Wonderful Weekend!
Mood:  bright
Topic: home

So how 'bout you?  My sis & her hubby visited for a bit on Saturday.  Granted they only live (less than) 2 hours away (on a good day with not much traffic) but now that they are both back to working full time and I have to be home before 3 for the bus to bring 1st grader home from school, it's rare that we see each other.  So we did the grillin' out thing - I say "we" - actually my wonderful husband did the manly grilling.  Had a good lunch and chatted awhile before they had to run some errands while they were in town before heading back north.  Then yesterday our church had the monthly pot-luck lunch which is always great.  There was a jazz band concert afterwards that we went to.  Wow - some great musicians and great music.  Listening to some of the "big band sounds" as I grew up - courtesy of my parents and grandparents - I developed a fondness for this type of music.  All I could think was my mom would really enjoy this - which is what I told her later when I talked with her.

Plus I was able to work on a little project I've been at for awhile and get the normal housecleaning, laundry chores done.

Two days before First Grader turns 7!  We've been on a countdown since April 1st!

Want a little Cheese with that W(h)ine?
Mood:  don't ask
Topic: home
So what is it about outside noises - especially the type large vehicles make as they pass our house - that makes the dog go ape-crazy?  I'm talking full blown, jump off the couch like it's on fire, attack me all the while making this horrible whiny, high pitched bark.  And she doesn't just nudge me - she jumps on me so hard I've almost fallen out of the computer chair - no warning or anything.  After the first 20 times before the afternoon, you'd think I'd be ready for it.  But no - she always takes me by surprise.  We had to put a baby gate up by the sliding glass door because she took to jumping on it and scratching at it.  If she hears a helicopter, she wants out - yeah, like she's really going to catch it!  If there's an animal within a 100 yard radius, she has to be out chasing it or trying to get its attention.  Yeah, that bird is NOT going to play ball with you.  But if there's a storm coming - I swear she can hear thunder in Oklahoma! - she better be inside, under the computer, and being babied.  If someone is mowing their grass - same thing.  I think if a squirrel actually turned around and started to charge her, she'd be shaking and crying.  This is not a small dog mind you - she's medium size - a little over 40 lbs.  Not a pure bred by any stretch of the imagination - although we are pretty sure she has some sort of hunting dog in her the way she points and attacks.  Even if were feasible to install a doggy door - I don't see her using it.  I think she would be too scared of it.  I love this dog - she's absolutely very intelligent and amazing - yet sometimes the whine gets so annoying that I want to whine back!

HOLY THUNDER, LIGHTNING & HAIL, BATMAN!
Mood:  incredulous
Topic: home

I swear I'm going to add a new topic for weather as most of my posts lately seem to revolve around this crazy Texas Spring Weather!

If you were anywhere in Tarrant, Denton or Collin Counties around 3-4 a.m. - then you know exactly what I'm talking about.  Geez, I'm so tired I can't type!

About 3:20 there was a BOOM so loud it shook the house followed by a big flash of lightning & what sounded like a ton of rocks pummeling the house.  Needless to say, husband & I shot straight out of bed like we'd been poked with a red hot branding iron!  Grandson was sitting straight up in bed asking what that was.  In my still half asleep, adrenaline surged awakeness (that really does NOT make sense!) I staggered (more like looked like a drunk trying to walk a straight line!) out to the living room to turn on the weather report & peek outside.  Quarter size hail was ALL over the yard - I have a picture - will post later.  Rain was coming down in sheets.  Our wonderful weather guy on the local CBS affiliate - Pete - was explaining that the lightning strikes were right over my town - no DUH!  Ya think!  Winds were up to 70 mph+  Husband went back to bed, grandson went back to bed & I watched for another 10 minutes until the storm had subsided & was moving north east of us. 

So I'm so tired I can't keep my eyes open but the adrenaline that shot me out of bed is making it hard for me to actually get back to sleep.  What a predicament.  So finally I get all comfy again & go back to sleep. Next thing I know husband is telling me it's time to get up.  I didn't shoot straight out of bed again, but it sure seemed like it. 

There's only one problem when I get woke up like that. Somehow it makes me feel really ucky.  Nauseous type yucky.  Hopefully this will pass & be better before too long. 

So did you sleep through the storm?  Any damage to your home, cars, plants, dogs, cats, etc?

New Furniture - Possibly!
Mood:  happy
Topic: home

So if you've been reading here for awhile, you know we got new furniture last fall.  Wonderful reclining sofa & loveseat (I guess the new term is "motion" sofa).  Anyhow - the day it was delivered & even before the delivery men left, I sat on the end of the sofa & raised the leg rest.  Oops - something was wrong.  It didn't come up easily & I had to stand up, move the side a little & it worked.  Putting it down was the same in reverse.  So under our warranty, I called the store & told them about the problem.  A week later the furniture technician (I didn't know there was such a thing!) came out to investigate.  He messed around with it for about an hour.  Mentioned that it might not be level.  Hello . . . !!!! Nothing in my home is level!  But still - to me it seemed like it was "sprung".  So he said he'd tell the home office & that was that.  Never heard another word.  Hubby said he would see what he could do to fix it.  Anyway about a week ago I got a call from the store.  They told me the part was on back-order to fix it & wasn't sure if it was ever going to come in.  So we had a choice - live with it or replace the entire sofa.  We decided to replace it.  Then the nice person on the other end said that our sofa & loveseat had been discontinued so we could pick out another set.  I went on line this past weekend to see if there was anything else comparable to what we have now - the color, style, the "motion".  Sure enough there is so all I need to do is go to the store, tell them what I want & wait for it to be delivered!  I guess waiting umpteen years for new furniture does have its rewards!

WEATHER!!!
Mood:  incredulous
Topic: home

THIS IS WHAT I SAW WHEN I STOOD ON MY FRONT PORCH THIS AFTERNOON!

Luckily - it kept going. Unfortunately it headed toward another town north east of us.  And as I reported earlier this month about March coming in like a lion - well it's not going out like a lamb - more like a dragon!  Hope everyone else in the North Texas area fared ok!

 

Out Like a Lamb? Yeah Right!
Mood:  mischievious
Topic: home

The old saying about March - In like a lion, out like a lamb?  All I can say right now is - are you kidding me?

The wind has been whipping all night long - wonder if my trash cans are still standing?  I know our outdoor patio chairs have been toppled & sent flying into the yard. 

I kept telling the dog that I was glad she wasn't a little bitty thing or she would have blown away.  Envisioning a teeny little dog getting picked up by the wind & sent flying somehow makes me giggle!  And please don't email me about hating dogs & that thought makes me a bad person.  I wouldn't really want to see that happen.  I love dogs & couldn't fathom how I would feel if it was my dog who got blown into the next town.  But in a cartoon, movie-ish kind of way (insert caveat: No Animals Were Hurt In The Making of This Stupid Thought) - it is sort of funny.

The wind whipping & all the horrible things it does to my hair reminds me of when we went on vacation several years ago.  We were on our way from my in-laws to my mom's (a 11 hour drive).  Had no air conditioning so we had the windows down.  By the time we got to my mother's house, my hair was a bird's nest of tangles.  And what does she say as soon as we walk in?  Something about how my hair was a mess & did I ever comb it?  Note to all who actually see me day in & day out - especially on windy days:  If I am going to be in & out a lot - then I'm probably not going to bother too much with my hair.  It doesn't take much to frizz it or tangle it.  Be nice - say nothing to me!  It will eventually get combed.  But unless you are in my home when you see me - the likelihood is you are seeing me OUT and about which means I will have been OUT in the wind (rain, snow, hurricane like weather - well you get the picture). 

And as Forrest Gump once said, "And that's all I'm going to say about that."

Have a nice day - don't blow away!

Where Have I Been?
Mood:  chillin'
Topic: home

No, I haven't been somewhere exotic for Spring Break.  Actually, I don't think I've ever been anywhere for Spring Break! Generally because the People Who Pay the Bills Adults in this house don't get a spring break!  Sad, I know!  In fact Spring Break week was actually the first "normal" week I've had in almost a month (thanks to cars breaking down & other issues that I won't write about for the entire world to read).  Other than having kids at home & not at school.  Senior Daughter has a raging case of Senioritis.  She only has this week & next left before she's all done with high school.  We've gone through this twice before - two of the other kids finished high school early.  So this is nothing new in this house. 

I have managed to clean house & do laundry & make dinners that have been edible.  For Easter we did the coloring easter eggs & then the Bunny paid us a visit.  Went to early Church service & then the Easter Breakfast & regular church service.  I had put a chicken in the crock pot early that morning (read - I was still half asleep!).  My sister & brother-in-law dropped by.  Very short visit but it was good.  I really need to take a Saturday to go visit her. 

Have many birthdays coming up in April.  My dad turns 29 for the umpteenth time!  My father-in-law and our son-in-law share their birthday with Tax Day!  Our grandson will be a teenager soon!  And First Grader grandson will be 7.  You know six was sure different.  Saying that he's going to be seven just about floors me!

Hubby has been carpooling last couple weeks.  The first week was out of necessity as his vehicle was having the transmission rebuilt.  But this is a good thing.  Using less gas & speaking of which - I've discovered what we are all going to be using our tax "incentive" checks on - GASOLINE! 

Last night was the last "Jericho".  At least they wrapped it up pretty neatly.  There is an opening there in case it gets picked up by a cable station or something.  Still not happy it was cancelled (again!)  At least we are getting new shows of most of everything else.  I think "CSI" starts new shows next week along with several others on CBS.  Have to wait until the end of April for more new "Lost" episodes.  Maybe by the time that starts "CSI" will be done (so it doesn't conflict!)

So what did you do for Spring Break?

When Not to Call . . .
Mood:  caffeinated
Topic: home

Just a note on when I probably won't pick up the phone & if I do, I may not be very thrilled:

• 5-5:30 p.m. : I'm on the phone (generally) with my mother, so I won't be switching over to take your call.  Leave a message. If you don't ask me to call back, I probably won't.
• Thursday evening from 8-9 p.m.  I'm watching "Lost".
• Tuesdays when American Idol is on & also Wed. during the results show.

There - I think that about covers it!  Just saying  . .  .

Auto Repair Update
Mood:  not sure
Topic: home
So I just know all of you have been on the edge of your seats waiting to hear about the vehicle that's in the shop - right?  What do you mean, you have a life? Anyhow - damages are slightly more than two grand (as I choke on my coffee!) and should be ready Wednesday or Thursday.  One thing is for sure - we have great friends!  My husband is carpooling this week - at least yesterday and today - so I can have the van to get to work.  When the vehicle gets all fixed and back in the driveway, I'm hoping they'll have washed, waxed and detailed it as well!

Wacky Weather in Texas
Mood:  not sure
Topic: home

IT'S SNOWING IN THE DALLAS AREA!  Big ol' flakes, coming down like cats & dogs!  After 15 minutes the roofs are white but the ground isn't covered yet. This is going to create all kinds of chaos come time for folks to come home from work or school.  For crying out loud - it's March 7th!  Easter is 3 weeks away - shouldn't the new flowers be about ready to pop out?  I'm sure a lot of plants are going to freeze.

Haven't gotten to watch AI the last couple days. Tuesday I did the whole caucus thing - the Texas Two step we like to call it - and you thought it was just some strange dance that people in Texas did!  So got home close to 10 on Tuesday. I even missed Jericho (which I watched online this a.m.) and the new series "New Amsterdam" which I haven't been able to locate online as a full watchable episode. I know they are supposed to have another "NA" episode on tonight but it's Lost night so I will probably miss "NA".  Last night was my Bible study & got home in time to see the last 3 gals singing. 

Glad I did my banking/grocery shopping already this morning. I got home two minutes before it started snowing!

More later on our wacky weather!