned. I had to watch Grandma and my Mom make them and learn to ‘eye ball’ the measurements.

Needless to say, this last batch of chicken and dumplings was pretty tasty. Not quite as good as Grandma’s, but maybe with some more years of practice, I might come close!

I have many memories about Grandma that involve food. It was one way she showed her love. Pecan pie, thumbprint cookies, German chocolate cake, fried chicken. All made by her for us to enjoy.

Speaking of enjoyment, I don’t think I will ever see a Beanie Baby and not think of her. I asked her once why she started collecting them and she said that growing up she didn’t have a lot of toys, so she was going to buy and enjoy them now. And boy did she ever! Beanie babies were everywhere!!

She liked to do crafts and enjoyed crocheting. I still have the afgan she made for me when I got my first apartment. She also liked to garden and took such pride in her plants. Remember when she was going to learn to play the organ? Remember how she always had a pack of gum in her purse?

We all have different memories and in the end that is what life is about. Good ones will carry us through the hard times. And as the years pass, and they will do just that, we can look back and smile and remember.

frying pan, fire and my inability to say no

Guess I am making up for lost time.

Last night I got a call from one of the men in town who has decided to run for alderman. He had been by the house the night before to get our signatures on his petition to run. He is jumping into the race about 30 days late, but has made up for his delayed entry with a lot of energy.

He was calling me to ask me to serve on his committee. Yep. Guess my name had been bandied about a bit by him, my husband and several other members on his committee.

Why am I doing this? Am I a glutton for punishment as the saying goes? Do I like fires more than frying pans? Well, no, not exactly.

I've always wanted to work on a political campaign. Sort of a bucket list thing. I'm interested in politics. I care deeply about our town and am concerned about the way the town board has voted on some recent issues. If we are allowed to continue the path towards a municipal school district, we need some common sense, business sense and devotion to the project. We need a power shift on multiple levels and I think this man can deliver that.

So, I'm in. His first meeting is tonight. Plus, I figure, being busy over the next few months might be a very good thing.

the church ladies

We sit in the same pew each Sunday and, in general, the same people sit around us. We have the two widow ladies who sit behind us, and the older couple who sit to the right of us, a retired couple in front of us, and a family from the neighborhood in front of them. There are assorted other people who are sometimes mixed in, like the Hispanic lady who wears really strong perfume and the lone guy who is a brother-in-law to my oldest daughter's best friend.

They all know the oldest is heading off to college. They've all asked questions along the way about where she is going and such. One of the widow ladies is a HUGE fan of the university she is attending and is pleased as punch that is where she will be going to school. The older couple have a daughter who played soccer, was a goalie, and went to the same high school as my girls. The neighborhood couple's oldest son is heading off to his second year of college next week and she has been a wonderful sounding board for all things 'college.'

Yesterday at church during  the Sign of Peace one of the ladies asked "When does she leave for school."  I managed to say "Wednesday." Yep, I was having a moment as I realized that next Sunday I wouldn't be standing next to my baby girl in the pew, holding her hand as we said the Lord's Prayer or giving her a hug and kiss at the Sign of Peace. Well, of course, they all heard. Lots of knowing smiles.

After Mass, the oldest was hugged and advised by all of the church ladies who have sat around us for years. This wasn't an unexpected event. It wasn't a remarkable event. But, it was wonderful.

The daughter was beaming. I still had tears in my eyes. I have them now!  But, as we finish packing and getting those last minute things she needs, I know that she will be okay.

mommy woes

We've had such a whirlwind of a summer with trying to get the oldest ready for college. We are now one week away from her move in date. The dining room is piled with boxes, containers, bags etc. The packing of her clothes will begin over the weekend.

The middle kid is trying to finish up her summer work. When I arrived home yesterday, she and two of her buddies were watching the movie version of "All the King's Men." I know she has read half the book, but it seems that the other two were a bit behind on that task. Their paper is due Monday.

The youngest will get to tour his new school on Saturday afternoon. We should be getting the email with his homeroom teacher's name tomorrow.

Lots of emotions going through the house right now and we are all feeling it. The oldest told me yesterday that she is afraid she will lose touch with her sister. They are very different girls, but they've always been buddies. The middle kid is nervous about her college applications and trying to decide where to attend school and what to study once she gets there.

The youngest, well, we just need to keep him out of trouble and make sure he is doing his homework and turning it in!!

The kids are keeping my thoughts jumping around, my emotions right at the surface, and my eyes blurry with tears.

I'm excited, happy, scared, anxious, worried etc.  As my dear, dear friend Cindy told me, "You pray a lot and hope for the best. You pray that you gave them the tools they need to navigate their path in life and hope they have the good sense to use them!"

Happy Thursday.

Getting the word out

It has always been a challenge to get the word out about the cool programs and resources at the library. When I was on staff we launched newspaper columns to promote activities and new 'things.'  They let the column fade away after I left, but it has now been resurrected due to the efforts of the awesome adult reference librarian they hired a year ago.

They promote in house as much as possible, but most people don't read signs let alone flyers. It is a challenge.

The board did a bit of brainstorming last night on how to get the word out about all the new digital resources the library has to offer. Beyond ebooks, they have audio books available for download, movies you can stream, children's books you can download, magazines etc. The director has done a great job of compiling some amazing resources for a facility of our size with the shoe string budget she is given.

We did have some ideas for her including target emails to teachers, utilizing the electronic newsletters that go out into the community from the Friends and even the Farmer's Market.

It was a good meeting, but a long one. And, I was voted in as secretary. Honorary position as I don't have to do much beyond read the meeting transcript and make sure it is complete. My kind of job. Ha Ha.

library board meeting

After what will be a very long day at work, I have a library board meeting tonight. My mission at that meeting is to avoid being named an officer. The main purpose of the meeting is to accept the monetary donations that have come in over the last several months. The bulk of the money, as usual, is from the Friends.

But, the director will have her presentation and will spend quite a bit of time going through all that information.

Going to be a long day.

summer is over

Although the calendar doesn't reflect that summer is over, it is in our house. This final week of vacation before classes begin will be filled with finishing summer work, buying school supplies and getting ready to start the new school year.

The middle kid goes to register tomorrow. I've already pulled out her proof of residency. The youngest will tour the brand new middle school on Saturday. The oldest is finishing up her packing for college.

I need a do-over.

olympics

I love the Olympics and it was so fun to see the updates from the women's soccer match yesterday. I couldn't watch it 'live' as I was at work, but did catch a replay of it after I got home.

The love that the Games are in London. I visited London years ago. I'm not going to calculate just how many years ago it was, it will just make me sad that I've never managed to get back over there. But, plans are underway to visit again for my 50th birthday. Or, at least, that is my goal.

So, happy Olympics to everyone! Lots of great stories, characters and plots to watch!

antsy

I woke up feeling restless this morning. I'm working on the cover for the Foundation's annual report and a solution popped into my head at 4:30 this morning. I did manage to doze until hubby's alarm chimed a half hour later.

Sitting still might be a challenge today. Happy Wednesday.

a wide variety of randomness

My dining room holds a steadily growing collection of items for the oldest's dorm room. As she said the other day, "This is really happening." Yes, yes it is.

The picture of the Colorado shooter is on the front page of my newspaper this morning and is more than a bit freaky.  Why is no one explaining how the guy got into the theater in the first place? Was he let in by someone who opened that back theater door? Was it propped open earlier?

Hats off to Anne Rice. Her publisher has shaken the dust off her erotic trilogy and they are now for sale in Target. Take that 50 Shades!

Speaking of Target, why is it so fun to shop there?

Are people really going to boycott Chick-Fil-A due to their CEO's comments about gay rights, marriage equality etc? No more chicken biscuits? Hmmmm.

Penn State loses some football glory, some money, and a statue is moved. Big deal. Some young boys lost 'things' that can never be replaced.

I am now officially hooked on yet another TV program. I got suckered into watching Political Animals and now have an official 'girl-crush' on Sigourney Weaver yet again. Of course, Ripley was one of my all time favorite kick-ass heroines. Now she is playing a Hilary type character and is kicking ass in Washington. You go girl.

And that is all the randomness I can bring forth for now. Enjoy Tuesday.

a missing week

I needed to visit the library on Friday after work. The director and I had been exchanging emails all afternoon and it was time for a sit down in order to make sure we were all set for the CLC program to start. The funny thing was that when I walked into her office, she looked up and laughed. She was just sending me another email to suggest I stop by for a visit.  Great minds.

We got everything ready and the books will be available starting today.  I also heard from one of my 'senior' friends and she is on board with being on the panel for the WWII round-table next month. Yeah.

Seems like many of the pieces have fallen into place and I have some breathing room now before the one program I am in charge of begins.

I also picked up a couple of new books from Melissa de la Cruz. This is an adult series about a family of witches. The first one is pretty good.

We also noticed yesterday that somehow the hubby, the oldest and I misplaced a week. This upcoming Friday is the alumni soccer match. It is also the date for a business colleague's open house and it is the day that the oldest was invited with a bunch of her friends to join in on a trip to a local lake resort. As of right now, the open house invite has been declined and the oldest is not playing in the soccer match and is going to the lake. We thought we had a week before all of that happened, but we don't. It is this Friday not next. Ugh.

Happy Monday.

right now

Right now the middle kid is getting ready for her soccer bonding trip. She is very excited to be spending a long weekend away with her best buddies. Those girls are so supportive and encouraging to each other - that doesn't always happen. But in this group, they all truly like and care for one another. It is a wonderful thing to see.

Right now hubby is getting ready to read the paper. He never finished yesterday's paper, although he tried to do so, twice.

Right now, I need to be getting ready for work, but the liquid energy in my coffee cup hasn't kicked in just yet.

Right now I am wondering how the Literacy Council meeting went last night. I didn't go. It was the first one I missed. I had too many other things to do and frankly, I needed the break.

Right now I sort of wish it was Saturday morning!

Enjoy Thursday...we only get one this week!

deja vu

Yesterday I took the  middle kid for her senior pictures. Although we got off to a slow start, our 4:30 appointment didn't get underway until 5:15, the session went well. We will be heading back over there tonight to look at the proofs and select the pictures for the yearbook.

The kids usually choose an outdoor/environmental photo for their main yearbook picture, but formal cap and gown photos are also taken and must be selected for the big composite picture the school keeps and for the top 20 scholars from the class.

Last year, for our personal collection, we selected the classic drape and pearls photo for the oldest. I will want the same pose of the middle kid. Timeless.

School will start in just a few weeks and within "days" graduation will be upon us yet again. It all happens much too quickly it seems.

But, we still have some summer left to enjoy. We do have a few days to not think about homework, soccer matches and those first weeks of college.

I'm going to push away those deja vu feelings and focus on what is going on right NOW.

you are released

Such sweet words to hear yesterday afternoon. I was placed in the 7th pool of jurors they called and assigned to a criminal court to be considered for jury duty on an aggravated robbery case. They took half our pool, 20 people, and placed them in the jury box. After the lawyers did their work, 6 were dismissed and the rest of us were also released. The judge thanked us and told us we were off the hook for the next 10 years.

It was a very long and tiring day. Uncomfortable rooms, uncomfortable chairs and lots of waiting around. I was glad to be out of there at 3:30 and on my way home.

I got home and the oldest and I went to early voting. This was her first time. In line behind us was the former high school principal - one of the scholarships she won was named in his honor. That was fun! A lot of other friends and neighbors in line as well. I've never had to wait that long before and I bet the turnout is incredible with the local school issues on the ballot.

Happy Tuesday, off to work I go, a much better destination than the criminal court building.

two words

Jury. Duty.

summer reading

I miss my summer reading routine and the sheer number of books I could plow through during June and July. Often when I get home from work, I'm too busy and experiencing too much eye fatigue to even want to open a book.

Last night, I had a literacy council meeting and I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel on that project. I agreed to steward the one program at the library and to provide the library with some promotional materials. Beyond that, once the poster is completed, I am pretty much finished. I may have some social media stuff to do, but that is about it.

Tonight we have Meet the Player night for the high school soccer team. It is really all about the checkbook. We need to pay fees for the season. Cha-ching. I hope we get to hear from the new coach and get a sense of who he is. The middle kid has been pretty quiet on that front. In many ways, I don't think it matters one bit to her as this is her final season. She is more concerned with having a great time with her friends and I can't say that I blame her.

But, back to my lack of reading. I did get through the latest Laurell K. Hamilton novel featuring Anita Blake. "Kiss the Dead" was okay. Anita is so much more interesting to me when she is working a case instead of working out her relationships with her many, many boyfriends.

I am trying to read the second Glen Duncan werewolf novel, "Talulla Rising."  He writes what is basically literary horror fiction. I find myself grimacing a lot as I read his books, but I keep reading them.


Off I go into Thursday. I have a big project at work to do...and it is on Blogger! Yeah! 

are you sure?

The oldest got the email with her move in date. Not a Friday as I'd hoped, but a Thursday. Okay. Fine. Are you sure?

I hope this is the final adjustment to the move in schedule. We have canceled one reservation and made another one, this time at a hotel right next to campus. So in one way, the change was a benefit for us as we now won't have an hour drive the morning of the move in.

The kid is going to meet with her roomie and begin to nail down their packing lists.

Are you sure this is happening? Yep. I think we are sure. Ready or not, here she comes.

glitch in the matrix

Okay, so I thought we had the rest of the summer figured out in regards to timing, schedules, days off etc. Of course, sorority rush is now putting a big glitch in our matrix.

Due to overwhelming numbers of young women participating, they've moved the start of rush back one day. So it will now begin on Friday night instead of Saturday night. Which also means, according to their letter, that move in dates will be reconfigured.

My guess is she will move in on Friday morning now. Which means we need to be down that way Thursday night. I will need to take another day off work. Great.

It also means that the youngest will need to spend the night somewhere so he gets off to school on Friday as he should. The middle kid has a ton of soccer stuff that week, so she will be out of pocket and I don't want to add more to her plate.

Guess I need to look at my vacation day spread sheet yet again. I think I need to channel my inner Neo. Mr. Anderson is now a major SEC university.

school supplies

The Target sale flyer in Sunday's paper contained the first school supply sales I've seen so far this summer. Ugh.  The whole 'get ready for school' push is coming. Fast.

And to hammer the point home that summer is basically over, soccer tryouts are today. This year, unlike the previous two years, only one soccer girl is heading off to the field to show them her stuff.

We did the biannual closet, dresser, shoe rack purge yesterday. Both girls hacked through their things with a fair amount of ruthlessness and filled several bags with items that are too small, too worn out, or out of style.

Yes, my girls do wear things out, just one of the hazards of soccer. Some stains don't come out and after a while the tee shirts that have a good amount of grime and grunge need to be pitched. Never fear though, they have enough tee shirts to pretty much go a month without repeating. I swear tournament shirts multiply like rabbits when the dresser drawer is closed.

In other shopping news, we have a list of items to procure over the next month for the oldest and her upcoming adventures in dorm living.

Plus, the boy is going to need some serious back to school clothes shopping. He had grown more than a couple inches since school dismissed for the summer. None of his jeans fit. Thank goodness he can start school in shorts.

Yep. Welcome to July.

hiatus

Taking the next few days off from blogging. May spend some more time over at Pinterest.  Happy Independence Day!

melting

Hot. Hotter. Hottest.

Those brief few hours we had on the gulf shore were wonderful. I'd give a lot to be able to step out some sliding doors onto a balcony and watch the morning break over the gulf.

Instead, I'm stepping out the front door into the mid-south heat and humidity in order to walk the dog. Then it is a day full of errands, including taking our van to the shop for a check-up. Thankfully the funny noise started at the town limits and not in another state.

It is Monday.

buzzwords

I was working on some content yesterday. That was how I thought of it, which when I realized that was the label in my head, I laughed. I wasn't working on article, features, stories, letters....nope, it was content.

Just a couple of weeks earlier, my boss and I made a list of the current buzzwords in the communications universe. I don't have enough coffee in me to recreate the list, but 'content' is one. It is often used in the following phrases: editorial content, content curation, and editorial content curation. Heck, 'curation' is a new one. Not curator...that would be the person doing the curation.....Ha! I see curation used all the time in reference to social media. We must curate our content!

Buzzwords sneak into our vocabulary. When you read journals, blogs, newspapers, magazines and other communication vehicles, you can't help but absorb these phrases. I really need to bring that list home and add the other phrases we identified.

****Here are more of these industry buzzwords, or as my blog friend Lisa said, jargon! That word escaped me at 5:00 a.m. this morning!******

Monetize organically
Best practices
Social media platforms

A long time ago, in another life it seems, a seminar I attended warned us of using bank-lingo when we talked to customers. That warning still applies today.

These buzzwords don't mean diddly to folks outside the industry.

Happy Thursday.

lift off

The magazine was given the green light by the BOT over the weekend, which means I have actual work to get done. We had a department meeting yesterday, a conference call with the media analyst/expert gal a few hours later and I sent the first draft of the new emailed newsletter template out for review.

Today my boss and I are sitting down ( may have to glue him to his seat ) and laying out the departments for the new magazine.

With an editorial advisory board being appointed, all science geeks, we need to have a road map for this magazine or we could end up in big trouble. They love to get off topic and need some strong management in order to keep them on task when it comes to things like this. Smart, smart people, but when it comes to this magazine, well, it isn't their realm of expertise.

That is what they have Journalism majors for! Time to start earning my money.

running amok

We have two projects underway in the house and I'm not sure which is worse. The middle kid is busy trying to do her AP/Honors summer work and the oldest is busy trying to finish up her sorority rush recommendation efforts.

I think the oldest has her project well in hand, at least for the moment. The golden number of two solid recs for each of the 16 houses at her university is in sight. Yahoo.

The middle kid is working while complaining about her essays, books and all the other assorted tasks that come with 4 AP classes during a senior year. I tried to forewarn her about packing her schedule like that and the amount of work that would be required during June and July, but my concerns were shrugged off. Sort of like how I am shrugging off her complaints! Suck. It. Up. Soccer. Princess.

I have delivery duties this week. The youngest has to be taken to a drop off/pick up point for science camp. Luckily it is in the vicinity of my office, so, it isn't bad duty, but it does mean I have to leave 30 minutes earlier than I'm used to doing.

So, on that note, we shall all continue to run amok towards month end and get ready, sort of, for July.

Over and out.

short week

Danger...short week ahead! I have a lot to do before we depart for points south on Thursday afternoon. Hubby is also busy and will be more in the car than out of it as several last minute meetings, on the other side of our fair state, have now cropped up.

Beside work, I have more literacy council stuff to do plus a meeting for them this week.

Better get moving!

going home again

Summer is going by much too quickly for me. This morning I'm wishing I had a week long vacation; a real leave work on Friday and take the whole next week off. What a treat that would be. But, I know I won't see an extended break like that until Christmas time.

My bestest buddy, we've been friends since we met on the first day of college, is moving back to where we grew up. Her hubby took a job at the BIG university in town and after living on the East Coast, in England, in France, and in other locales in the Midwest they are returning to where it all started. She is happy he has a good job again, she's happy that she will be close to her mom who is not in the best of health, but she is having very mixed feelings about moving back 'home.'

I can understand that. She and her hubby left 26 years ago and now they are returning. You really can't go home again, in the true sense of the word. Beyond family, she doesn't know anyone there anymore. She is going to try and connect with some of the friends I had up there - folks I met after she had moved away. Before I moved away.

It is hard to start over. New church. New schools. New neighborhood. At some point, the comfort of the routine and the familiar is well.....comforting. Maybe more so when so many internal family things are spinning wildly - she will have two in college, two in high school, and two in elementary school. Lots of adjusting on many fronts.

Enough of that for today, it is Thursday after all and the weekend is coming up! And that is always a great thing.

lots to do

My workload  is steadily climbing this week with the big meetings happening on Thursday and Friday. My old boss is in town and he is getting things ready for the Foundation meeting tomorrow afternoon. They also meet for a while on Friday. Yes, I will be sitting in on both meetings.

Today I have to train my replacement on how to process the weird donations we receive. Got one yesterday which will be perfect for her to learn from.

I worked yesterday fixing forms for this year's National Meeting and creating a document that we can convert to a pdf of all the various workshops being held at that meeting. Kept me busy for hours, but by the end I had a splitting headache.

I've been adjusting okay to the progressive lenses.....or so I thought. Yesterday was not fun. My eyes move way faster than should be allowed with these new glasses. I need to move my head more I think. Once I stopped working, the headache subsided. Guess I will just have to be more aware of how I am looking up and down and back and forth! Ugh.

Yeah, it is Wednesday!!

what a nice weekend

I sort of forgot what weekends are like. Of late, we've been working so hard on Saturday and Sunday that no one has felt rested or recharged when Monday rolls around. We had a lovely, slow, not much going on weekend and it was long over due.

We took the oldest to purchase her 'class' ring. We avoided the nasty things they sell through Jostens and Balfour and instead she selected a very pretty pearl ring from James Avery.

The hubby worked  on my laptop. It had been acting up, the blue screen of death appeared and everything. So he took time to do a 'nuke and pave' to it. Dumped everything important off it and reinstalled the operating system. We have to give it a trial run this morning.

I have been using the kids' laptop for the last two weeks. I hope mine is all better as the thought of purchasing a laptop for the big kid to take to the university with her and getting a new one for me at the same time wasn't in the budget.

Shout out to my blog friend, Lisa! Lisa, hope you are doing better today!!

Happy Monday!

fuggedaboutit

I didn't quite forget to blog yesterday, but I did run out of time. So, here is the rare Friday post.

The middle kid is on round two of pain medicine. They stepped her down a notch and called in something to help her over the next few days. She is still having some discomfort, although the swelling is down and the spaces where those wisdom teeth used to be are looking really good. The oldest had the same issue and if memory serves, similar healing time/issues.

Tonight hubby and I head over to the new Town museum. I'm quite excited to see the displays and interactive kiosks as I was a member of one of the initial groups who offered input on the early conceptual designs for this effort.

I'm hoping we can partner with the museum for one of the community reading event programs this fall. We'd like to do a round-table discussion of our Town during WWII. I think the museum would be the perfect host and the new curator a wonderful moderator!

I actually have had quite a bit of work to do this week at the office and today I have a huge power point presentation to finish for the big boss. She is traveling to South Africa next week for a presentation, visit, and lecture.

My coworker is back from Brazil and had plenty of stories to tell us about her vacation. Our little department is now running at full strength, yet again.

Happy Friday!

soccer

Our high school is getting a new head soccer coach for both the boys and girls. His appointment was announced via email yesterday and then he sent his own email out to the group late last night. He even attached his coaching credentials.

With the middle kid being a senior now, it is going to be interesting to see just how quickly this new guy changes things and what he opts to keep the same.

In other soccer news, the director of coaching for our competitive soccer club has asked all of the middle kid's teammates to meet him at the field today if they are going to play soccer at all in the spring. So, even though she isn't planning on playing club soccer, she is going. This Brit coached her for one season and she and her teammates loved him. So, one of her friends will pick her up and take her to the field so she can hear what he has to say.

We have been watching a lot of soccer on TV. I think we planned the wisdom teeth extraction at a good time as the Europeans have been keeping the kid glued to the telly and firmly seated in the recliner. The oldest daughter was able to dig her Poland jersey out of the closet and wear it yesterday as they Poles faced off against Russia.

Just kickin' it around here....in oh so many ways.