Friday was a pretty good day, so my weekend got off to a good start. By the way, I have vacation on Monday. I am in a play and it is rehearsing on Monday. I am so excited! We got our tax refund on Friday too, so I made the house payment two days early and paid the past due gas bill. It feels good to be caught up. We still have to watch our spending and I have to work every hour that I can--even that will still put us behind. How can I make more money? That is a question that put me back on Prozac.
Anyway, Lori decided that she wanted her own laptop computer, which means I get mine back for good! She won't have to use mine ever again. She told Adam that when she has it, that he is forbidden to music on it. He has uploaded quite the music library on mine and I am happy for it. He and I like many of the same songs, so I am not upset by it. What did upset me was that he deleted the photos off the flash drive to make more room for his videos, which he put on my laptop. Maybe someday he will have his own. There were some really good photos that I took and Lori cropped of the kids and her cousins that are gone forever.
Today Lori and I ran errands and I mean we were out of the house together for more than two hours. It was really a good time. We went out for lunch at a new Mexican Restaurant, the food was really good and Lori told me about a dream she had. I, of course, interpreted her dream for her. That was fun for me, I love doing that and it isn't very often that I get to do that for my wife. My marriage isn't healthy at all, but I still love her and I look for ways that I can connect with her.
After lunch we went to church so she could fill out her time card. The organist was rehearsing which made being there rather spiritual. I helped her sort the mail and read a newsletter from St. Luke's in Grand Rapids. I started to get a headache so I took one of Lori's Aleve, which did the trick because as I drink my third glass of wine, I don't have a headache at all. We left Peace Lutheran and returned Momma Mia to Family Video. Momma Mia was cute, but not great, and at time rather hokey, but I digress.
We then went to Best Buy where Lori and I purchased a Toshiba laptop for her. I am so excited! She will have her own laptop, FiNALLY! (can you tell that I am happy and excited for her?) We then went to Meijer and bought groceries for two weeks of meals. Menu planning has saved us a lot of money, although we spend more money in one trip to Meijer we are focused with our money and the kids know what to expect for dinner.
Our last trip was to Bob's Butcher Block where we got Sizzler's for dinner. Lori is grilling them now on her grill pan. It is a good day.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
There is a lot to be said for picking the proper font style and color when I finally get around to posting on this blog. Although it could be said that I am just trying to look impressive, for me it is all about getting into the emotional writing attitude. Truly, more than 90 per cent of all that we do is emotionally driven and the remainder is divided between necessary and automatic. Under the necessary category are items such as eating food and drinking water. Under the automatic items such as breathing, urinating and defecating--not very glamorous but we all do it. Why do we think that living is glamorous anyway? God told Adam that from dust he came and to dust he will return. Dust isn't glamorous at all.
There is nothing glamorous in receiving reports that your children are struggling in school, misbehaving or failing a class. Nathan is struggling in division. Evan is swearing on the school bus and Adam is failing Journalism. Nathan is getting help and Lori is working hard with him. I asked him how many dimes does it take to make 60 cents? "Six" he said. Then I asked him, "How many dimes does it take to make $1.20" He said. "10 dimes plus 2 dimes." He certainly understands the concept he just isn't making the connection. But he is starting to get it.
I don't know why Evan is swearing so much. I wonder if it has something to do with hormones and a OCD. I do know that he isn't happy with his drink choices with his school lunch. He was buying a Gatorade everyday at the price of one dollar. He was burning through his lunch money too quickly so I had to put a stop to that. He has been getting the chocolate milk but he wouldn't drink it. He said he doesn't like the taste--Lori thinks he doesn't shake it before drinking it. Yesterday, I went to the Food Service office and talked in person to Sarah who manages all the lunch accounts for all the West Ottawa students. She changed Evan's account so that he can have lemonade. He got it for lunch yesterday and said he liked it. He asked me if that was for just that day, and I said it was for everyday. He was happy to hear that.
Lemonade is given to students who are lactose intolerant. I told Sarah that he isn't lactose intolerant but that he has narrow nasal membranes and milk isn't the best choice for him. She gladly accommodated him. I know it's a small thing but it makes a big difference to Evan. I could have called her, but I wanted to work this out in person. We interact with people through e-mails, text messages and phone calls. It was real and human.
Adam and I met with his Journalism teacher yesterday after school. He told me that Adam won't fail the class but he needs to complete his edited drafts. It was a good meeting, the three of us sat down face to face and talked about Adam's work and progress in Journalism. I held Adam's submitted articles in my hand and looked at some of the editing comments. I agreed with the editing comments I read. I was glad to have a meeting with him. Conferences were such a disaster for us that we are working harder than normal to keep tabs on Adam's assignments.
Our meeting was at 3 and I was a little late. I went to the wrong building first. Adam rode with me when I picked up Nathan at Lakeshore. We went to Speedway and got our snacks to watch eat while watching "The Soup." We drove to Dave and Paula's house and let Bob out and fed him snacks--Paula sent a text message to Lori's phone asking Nathan to do so.
I asked Nathan to say something funny. He replied, "Airline food." It isn't as funny as humour blog that has vanished, but it is Nathan's interpretation of Jerry Seinfeld.
There is nothing glamorous in receiving reports that your children are struggling in school, misbehaving or failing a class. Nathan is struggling in division. Evan is swearing on the school bus and Adam is failing Journalism. Nathan is getting help and Lori is working hard with him. I asked him how many dimes does it take to make 60 cents? "Six" he said. Then I asked him, "How many dimes does it take to make $1.20" He said. "10 dimes plus 2 dimes." He certainly understands the concept he just isn't making the connection. But he is starting to get it.
I don't know why Evan is swearing so much. I wonder if it has something to do with hormones and a OCD. I do know that he isn't happy with his drink choices with his school lunch. He was buying a Gatorade everyday at the price of one dollar. He was burning through his lunch money too quickly so I had to put a stop to that. He has been getting the chocolate milk but he wouldn't drink it. He said he doesn't like the taste--Lori thinks he doesn't shake it before drinking it. Yesterday, I went to the Food Service office and talked in person to Sarah who manages all the lunch accounts for all the West Ottawa students. She changed Evan's account so that he can have lemonade. He got it for lunch yesterday and said he liked it. He asked me if that was for just that day, and I said it was for everyday. He was happy to hear that.
Lemonade is given to students who are lactose intolerant. I told Sarah that he isn't lactose intolerant but that he has narrow nasal membranes and milk isn't the best choice for him. She gladly accommodated him. I know it's a small thing but it makes a big difference to Evan. I could have called her, but I wanted to work this out in person. We interact with people through e-mails, text messages and phone calls. It was real and human.
Adam and I met with his Journalism teacher yesterday after school. He told me that Adam won't fail the class but he needs to complete his edited drafts. It was a good meeting, the three of us sat down face to face and talked about Adam's work and progress in Journalism. I held Adam's submitted articles in my hand and looked at some of the editing comments. I agreed with the editing comments I read. I was glad to have a meeting with him. Conferences were such a disaster for us that we are working harder than normal to keep tabs on Adam's assignments.
Our meeting was at 3 and I was a little late. I went to the wrong building first. Adam rode with me when I picked up Nathan at Lakeshore. We went to Speedway and got our snacks to watch eat while watching "The Soup." We drove to Dave and Paula's house and let Bob out and fed him snacks--Paula sent a text message to Lori's phone asking Nathan to do so.
I asked Nathan to say something funny. He replied, "Airline food." It isn't as funny as humour blog that has vanished, but it is Nathan's interpretation of Jerry Seinfeld.
Friday, February 6, 2009
I don't know if it's the cold winter days or just pure laziness, but on Fridays, my day off work I hardly do anything at all and it is driving my wife crazy. I know she is angry at me for not doing much, and that money is really tight right now. I am not working any overtime. Today she told me that we might have to stop cable and/or internet. But there is no way she would consider stopping her $50 a month cell phone service. Either one of us is going to have to take a second job or she gets a full-time job. Overtime has been discontinued at my work, and considering the fact that I work in automotive, the fact that I am working at all is quite astonishing to me, indeed.
Anyway, I overslept this morning and had to drive the older two to school. Evan's expression on his face when his bus pulled up infront of our house was priceless. He started to change his clothes quickly and then he said, "you didn't get me up in time." He was right and I was already dressed. I walked out his bus and told his bus driver that Adam and Evan weren't ready at all. I did ask her what time she got them to school--Adam at 7:30 Evan 7:40. I was six minutes behind their usual time, but they weren't late.
I drove the boys to school in Lori's car, because all week long the Blazer's breaks have been hard to operate. It took all my strength in my right leg to press on the peddle. I got home, slightly delayed by a garbage truck that was blocking traffic, woke Nathan up and began the battle for comfortable clothes. The pants I picked out for him were too tight and the shirt was unconfortable. The sweat pants were good but the shirt had buttons. The third shirt has a zipper and isn't comfortable when it is zipped up all the way.
"Don't zip it all the way" I said.
"I have to." Nathan said. "It's my way."
I replied, "Change your way and you can wear that shirt."
"Nope, I"m not doing it."
Who does he think he is, George Herbert Walker Bush. perhaps? Well the young president-in-training wanted T-O-A-S-T for breakfast and was upset that I did not provide him with a large glass of orange juice and gave him a regular sized juice glass. He drinks too much orange juice. I want him to continue to drink it because I think it has really made him healthy. He drank his juice, ate half of his peanut butter toast--yes peanut butter, because we are choosy and we choose JIFF, which has not been recalled.
JIFF peanut butter was originally made by Proctor and Gamble who later sold it to Smucker's. Smucker's has maintained the quality of JIFF but has added new varieties under the JIFF label. Our future president, Nathan, did get dressed in a shirt he chose and then ate. We left home at 8:35 and not 8:30 because I read his lips and knew he was missing a glove, just as I was ready to back out of the garage. I went inside the house and got him another pair of gloves and drove him to school.
I came home, drank coffee and sat at the kitchen table with Lori. I paid the mortgage payment and updated our checking account. I then drove to Tuffy. A vacuum hose was disconnected which is why the Blazer idled high and the breaks were hard. Now, they are soft and the Blazer sometimes runs like it is missing. Well, it needs a tune up.
I picked Nathan up at school in Lori's car drove to Family Fare and bought a loaf of bread and Organic Romaine Hearts, which were on sale. I then filled Lori's car up with gas and drove home. While I was shopping, Nathan stayed in the car and ate his popcorn he bought at school. Fridays are popcorn Fridays.
I didn't do much at all, but for some reason I am really tired. We are going to Benton Harbor tomorrow to celebrate Adam's birthday on his birthday.
Anyway, I overslept this morning and had to drive the older two to school. Evan's expression on his face when his bus pulled up infront of our house was priceless. He started to change his clothes quickly and then he said, "you didn't get me up in time." He was right and I was already dressed. I walked out his bus and told his bus driver that Adam and Evan weren't ready at all. I did ask her what time she got them to school--Adam at 7:30 Evan 7:40. I was six minutes behind their usual time, but they weren't late.
I drove the boys to school in Lori's car, because all week long the Blazer's breaks have been hard to operate. It took all my strength in my right leg to press on the peddle. I got home, slightly delayed by a garbage truck that was blocking traffic, woke Nathan up and began the battle for comfortable clothes. The pants I picked out for him were too tight and the shirt was unconfortable. The sweat pants were good but the shirt had buttons. The third shirt has a zipper and isn't comfortable when it is zipped up all the way.
"Don't zip it all the way" I said.
"I have to." Nathan said. "It's my way."
I replied, "Change your way and you can wear that shirt."
"Nope, I"m not doing it."
Who does he think he is, George Herbert Walker Bush. perhaps? Well the young president-in-training wanted T-O-A-S-T for breakfast and was upset that I did not provide him with a large glass of orange juice and gave him a regular sized juice glass. He drinks too much orange juice. I want him to continue to drink it because I think it has really made him healthy. He drank his juice, ate half of his peanut butter toast--yes peanut butter, because we are choosy and we choose JIFF, which has not been recalled.
JIFF peanut butter was originally made by Proctor and Gamble who later sold it to Smucker's. Smucker's has maintained the quality of JIFF but has added new varieties under the JIFF label. Our future president, Nathan, did get dressed in a shirt he chose and then ate. We left home at 8:35 and not 8:30 because I read his lips and knew he was missing a glove, just as I was ready to back out of the garage. I went inside the house and got him another pair of gloves and drove him to school.
I came home, drank coffee and sat at the kitchen table with Lori. I paid the mortgage payment and updated our checking account. I then drove to Tuffy. A vacuum hose was disconnected which is why the Blazer idled high and the breaks were hard. Now, they are soft and the Blazer sometimes runs like it is missing. Well, it needs a tune up.
I picked Nathan up at school in Lori's car drove to Family Fare and bought a loaf of bread and Organic Romaine Hearts, which were on sale. I then filled Lori's car up with gas and drove home. While I was shopping, Nathan stayed in the car and ate his popcorn he bought at school. Fridays are popcorn Fridays.
I didn't do much at all, but for some reason I am really tired. We are going to Benton Harbor tomorrow to celebrate Adam's birthday on his birthday.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Museum trip
Since Christmas break, Adam has been wanting me to take him to the Grand Rapids Museum. It has been years since we have been there and I thought the trip would be fun. We would have gone earlier this month and we would have except for the fact that every weekend the roads have been icy and the visibility was 50 feet. I don't mind driving in the winter when I have to...well OK, I don't like driving in the winter.
Today was the end of the school marking period which means that the boys didn't have school today. I was happy because it meant that I was able to sleep in this morning. I would have slept even longer, but I stayed up past 3:00 last night. Doing what? you might ask. Trying to remove spy ware from our desktop computer. I couldn't do it. It is in really bad shape. Lori said that I should take to the computer guy we have gone to before, but instead I spent $30 on an anti-spy ware program, which should fix the computer. The CPU is so virus ridden that the anti-spy ware program won't install. So, that is why I wasn't moving fast this morning.
My rusty Blazer jerked and bucked for awhile on the way to Grand Rapids. Adam held the Tom Tom. I knew how to get to GR and Tom Tom knew the city streets. We parked in the parking garage and by the time we got to the Museum we missed the Star Trek Worm Hole exhibit in the Planetarium. I did pay for three carousel tickets so the boys could ride. We looked around and heard the clock tower strike at 3 and then again at 4.
We were there long enough to see everything and before the boys got bored. Evan loved looking at all the swords and guns. Nathan got tired and wanted to sit down, so I had him sit in the classroom exhibit and I taught him about idioms from the homework pages on display.
They separated from me as I walked into the Gas Light Village. The volunteer at the Apothecary Shop demonstrated how pills were made in the Victorian Era. She was very engaging, friendly, and taught us a lot. it was a highlight for all of us. We left the drugstore and the boys rode the carousel. It has the original artwork from the late 1800's. There were a few risque paintings on it.
We left the museum, walked to the parking garage, and Nathan wanted to walk to the third floor. The Blazer was parked on the first level. It was one of those moments that i remembered from my childhood when I wanted to see something but we just went home instead. I walked up the two flights of stairs with Nathan. When we got to the top I asked him if there was anything else he wanted to see and he replied, "Nope, that's all I want to see. Let's go home."
The truck drove smoothly on the way back and we got home in good time. It was indeed a good time.
Today was the end of the school marking period which means that the boys didn't have school today. I was happy because it meant that I was able to sleep in this morning. I would have slept even longer, but I stayed up past 3:00 last night. Doing what? you might ask. Trying to remove spy ware from our desktop computer. I couldn't do it. It is in really bad shape. Lori said that I should take to the computer guy we have gone to before, but instead I spent $30 on an anti-spy ware program, which should fix the computer. The CPU is so virus ridden that the anti-spy ware program won't install. So, that is why I wasn't moving fast this morning.
My rusty Blazer jerked and bucked for awhile on the way to Grand Rapids. Adam held the Tom Tom. I knew how to get to GR and Tom Tom knew the city streets. We parked in the parking garage and by the time we got to the Museum we missed the Star Trek Worm Hole exhibit in the Planetarium. I did pay for three carousel tickets so the boys could ride. We looked around and heard the clock tower strike at 3 and then again at 4.
We were there long enough to see everything and before the boys got bored. Evan loved looking at all the swords and guns. Nathan got tired and wanted to sit down, so I had him sit in the classroom exhibit and I taught him about idioms from the homework pages on display.
They separated from me as I walked into the Gas Light Village. The volunteer at the Apothecary Shop demonstrated how pills were made in the Victorian Era. She was very engaging, friendly, and taught us a lot. it was a highlight for all of us. We left the drugstore and the boys rode the carousel. It has the original artwork from the late 1800's. There were a few risque paintings on it.
We left the museum, walked to the parking garage, and Nathan wanted to walk to the third floor. The Blazer was parked on the first level. It was one of those moments that i remembered from my childhood when I wanted to see something but we just went home instead. I walked up the two flights of stairs with Nathan. When we got to the top I asked him if there was anything else he wanted to see and he replied, "Nope, that's all I want to see. Let's go home."
The truck drove smoothly on the way back and we got home in good time. It was indeed a good time.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
New Year's Day
We usually eat appetizers and watch Christmas movies on New' Years Eve. Then, we watch the ball drop at Time's Square. This year we ordered from Pizza Hut and watched VH1. I was really upset that we didn't get to see the ball drop on Times Square because our local ABC channel broadcast a ball drop at Grand Rapids, which was rather disappointing.
Evan and Nathan watched Charlie Brown Christmas and Christmas Story in Lori's and my bedroom while Adam and I watched music countdowns on VH-1. After midnight Evan and Nathan went to bed and Adam played Rock Band 2. Lori and I played hangman on Pogo and drank. We all went to bed at 4:30.
We were all rather sluggish this morning. Nathan had leftover pizza, hotwings and a breadstick for brunch and a Lunchable for lunch. Evan had a Lunchable for lunch. I had the breakfast of chapions, cold pizza and a coke, which brought back memories of High School and College years. How else to great the late morning of the New Year?
At some point Evan and Nathan turned on the Cartoon Network where a Looney Toons marathon was being broadcasts. Time slipped away from me and I sat in the living room with those two and watched cartoons I hadn't seen in years. We laughed as Wile E Coyote's elaborate plans to catch The Roadrunner backfired on him as did Elmer Fudd's double barreled shotgun when Bugs Bunny stuck his fingers into it.
After awhile, the two boys got restless and Adam was still sleeping. I took Evan and Nathan to the Nature Center and Timber Town. Had this been Spring, Summer or Fall it would have been quite and outing. On New Year''s Day, it was an adventure in not slipping and falling on the ice, while trying to enjoy favorite places. The upside was that we were the only people at both places.
We got home and found that Adam was awake and then we went out to dinner at Grand King Buffet. None of us left hungry. After we got home, I took a nap in my chair. Gosh! my life is exciting.
Evan and Nathan watched Charlie Brown Christmas and Christmas Story in Lori's and my bedroom while Adam and I watched music countdowns on VH-1. After midnight Evan and Nathan went to bed and Adam played Rock Band 2. Lori and I played hangman on Pogo and drank. We all went to bed at 4:30.
We were all rather sluggish this morning. Nathan had leftover pizza, hotwings and a breadstick for brunch and a Lunchable for lunch. Evan had a Lunchable for lunch. I had the breakfast of chapions, cold pizza and a coke, which brought back memories of High School and College years. How else to great the late morning of the New Year?
At some point Evan and Nathan turned on the Cartoon Network where a Looney Toons marathon was being broadcasts. Time slipped away from me and I sat in the living room with those two and watched cartoons I hadn't seen in years. We laughed as Wile E Coyote's elaborate plans to catch The Roadrunner backfired on him as did Elmer Fudd's double barreled shotgun when Bugs Bunny stuck his fingers into it.
After awhile, the two boys got restless and Adam was still sleeping. I took Evan and Nathan to the Nature Center and Timber Town. Had this been Spring, Summer or Fall it would have been quite and outing. On New Year''s Day, it was an adventure in not slipping and falling on the ice, while trying to enjoy favorite places. The upside was that we were the only people at both places.
We got home and found that Adam was awake and then we went out to dinner at Grand King Buffet. None of us left hungry. After we got home, I took a nap in my chair. Gosh! my life is exciting.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Pearl Harbor Day and the Day After.
I woke up Sunday with a headache on the left side of my face, and my stomach was churning. I thought I was going to throw up. I was all set to go to church. I was planning on it, but when my alarm went off all I could do was try to sleep some more. I woke up at 9:17 and knew I couldn't make it on time. I went back to bed again, and didn't get up until Lori offered to make me breakfast again. Two days in a row she made me breakfast! I could hardly believe it. She made scrambled eggs and biscuits and gravy. We ran out of gravy so I finished off the biscuits with Country Crock and honey. I prefer butter, but there wasn't any softened.
I brought the tree into the house and the remaining snow melted and dripped off of it for more than an hour. Adam had all ready brought up the Christmas decorations and tree ornaments from the basement. He was ready to get the tree decorated before the tree was ready to be decorated.
I started bringing the tree into the house, carrying it stand and all out of the garage, Adam started shoveling the snow off the front sidewalk and steps. Had he started that 10 min earlier, it would have been great. As it turned out he was still shoveling and wouldn't put down the shovel to help me guide the tree into the house. I ranted when the job was over because the Blue Spruce's needles were scratching my arms and legs through my South Park pajamas I was wearing.
I got frustrated with everyone for not helping me and even more frustrated when the stand came loose just as I was setting the tree down. That is when I really lost my cool. After Lori, helped me get the tree back into the stand, I ranted to everyone. I just felt prickly, scratchy, a little sore and frustrated.
After the tree dried off, I put up the lights. Lori called me on her cell phone after I showered and asked me to check the lights to see if we needed any additional strings of lights. Nathan and I checked them and found one that was dead and two more that had some burned out. I was able to replace some of the burned out bulbs from the dead string enough so that only two or three were burned out.
I called Lori back on her cell phone and told her to get two or three strands. She was standing right by them and told me what Walgreen's had. I asked her to get 2 packages of 300 lights. I only used one, but we have at least one other that I did use that won't see another Christmas.
I got the lights on the tree, and then Lori vacuumed around it and put the tree skirt under the tree. Then Lori put the garland on the tree, which then began the tradition of placing the ornaments. Each child has his own box of ornaments and in the box is a list of every ornament he has received or made since his birth. Lori reads the list and helps the child find his ornament and then the child places the ornament on the Christmas tree or has his father and/or eldest brother help him.
When Nathan's turn was over, he took of his mother's gloves from his hand. These were her leather gloves that he used to protect his hands from the Blue Spruce's needles. He never hung an ornament on the tree. Adam and I did it for him.
Then came Evan's turn. He hung most of his own ornaments. I helped him with the heavier ones to find stronger branches. There was no drama or confusion with Evan. He was happy to have his ornaments on the tree. He would get excited about his favorite ones and the place he found for them.
When his turn was done, Adam began. He used the list himself, but he decided to be more selective this year and not hang every ornament he owns. He said he wanted to save room for Lori and I to hang some of ours. Lori didn't want to put any of hers on the tree. I picked five of mine, and Adam hung them.
After that was done, we ate hamburgers for dinner. I went to D&W to get pickles while Lori cooked the burgers, but I couldn't find the Clausens we like best. So, I came home with three tomatoes, a six pack of Labatt's Blue Light and a bottle of wine. We can buy beer and wine on Sundays now, so I bought some--only because I could.
While we were decorating the Christmas Tree, Lori saw a mouse in the kitchen. Her shriek startled me more than the mouse. I thought my brave sons, Evan and Nathan would help me chase it outside, but they cowered away instead. Evan said, "I didn't want to catch it because it would bite me and I would get rabies. What are rabies?" I set two traps for the mouse and this morning, I found it dead in the trap inside the cold air return vent. The cover is loose so the mouse escaped from me into the vent area.
Today when I got home, Lori wanted to use the snow blower. I helped her start it and she used the snow blower on the driveway, while I showered. She came back in smelling of 2 cycle engine fuel, changed her clothes and used some perfume, and we headed off to Logan's for dinner. From our vantage point in the Buick, Logan;s looked too busy so we went to Red Robin instead.
Evan had the 5 Alarm burger. Nathan ordered and he did order quite nicely, the Cheesy Mac N' Cheese. Adam got the Clucks and Fries because he had hamburgers two nights in a row. Lori got the Steak Fajitas, and I got the Pulled Pork BBQ burger, a true fork and knife sandwich.
Lori and I dropped the kids off at home and went to Wal*Mart to get yellow mustard, pickles and coffee. We also got a few presents for our children. We came home and helped Nathan with his homework and while doing so, we hear a crash downstairs. Evan had thrown a burned-out light bulb in the basement and broke it. His punishment was to sweep it up and throw it away. He was OK with that.
Adam set another mouse trap. I am off to bed now.
I brought the tree into the house and the remaining snow melted and dripped off of it for more than an hour. Adam had all ready brought up the Christmas decorations and tree ornaments from the basement. He was ready to get the tree decorated before the tree was ready to be decorated.
I started bringing the tree into the house, carrying it stand and all out of the garage, Adam started shoveling the snow off the front sidewalk and steps. Had he started that 10 min earlier, it would have been great. As it turned out he was still shoveling and wouldn't put down the shovel to help me guide the tree into the house. I ranted when the job was over because the Blue Spruce's needles were scratching my arms and legs through my South Park pajamas I was wearing.
I got frustrated with everyone for not helping me and even more frustrated when the stand came loose just as I was setting the tree down. That is when I really lost my cool. After Lori, helped me get the tree back into the stand, I ranted to everyone. I just felt prickly, scratchy, a little sore and frustrated.
After the tree dried off, I put up the lights. Lori called me on her cell phone after I showered and asked me to check the lights to see if we needed any additional strings of lights. Nathan and I checked them and found one that was dead and two more that had some burned out. I was able to replace some of the burned out bulbs from the dead string enough so that only two or three were burned out.
I called Lori back on her cell phone and told her to get two or three strands. She was standing right by them and told me what Walgreen's had. I asked her to get 2 packages of 300 lights. I only used one, but we have at least one other that I did use that won't see another Christmas.
I got the lights on the tree, and then Lori vacuumed around it and put the tree skirt under the tree. Then Lori put the garland on the tree, which then began the tradition of placing the ornaments. Each child has his own box of ornaments and in the box is a list of every ornament he has received or made since his birth. Lori reads the list and helps the child find his ornament and then the child places the ornament on the Christmas tree or has his father and/or eldest brother help him.
When Nathan's turn was over, he took of his mother's gloves from his hand. These were her leather gloves that he used to protect his hands from the Blue Spruce's needles. He never hung an ornament on the tree. Adam and I did it for him.
Then came Evan's turn. He hung most of his own ornaments. I helped him with the heavier ones to find stronger branches. There was no drama or confusion with Evan. He was happy to have his ornaments on the tree. He would get excited about his favorite ones and the place he found for them.
When his turn was done, Adam began. He used the list himself, but he decided to be more selective this year and not hang every ornament he owns. He said he wanted to save room for Lori and I to hang some of ours. Lori didn't want to put any of hers on the tree. I picked five of mine, and Adam hung them.
After that was done, we ate hamburgers for dinner. I went to D&W to get pickles while Lori cooked the burgers, but I couldn't find the Clausens we like best. So, I came home with three tomatoes, a six pack of Labatt's Blue Light and a bottle of wine. We can buy beer and wine on Sundays now, so I bought some--only because I could.
While we were decorating the Christmas Tree, Lori saw a mouse in the kitchen. Her shriek startled me more than the mouse. I thought my brave sons, Evan and Nathan would help me chase it outside, but they cowered away instead. Evan said, "I didn't want to catch it because it would bite me and I would get rabies. What are rabies?" I set two traps for the mouse and this morning, I found it dead in the trap inside the cold air return vent. The cover is loose so the mouse escaped from me into the vent area.
Today when I got home, Lori wanted to use the snow blower. I helped her start it and she used the snow blower on the driveway, while I showered. She came back in smelling of 2 cycle engine fuel, changed her clothes and used some perfume, and we headed off to Logan's for dinner. From our vantage point in the Buick, Logan;s looked too busy so we went to Red Robin instead.
Evan had the 5 Alarm burger. Nathan ordered and he did order quite nicely, the Cheesy Mac N' Cheese. Adam got the Clucks and Fries because he had hamburgers two nights in a row. Lori got the Steak Fajitas, and I got the Pulled Pork BBQ burger, a true fork and knife sandwich.
Lori and I dropped the kids off at home and went to Wal*Mart to get yellow mustard, pickles and coffee. We also got a few presents for our children. We came home and helped Nathan with his homework and while doing so, we hear a crash downstairs. Evan had thrown a burned-out light bulb in the basement and broke it. His punishment was to sweep it up and throw it away. He was OK with that.
Adam set another mouse trap. I am off to bed now.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Getting a Christmas Tree
We had a lot of plans this for today, shoveling the driveway, grocery shopping, moving living room furniture and getting a Christmas Tree. Lori and I woke up late and had a leisurely breakfast. We drank coffee and loafed around in the living room. Neither of us were feeling motivated to do very much. We laughed at ourselves for making plans and rapidly executing them as fast as snail making it's way through a garden.
I have seen large California snails when I was 12. I was visiting my great aunt and uncle for a month. One morning I woke up early when I was staying with them and stepped on several snails that were in their garden. I can honestly say that snails move slowly, because I have seen them.
So there we were this morning sitting in the living room sluggish as snails. Lori suggested that I use the snow blower she got from her grandfather's estate. It isn't that I didn't know how to make it work, I just didn't think we had enough gasoline. I really need more exercise so, I decided I would shovel the driveway, it took me less than hour. The snow about eight inches deep but very light and powder like. It took me less than an hour to shovel the whole driveway. While I shoveled, Lori showered and cleaned the kitchen. She went to the grocery store, while I showered, dressed and watched TV with the kids. Adam and Nathan were watching "Total Drama Island", and Evan was watching The Pink Panther.
When Lori came home, Adam and I unloaded the groceries. Later, Lori vacuumed the living room and made room the Christmas Tree. Then we loaded up into the Blazer and I drove the whole family to the tree lot to purchase a tree. What else would you do at a tree lot? Have a snowball fight, perhaps. Nathan took his cap gun and ran around the trees in the snow. It was his way of spreading Christmas cheer. It was cold. I think we find the coldest day in December to buy a Christmas cheer. We wanted a Blue Spruce again this year and I found a really nice one. The guy at the lot tied it to the top of the Blazer while Adam and I chased Nathan back to the Blazer.
Lori drove us off to eat at a restaurant. Evan wanted to eat at Tres Lobos, I suggested Beechwood Inn because it was a little closer and we haven't been there in a long time. The kids agreed to go, except Evan who was upset. He was so upset that he was shutting down and wouldn't order anything to drink. He said he wanted the seafood platter. Lori broke down and ordered it for him. He ate the Perch, the Lobster tail, and the Shrimp. Lori and I split his stuffed Crab. Lori and I got the Swiss Steak. She ate a salad and I had chili. Adam got a burger and Nathan ordered Cheese Quesadillas. He didn't like it because it was made with a Mexican blend of cheese. He is too picky.
We got home and Adam helped me set up the tree it the garage so some of the snow will melt off the branches. We then watched "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," and "Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer." The kids went to bed and Lori and I stayed up. Adam drove Lori on a midnight beer run. I am off to bed soon.
I have seen large California snails when I was 12. I was visiting my great aunt and uncle for a month. One morning I woke up early when I was staying with them and stepped on several snails that were in their garden. I can honestly say that snails move slowly, because I have seen them.
So there we were this morning sitting in the living room sluggish as snails. Lori suggested that I use the snow blower she got from her grandfather's estate. It isn't that I didn't know how to make it work, I just didn't think we had enough gasoline. I really need more exercise so, I decided I would shovel the driveway, it took me less than hour. The snow about eight inches deep but very light and powder like. It took me less than an hour to shovel the whole driveway. While I shoveled, Lori showered and cleaned the kitchen. She went to the grocery store, while I showered, dressed and watched TV with the kids. Adam and Nathan were watching "Total Drama Island", and Evan was watching The Pink Panther.
When Lori came home, Adam and I unloaded the groceries. Later, Lori vacuumed the living room and made room the Christmas Tree. Then we loaded up into the Blazer and I drove the whole family to the tree lot to purchase a tree. What else would you do at a tree lot? Have a snowball fight, perhaps. Nathan took his cap gun and ran around the trees in the snow. It was his way of spreading Christmas cheer. It was cold. I think we find the coldest day in December to buy a Christmas cheer. We wanted a Blue Spruce again this year and I found a really nice one. The guy at the lot tied it to the top of the Blazer while Adam and I chased Nathan back to the Blazer.
Lori drove us off to eat at a restaurant. Evan wanted to eat at Tres Lobos, I suggested Beechwood Inn because it was a little closer and we haven't been there in a long time. The kids agreed to go, except Evan who was upset. He was so upset that he was shutting down and wouldn't order anything to drink. He said he wanted the seafood platter. Lori broke down and ordered it for him. He ate the Perch, the Lobster tail, and the Shrimp. Lori and I split his stuffed Crab. Lori and I got the Swiss Steak. She ate a salad and I had chili. Adam got a burger and Nathan ordered Cheese Quesadillas. He didn't like it because it was made with a Mexican blend of cheese. He is too picky.
We got home and Adam helped me set up the tree it the garage so some of the snow will melt off the branches. We then watched "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," and "Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer." The kids went to bed and Lori and I stayed up. Adam drove Lori on a midnight beer run. I am off to bed soon.
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