MANIC

Monday has fit its "manic" description as I continue to play catch up from being off work so much of last week. Since I'm still not 100% healthy I did take it pretty easy over the weekend. We pretty much hibernated on Saturday as the temperatures dipped to single digits - did some cleaning, had a fire in the fireplace, and watched a couple of movies. We went to church on Sunday and did some reading. We were invited to our daughter's house for dinner which was very nice and enjoyable. Overall, it was an extremely laid back weekend for me. Being sick and not getting to see my granddaughter is no fun but we did get to see ultrasound pictures of the new grandson to come!!!! Yeah!! The cousins will be almost exactly a year apart which should make for some really entertaining holidays in a few years. With one of each the future holds both tea parties and bug hunts - dolls and trucks - all the fun of both. I can't wait.

January-under the weather

Monday is anything but manic. As was the weekend. This is Indiana in January which equals gray clouds, snow, ice, wind and 4,000 different viruses to choose from. I'm not sure which one I have (or is that which one has me!) but my throat is sore, I can hardly talk, and if I try to it usually brings on a round of coughing that hurts my entire body. I had my flu shot so this is clearly one of the other 3,999 options. In my manic mind I hate sick days when I'm off work and, therefore, at home and feel so bad I still can't so any of the hundred thing on my "Things to do at Home" list. Then there is the constant knowledge that when I go back to work all of today's work will be there to greet me along with tomorrow's and possibly the next day's depending on when I feel well enough to go back. Since my job includes being a salesperson it is really tough to do without a voice. So, here I am, at home, blogging. And coughing. Being sick is one of the hardest things for me and my type "A" personality. I don't know for sure what the "A" originally stood for but I think it's for ALL. I want to do it all, see it all, finish it all - all today, if possible. Even when I'm sick I'm trying to figure out something I feel well enough to do. By 10:00 a.m. I got dressed - not because I needed to for any reason other than that I couldn't stand to be so unproductive as to stay in my jammies all day.

MANIC

It is yet another Monday and although the predicted and anticipated blizzard of December 2007 did not occur it did cause an extra frenzy of activity.

Saturday's fun trip to Indianapolis for some shopping and lunch became Friday's frantic rush to get the necessary things only available in "the big town", pushing dinner back to well after 8:00 p.m. and arriving home at nearly 11:00. This was followed by an impromptu trip to Meijer after realizing we were likely to end up with overnight guests (our kids) battening down with us for the storm in case power was lost. We have a fireplace & kerosene heater - oh, and a well stocked pantry! So at midnight we were standing in line (six people back) waiting to pay for the sheets and blankets for the bed that just transformed my husbands office into the office/guest room.

The "storm" started several hours later Saturday morning than predicted allowing us to pick up some orders that had come in and finish off a few more people on our Christmas list. Couple #1 joined us at our house after the snow started and couple #2 decided not to venture north to potentially stay at our house too since the graduation party they were planning to attend was postponed. (by the way - CONGRATS CRISSY!)

The first wave of the storm left a measly two inches of snow- not near the 4"-6" predicted for round one. By evening they were reporting it was the calm before the storm and that the worst would come in the overnight with 6" to 10" of snow and 40mph winds.

The reality was some rain, a little ice and, then, about 2"-3" more snow. The wind came and the roads were pretty tricky Sunday morning for anyone without 4 wheel drive but by late afternoon things were pretty normal for wintertime.

Now, I'm not saying it was a conspiracy or anything, but by the end of the weekend I couldn't help remembering the words of the lady behind us at Meijer at midnight saying she thought the grocery store owners had a deal with the weather men so that when profits were down the predicted a storm causing a mad rush on things like milk, bread, eggs, and the completely decimated soft drink aisle! Yep, they were reporting lower than expected profits for retailers this season - but the grocery stores were cleaning up this weekend, as were the home improvement stores - selling shovels, ice melt, kerosene heaters, generators. Well, maybe? Hey, the guys on the street department could be in on it too. I mean, I'm sure they can use a little overtime money during the holidays.....

MANIC

It's that time of year when the weekends go way faster than my ability to get things done. It seems I have so many things I want to do, so many good intentions and plans, and so little time to accomplish them. We finally got the rest of the front porch decorated this weekend and finished shopping for two more of the kids. I love the Christmas specials on TV - Rudolph and the Grinch (the original, true to Suess, cartoon version - not the adult humor and story altering, creative license taking, Hollywood version). I love the lights and the parties (okay, especially the food). I love any time I get an opportunity to lovingly remind people of the real reason for the season. I love finding winter screen savers and wallpaper for my computer and I love taking fun, silly quizzes like this one.



I do love eggnog!!! So, what treat are you?

MANIC

WHAT a weekend!!!! It started wonderfully and peacefully. I went to "The Gathering" * at our church. It is a wonderful women's event they do for Christmas each year. It was fun and festive and relaxing. I'm pretty sure God knew I was going to need that calm before the chaos of the rest of the weekend!

I pride myself on my multitasking abilities, but seriously! Grandbaby spent the weekend since her parents had to travel out of state to a funeral. She was very, very good and we always enjoy having her. However, she is a baby and requires attention and feeding and changing. Add to that that Mercy, the puppy, went into heat for the first time and, therefore, also needs changing which can be pretty challenging with a 70+ lb. rottweiler who really doesn't like those "pants" you just put on her. Did I mention that she is pretty smart and managed to figure out how to unhook them herself in less than 20 minutes. Plus you can't just put her outside without risking the possibility of ending up with black labweillers (the neighbor's dog who's proven he can jump our fence) or, worse yet, coyotweillers (eek!). I saw three coyotes run across the corn field this morning. Then add that hubby was very sick all of Saturday- fever/cold chills, etc. - and trying to stay away from the baby.
Sum total = one exhausted, frazzled me! I was quite ready to come back to the routine of work this morning. So, how was your weekend?

*If you'd like to see more about "The Gathering" visit my friend Linda's blog at http://2nd-cup-of-coffee.blogspot.com/ You'll find pictures and clips or part or her talk.