Snack Schedule Sarcasm

Tonight my son's undefeated team, lost.  A true nail biter.  Down to the last 1.6 seconds of the game and down by one point, they inbounded the ball.  Time for one pass and a shot from under the basket.  The ball circled around and around the rim, and fell out. 

Truly a good game; however, some of the kids were just not playing their normal game.  When we got home at about 6:45p.m., my son said he wasn't hungry.  He didn't care what I made for dinner but he wanted it, "later". 

After an allergy attack from putting blue lights (don't get me started Meijer was out of white lights) on my Christmas tree and my eyes begging to swell shut, I went into the bathroom to take out my contacts before they were permanently sealed in my eyelids.  My son was taking a shower and we chatted more about the game. 

He informed me that the double cheeseburger before the game probably wasn't a good idea.  WHAT?  I knew that as parents, we were responsible for bringing a snack as outlined in the handout at the beginning of the season.  I assumed snacks were similar to every other sport he's played for the past...ten years...a drink and fruit snacks or fruit or chips or something to be given at the end of the game.  WRONG.

T informed me that snacks are eaten prior to the game.  According to T he said that snacks are typically a little healthier: pb&j, ham sandwiches or something.  Today, they were double cheeseburgers from Burger King!  Not only that, they also had fruit snacks, a granola bar AND a drink.  All of that before playing 4 - 6 minute periods of 8th grade basketball. 

Whose genius idea is that?  If I didn't know better, I would have guessed that the snack was provided by the opposing team.  Seeing that I am responsible for snacks the last game of the season - maybe I will get deluxe Jet's pizzas and a pudding filled cake and ice cream to be devoured BEFORE the game. 

What a grand idea. Grand indeed.

Teen Room Transformation

T turned 13 in March.  He officially became a teenager.  His bedroom (although I didn't take a before picture - and can't find one on my camera or computer) has been painted twice in the past 11 years.  He continues to have the same bedroom furniture that he has had since he was 3.  My mom had purchased the bedroom set: bunk bed, two dressers and a book shelf.  They are excellent quality but I thought maybe it was time to upgrade.  When T was 3, the bed was on the floor and then years later it moved up to the bunk, where he continued to sleep in his twin size bed.

I offered to repaint.  I offered to add sports border.  I offered to redo his trunk chest.  I offered a new bed.  I offered a new bedroom set.  No, No, No, Well, No.    I had purchased the full size bed for the guest room last year with the intention that it would be T's.  A week ago Friday, I had T sleep in the bed to see if he wanted it or we could go bed shopping.  T decided he liked the bed and it would be fine.  He also decided he wanted the area rug from the living room for his bedroom floor.  He wanted to keep the same colors and not have me repaint.  Less work for me = Love it!

The weekend before Thanksgiving, I spent reorganizing the rooms.  Always an adventure.  I managed to take down the bunk bed and had T clear off the floor, bench and the tops of his dressers.  The room was clear with the exception of the two dressers that I just moved to lay down the rug and moved into position.  I put up the bunk in the spare bedroom.  While not completely functional for guests, it can be appropriate for a foster child that may require respite. 

Guest Bedroom

The afghan was made by my grandmothers and I figured for now, it can cover the crazy fabric of the couch.  I am still planning on organizing the closet and then the plan will be to put the dresser into the closet.  That's the idea anyway.  Then if other company come, I will put the aero bed underneath the bunk.  Seeing that I seldom have overnight guests, I'm not too worried at this point, although I have also considered getting a twin size bed for under the bunk.  Decisions...

Other than dropping the mattresses on my leg while wedging in the bed frame and pinching my index finger in the metal bed frame, I managed to move the bedrooms with little issue, well little blood.  T and I went through both drawers and I made him try on everything.  The following day, I went through and reorganized his closet.  It is amazing how much room he really has!

Clean & Organized, For a Minute...

We attempted to find a comforter set, but didn't find one that was quite right.  He liked a queen size comforter at Meijer that was very grown up (which I purchased for him (or me) for Christmas) on the Saturday after Black Friday for a great steal!  I noticed that he was sitting on the floor with his computer on his dresser.  I asked T if he would like a desk, which he said yes.  On Black Friday I purchased a desk that he had found online at Staples for a steal!  Then I went to the hotel restore and grabbed a desk chair that the clerk discounted $10 as the height lever wasn't working!  I picked up a great queen sized down alternative comforter set at Target for $24.99!

I assembled his desk and added his new bedding last weekend for an early Christmas present.  For less than $80, his room is officially transferred into a great room for him to enjoy through his teens!  And the best thing, when he came home tonight and opened his closed door, he was surprised AND, HE LOVES IT!

Vermont Travels & Karma

I previously posted about my upcoming Vermont non-Vacation here. Clearly my road trip was nothing like my cross country adventure of 2009 as posted on day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4 or day 5. 

Sunday night (during our disc adventure and errands) I stopped by my office and looked for my Lions Thanksgiving Day football squares and checked in for my Monday morning flight and printed off my boarding passes.  My flight was at 11:30a.m. out of Southbend, Indiana.  I had confirmed with my friend that Southbend was on the same time zone as Chicago, an hour behind Michigan.

Monday morning after taking T to school, I had plenty of time to freeze the chili I had made throughout the night in the crock pot.  I finished packing my overnight backpack and picked up the house.  I left the house with plenty of time.  I stopped just shy of the Indiana border and fueled up the car so that my sister-in-law had a full tank.  I also went inside and bought a couple of lottery tickets and two Sobe Life Waters.  I realized I was overcharged and I waited in line for the .69 overcharge. 

I walked back out to my car, with my $11 plus change crammed in my pockets.  I noticed a silver PT Cruiser was still at a nearby pump.  I was then approached by a man in his mid-thirties in a hoodie that resembled a guy I grew up with.  He apologized for having to ask, but they had "puttered into the station on fumes and were trying to get to Michigan City" and he asked if I had any spare change.  I reached in my pocket and left the change and handed him $11.00.  He looked at it, dumbfounded and asked if I was serious.  "Have a safe trip and holiday."  And I thought to myself, Karma.  If he was lying, Karma. 

I continued on the way to Southbend and chatted on the phone with my mom.  I decided I would grab a sub from Subway before arriving at the airport.  I was surprised that my phone hadn't auto corrected the time.  When I walked in Subway I inquired as to the time.  11:18a.m.  OH. MY. WORD.

Apparently, Southbend is in the same time zone. There was no way I could get back the two miles, park the car and make my 11:30a.m. flight.  NO. WAY.  So I did what I do best, I ordered my foot long sub.  I then drove to the airport, parked up front in short-term parking for my sister-in-laws convenience and I walked into the airport.  I looked at the monitor and saw the dreaded "On Time" status for my flight, despite the rain.  I walked up to the Delta counter and gave my boarding pass and asked to be booked on the next flight to Detroit as I had missed my plane.  The agent asked which flight and then made a call.  Fortunately for me, the plane was delayed and hadn't even boarded!

I made that flight and was delayed one hour and fifteen minutes.  I was to have 1.5 hours of a layover in Detroit, originally.  I walked the brisk walk of 31 gates and arrived at my gate with three minutes to spare before boarding.  Karma. 

On my flight to Burlington Vermont, I scratched off my lottery tickets.  I won...$10.  Karma.  When I was approached by the flight attendant, she said, "You look like the daughter of a friend of mine."  Ok.  How does one respond to such a statement?  She proceeded to say the name of the subdivision I grew up in (although when she said it, I didn't recognize it as my subdivision and clarified the town where I grew up) and she then announced the street I grew up on!  She moved into the same subdivision I was raised, in 1978, and continues to reside in the same residence.  She was unaware that my parents had divorced in 1992 and inquired of my family.  Small world!

I called and reached my brother at the airport and when we found each other, his one arm was limp.  He had spent three hours in the ER in the early morning as a sack in his elbow had erupted (and Wednesday the hospital confirmed he had an infection).  He was on pain killers and was in severe pain and an isolating cast.  My sister-in-law was still 45 minutes away stressing that my oldest nephew may have contracted HIV after finding a spoon and a hypodermic needle in the rental attic of a friend of hers.  Oh the drama. 

My niece had a rough night and I was kept awake by my brother trying to soothe her in the adjacent room singing This Old Man while my two nephews slept on the hide-a-bed in my room.  My brother took my sister-in-law and niece to the airport at 4:30a.m. Tuesday morning and came back and slept.  I was ready to go at 5:00a.m. but decided he needed to sleep.  Finally at 6:30a.m., my brother and the boys woke and we packed up the vehicles and had breakfast.  We were on the road at 7:30a.m.  Other than trying to get through customs driving my brother's vehicle stock full of their personal belongings, the drive was uneventful.  Getting into Michigan from Canada was a little more challenging as I was suppose to have an "itemized list".  Fortunately, I was let through without having to have the vehicle searched.  We arrived at my mom's, west of Detroit just before 9:00p.m.  Two vehicles.  Two children.  Two adults.  Safe and Sound. 

So much better and less adventurous than my cross country adventure.  There is definitely something to be said with traveling with your own family than someone else's family.  And having karma on your side never hurts either!

Disc Disarray

A week ago Sunday, after a lazy day around the house, I decided T and I needed to run some errands.  We needed to go to Blockbuster, Kohl's and my work.  All said and done, errands that should have taken less than an hour.  Should. Have.

Our first stop was Blockbuster.  T opted to hangout in the parking lot and throw around his new flying disc, with distances up to a quarter of a mile.  I had called my brother after leaving the house to talk about my pending trip out to Vermont and get the latest on my dad.  I went into Blockbuster and swapped out movies.  When I came out, still on the phone, T was forlorn.  T had managed to lodge his disc in the one of two trees in the middle of the parking lot, over 20 feet in tree!  Understanding the predicament, I got off the phone and decided that using a baseball in the car might knock the disc down.

After about 15 minutes, we managed to get the baseball stuck in the tree.  For those of you that don't know me all that well, I have a slight fear of heights.  So why in the world I thought it would be a great idea to climb the tree was unbeknownst to me!  In minutes, I was in the tree, climbing and retrieved the ball.  I spent many years of my childhood in trees, but several falls from ladders have made me height-skiddish.  I embraced the tree and proceeded to shake it, to no avail.  The disc didn't budge.  I even tried to throw the ball at the disc while in the tree.  Of course, not my smarter ideas.  After sometime, I decided I should climb down from the tree, without the disc.  This is where fear set in.  Fear.

As I stood in the tree, about 6.5" in the air, I froze.  Fear.  I couldn't do it.  I tried to psyche myself.  I tried to calm myself.  I tried to trick myself.  I was even tempted to have T drive the car under the tree so I could jump on my new hood.  Then, I realized I was a grown woman.  36 years old.  I could do this.  I maneuvered on to my stomach and stretched downward and jumped the remaining feet to the ground.  Then, I began to shake.  I realize I am no longer 6 or even 12.  I shouldn't be climbing trees.  Especially given that I am more than accident prone.  Why was my 13 year old son not in the tree?

After another while, we again managed to get the ball stuck.  All the while, we hit the disc and managed to lodge it a little more than initially.  T climbed the tree, while I tried to give him instructions.  He advised that I should have taught him Tree Climbing 101 in 2nd grade, not 8th grade!  We were right back to where we started.  Disc in the tree.  We started tossing broken pieces of the parking lot and finally after discouraging onlookers from joining in our adventure, we gave up.  An HOUR later.

An hour of our time, was definitely worth more than the $10 disc.  Fortunately, after both of us climbing the tree, neither of us fell.  T suggested we get an extension pole from Menards and retrieve the disc.  After finishing our errands, we went to Menards.

The first sales associate directed us to the gardening section.  Other than tree edgers, there was not an extension pole.  I located a second sales associate and inquired about an "extension pole" to retrieve something in the tree about 20' high.  He had no idea what we needed and called over a third sales associate.  When I inquired about the "extension pole" he said they had them in the painting section at which time the second associate said, "Oh you meant an extension pole!".  Ummm...Yeah.  Needless to say, T mocked the associate the entire jaunt across the store to the poles. 

Almost $40 later and a 24' extension pole extending the length of my Neon, we headed back to Blockbuster.  Fortunately the disc was still lodged in the tree.  We extended the pole as much as possible and found it to be rather unstable; however, we were able to retrieve the disc!  Then a quick return back to Menard's to return our pole, less than 30 minutes later! 

So our one hour of errands...turned into an adventure of 3.5 hours!  Is anything simple?

Carpet Picture Post

I've been rummaging around trying to find "before" pictures and if I continue to look any longer, I'll never post!  I can't seem to find any with the dining room rug.
  

Here are pictures of the new rugs that I purchased for my birthday: 





 

Living Room Rug: Before

Curtains to Carpet...Not yet...

Anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE shower curtains.  Since adding the additional 3/4 bathroom, I've become slightly less obsessed with having to change the look of my one bathroom. 

I did decide though, that for my birthday, I wanted to buy a new bathroom ensemble.  Not just a discounted or clearanced curtain.  I wanted to find a shower curtain that I LOVE and buy new rugs and everything. 

Of course, I couldn't find a single shower curtain that I wanted to spend my money on.  I did find a cute clearanced Halloween shower curtain for $3.50 that I purchased.  I even, for the first time EVER, started looking for shower curtains online.  On two different sites, I added a curtain into my cart to find that it wasn't in stock! 

I was striking out miserably.  Then, I recalled a large room rug that I found over the summer that I liked and considered buying it instead.  I went to the store to see if they still had it.  They did!  I purchased a large area rug for my living room and a smaller rug to replace the rug under my kitchen table. 

I love them both!  They were a fabulous deal and they both fit into my car too!  I was so excited by my birthday purchases, I was on cloud nine when I went into Jimmy John's to order my favorite sandwich and a pickle.  When I moved toward the end of the counter, sitting at a booth was a friend of mine I hadn't seen in a while!  He had texted me, "What are you ordering" when I hung up the phone but I never heard the text and saw him first!

What a great day and I absolutely LOVE the new look of the rugs.  Maybe even more than a change of a shower curtain.  Although, I have no intention of changing the rugs again anytime soon!  I did however change out my shower curtain too as I was craving red.  Win. Win. 

Cookie Irony

I've been terribly busy at work.  I have been working every late night possible and a few extras as well.  I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel, the reprieve around the holidays, almost.  Last week, a day that our office was closed, I found myself working to accommodate a family.  A family that has been nothing but difficult. 

The moment after I knocked on the door, it was sprung open and loudly I was greeted with the fact that the woman had "over booked" and had to race out soon with two of the youth.  She hovered while I tried to do my job and meet (interview) the youth individually.  General conversations.  She sat for about ten minutes with me and her husband before she had to bolt.  I finished up the visit with the husband and left.  I tried to address several of the serious concerns we (workers & myself) have with the family.  I felt that I was appropriate and non-confrontational.  Apparently, I wasn't.

Today I managed to do everything I could possible and procrastinated writing the report from my visit.  I would write it after my lunch with MS.  Lunch was pleasant and always good to see MS.  He followed me after lunch as I showed him how to get to the local home improvement store and I made a mad dash into Subway to get three cookies.  I was craving cookies - sugar/chocolate - something awful!  I ate two on the drive back to my office.

In sorting through my notes and information to prepare my report, I noticed I had made a mistake.  It had only been 10 months since I had been to the home, not a year as the first visit was "late".  Therefore, I didn't realize that a video I can count for training, I had counted for the previous review.  I called to inform the family that they needed six hours of training, not the four that I had thought and why.  The woman went off on me about how she was sick and didn't want to discuss things now, but went on to say that she has issues with how I address things in the family. Apparently, "all hell broke loose" after I left the home.  And apparently, by engaging their adult son in conversation (while the mom hovered around the corner outside the room eavesdropping) about his plans to join the military - that meant that I said he was not welcome in the home.  That by restating to the family a rule of reporting within one business day any change in household composition, that enforced that her son was not welcome in the home (despite being informed in August that he would be joining the military in January/February and I was discussing the process).  She went on beyond that (which I won't go into details)...to summarize that I don't do my job well and she had previously asked someone for a meeting that never happened.  Really?  Why not ask ME for a meeting?  Have I mentioned how much I am bothered by incompetence and dishonesty/liars?

I was beyond irritated.  I decided I needed to leave the office and cool down.  Writing an emotional report is never a good thing, especially when Supervision (even when I ask for criticism and appropriateness) only looks for a random word typo in a report.  I took the rest of the day off.  MS was still in town and we were able to hangout until time to head to my son's basketball game.  I wasn't in the best of moods, but it was nice to have company, even if I wasn't very talkative.  While driving to meet up with MS, I finished my third cookie (I am getting to the point!).

Tonight, I logged into my work email account.  I had an email from the clerical support that opens the mail that I had received a package.  A package of cookies from Mrs. Fields!  I have absolutely NO idea who they are from or why.  If I had to guess, I have two people in mind that may have sent them (although we are not allowed to receive vendor gifts), but I could be completely wrong.  I doubt that it is a late birthday gift sent to my work. 

Again, just another example of how things completely happen for a reason.  I was craving cookies - I bought some out of the blue.  I left work after a bad experience with a family and had I stayed, then I would have been there to receive my cookies (I was actually still in the office when they arrived too!).  Good thing I didn't get them at the time...I'm sure I would have eaten every last crumb!  But what a fabulous surprise when I least expect it and definitely could use it!

Educating - Don't Take MY Money....

My son doesn't like to spend his money.  He also doesn't do well with gift cards or prepaid visa cards. He doesn't want either for Christmas; however, he would like to be present for clothes shopping. How does one do that with having it be a surprise and not be a gift card? 

Clearly, my son and I have to do better at actually using his gift cards, especially ones like the visa that evaporate when you aren't using them!  So last night, we made a point to use his remaining WalMart gift card from Christmas 2009 and an MC Sports card from March 2010.

If you ever wondered how to teach a child to count, turn it into terms of money.  When very little, my son would separate change by size (quarter, nickle, penny, dime).  Then he would count how many of each.  Then he learned the value of money.  IF he counted the value correctly (every month or so) he would keep the change (upwards to $30 accumulated in my car and purse as I didn't spend change when he was young so it would go into his bank!).  He continues to excel in math to this day.  Story problems you ask?  Change them to money, no problem.

Well of course that was what I thought until tonight.  Last night T bought a basketball on sale, a lighted disc and a disc that can throw up to 1/4 mile.  His total: $42.37.  His gift card was for $20.  While standing in line, before our purchases were tallied, he said he would owe me $20.  He heard the total.  I gave him the receipt.

Tonight he handed me $20.  I was on the phone.  I laughed with my friend about how T shorted me $2.37.  T commented, "Seriously Mom, $2.37?" 

My response, "No problem.  I was going to give you $5.00 for helping me rake the leaves tonight.  But Seriously, why would you want $2.63?"  Of course he wanted $5.00!

Quickly he said that he would pay me the difference, rationalizing that he hadn't taken into account the tax for his purchases.  He quickly calculated that in his head, amounting to $2.40, which was exactly the amount of the tax charged, but he had rounded up the three .99 amounts to the even $1.00, which was the difference of .03.  He counted out the change to give me the $2.37, at which point I handed him $3.00 and told him to keep it.

Isn't it amazing how much money matters more when it is YOUR money and not someone else's? 

Timing & Timeframes

Right now is one of the busiest times of year for me.  I have a lot of yearly evaluations to complete in a timely manner while dealing with the holidays and others schedules.  Additionally, my ability to work nights is restricted due to hunting season for the next week and then Thanksgiving week.

At the beginning of November, I was finding that to complete Orientations in the evening with new families, for the first time EVER, I would be scheduling out to December.  CRAZY.  Doesn't bode well for the over achiever A personality, but I can't make schedules and times that don't exist!  Fortunately, I have been able to juggle most everything somehow or another.  I've managed to throw in the blanket on the tie blankets after making almost 20!  I have been doing so many renewals that I have three reports yet to complete - which I hope to have done by the end of the week at the very latest, although I don't actually have deadlines other than my own self-inflicted ones!

In working with a family, they have one year to complete the licensing process.  ONE. YEAR.  Or...TWELVE. MONTHS.  As a reminder, I had all my information completed in less than two, if that.  One family I began working with last October, was having difficulty with the paperwork and doing some home improvements in their newly acquired home.  They would email me initially every 1.5 months to say they were still interested in the process.  Then I didn't hear from them for four months.  Then in June, I receive an email that they are still very interested and what do they need to do.  I email the wife back and tell her.  No response.

That is, until TONIGHT.  Almost five months later.  She and her husband are still working on the paperwork and they need more prepaid return envelopes.  Unfortunately for them, or for me, or for Uncle Sam or who knows who, their year, ended in October.  Their enrollment is closed. 

Technically I should complete another Orientation.  Personally, I don't know why, since I can't imagine they will ever complete the entire process before I retire!  I just can't imagine.  I understand that life happens; however, in this line of work, timeliness and communication are a necessity!  I can't imagine how long a return phone call would take if I called them for a placement...

Shopping @ Meijer & Crude...

Tonight, amidst the craziness of life, I found myself smack dab in the middle of Meijer.  I had just finished a late home call and was running to the store to grab three things: milk, bread and applesauce. 

Well we all know how that three things list works.  In the midst of stock piling my cart trying to be mommy of the week without a reprieve of visitation due to deer hunting season, I ran into a friend of mine.  We started chatting.  My twenty minute jaunt from home call to home was turning into significantly longer. 

The best part of the shopping experience, wasn't the grand check out total of $90 (you thought your part of the country was hit hard with inflation!) or saving of $25.  Nope, hard to imagine I know, but...

While in the self-scan no limit checkout, I was hurriedly trying to scan and not get the voice bellowing about placing the item on the conveyor or backed up or not scanned items and hurrying to get out of there for the drive home, my personal space became encroached.  I briefly looked up to see two heavier set cub scouts in blue uniforms with ties amidst trying to figure out the key in code for weighed green bell peppers, not unit price to no avail. 

One of the boys said, "I like your hair."  I replied "Thank you".

He then said, "What color is it?" 

If I had an extra moment, I might have smacked the young lad; however, I replied, "What color do YOU think it is?"

At that point, his parents blabbered niceties and rudeness comments to the boys and shuffled them to another self-checkout line. 

Wow...and I thought only free entertainment came at WalMart. 

Happy Monday!

Acceptance & Spinning Stops NOW

Last night if it hadn't been almost 2a.m., I might have actually posted about the remainder of my weekend.  Sunday forward, but I didn't.  Instead, I laid in bed consumed by how I couldn't get warm and I couldn't get my mind to stop racing.

Today, I'm in a very different position and again, I still can't blog, not yet.

What I can say, is that there are two things I'm not a fan:

*  The fable: The Boy Who Cried Wolf

*  Spinning (Amusement/Roller Coaster) Rides

This spinning roller coaster has to end.  While I'm all about thrill seeking behavior, and Dramamine has proved my friend in combating motion sickness in the past, this ride, Dramamine will not assist.  It is time that the fable is no longer effective.  Reality has set. 

It is time for me to exit the ride to my left.  This is one spinning roller coaster that I am no longer going to ride.

Raker's Remorse...Rule to Read

My lawn has been overcome by leaves.  Being out of town for several days didn't fare well for the accumulation of my small yard.  I had anticipated either mowing or raking on Sunday and that didn't happen.  Life happened.  I also anticipated cutting the gas pipes to fit them in the garbage can.  That didn't happen either.  Life happened (and in such probably avoided some other pivotal handyman injury in the process!)

I have a little advice on raking.  Clearly, without daylight savings time in effect, it gets much darker, much earlier, especially in Michigan.

Seeing that it wasn't until 6:30p.m. until I was able to start raking, I quickly found myself navigating my yard in the dark.  I figured I would finish the back and side yard and save the front yard for Saturday.  Of course once I got started, there really wasn't much stopping me; however, while raking in the dark may prove challenging, it is nothing compared to:

Raking in the dark with the rake upside down and the tines facing up! 

TGIF, TGIF =)  Have a great weekend!

Meijer Muse

I love Meijer.  I have a Meijer credit card.  I use it for almost everything (unless I have a department store card elsewhere).  I noticed yesterday that they raised my limit 3+ times higher than my requested lowered limit.  Sigh...

I love saving .05 on every gallon of gas at Meijer gas stations.

I love special sale days for Meijer card holders:  15% off G. Merchandise,  5% off Grocery.       November 8, 2010 will be the next sale day!

Increased love for Meijer occurred tonight. I learned that all pre-cut deli meat is 50% off an hour before deli closing!  Clearly they don't advertise this, or I would have known!  While I don't frequent the deli counter often and have no idea what the deli hours are, tonight we scored some serious sandwich fixings: salami, honey baked ham, mesquite bbq chicken and honey roasted turkey!  Looking forward to some great sandwiches this weekend with cheese, lettuce and tomato...

Oh how I love my Meijer!

Family Fun: No Vermont Vacation

So in the midst of the weekend recaps, I forgot to mention what was to be my next impromptu "vacation".  Ok, so not a vacation by any means, but a trip out of town and out of the state of Michigan. 

My brother and his family (wife and three children) will be moving with my brother's job across the country.  At his request, I can't discuss his "witness protection" lifestyle - at least that is what he told the Walgreen's guy the other day!  My mom had offered to fly out to help my brother and his family travel from Vermont back to Michigan for the Thanksgiving holiday before being in his new state, halfway across the US.  My mom had suggested that my sister-in-law and less than a month old niece fly home rather than drive the 13 hours back to Michigan. 

I thought it was a brilliant idea that my mom offered to assist my brother and his family.  I also recognized that the flight alone would be physically and mentally demanding on my mom let alone the drive back to Michigan.  I have time that I can take off from work and after having T for 12 days or so in a row for hunting season, I decided maybe I should offer.  I could take three days off of work and help them get back home.  The idea came quickly and out of the blue.  It seemed brilliant.

I called my brother and we caught up on everything going on with the family.  I offered that I could fly out and drive back.  My brother liked the idea better with me assisting than my mom (and fortunately my mom thought it was a great idea too when I suggested it, after the fact!).  Apparently the flights back to Michigan were too much, so they thought my sister-in-law and the baby would just ride back.  This all came to fruition on Thursday night 10/28.  My brother said he would talk to his wife and let me know by noon Friday.  After we got off the phone, I called my mom.

I could get a flight out to my brother's one-way for $200.  My sister-in-law and the baby could fly into where I was flying out of for about $244 and take my car and go to her parents or my parents.  She would be in a car, en route to her destination, three hours after departing the airport!  I called my brother and left a message to tell him about the flight information.

On Friday, my sister-in-law called to say that they were taking me up on my offer; however, she would be "riding".  They hadn't listened to my message and were unaware that she and the baby could fly back so reasonably.  So in less than 24 hours, I had suggested assisting my brother and his family on the first leg of their cross country move and had purchased my ticket, done deal.

I'm looking forward to meeting my niece and seeing my nephews.  I'll even be able to see Vermont, very briefly before our drive home through Canada.  I surely hope that I don't forget my passport or it could be a very long journey indeed.

Weekend Recap Part II: Water Line & Lack of Linebacker

If you haven't read Part I yet, here is the recap.  Long story short, my basement looks super fabulous and much less congested with non-functional potentially leaking gas lines! 

Of course, I couldn't find myself doing nothing while Freddie worked diligently on beautifying my basement.  I did attempt to stay out of his way by being upstairs, but he called me for assistance and then I decided I should be close by to help.  We enjoyed several hours of conversation including his becoming a snobby foodie and his favorite dishes to cook as well as traveling.  I worked on freeing up a couple of old galvanized water line pipes that were put through a cement wall and of course Freddie helped me!  He commented on how I'm a "doer" and wondered if I got those skills from my father.  He didn't forsee that there was anything that I wouldn't accomplish if I set my mind to it.  I did tell him that I had my limits, which included not removing gas lines, but removing the asbestos duct work for the furnace years ago - that I was OK with!

After the water lines were removed, I noticed a copper flexible line was dripping water.  The line went from my utility storage room through the laundry room and to the furnace.  The line was not connected.  I decided it would be great to remove it, although the line was secured by copper pieces nailed into the wood boards.  I managed to free the line into the laundry area.  Sitting on the top of the freezer, with a ladder in front of me, I took the hammer overhead to pry off one of the connectors (I'm sure there is a real word for those metal dohickie pieces!).  Unfortunately, I lost my grip on the hammer and it came flying at me. 

Right to my face.  The claw end of the hammer punctured under my left eye, missing my eye by an inch!  Then the hammer bounced to my lip and then onto the floor (although I have a nice bruise on my knee that I'm thinking it may have hit my knee in transit to the ground too!).  Immediately my eye began to swell as tears surfaced.  Immediate PAIN.  I headed upstairs to see the damage.  Quickly, both under the eye and the lip began to swell.  My gum was bleeding but fortunately my tooth wasn't loose.

Being a boxer or a Domestic Violence victim was not part of the Halloween weekend!  I immediately texted AG to tell him that due to my hammer mishap I would be canceling our plans to the Winery.  He suggested I wear sunglasses and we go to the movies, which I declined as well.  Although I would have been right in par for my holiday injuries with AG that I incurred biking with him on Memorial Weekend as posted here. 

Freddie noticed immediately the bruising that was occurring on my face.  He had heard something fall but hadn't heard a peep out of me, so hadn't realized I had managed to injure myself.  I told him, "Unless I am dying, I won't say much!"  He suggested a regime of icing, heat and then pressure to the pooling blood with frozen metal to alleviate the bruising and said I would be good to go by the evening.  Unfortunately, I didn't feel so "good to go" and I stayed home, lights off and watching movies. 

I did however, manage to remove the copper water line and the basement looks super!  Freddie even suggested that I can now put in a drop ceiling.  I'll pass on that, for now.

I have to imagine that if ever I were to have a mugshot...it would look like this:

Of course this was shortly after the injury.  The good coloring and swelling came later.  I only hope that next time, I win! 

Weekend Recap Part I: Gas Lines Removed

I'm trying to recap...because sometimes, it's just easier than living in the now.  Although right now, I can't complain.  So here's the recap from Thursday - Saturday mid-day...

MS (he really needs a different name) had suggested that I "pack a bag" and spend the weekend with him last weekend.  I wasn't sure if he was serious.  Apparently he was, but that wasn't how the weekend quite unfolded.  I scooted out of work a little early on Friday - after making another six tie blankets for foster kids - changing it up and making infant and toddler blankets too!  I headed home and grabbed an overnight bag.  MS had informed me a few nights earlier that his family "birthday celebrations" were going to be Saturday night at his mom's and I could hang out with him and his son until the birthday dinner.  Not attend the birthday dinner.

Oh wait...random is my middle name.  Time to back track even further.  If you recall, the gas had been shutoff and on Thursday 10/30 the Semco Gas man was coming to relight my pilots.  While I may have tried to light them myself (or blow my house up), I couldn't because the gas was actually OFF.  So I finally met up with the gas man (I was running late and the 800# couldn't contact the dispatch and of course I missed him, but he left a message and anyway...) who was very polite.  Since he was in the house, I inquired of the gas smell I have smelled for well, over a decade that I have owned my house.  I realize I have a sensitive schnoz, and we haven't blown up yet.  Even the gas man couldn't smell anything; however, he got his handy dandy tool from his truck which identified a minute leak from an old capped off gas line.  He also wondered who did my furnace and why they connected the gas lines the way they did.  Hmmm...

Long story short, he informed me twice of how my "husband or boyfriend" or "friend" could remove the old lines and fix the lines to the furnace to reduce the potential for gas leaks to three.  Instead of the likely thirteen or something I had!  He then offered to do it on the side for $50 and a couple hours.  I took him up on that offer since "friends" and "projects" have failed miserably for me in the past.  He said that Saturday would work for him and seeing that my weekend plans were crumbling with MS, it seemed like a great opportunity! AG and I had talked about doing something on Saturday if I didn't trek across state to touch base with TS who has been having some difficult times.  Nothing at the time included a costume or Halloween adventure, at the time.

Friday night MS and I headed to Pasta Night at the Cascade Winery and had a great time sampling the wines.  The pasta was a checklist that you could chose your own veggies, meat, pasta and sauce.  It was accompanied by a glass of wine or beer, garlic bread and a mini brownie made with the dessert wine!  All for $10 a person!  Fabulous and if you are ever in the area of Grand Rapids, check it out! Saturday afternoon they had a wine tasting, chocolate and cheese event that AG and I had planned to attend.  Planned.

Saturday morning I waited for Freddie to arrive at my house.  22 minutes late and no word, I was again wondering what it is with handymen not finding it handy to be on time or own a watch.  He called shortly thereafter saying his pipe wrenches were missing and he would be on his way shortly.  He arrived over an hour later. Very nice guy and he did a great job cleaning up all the old pipes in my basement.  I would say that there had to be about 60' of old pipes removed.  There is no more gas smell!  After four hours, the job was complete and he maintained the same price.  I paid him more, he deserved every dollar of it! 



Old Gas Lines Removed (& a copper water line)

Stay tuned for what I managed to do while Freddie worked on the gas lines and I had to be "handy" or onsite for an extra hand if needed.  Never a dull moment.  Dull...now that would have been favorable!

Nothings & Neon

Where to begin?  It seems like a lifetime ago since I posted last, and it was less than a week ago, well exactly a week ago.  How quickly things change.  How quickly perspectives change.  I maintain that life happens for a reason and I am so particularly blessed. 

While I was raised Catholic and I believe in God, I wouldn't say that I am a "believer" per se.  Or maybe I should say that I am a "believer" but not a "preacher".  I pray.  I give thanks.  I ask for guidance and assistance and help with the path that is chosen for me.  I am afterall, a realist.

There is much that I want to post.  So many words and emotions that are circling through my mind.  So many thoughts.  So many reservations.  And in all of that, so many tears.  Tears, that as they fill my eyes, I'm not ready for them to flow, again.  Not yet.  Not now.

So on a lighter note...I was so very excited to get my car back!  It is amazing how much I truly missed it and have grown to love the stability and comfort of my little Nascar Neon...now new and improved.  And oh so pretty =)

10/30/2010: 9 years & counting