Ever have one of those "what have I gotten into?" situations?
I'm singing with this new "Contemporary Choir" in my church.
I love it.
I have missed singing, I love the music, I feel at peace with God when I am singing, I enjoy the friends and fellowship, and oh ... we sound good.
...and if last Sunday is any gauge - (the congregation was blessed and very moved by the song) - I think we are fullfilling a purpose.

Problem is:

Betcha didn't peg me for this type!

Which Silver Screen Siren are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
amazing what some people don't know!

jiggitty jig.
That's right! I never made it to work. About 30 minutes into my commute it seems my alternator quit and my car did a slow dwindle .... dwindle ... stop.
Thankful for AAA, not thankful to the cold weather, thankful for the real estate person who allowed me to use their bathroom (after waiting in the cold for one hour), and now thankful to the Ford dealer in town for fixing my car so quickly (if not inexpensively) so that I am today going to be able to attempt to go to work once more.
That is ... after curves ... after my errands, my volunteer work in someone's classroom and the "5th grade movin' up day" meeting at noon.

Some people have all the fun ...

turning the deck into a castle! ... and playing with power tools ...

Oh but not me ... No! ... I have to go to work!

Don't you just LOVE snow?
Snowed all night and still snowing(7:00am). The deer have been busy through the night as you can see they visited our bird feeders early this morning;

Want to see more?

OK, I'm already addicted to this game seen at Busy Mom after just 10 minutes, now the 11-year-old someone is fighting me for her turn.

Home safe ... and just in time. Ice and freezing rain (and freezing windshield wipers) all the way home. Traffic, icy roads ... ick
Not 5 minutes after I came in, it changed to BIG WHITE FLAKES. (she smiles, safe inside her home - with her family)
UPDATE: 9:00 pm - and I don't have to go to work until at least 12:00 noon tomorrow!

We are cancelled - and I'm goin' home.
Quite a suprise as it's not even snowing yet!
But I'm not complaining.
Once I do get home (which will be quite a while I'm sure) LET IT SNOW!

Can we please have the actual forcast? This "not-knowing" stuff is just not acceptable! Sitting here at work - do we cancel night school - do we not?? In the meantime someones after-school-care program has been cancelled, I'm an hour away and I can't reach someones dad!!!
We can land a ROVER on MARS (albeit malfunctioning) and check the weather there ... but we can't tell the folks right here on earth what it will be doing 5 hours from now!?! Give me a break!

perhaps yesterday I was placing blame in the wrong place.
I've got an idea LETS BLAME THE BOSS!
As I hear the whole story, this was just all mismanaged and poorly handled from the top.
Let's just hope that no damage has been done that can not be repaired.

Some employers don't know how to treat their hard-working employees....
.. then again, some managers don't know how to stand up for their staff, or to talk to their staff when they have to pass on a directive... (no, I'm not better than anyone else, I'm just sensitive to my staff's feelings, and not afraid of the boss)
HELLO!! it's called "middle management" and it requires some understanding of your people, and some finesse!
So the people get hurt, the morale goes down the chute - and we all suffer!
Not my department, and I'm not supposed to get involved - (ha ha) watch me!

Blanket apology:

* No snow day (as someone in this house had so hoped)
* Finally got the Christmas "stuff" put away yesterday, so a productive weekend!
* Relatively low-stress morning as someone got herself together and out to the bus with very few "hurry up!" reminders
* Hate sending my husband out to work in this 9 degree (wind chill of -8) weather
* Slept a little late so I didn't start my day with exercise
* Not feeling rested, as I didn't get much sleep - - -
* Terrifying dreams all night want to hear about them?

Posted the photos of the Science Fair -
Check them out in the gallery!

Well, we'll call it a visit, and a nice one.
After arrival we were immediately ushered into the car to go "out to lunch". "We found this great place"
Went to a little pizza/grinder shop on the water. "we hope you like this place" Excellent New England toasted grinders - but then, we know that because we know this grinder-spot well, we stop there every year after our RI camping trip. Now, the fact that it is 10-minutes from his brother's house is a problem, because we don't stop to visit them when we go through town.
So..... trying desperately to "mouth" to the 11-year old daughter "Don't say that we've been here before" yikkessss! They say I hope they have something you like (of course they do , she knows that!) She did OK though
Then we went on a trip "down memory lane" to all the "old spots" the old house of course the MiJoy - (long story).
Then to Moheghan Sun casino ---- just to look around and get ice cream ....
and then home (first dinner) then finally got to the paper work.
It did go well, (although it has not been fully decided what to do with the stocks and mutual funds), there were no arguments or even disagreements. We could be on our way to finalizing this estate.

is it a chore or a visit?
We are off to CT for the day to visit my husbands brother. The real purpose of the visit is to make the final decisions and sign the last few papers to settle my father-in-laws estate. Also bringing up a few of mom and dads things that he wants, Michael is finding it hard to part with some. not the value - the sentiment
Could go well, could be difficult ... hard to know until we get there.
wish us luck.

The passing of a legend - well, at least to me.
Captain Kangaroo Dies

This was my childhood.
I remember:

OK, where did they come from?
Friday's aren't bad enough here at work with the Fat @$* Friday 9:00 coffee ring dripping with assorted fruits and icing. Now someone put a dozen Dunkin' Donuts on the table at 3:00 in the afternoon!!! Who can resist that stuff at this hour - hmmm and I smell a fresh pot of coffee brewing!

Ok, don't want to gush and brag ... but my daughter wrote an essay for school, just a homework assignment about the different biomes of the earth and how animals adapt to their environments. It was cute and creative. Most of all, she had fun writing it. If you want to read it here it is:

Wow! Look at me! New skin! Thank's Michelle, and I didn't even ask for it! Love the cardinal! You are either just too good to me or you have way too much time on your hands!!! Love ya!

OK, so I really stink at paperwork. Hate it. Don't do well with it. Screwed up again. No, I'm really organized ... and this clutter on my desk is all right where I know it is ... but why I didn't complete the proper forms two weeks ago (like I thought I did) is beyond me ... and now I have to admit the screw up like a man (or woman) and move on - so sue me! I believe I went into the medical field because I wanted to work with people not papers!!!!!!!
Worse yet - I can't go home until I fix the problem :~{

you know how it goes, you can't please all of the people all of the time.
problem is when you are one of those people (who me?) who feels it is her duty to please everyone all the time .... and keep everyone happy when they are all muttering and fussing about workloads and attitudes and who won't help who and who said what and ... and ... you have YOUR OWN work to do

(oh ... what's that? you mean this is my job?)

AAaggghhhh.. it just gets a little frustrating.

It's Monday - back to work on one of those "not a holiday for everyone" days. Quiet day here (no students). "The Problem" from last week has been rehashed and put away for now.
Want all the details?:

1. I often wake up before my alarm clock goes off. False
2. I love to drive; in any kind of weather! Don't know - I just do it.
3. I'd rather have to worry about staying warm than staying cool. False
4. I wish I lived in another state. False
5. Multi-tasking is what I do best! It's ALL I do.
6. Flying is the only way to go! False
7. Budgeting my money is one of my downfalls. True
8. I wish there was 8 days in the week! True
9. I get at least 7 hours of sleep a night. False
10. I'm a night owl. True (by necessity)
Monday Madness

We all love special things and moments that probably mean nothing to other people - but what we love and hate defines us and makes us unique.

I admit, I love falling asleep on the couch under an afghan
I love movies with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan
I love Peach Iced Tea (Crystal Light)
I love Pentel Hybrid Gel pens (Red, Blue and Black) - don't touch mine!
I love my stairs in my foyer
I love watching snow fall at night and listening to the silence of it
I love Dunkin' Donuts coffee
I love Jan Karon books - The Mitford Series
I love Edy's Espresso Chip Ice Cream
I love when my daughter whispers "I love you mommy" as I adjust her covers at midnight

I hate waking up on the couch and finding that it's 2 am
I hate being cold (and I am every night after 10 pm)
I hate having to wear glasses to read anything and everything anymore!!!
I hate that people I love very much have died - and I still miss them daily
I hate that I have to work full-time, even though I like my job
I hate waiting for my computer to load a page (I need a new computer!)
I hate waiting for anything!
I hate not having time to spend with friends
I hate chalk on a blackboard
I hate being unsure of myself (and I always am)

Can you relate? Can you list ten of each? Five?

OK Now that it's the weekend, it's time for just fun ... no stress OK?
So, this was not what I expected:

Who's your inner classic movie star?
However - he is one of my favorites!
This however - is just what I expected:

Called that office back this AM
more clarification of the odor problem (trust me - you really don't want to know)
but from people here (excluding you, D) - I'm just not getting the support I had hoped for
getting a lot of "ooohh... sorry, what are you going to do now?"
and "gee... I don't know what to tell you..."
and a director who just laughs ....
So ... I'll bury myself in some other work this morning ... and call the student back later - but for now - "fiddle dee dee - tomorrow is another day"

Why is it always me??????
Who stamped my forehead - "Will talk to people about their personal hygiene problems" ???
20 some years ago as assistant office manager "You would be the best person to tell her - she'd take it better coming from you" and numerous times since then.
I HATE THIS!!
If you want the story (names have been changed to protect ... )

Yay! School is closed! and I don't have to go in until this afternoon at least.

This means .... back to bed:~)

If you consider yourself a "blue stocking" ie "a literary woman" and you don't have a copy of the Bas Bleu catalog go here:
http://www.basbleu.com
and get one! Or check out their on-line catalog.
(If you don't know what a blue stocking is ... there is an on-line explanation)
Anyway, the great thing is that each of the books in the catalog is accompanied by a review ... (you can even write your own review) ... which gives you enough reason to want to order most of the books listed!
I've found lots of gift ideas for the special people in my life who love books (yes you).

Swiped this from Michelle

Pholph's Scrabble Generator My Scrabble© Score is: 17. What is your score? Get it here.

I could have used my name, but this gives me a higher score:~\
I love SCRABBLE! I'm currently playing an on-line game with my mother and my sisters. Go here and set yourself up with a game!
http://thepixiepit.co.uk/scrabble

... or the coffee! An underrated pleasure. 15 free minutes, a cup of fresh coffee (in my new Longaberger mug) with half-and-half and a quiet house.

Noticing nature this morning. A quick walk out for the bus and we counted all the tracks we could find in the dusting of snow that came (again) last night. I love the wonder of who's about at night, or early morning while we sleep and the snow gives us a chance to find out!
Want to know what we found?

Aaaggghhhh.... I hate this one!
Two hours here makes me three hours late for work.
I know, the roads are dusted with snow, and it's very cold making them icy and dangerous .. but hey ... open up and I'll drive my child the 3 minutes to the school and then I CAN GO TO WORK!
OK, new plan - get off the ocmputer and go exercise with that guy on the beach in Hawaii

Wow, 100 things, a moon phase clock, a book list and thanks to lara and michelle I'm working on a photo gallery! You are both too good to me!

Thanks Michelle for posting my 100 things! What would I do without you?

A far, far better day it is!
Our church service today was led by our Confirmation class, and in addition to leading the service they each took an opportunity to get up and share their personal faith with the congregation! We were all more that once brought to tears! What great teens we have in this church! Super kids, and one of them is our babysitter!
The confirmation class had asked "our" class (the younger girls one of which is mine) to sing in the service. So the three of them who were here J, Em, and "little Jess", stood up in front of the congregation and sang "Our God Is An Awsome God" acapella - brought the congregation almost to their feet! No fear, and three sweet, strong voices! Way to go girls! (the moms & dads were bursting their buttons)
Did I mention that I started rehearsing with the contemporary choir?

Please ... it's a weekend, weekends are supposed to be stress free!!!
It's just one of those days around here where everyone is "at" everyone else. Or maybe it's me being psycho-stress-mom again. At least that's what they tell me the problem is, it's just that I wouldn't be stressed if I didn't have all this stuff to stress about ... kinda like the chicken and the egg I guess.
Anyway, on the way driving my darling daughter to her sleepover party this afternoon she was singing the song from Nemo - "Just keep stressing, just keep stressing ... What do we do? we just keep stressing" She makes me laugh that kid, and this time - out loud, which, well was a good thing.
(I think this family needs serious counseling)

Set up a new home page at work MSN ... so as content, in addition to news, weather, local news and health, I pick MSN women ...
What do I get?
* Get the perfect shoe fit
* Know the rules for eye makeup
* Top 10 myths about marriage
Do they think all women are total gits!?!
How about a discussion on the risk factors of HRT?, or maybe stress management?, or perhaps career options?, a list of recommended novels?
For crying out loud! I don't have time to put on my eye make up, let alone read the "rules".
Now deleting this useless home page content. Someone send me a useful link for busy, intelligent women please!

Save me someone, I'm crashing again.
Too much to do
it's getting late
not enough time
can't find the piano book
no one is moving fast enough for me
the cat threw up on the rug
I am snapping
I am stressing
I am psycho-stress-mom-from-Hell again!

kiss them good-bye (did I do that with attitude?? - Sorry!)

What I want to do is sit here with my coffee (Oh, that's what I need more caffeine) and do nothing -
What I will do is go back to tackle the laundry, clean the rug, take out the garbage, try to organize this stack of papers, clean up the kitchen, pick up socks - and then - I'll go work out.

Is this really me? I think they missed the boat on the money management part, woe to the business who's books I keep!

Quiz
created by Polly Snodgrass.

WATER OF EARTH. Mommy! Well, you could be. You are good with plants and small creatures such as children. You're very generous and basically great hearted. You probably make mad whack cookies and are good at managing the household; also businesses. You'd make a good tax person, book keeper, gardener, massage therapist, etc. The ever domestic and practical one, you can stretch a penny and make ramen noodles go a long way.

Another reason I love my mom (I'm just full of love this week arn't I?)
Christmas she took pictures of "Seven Swans a-swimming" on the lake near their home.
Here are three of them:


I'm going over to www.quizilla.com now ... Michelle is having too much fun with this stuff.
(I am working - this is my lunch break)

Went to the attorney's office this morning. Estate stuff for M's Dad. still...
It's harder than it should be, it is more emotional when you're accross the desk from this man who is making a "business arrangement" out of your father's life work. All those investments that Dad was so proud of . . . become $$ figures and decisions. The home that he was so proud of ...
But it is impossible to separate your emotions when you are on this side of that desk.
My heart was breaking for my husband who at moments appeared to be a bewildered child in the midst of piles of papers, and at other times was a decisive proud man (like his dad?) who staunchly refused all suggestions of any personal gain.
I love this man because:

and then reality REALLY sets in when you sit down to pay the monthly bills .... and realize that you never actually paid all of December's bills - hey! it's a busy month! does anyone have time to pay bills in December?
Tums anyone???

Ok ... we did it, although my husband says "I didn't do anything, you did it all"
Pulled off a small social gathering of friends with ease and elegance. "Afternoon tea" if you will, all quite benign - no rum in the eggnog. Entirely the over-70 crowd of neighbors - some piano playing and singing, devoured the last tray of Christmas cookies and everyone left saying "This was a wonderful time"
(This coming from neighbors who all but gave us the "cold shoulder" a month ago - which concerned us, hence these plans).
Whew .... was I Mary Bailey again for a brief afternoon?
Tomorrow I will be psycho-stress-mom-from-hell again as we resume our normal routine.
(want to hear what it goes like?)