I really would like some snow
Not a lot, just enough to put a blanket of white on the ground so we can see Santa's tracks outside.
Last year at this time, we had plenty of snow. I got so excited, I got my snowshoes fixed so I could go out in the park and tromp around.
I even thought about getting my cross country skis ready to use ....if I can find them. I think they are in a corner in Emily's basement. But I don't have any shoes for them, so that won't help.
It's one of hundreds of items I no longer use, but can't part with. A desk, old kitchen nook table, bottles.....you name it, I may have it in the basement.
I'm not a hoarder, just a sentimentalist.
By the way, zjrtr] ejsy js[[rmd ejrm upi hry upit gomhrtd pm yjr etpmh lrud/
That is here is what happens when you get your fingers on the wrong keys. I am typing in the dark and have erased more lines than I have typed.
Put on a light, you say?
Anyone can do that. The challenge is typing in the dark.
Julia has friends visiting this weekend. He is from Ireland, she is from New Zealand, their son was born in Switzerland and their daughter in the US.
Julia hasn't seen them in a couple of years, so it has been a nice visit for them.
I have forgotten how much energy these youngins have!
I'm going to bed and rest up for tomorrow.
Nightie night!
Saturday, December 20, 2014
Friday, December 19, 2014
They paved Paradise, and put in a parking lot
I laugh at people who lose their cars
And I don't mean repossessed. That is not funny. (Well, it could be if you really don't like your neighbor because he always parks in your space.)
I mean when people park their cars and can't remember where they parked.
When you go to O'Hara Airport, you park in levels that are themed. Go Cubs Go might be one level, Bear Down Chicago Bears another (although there is talk of moving them to the basement) as well as tunes for the Hawks and Sox. By remembering the song, you remember the level. Easy Squeasy!
One time we ran into a friend of ours, Chris, who had lost her car in the Sullivan's parking lot. She just could not find it. Walked up and down a couple of aisles until she remembered she was driving her husband's car, not hers.
And one time we went to Philadelphia and parked in a city garage. When we went back later, we could not find the car. Someone was convinced our Ford station wagon had been stolen. I kept saying, "We came in the other side," but to no avail. Someone was convinced the bad people of the city of Brotherly Love took our car.
When we found it on the other side of the garage, someone did become calm again. Although I did get a little upset two days later when I discovered we no longer had a front license plate....but that's another story. I think the Illinois plate was so beautiful, a collector had to have it.
You see those people, wandering up one lane and down another. Admit it, you laugh. I laugh. We all laugh.
But it wasn't so funny today.
I parked at Oakbrook on the way back from the zoo. Parked right by Crate and Barrel and Pottery Barn. As a matter of fact, I cut through those stores to get to the Apple store.
When I came back, I could not find the car. Up one lane, down another. Up one lane, down another. I hit the panic button. Nothing. Met another couple (much younger, so it happens at every age) who laughed when I said I could not find my car. They kept laughing until they discovered they were in the wrong place.
Now there are three of us wandering around.
It was like Moses leading the Christians out of Christmas land.
No exaggeration, I looked for 15 minutes.
At some point, an ugly little thought creeps into your head that perhaps someone did steal your car.
And I don't mean repossessed. That is not funny. (Well, it could be if you really don't like your neighbor because he always parks in your space.)
I mean when people park their cars and can't remember where they parked.
When you go to O'Hara Airport, you park in levels that are themed. Go Cubs Go might be one level, Bear Down Chicago Bears another (although there is talk of moving them to the basement) as well as tunes for the Hawks and Sox. By remembering the song, you remember the level. Easy Squeasy!
One time we ran into a friend of ours, Chris, who had lost her car in the Sullivan's parking lot. She just could not find it. Walked up and down a couple of aisles until she remembered she was driving her husband's car, not hers.
And one time we went to Philadelphia and parked in a city garage. When we went back later, we could not find the car. Someone was convinced our Ford station wagon had been stolen. I kept saying, "We came in the other side," but to no avail. Someone was convinced the bad people of the city of Brotherly Love took our car.
When we found it on the other side of the garage, someone did become calm again. Although I did get a little upset two days later when I discovered we no longer had a front license plate....but that's another story. I think the Illinois plate was so beautiful, a collector had to have it.
You see those people, wandering up one lane and down another. Admit it, you laugh. I laugh. We all laugh.
But it wasn't so funny today.
I parked at Oakbrook on the way back from the zoo. Parked right by Crate and Barrel and Pottery Barn. As a matter of fact, I cut through those stores to get to the Apple store.
When I came back, I could not find the car. Up one lane, down another. Up one lane, down another. I hit the panic button. Nothing. Met another couple (much younger, so it happens at every age) who laughed when I said I could not find my car. They kept laughing until they discovered they were in the wrong place.
Now there are three of us wandering around.
It was like Moses leading the Christians out of Christmas land.
No exaggeration, I looked for 15 minutes.
At some point, an ugly little thought creeps into your head that perhaps someone did steal your car.
I finally found it, three rows over from where I thought it was.
All is well that ends well, but I will be paying more attention to lane numbers when I park again.
After all, I can only be a laughing stock so many times before it gets boring.
Thursday, December 18, 2014
On the first day of Christmas....
I am a terrible Christmas shopper
I always wait until the last minute, and then what I want doesn't come in the correct color, size or whatever.
Why do I wait? Because I am a procrastinator. I can't buy presents in October, or November because I am not in the Christmas spirit.
Sometimes I just wander a store, looking, looking, looking.....then leave empty handed.
That's why people in my family get, let's say unusual, presents. Or presents they had no idea they wanted, until they got them.
Like the dusting socks. They were seen on TV, and at a local store. You wear them as slippers and slide your feet along the floor, dusting as you walk. They were very dangerous. The commercials on TV did not show people falling to the ground as they dusted.
I thought my daughters would like Poi Dog Pondering. So one year they each got a Poi Dog CD. I enjoy listening to the music, which got left at our house and not accidentally.
And I bet I am the only one in the history of gift giving to give a giant rutabaga.....ok, it wasn't for Christmas, but for a birthday celebration when I was in high school. To say the girl was surprised is a major understatement.
Every year I say I am going to do better. I pay attention. I make mental notes. I forget the mental notes and look feverishly for a gift that does not exist.
Usually, I get lucky and find something that the person likes. (Person mainly being wife and kids at this point in life. And she buys for the kids.)
I do find practical gifts. I have given my daughters tools, fire extinguishers, and other items that are needed around the house. Jackie has gotten jewelry and clothing that she liked.
But right now I need inspiration.
And time.
I always wait until the last minute, and then what I want doesn't come in the correct color, size or whatever.
Why do I wait? Because I am a procrastinator. I can't buy presents in October, or November because I am not in the Christmas spirit.
Sometimes I just wander a store, looking, looking, looking.....then leave empty handed.
That's why people in my family get, let's say unusual, presents. Or presents they had no idea they wanted, until they got them.
Like the dusting socks. They were seen on TV, and at a local store. You wear them as slippers and slide your feet along the floor, dusting as you walk. They were very dangerous. The commercials on TV did not show people falling to the ground as they dusted.
I thought my daughters would like Poi Dog Pondering. So one year they each got a Poi Dog CD. I enjoy listening to the music, which got left at our house and not accidentally.
And I bet I am the only one in the history of gift giving to give a giant rutabaga.....ok, it wasn't for Christmas, but for a birthday celebration when I was in high school. To say the girl was surprised is a major understatement.
Every year I say I am going to do better. I pay attention. I make mental notes. I forget the mental notes and look feverishly for a gift that does not exist.
Usually, I get lucky and find something that the person likes. (Person mainly being wife and kids at this point in life. And she buys for the kids.)
I do find practical gifts. I have given my daughters tools, fire extinguishers, and other items that are needed around the house. Jackie has gotten jewelry and clothing that she liked.
But right now I need inspiration.
And time.
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Tomorrow, tomorrow, there's always tomorrow
I tend to procrastinate
I finally finished the dreaded Christmas letter. I started Dec. 9.
Now, it wasn't all my fault.
I did not have paper to print it. I went to three local places, but no one in town had Christmassy paper. So I went to DeKalb to a big boxy type store and bought it.
I do a funny letter on one side and a real letter on the other. People can read either side, or neither side. Their choice.
So I printed one side, proof read it, then printed the other side, proofread it.
I proceeded to print 10 copies, with the back upside down from the front. But I did not notice that. So I printed another 10 copies. Now I have 20 copies with the back upside down from the front.
Certain people in the household said, what's the big deal? People can rotate the paper. Certain other people said no, it had to be done right.
So I printed 20 copies correctly. Actually, 18 because there were two paper jams.
I signed them, folded them, and we began stuffing them into envelopes.
I ran an additional 20 letters off, checking to be sure they were the right way. Well, 19, because I put the paper in wrong and both sides printed on one side. Me bad.
Sign, fold, stuff. We need seven more.
I walk into my highly messy den (which incidentally was going to be cleaned today....but due to extenuating circumstances was not) and picked up the upside down letters and thought, why not? She won't know.
Funny thing, NONE of the letters were printed upside down. Which means the upside down ones were signed, folded and stuffed.
All the letters got pulled to be sure they were right side up. In addition, I had to sign, fold, stuff more letters.
And I am still seven short.
Don't tell, but I am using the upside down letters.
I have to....I am out of paper!
I finally finished the dreaded Christmas letter. I started Dec. 9.
Now, it wasn't all my fault.
I did not have paper to print it. I went to three local places, but no one in town had Christmassy paper. So I went to DeKalb to a big boxy type store and bought it.
I do a funny letter on one side and a real letter on the other. People can read either side, or neither side. Their choice.
So I printed one side, proof read it, then printed the other side, proofread it.
I proceeded to print 10 copies, with the back upside down from the front. But I did not notice that. So I printed another 10 copies. Now I have 20 copies with the back upside down from the front.
Certain people in the household said, what's the big deal? People can rotate the paper. Certain other people said no, it had to be done right.
So I printed 20 copies correctly. Actually, 18 because there were two paper jams.
I signed them, folded them, and we began stuffing them into envelopes.
I ran an additional 20 letters off, checking to be sure they were the right way. Well, 19, because I put the paper in wrong and both sides printed on one side. Me bad.
Sign, fold, stuff. We need seven more.
I walk into my highly messy den (which incidentally was going to be cleaned today....but due to extenuating circumstances was not) and picked up the upside down letters and thought, why not? She won't know.
Funny thing, NONE of the letters were printed upside down. Which means the upside down ones were signed, folded and stuffed.
All the letters got pulled to be sure they were right side up. In addition, I had to sign, fold, stuff more letters.
And I am still seven short.
Don't tell, but I am using the upside down letters.
I have to....I am out of paper!
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Say the word, and you'll be free....
I think I am socially maladjusted
I can't talk to people.
I mean, people I don't know really well.
I went to the BZ holiday party tonight and I had a nice time. I went and said hello to all the people I knew at the party. There were about 17.
Most of the conversations went like this:
Hello Tanya.
Hello Terry.
Total silence, looking around, then drifting apart.
I can't engage in small talk with people. It is really hard for me. I always say something so weird that I think I scare them away.
Once I get comfortable with a person, I am fine.
But put me in a room with 80 people, and I seem to be the proverbial wall flower. I sit off to the side and watch.
Jackie went with, and it is even harder for her.
"I don't know anyone here," she said. "Go talk to your friends. I am fine."
So I saw a girl named Molly who had a cool NIU sweater on....I said, '"Molly, that is a great sweater." She said, "Thank you." Look around, find food, drift apart with mouth full.
And why is it when I can't think of anything to say, I grin like an idiot and stuff a cookie in my mouth? I bet I gained 5 pounds tonight!
Is it my style, or do people find it hard to talk to me?
It's the same way at weddings, funerals, birthday parties.....I get stuck after saying a word or two as an opener. I just can't seem to engage. If there happens to be three people, the other two have a great guns conversation while I stand there, looking for food.
I have to practice and figure this out.....there is a picnic in the summer and I am hoping to go.
And don't get me wrong, I did visit with a couple of people....but I spent a lot of time talking with my wife. And that is fine, but I can do that at home.
So feel free to invite me to your next party so I can practice. Just be sure to have plenty of cookies, just in case.
I can't talk to people.
I mean, people I don't know really well.
I went to the BZ holiday party tonight and I had a nice time. I went and said hello to all the people I knew at the party. There were about 17.
Most of the conversations went like this:
Hello Tanya.
Hello Terry.
Total silence, looking around, then drifting apart.
I can't engage in small talk with people. It is really hard for me. I always say something so weird that I think I scare them away.
Once I get comfortable with a person, I am fine.
But put me in a room with 80 people, and I seem to be the proverbial wall flower. I sit off to the side and watch.
Jackie went with, and it is even harder for her.
"I don't know anyone here," she said. "Go talk to your friends. I am fine."
So I saw a girl named Molly who had a cool NIU sweater on....I said, '"Molly, that is a great sweater." She said, "Thank you." Look around, find food, drift apart with mouth full.
And why is it when I can't think of anything to say, I grin like an idiot and stuff a cookie in my mouth? I bet I gained 5 pounds tonight!
Is it my style, or do people find it hard to talk to me?
It's the same way at weddings, funerals, birthday parties.....I get stuck after saying a word or two as an opener. I just can't seem to engage. If there happens to be three people, the other two have a great guns conversation while I stand there, looking for food.
I have to practice and figure this out.....there is a picnic in the summer and I am hoping to go.
And don't get me wrong, I did visit with a couple of people....but I spent a lot of time talking with my wife. And that is fine, but I can do that at home.
So feel free to invite me to your next party so I can practice. Just be sure to have plenty of cookies, just in case.
Monday, December 15, 2014
Crazy.........
Why do I keep doing this?
I used to love watching the Bears. Now, it's torture! I can bearly stand it anymore!
Yet, there I sit, watching another futile effort by a bunch of overpaid and under performing people.
Well, it's time I declare my independence!
When in the course of human events, it becomes unbearable to watch your favorite team, every fan deserves the right to do something else.
Therefore, when the Bears get down by three scores, I will do something else!
So I decided to print my Christmas letters. OK, I know it's getting late. And yes, some of them are upside down. But hey, I had three glasses of wine and a lousy game! Suck it up! Flip the page around!
Not only that, but I have decided I have had enough of a messy desk. Starting tomorrow, I will clean this puppy off so that it looks presentable. And in the process, if I happen to find a certain person's Christmas list, then that is icing on the cookie!
Other things I think I will declare independence from....and I have quite a few.
Salad! No more shall I eat those healthy, wholesome greens. From now on it's egg nog, sugar cookies, greasy fries and greasier burgers and brats.
Playing endless hours of spider solitaire. From now on, I will limit myself to 20 minutes a day. Take that, you evil spiders of procrastination!
Saving stuff! I will get rid of things I no longer need. Like the console humidifier sitting in the garage......seriously, it's in good condition. I will sell it for $30 or best offer. Call me.
Texting! I can't hit those little keys with my big stubby fingers to start with. And I usually leave my phone in the car. Or by the bed. Or on vibrate. It may be days before I read a text someone has sent me. If it's an emergency, you could do better sending smoke signals.
Staying up late. I have been going to bed just about the time BBC comes on WNIJ. I need my beauty rest. Half the time I am up at 4 a.m. anyway, so I need to get to bed earlier.
There. I feel better. Liberated. Or slightly buzzed, not sure.
But it's 10:30 and I feel a need for solitaire, so I have to go.
I used to love watching the Bears. Now, it's torture! I can bearly stand it anymore!
Yet, there I sit, watching another futile effort by a bunch of overpaid and under performing people.
Well, it's time I declare my independence!
When in the course of human events, it becomes unbearable to watch your favorite team, every fan deserves the right to do something else.
Therefore, when the Bears get down by three scores, I will do something else!
So I decided to print my Christmas letters. OK, I know it's getting late. And yes, some of them are upside down. But hey, I had three glasses of wine and a lousy game! Suck it up! Flip the page around!
Not only that, but I have decided I have had enough of a messy desk. Starting tomorrow, I will clean this puppy off so that it looks presentable. And in the process, if I happen to find a certain person's Christmas list, then that is icing on the cookie!
Other things I think I will declare independence from....and I have quite a few.
Salad! No more shall I eat those healthy, wholesome greens. From now on it's egg nog, sugar cookies, greasy fries and greasier burgers and brats.
Playing endless hours of spider solitaire. From now on, I will limit myself to 20 minutes a day. Take that, you evil spiders of procrastination!
Saving stuff! I will get rid of things I no longer need. Like the console humidifier sitting in the garage......seriously, it's in good condition. I will sell it for $30 or best offer. Call me.
Texting! I can't hit those little keys with my big stubby fingers to start with. And I usually leave my phone in the car. Or by the bed. Or on vibrate. It may be days before I read a text someone has sent me. If it's an emergency, you could do better sending smoke signals.
Staying up late. I have been going to bed just about the time BBC comes on WNIJ. I need my beauty rest. Half the time I am up at 4 a.m. anyway, so I need to get to bed earlier.
There. I feel better. Liberated. Or slightly buzzed, not sure.
But it's 10:30 and I feel a need for solitaire, so I have to go.
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Ohhh, Ohh Oh...don't worry, be happy
All my children are safe and sound in Rochelle
I am happy. Jackie is happy. We are happy. Julia is home. She is safe. Emily is home. Emily is safe. Dogs protect her. We protect Julia. John is home. He is safe. Everyone is home. Everyone is safe. All is well. Christmas is coming. Time to sleep.
Good night all.
I am happy. Jackie is happy. We are happy. Julia is home. She is safe. Emily is home. Emily is safe. Dogs protect her. We protect Julia. John is home. He is safe. Everyone is home. Everyone is safe. All is well. Christmas is coming. Time to sleep.
Good night all.
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