It is what it is

Time to load up the truck and head back east to reality. I have enjoyed every minute here (except for a few things like the car being towed,....stuff like that). The days and weather have been great, the visit lots of laughs and fun, but it is time. I will miss the carefree hours, staying up late and sleeping in. It is fun to be with Amanda, Bryce, Emily & Lexi. It has always been fun to catch up with Cindy and just do nothing but talk, walk through ANY store and enjoy a bottle or two of wine. So, without ruining my last day here, I know I have to get back to the education jungle that employs me and look forward to Spring Break! It IS WHAT IT IS.

No time to blog today, I am off to class with Amanda. She has permission to tag me along in her 1950's media class, and 1950's history class. Probably thinks I am a living text book. Then after second class this afternoon, something about plays, we will be going to rehearsal until 11:00. Long day! Blog later....ttfn. On campus with Emily and Amanda in first class. Amanda had to go for a fitting for her costume for "Bridge to the Stars". So interesting. Class will be starting soon. I feel sooo old. I am usually teaching not participating or even watching! Well now they are talking about the Period of Enlightenment....remember most of this but it is a little snoozy. Got an email from Otto today, it is his birthday. Michigan expecting even more snow tonight. 3-5 inches. My school beta fish, Mrs. Dobos VII died. One less fish to take care of and take back and forth. Also said that our Senator from Hamtramck/Highland Park had a snowblower accident and ende...

What a day in Arizona today! Busy! Just enjoyed being with Amanda and shopping and catching up on stuff. We were at IKEA and while I was snapping a photo of a mirror that I like, the lights went out (simultaneously) and we ended up waiting 20 minutes to check out. They served us coffee, water, cinnamon rolls and candy to pacify us while waiting. Never learned what the problem is but God forbid they would be able to add up our purchases and collect real money. LOL We bought a lot of odds and ends for Amanda's place and the weather was WONDERFUL. It is so amazing here...never get tired of the difference from Michigan and we are so close to the airport that I get to watch the planes parallel landings. The time is going WAY tooo fast!!! It iswhat it is!

Mexican Train with Cindy's friends was a hoot. We finally quit at 11:30 because so many of the girls had such a long drive home. Had my first margarita of the season with Cindy at a taco-type restaurant in Old Scottsdale. Went to my favorite Mexican store that has so much junky chotchkee stuff. It was great. Found some cute accessories for my table for Festival of Tables 2011. This year's theme is Christmas in the Desert. Spent the afternoon roaming the tourist hangouts, jewelry shops and looking at all the turquoise jewelry that never ceases to amaze me in its' beauty. Amanda & Emily came over for awhile and we sat outside for a bit. Nice but chilly especially once the sun sinks in the east. After Trains we sat out for about an hour, bundled in coats and boots. What a nice break and vacation....it is what it is!

Clear blue cloudless sky. Same sky I left 4 days ago. Glad it cleared up here. I don't care that it is only in the 40's in the morning, it warms up during the day. Yesterday, jeans and a light sweater were perfect. Amanda, Emily and I headed to a mall that was exactly like a mall in Michigan. Turns out that they were both designed by Taubman. How funny. Also did a little shopping in Old Scottsdale for my Festival of Tables table in December. Just generally enjoying my days here. What a Michigan mess I left...another snowstorm, would have been a snow day. So good to be back, so much to see and do and so little time. It Is What It Is.

The day started out beautifully. Clear blue February sunshine. I was packed and ready to go. Just had my haircut, manicure, stopped and picked up my earring that had been missing the back, got to the airport in plenty of time, said au revoir to Otto and Arizona Here I Come to myself. Cleared security, no problem, body scan, no problem, walked to the gate area to check the flight number and could not find it on the screen. I went to a second screen only to find no Chicago flight leaving at 12:30 with that number. I found a TSA agent and asked her what I was doing wrong. She checked my computer printed boarding pass and said "This is Delta, you are flying American, and are in the wrong terminal". Of course I was! She couldn't believe I had cleared security and kindly directed me as to what to do. I raced back to the parking deck, bags in hand (had I checked my bag it would have been flagged), caught a shuttle (that took forever) and arrived at the other terminal wi...

Another snow day...more cleaning! Didn't expect that call but it is about 5 out and a nasty wind chill. Hamtramck does not plow. The roads are narrow, one-way and literally 2 tracks that a car can barely get thru after a couple inches. I can't imagine the mess now. And it is sooo cold. In the burbs, parents drive their kids where in the city a lot walk. DPS also closed and Highland Park. We'll take it! Sunny today and cccoold. Able to sleep in today, yesterday I couldn't. Made cookies to send to my girls. Wrote out Valentine's. Guess it is about time to put out the Valentine's decorations. Just barely got the Snowmen things up! Yesterday it set a record in Phoenix for the coldest day ever for that date. If I have a few minutes today, I will scan some photos from real blizzards past when we lived in Portage. Otto loves his new snowblower, ripped a cord from the buried luminaries. It is pretty powerful. I am sure they all had fun doing driveways...

Well, I don't think of last night's storm and snow was a blizzard like others I have seen. Yes it was bad, we had about 8 inches with high winds and I heard thunder overnight with freezing rain. I have not seen a car yet, everyone is staying home. Schools are closed and many businesses and offices. Detroit is shut down. Chicago got hit hard! Especially Lakeshore Drive. I am sure the Matts and Dana will have to get to the hospital to work. They were setting up cots in the basement for employees to sleep over. In Boston they are showing 5 story high snow dumps at the snow farms where they take it. I think the rain and snow has stopped but it is quite windy still. It is just cold! Glad to be home. KC was lonely and howled me awake so 6:30 was the best I could do. I heard the freezing rain and the wind. Airports are closed throughout the country. Poor Roseanne trying to get to Vegas for her nephew's wedding. Not going today! Good day to nurse this cold with lo...