You've got to be kidding

I'm so embarrased......March 15th our community center (where I work out) is having a St Patty's Day Dinner and Dance. So i've been calling our neighbors that regularly attend these events to let them know I have tickets. The one neighbor can not see (remember this part) so he has to make sure the other neighbor lady can take him. Well I called her and she said yeah she'd like to go and tell Joe I can take him. (feel like an event coordinator) Just about 15 min ago a neighbor (yet ANOTHER one) stopped by to tell me our cows were out. As he's leaving someone else stops by to tell us the same thing. Well it ends up this other person has Joe in the car with him. I yell out the window (remember this part too) let me get Joe's ticket for him right now. I hand the ticket to the gentleman out on our deck. Well Joe decides he wants to pay me right now. He gets out of the car and rather then walk to the door, he walks to the window. So the path to the window is ice, snow and shit covered. SO what do you think happened....................

Only me....

I'm not sure I should even be telling you all this, but b/c it's a true 'Rachel moment' and to let you all know I'm human and do dumb things I shall share. Tonight was circuit training. There was only 3 of us there, thank GOODNESS! We have a new routine in place and this was the 2nd time I've done it. I asked what this one thing was called, sorry can't remember what it is, but you lay on your tummy on a ball. Then with your hands in front of you you roll the ball up your chest, ending up on your knees and your butt in the air. Well....do you see where this is going.....I tried it and went right on over the ball!!! I have such a carpet burn on my chin and my neck was pushed down to my stomach I swear. I was so fricken embarrassed and the other ladies were like oh my gosh, are you OK?? I was like yeah just let me get this piece of gravel out of my mouth that i picked up. I looked in the mirror and this is what I saw:

Now i have this fear that I'll get staph in it and oh dear me what a mess that would be. Any one have any suggestions what i should do with it? Leave it alone? Cover it up (my mother would be freaking out right now making me put a band aide on it) For those that don't know me personally I had MRSA in Oct of 06 and I haven't been able to be 'free' of it for sometime. Actually gave up even doing the nasal swabs b/c I couldn't get back 2 'negatives' So anyway you can see then why this is a big deal.

BUT you can also laugh, I sure as heck am. Truly this could only happen to me. I could really tell ya'll some stories and i think BFF E could share some good ones too, but will pass on those. Instead go ahead and chuckle:) Why I'm smiling in this picture? I guess to show the humor in it...Boy, i look kind of dopey don't I. Not sure what that is all about...got to love those hold the camera and take a picture. The other pictures I took you could see right up my nose LOL

FAP is BS

In case you're wondering where I've been, I've been MIA b/c of my stupid freakin Internet. Trust me I'd rather say some other words but won't. Apparently satellite Internet has this FAP 'Fair Access Policy' which basically says they can shut your speed down to dial up if you use to much bandwidth. Well I did. I think it came from sending out the emails from the purse auction b/c it was my upload that I maxed out on. Being that the purse auction went over like a bomb it so wasn't worth it. SO finally today I up'd our package to a higher speed which gives me more bandwidth. (is it BAN width or BAND??) We only need to keep it for 30 days and since it's a rolling 30 days our speed should continue to get better BUT it means I have to cut back on the number of emails I send. Which sucks b/c being home all day sending and receiving emails is what keeps me sane!
I'm back now and hopefully back on to blogging. I missed it. It's amazing how much I guess my life revolves around the Internet. Kind of sad actually. So many blogs to read, boards to check and here lately I'm working on our planks for our County Convention that need to be typed and EMAILED on. That alone left me with no other choice but to up the speed. Oh did I mention this is costing us about $30/month MORE!!
I'm rather cross about it all. But yeah...moving on.....more snow yesterday and yesterday was the LONGEST day yet of me staying home. I swore bed time was NEVER going to come. Seems that after nap time the kids fight non stop. What seizes to amaze me is that they can be having a spat right at DH's FEET and he notices NOTHING!! I want that ability! Oh wait tho, that means my kids would be brats then.

Rest in peace

We laid Maxine to rest today. She didn't look herself laying in her coufin last night but she looked peaceful. She had a beautiful service. Pastor did just an amazing job with the message, just wondeful. She really made it a rejoiceful time. I played for the funeral today and i played a special song 'It Is Well With My Soul' I could feel her swaying to it with her eyes shut. She would have been so pleased with the service. BUT the weather was another thing. It was -11 this AM. The coldest day of the last TWO years!! If not more! It was so cold at the cemetary and the idea of putting her in to that cold ground makes me so sad. I'm so thankful that it's just her earthly body and that her soul is in heaven where it's warm.
Farewell Maxine. You were such a strong and determined women. Thank you for doing such a good job in helping to raise DH. Thanks for letting C'man sit on your lap and read to him. Thanks for teaching me this past summer how to make tomato juice. You were an amazing women you really were! You're legacy will live on on earth no doubt!
If my internet speed ever picks back up again I will post her obituary b/c it really says it all.

stranded

Hello!! I'm stranded in Eastern IA by a snow storm. It's simply NASTY out there. Although visibility has picked up, they still are advising no travel. I'm here with my parents, sister and C'man. I'm so glad Miss A isn't here as keeping her entertained here would be awful. The pool is over clorinated so you can hardly be in it. We are going to walk next door shortly for lunch. Dad is pacing and very ansty. He tried the roads out but said he couldn't tell if he was on the shoulder or road.

Maxine passed away 2AM saturday. Her last 24 hrs were not pleasant. She was in a lot of pain. We went to see her Friday night and said our good byes. Not responsive but she did moan when I sang. She also responded when I told her her cats are fat and happy. DH said his good byes too. We left him alone with her, he cried. So hard to see a grown man cry. But at least I know he has dealt with it. She is no longer here on earth but her legacy will live on forever.

ok must go. I'm using the hotel computer!!

I'm here but barely

Ok so our internet provider shut down our speed b/c we reached our maximum. I am on the internet at dial up speed. Real briefly i'll make this. I am going away Saturday with out Miss A. I need the time to re-fuel myself. Sorry if i've offended anyone but I need a break.
I jammed my finger yesterday sleddin down our HUGE hill. Have pics, will post later when our speed picks up. I thought it was broken, DH says i wouldn't be able to move it if it was. Its very swollen and hurts pretty bad. Typing is hard. It's my ring finger on my right hand.

I'm working on a big V-day meal for the family. Menu consists of:
Cheddar Mini Meat loafs in a heart shape
Corn Casserole
Cheesy potatos (if DH remembers to bring me hash browns)
Sparkling jello (the jello mold has a heart on it)
AND for dessert Chocolate cake in the shape of none other then a HEART!! (but one heart broke already....think i'll frost it back together)

There ya have it. I'll take pics to show it to you all.

I'll be back but probably not till monday.

Shut the snow machine off

Would someone PLEASE shut that dang snow machine OFF! Yes you guessed it, it's snowing AGAIN!! Another 3-7 inches forecasted for this afternoon in to the evening. Schools are letting out and it's looking like I won't be doing circuit training.

Help me out here, this weekend is SIL's baby shower, across the state. I'm caravaning with my parents and g'parents. Men in one car, women (me driving) in the other. Discussion has been going on about me living Miss A home (did I blog about that??). Mom thinks i'd enjoy myself more without her. Not said in a mean way AT ALL! Just the truth. That little fancy pants takes a lot out of me which in turns leaves me very stressed and un easy to be around. I try to put on the happy face but I must not be doing a good job. So last night, like the last MANY nights, she was awake. Finally I went in her room to make sure all was well. I left and she screamed. DH took her then (the first time in like 12 months???). I laid in bed and thought 'that's it i'm leaving her home this weekend' My parents, well my mom, said she'd pay $20 for a sitter to stay with her while DH is at work. I think I need a weekend away from her. I need a full nights sleep (I know she'd be a bear in the hotel room) and just some time with C'man. BUT i'm feeling guilty and bad. I feel like maybe i'm being mean! But then would she really want to ride in a car for 4 hrs!?

What do you all think?? Take her and pray for the best a long with taking a good dose of anxiety meds:) or leave her home where she and daddy can hang out Saturday evening and all day Sunday?? I'm ready to hear it, good, bad or other wise.

Also my purse auction, what a waste of time. Thanks to those who bid (BFF-E) and if any of you would still like to get in, let me know. They don't end till this week but i'm fairly sure no bids will be coming.

Oh and the spell check is not working on this!? Sorry for all the mis-spelled words but I don't have the time to spend re-reading every post.

And One and Two....

Finally I have some pics of where I work out. (bet you couldn't wait LOL) Sorry none of me actually working out. That would mean someone would have to take them and I don't think that'd work, for fear they too may end up on this blog. WHICH means for so many that don't know I even blog, they'll want to read this. Something about my own family and distant acquaintances reading this, bothers me!? What if I talk about someone that reads this? Or I'm always worried I'll offend someone!? (i know, imagine that!!) At any rate so I've said before the community center is an old school. As I took these pictures I was like, 'wow check out this scenary' I really just love admiring the surroundings around me and here's another place that for a moment took my breath away. ok so the pictures don't do that sentence justice. Next time i'll take some from the 3rd floor of the school!! I took these last Sunday when my friend 'K' and I went to work out. I think she thought I was a little crazy so I didn't want to take to many, oh and I didn't mention it was freakin FREEZING, I will get some of the outside.

The view when you walk in Gotta love those balls

The view as you're leaving

Other news, I met another SAHM yesterday and her 4 year old son. C and him had a blast and I really enjoyed my time with 'Julie'. She used to work at my dentist office before being a SAHM and that's how I know her. There was some 'bond' b/w us that I had no idea was till I learned she had been thru (one) IVF. Infertility once again strikes another! We ran in to one another almost TWO years ago in Payless shoes. I gave her my business card and we conversed time to time via email (me being the slow one to email her back) This past August we ran into one another @ Olive Garden and guess what!!!?? she was VERY preggos!! No IVF this time, another miracle that came to them in a different manner. We did have a great time yesterday with our boys. Miss A was great and her other little 6 month old boy, stayed with his G'parents. The best part of all of this??? they are trying to move CLOSER to my neck of the woods!! At any rate J does know about my blog and I've asked her too to pop in once and awhile and leave a message. Hopefully we here from the lovely 'J'

My parents were supposed to come this afternoon and take us out for lunch as well as drop of things i'd left at there house. They got about 15 min from home and the roads were horrible. It's so windy here again and down right frigid. -6 tonight!! So they turned around. I told them once they reached one of the towns it'd get better. Seems this one town is the breaking point for either better or worse roads. They'll try again tomorrow.

Tonight is a MOPS & POPS supper. (mothers of preschoolers and now pops) I'm not sure will go. I have a sitter lined up but we have to bring the kids to her house (her mom and dad will be helping) and I'm not sure I want to take them out in this weather nor do I want to go out. Need to call MIL and see if she'll watch them!?

Church tomorrow, I play. Same ol' same ol'

Oh and DH bought closet stuff yesterday and actually started working on it. Suppose you want to see pics of that? You might see DH hanging from a hanger. I think i'll entertain kids while he works!

What is everyone else doing this weekend? anything fun? boring?

Feeling blah

Kind of feeling blah. I think it's a combo of the weather, maxine's condition and being tired. I'm kind of disappointed in my purse auction so far. While i had a lot of interest only a couple bids so far. (thanks BFF-E!!!) I really need to move these purses. I want to get Spring ones in but can't till these are out. Just feeling discouraged. Still have time for bids so I pray more start coming in.

No word today on Maxines condition. But at my Bible study this AM we read a verse that really stood out to me: Hebrews 5: 14-15 "Since the children, as he calls them, are people of flesh and blood, Jesus himself became like them and shared their human nature. He did this so that through his death he might destroy the Devil, who has the power over death, and in this way set free those who were slaves all their lives because of their fear of death."

Do you think you'd fear death if you were staring it straight in the face?? I think I would! You always want to think you know where you're spending eternity, but when it's right in front of us don't you think you'd find yourself wondering??

Lent starts tonight. We have impositioning of the ashes service tonight at our church. I have to play. Planning on taking C'man with me and will leave A and DH home. (last night she was in bed by 7 and slept till 730!!)

Thanks for reading and really, i hope soon my posts will turn in to happy ones. Kind of depressing right now aren't they! Stick with me they'll get better. I did take pics of the place i work out:) Nothing grand but for those that don't know what life out in Iowa is like, you'll soon see. Or specifically life for me is!!

Not well

DH's aunt is not doing well. See previous posts about her and her cancer. At any rate at her doc appt yesterday he told her he did not want to continue treatments. That really comes as no suprise, but still hurts as reality settled in that she will not get better. I'm not sure how anyone, including herself thought things would get better. But at that point she mentally has given up. For such a strong women this is hard to imagine. Maxine has lived such a life I can only hope to be all that she was (well minus the stubborness).

It sounds as if it's just a matter of time. I have to confess, as i'm blogging i'm IM'ing my pastor. She went to see her today. Hospice was there and she asked for some time alone. Maxine was sleeping and Pastor woke her up. This is Pastors words:

"At first she was very unresponsive not sure if that was b/c she wanted to be (stuborness) or if she really was. She seemed disoriented and touchy, kept ignoring what she was saying, wanted water, juice, to set up, etc. But when she finally got totally woke up she seemed to be able to hear her when I was up close. The thing that she responded best to was when I sang to her. I said the Lord's Prayer after my general prayer for her and she did not join me surprisingly. But by the time I left she was hearing a little better. We talked about having new eyes to see in heaven...that's part of the Amazing Grace song. I was blind but now I see. ): I asked her if she was sure about going to heaven and she was not sure. Since she had no patience with my devotional upper room or even my reading the Bible to her, I just focused on John 3:16 and what that meant, what Jesus in her heart meant, etc. She did seem a little more secure in talking about death by the time I left. Not sure she was comfortable with it. I told her probably most people are not comfortable with dying . It's ok, but we can be sure about Jesus seeing us all the way, on earth or in heaven."

This is me now: I'm shocked at her not knowing if she's going to heaven or not. She is going to heaven I know she is. She is such a believer in God and I know that's where she's going. She knows Jesus died on the cross for her sins.

So yeah, things aren't looking good. I think it's time for the family to be with her. Pastor said the Hospice worker was with her this afternoon. That's not a good sign either. With the news of no more chemo and her realizing she will not be going home, I guess she figures it's time to give up.

Say a prayer if you would. Pray her to have peace and the family too. This is so hard loosing such a key person in that family. She is the glue that holds everyone together around the farm. She will be missed greatly. Never married she dedicated her life to teaching, helping raise nieces and nephews, her church, her cats, gardening, traveling and the farm. She loved C'man so much and they really had a beautiful bond. I will close the last picture I have with C'man and her before she lost all her hair

Oh my

How exciting! I have comments which means i have readers!! I just realized that. I gave up checking, and for some reason I just did, and well i'm just blushing!! Keep 'em coming!! But one of you has me stumped as to who you are!?

Anyone watching the superbowl tonight?? I guess I'm not as I have a meeting tonight. I'm on our small communities Community Center board. We have a meeting once/month. So tonight will be my first. I got a letter asking me if DH or I, would be on it. Well since i'm just full of ideas (LOL) I decided I'd do it. Something about gov't rules that only one spouse can be on?? But BOTH can help (haha) I'll sign DH up to do that part. Some ideas I have are an inside garage sale, a Spring craft fair, and well I guess that's all at the moment. If I think of to many I'll be nominated to do ALL the work. Do any of you have any ideas we could do?? Our community is only about 500. They bought the old school and that now is the community center. The library is now a work out room. Another room is a game room and then there's the BIG, awesome, and OLD gym. We have lots of space and lots of support from the community when events are held. They had a ladies stag a couple months ago (I think I did a post about that) and then 2 weeks ago was another event and all are greatly attended.

ok well I must be going. I'm off to work out with my friend. DH is going to watch her 9 month old while we work out. Sounds good right?? Actually i'll take pics of our 'community' center. I bet you can't wait hahah

Thanks everyone who's posting comments. It encourages me to keep going on this. I love to blog and to be honest, I'd probably do it regardless of readers. But I love to see comments, gives me that warm cozy feeling inside. I'm thinking of the Saturday Night Live when the guy sits in front of his mirror and says something like 'I'm good enough, I'm ??? enough and gosh darn it, PEOPLE LIKE ME'

Love ya L-!! i knew you were reading:) Thanks sweety!!

I miss.....

Discovery Health channel!! We got that free for the month of January. Dang I miss it. I love watching Mystery Diagnoses (probably b/c that's how I felt when I MRSA) and all the 'Birthday' shows (special births, etc) shows about multiples and everything else on there. I was so addicted to that channel. But it's ok b/c I was watching it before bed and having wierd dreams!! I do want to check to see how much tho it would cost to expand our channels. I think if we do that we'd get FOX News. Much more conservative channel then the whacked out MSN and CNN that we currently have.

Speaking of 'news' my brother, who lives and works in DC in politics, thinks Huckabee is done. Sad but true. I suppose for some readers, this is good news. In listening to my talk radio i also think the chance of a McCain/Huckabee ticket isn't looking to good either. DH has always thought McCain is 'the one'. I kind of get a kick out of the guy but man...how old is he?? Will he live long enough to serve out his Presidency?? Then the idea of a Clinton/O'bama ticket...that is SO SO SO scary (as C'man would say). Scary times people!

Lets see.....other news. I just bought a swimsuit off of ebay!! But wait...its NWT!! (new with tags) in fact it says it still has the sanitary liner in it phew!! In a couple weeks i'll be heading to eastern IA for my SIL's baby shower. That means swimming. I can NOT, I tried, get in to ANY Of my old swimsuits. I hope it fits when i get it. It's a 'tankini' so it should cover my gut enough. I can't believe i used to prefer 2 pieces....oh yeah that's when i actually HAD a body. LOL

Welcome to my BFF!! I finally remembered to tell her about my blog!! I told her 'i may talk about you' so welcome BFF-E!! Maybe some day you'll have to do a guest blog appearance. hehehe