"If I Only Had A Brain"

I haven't blogged this week because I have been so busy. Jaycie said she wished I would blog everyday. I can't even imagine it. Plus I have writers block often. But all of you women who don't work-thank your lucky stars! I know you are just as busy as everyone else - I was a stay at home mom once. Oh those were the good ole days. The only person I had to account to was Ed. If I made a big mistake we would scream at each other and that would be it. Of course I never made too many mistakes - an overdraft once in a while or washing & drying his favorite wool sweater.(I didn't know a piece of clothing could shrink that small.) I backed into a car once but Ed just laughed and told me to run for it. But when you work for someone else you have to account to someone higher up for your actions. Someone you can't scream at. (Especially if you want to keep your job.) Last week we loaded a train car with 185,000 lbs of seed for Canada and I have to do all the paperwork on line to release the train. The paperwork for trains has become so complex since 9/11- they want to make sure you aren't shipping explosives or drugs over the border. Well Monday when I got to work they were calling and saying our train was in limbo in Wisconsin because my paperwork wasn't right. I had shipped the train to Wisconsin not Canada and they wanted $825.00 to just get the train back to the right track to go to Canada. I had to call my boss and tell him my mistake and tell him how much it would cost. I waited for him to tell me that they would have to take it out of my pay check, well, a couple of pay checks but he didn't. In fact he was very understanding. I am lucky to have a good boss. But it doesn't take away the feelings of stupidity I feel for making the mistake even though there are lots of reasons the mistake could be made. It could be worse though, I could be a surgeon and make a mistake. You just don't want to hear "oops" from too many occupations. I do envy you women who don't have to work though. I am looking forward to that day again!

"Sleepless In Seattle"

When I opened a Christmas gift from Mishelle and saw that it was a ticket to "Time Out For Women" I was estatic. When I saw it was in Seattle my excitement turned to terror. I am scared of Seattle. Its so big and driving in Seattle brings back horrific memmories of the only times I have been there. People do not tolerate outsiders on the freeways there. But the time came to go and so we set out with Ed's girlfriend, G.P.S. - Mishelle and her map quest printout and Rachael as the lookout and me the designated driver.(I know thats such a scarey thought to everyone who knows I don't even drive in Spokane) We actually made it in record time with time to eat dinner before Fri.nites program. I have never understood how I could raise a daughter so opposite of me. She's out going, I'm reserved, She's unafraid, I'm cautious of everything, she's an optomist, I'm a pessimist with a capital P. And most importantly of all she's a spender and I'm the queen of tight wads.(ask all my children, they will verify.) We stayed in the fanciest hotel with doorsmen, valet parking,consierge. I knew we would be tipping so I brought a bunch of ones, but I guess $5's are the norm. Eck!!! We were just a block from the Building where the meeting was so we decided to walk-Mishelle just knew there would be a place to eat close by. But by the time we found a place to eat we were several blocks away and had to run all the way back to get there in time. (I don't run) We stopped long enough to buy a $6.50 strawberry the size of an apple dipped in chocolate. It was worth it. After a wonderful evening at the conf. Mishelle & Rachael decided we should go to The Cheese Cake Factory. The next thing I knew Mishelle was hailing a cab and off we went. It was delicious. It was now about 11:00 pm downtown Seattle and we decided there were lots of people walking around so we would walk back to our Hotel, even though we were'nt sure where it was. So we set out, "I told them Dad would just be furious if he knew I was walking around Seattle this late at night" The farther we went the less people we saw and it was so cold. Mishelle & Rachael kept telling me it was just an adventure. A ferry ride is an adventure, walking the streets at night in Seattle could be a CSI story. But we made it and when we got to the Hotel our beds were all turned down for us. Sat. morn. it was pouring rain. So Mishelle hailed us a cab to take us a block & he drove several blocks and dropped us off at the back of the building so we had to run thru the rain to find the entrance.(but it was an adventure) At noon 1500 women were looking for a place to eat and Mishelle thought there was a Red Robin down by Pikes Market. So we started our trek down to the warf. It was all so exciting but no Red Robin. A man was waving people into a cafe at the top of the stairs. We climbed 3 flites of stairs and the cafe was packed but Mishelle kept walking and we went into the backside of another little resturant at the top of this rickety building that was so quaint and nice. We ate and then had to run all the way back "up hill" to get there in time. But we made it. (she couldn't find a cab) The speakers were wonderful and before we knew it it was over & we were on our way trying to find our way out of Seattle. We were always in the wrong lane to turn but I just put my blinker on and Rachael told me when to stop & go I made people wait to let me get by. I was not missing my exits!! I'm sure Seattle was glad to see us go but it was so fun. After one quick stop at North Bend for gas & a shop or 2- It was snowing like crazy on the pass but we drove slow. I know that Mishelle was sent to me to keep me young - to keep me on the go - to show me how to let go once in a while and just have fun - I'll always be a tight wad and she'll always be a spender but I love her dearly. When she's around there is never a dull moment. My shins are killing me from all the walking but it was worth it. If it wasn't for Mishelle I would have missed so much in life!

Like Sands thru the hour glass . . .

"So are the days of our lives." Isn't life like a soap opera sometimes or at least full of lots of drama & excitment. Not always the good kind and not always the romantic type. Grandma Cox and I were talking and I asked her "looking back over the years what was her favorite time of life? When her kids were all little, when they were in high school or when it was just her and dad? The reason I asked her this was because I was having a really hectic week and I was reminising back in time when the kids were all little and I didn't work. We didn't have any money but I loved being at home. I thought " yeah, thats where I'd like to be." Then I started remembering the sick kids, the kids who cried all night, the 5 kids that slept with us forever, and how I couldn't wait until they grew up. I remembered the time Ed came home one day and Brian and Kevin had dumped everything out of the cupboards onto the floor, flour, sugar, cereal. He found me in the bedroom crying with the twins. So fast forward to high school years. That was a fun time. Basketball games, cheerleading, Jr. Miss, and I thought "now that was a great time in our lives," and then I remembered sitting up all night waiting for kids to come home, wondering where they were and who they were with, doing laundry all night so the kids could get their sleep,(even though I had to work the next day)Staying up day and night building a float for Jr. Miss and spending our whole summer traveling to parades, And now here we are all alone, and its a good time too. We love to see our kids and grandkids but they are busy with their families. Mom dittoed everything I said. Each season has its really great times and its hard times. And we survive - even though sometimes we think we can't make it another day. Another day comes and we plow thru and pretty soon the family is grown and gone. And we wish we could do it all over again. Kind of like a roller coaster ride. We forget the hard times and remember the good times. The hardest part is losing your companion and being alone. Just ask mom. She needs us now. Its lonely at the top. If you have a free moment (I know they're rare these days) drop by or give her a call. Being alone might sound great when your surrounded by chaos but its not so great when its your only choice. And most important of all "Love the time your in, you can't go back!"

Day Light Savings Time?

There is only one thing worse than winter weather in March and that is having to set our clocks ahead one hour!!! I have never understood why the government has the right to tell us to set our clocks back and forth. I truely belive it is a communist plot to destroy us. We are like mice in a maze. Blindly plodding along and all of a sudden the path changes and we have to go the other way. We are depressed already from the cold long winter days and then all of sudden now we have to get up an hour earlier! Could the bags under my eyes get any bigger?! So why do we put up with it? Why doesn't someone stand up and say "We're mad as H_ _ L and we're not going to take it any longer!!!!" I say it all the time but not to anybody that cares. Ed just says "Me too" I heard once that the reason was so that the farmers would have longer working days, and so that we could conserve energy by not using our lights or some insane thing like that. Well I think its time that they quit messing with our heads and leave the clocks alone. My biological clock is ticking away fast enough and I need more sleep. Lets all write a letter to President Barack Obama and ask him if he could put an earmark in his Stimulus plan that wouldn't cost anything, just get rid of the daylight savings time thingy. Whose with me?

I Am Shocked!!!!!

Last night Ed & I sat down to have our weekly Family Home Evening in front of the TV to watch the Bachelor. What can I say, we're hooked this season. I am so mad I honestly wished I wouldn't have watched it. My heart is broken just as much as Melissa's. I thought Jason was so sweet and now I think he is just a big "whimp" Maybe even gay. Sorry, I should have rated this blog PG-13. I guess I should have suspected when he giggled with the girls, or screamed like a baby when he and Molly bungie jumped off the bridge, or even with all the crying he has done on the show. For Heaven sakes, how many "real men" cry like that and on national TV. We all thought it was sweet and touching, now we know - he's a loser. Melissa should thank her lucky stars she didn't get stuck with him - she would have to be the man in the family! Molly shouldn't get too settled with him he will probably start feeling sorry for Melissa and they'll have to have another show where he breaks up with Molly and asks Melissa to take him back. This could be a regular ping pong game, back & forth back & forth -Oh cry me a river Jason! At least he has his son, Ty, I hope they will be very happy together because he probably won't find anyone else. Well, I have learned my lesson. This was not a good Family HOme Evening activity. It made me have bad feelings towards others. But there is a lesson to be learned here - You can't find your true love by dating a man who is also dating 24 other women.

Mama Told Me There'd be days like this. . .

And thats all I have to say Except I'm glad February is overwith!