It is what it is

We wait all year for December to get here.  It is not about the gifts but that is part of it.  I am glad we did Elfster this year.  Was a lot of fun.  A& B, M & D arrived on Friday with A & B 2 coming late Saturday night.  Everyone was busy last minute shopping, cooking and wrapping throughout the day.  We had until midnight to be ready.  After champagne and unwrapping we headed to bed about 3:00 as Otto and I had to usher at the 9:00 service.  It was a fun morning as we had our traditional egg & cheese casserole and more champagne as Bryce and Amanda tried to time zone catch up, Matt and Dana had to return to Chicago as they both had to work Monday.  Very difficult to see them leave so soon after arriving!    We filled Monday and Tuesday with all kinds of activities; lunch, Holiday Nights at Greenfield Village, shopping, eating and playing games, including Apples to Apples, Scrabble and Scattergories.   We watc...

After a terrific Michigan fall day, rain, rolling clouds, sun, what 's left of fall colors, chilly, time change tonight, I shopped all afternoon and found everything I set out for.  Can't believe the Dobos wedding of the year (only Dobos wedding but nonetheless) is next Saturday.  big U of M/MSU game today.  I  love it growing dark with all the lights off while I put Halloween (loser night) away and prepare for Thanksgiving with the decorations.  Spent several hours plodding thru papers and doing stuff around the house today.  Glad we have an extra hour tonight.  Went to the Mall today for the first time in years, witnessed an accident at Pier I and finally feel like I may be getting caught up.  It is what it is.......whooo hoooo extra hour and St. Andrew's day tomorrow..bagpipes and kilts.

Only in Hamtramck would we get an Eid break the same week as MEAP.  Lucky for me I scheduled my hand surgery the same week.  We Meaped last Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and my surgery was on Thursday morning.  I had Thursday thru next Tuesday off.  We have had beautiful warm October weather for more than a week now.  I am plopped on the couch, trying hard not to do too much.   My wrist hurts, the stitches are pulling and I am tired.......it is what it is.

Am dog tired and my hand is throbbing....dare I complain....only 3 weeks ago tomorrow from surgery.  After a haircut, 2 stops and bell choir, finally home.   No TV in family room after cable guy was here for 2 hours today.  Ready for a cool  (to me anyway) day of Halloween math coordinates puzzles (graphing on the coordinate plane to make a pumpkin picture) and lots of candy to hype them all up!!!  Don't know if I should get ready for Halloween, suppose to have super Halloween storm tomorrow....can we just postpone until Friday night????  Home made chicken soup tonight.....yum...It is what it is and this is my only blog for October.......darn!

School is two weeks past already.  I feel like I have settled in despite starting my reading/writing class only to have the rug ripped out from under me last Thursday to be given an 8th grade Pre-Algebra class.  The good news is most of the students are mine from last year and I will be working with Peggy again before we start each book and I already know the program.  I made some adjustments and moved on.  Was nervous but it has worked.  Went through a week of firsts.  First 8th grade math class, first handbell rehearsal, first piano lesson.  After some searing temperatures this week and miserable sticky soaking wet days (90's) a horrific series of storms Wednesday brought the temperatures to the point that it dropped about 40 degrees and feels like fall.  I love my Saturday mornings...a bit of catching up, cleaning, laundry, reading newspapers, magazines and being alone (with Lucy of course).  Time to set off on my day of shopping and erran...

Oh oh, wait, it is September!!! YIKES.  What a wonderful fast summer!   Kids were home, shower is over, car is shipped, house is as clean as it is going to get, I have traveled everywhere I wanted to go, some updates (doors and brick patio to garage), dog is happy, time to go back to school I guess.   Again, ready as I can get.  I am going to try and enjoy Labor Day and not dwell on the negatives.  I am sure I won't sleep tonight, nor will anyone else at school.  Been fighting a stomach thing.  Hope it goes away soon.  It Is What It Is and it is time to get back to it!

Very happy that Matt was home last weekend, enjoyed every minute!  Very sad when he left.  I had a very blue day which thankfully, cleared up in 24 hours.  Worked on getting Amanda's car ready to ship.  Found a place through Lisa Atwell (and Facebook)(her husband, John, works for this company as a long distance transporter) that would ship it from Taylor (enclosed transport) to Santa Anna, CA for 950.00.  Eureka!!!  Arrangements were finished and Otto and I delivered the car, packed to the window bottoms, to Select One Transport in Taylor on Friday.  When chatting with Angel and the receptionist (who use to live in the same area as Amanda just moved from.....North Hollywood and worked in Burbank and knew where Cumpston was), I mentioned that when I retire, I want to write a column (long time dream) about "What Would It Be Like To......." (and one idea I had was) ride in a long distance hauler.  Well, everyone laughed and Angel asked if I had ever ...

I am so blue right now.  Matt was here for the weekend and it went like lightening.  I am feeling sorry for myself that my kids are so far away.  I was meant for this.  If I didn't like them that would be different.  That is why I work.  So I can immerse myself and not wallow in self-pity.  It was bad enough that my parents died so young and that I really don't have much of a relationship with my brothers or have any kind of extended family.  I tried but it never went well.  I have a beautiful home, everything I have ever wanted and more, a loving husband, great job (most of the time), a faithful beagle (I think) and some days I am miserable.  I am lucky I can somewhat afford to travel (to see my kids thousands of miles away), have great friends and a  wonderful social circle but I HATE when my children are not around.  I love visiting, love having them here but can't understand why I am so miserable when they/I have to leave. ...

Reflecting back on the almost 2 weeks I spent in California I realize what a great trip I had, how lucky I am and how people are put in our lives at just the right time.  I spent almost an entire week unpacking and putting stuff away for Amanda and Bryce.  After a couple of days, I was able to venture out to their  complex pool, and eventually explore their beautiful neighborhood and city.  On Sunday, we settled in. Monday and Tuesday, I unpacked and put away.  Wednesday, I continued but went to the pool.  By Thursday, I was ready for adventure and both Thursday and Friday I rode the city bus and subway to have lunch in Hollywood with Amanda.  On Saturday we hit IKEA......mistake.  Between renting a U-Haul truck (OMG the hassle of that) and Saturday at any IKEA, we were exhausted.  Sunday, Amanda and I went to the Hollywood Museum and drove to Santa Monica Pier.  So fun but fighting the traffic and people (I swear all of California went ...

I had to look at the calendar and start to figure out the last couple of weeks and pack everything before "that which shall not be named" starts. Finally got to the dentist to get the permanent crown on that was scheduled for the week I went to LA.  One word....ouch.  He is not Mr. Gentle and my mouth really hurts.  Then off to the podiatrist, wish it was a pedi but no, back on meds for an unnamed ughy icky fungus.  Oh well.  Funny reading my time hop today.....Lucy was still making her daily breaks a year ago and I must have been getting ready for my trip to Boston! Spent the day doing errands....bought fabric for my secret table...months away and found the perfect stuff.  Hit Ikea for a few things, Hobby Lobby and Meijer....love the Ford Rd. corridor as long as it is not a Saturday!  Bought a Boston Fern for the family room and got it 1/2 off.  Unfortunately, I left two cards that I needed and paid for at the Ford Rd. Meijer....oh well again....

These days they are just flying by...Bill Waterson, creator of Calvin & Hobbes.  Friday I went back downtown Hollywood for lunch with Amanda and we had delish subs from Jersey Mikes.  Walked around BBB a bit and this time it only took me an hour to get back home as I got off at the right stop instead of 6 stops late.  Feelin' pretty "city" now.  Spent some time at the pool reading.  Did some laundry and talked with Bryce as he was working from home.  When Amanda got home, we cleaned all the broken glass from the car from the door mirror that broke and had pizza for dinner.  A & B worked on hanging pictures.  Saturday they rented a pick up from U-Haul (what an ordeal, we were there before 10:00 and they didn't get to us until nearly 11:00 and tried to tell us that it was not their fault and we still needed the truck back by 3:00 as someone else was on the wait list.  Well too damn bad.  We rented it for 5 hours not 4.  The gr...

Quite unexpected, this trip that is.  After Matt & Dana's shower, Amanda and I spent a week lolly-gagging around at the pool and visiting Greenfield Village, Howell outlets, shopping, downtown Detroit, the like.  On Friday the 26th when it was time for her to fly back, I wasn't ready to see her off, (I never am!).  Worried about the giant move the next day, how they would settle in when they both work, and decided that I would help if I could get a flight out.  Well, I did and here I am.  Spent the week unpacking, trying to get them settled, doing laundry, using the pool, not leaving much.  Yesterday I ventured out on my own, taking the bus and subway down to Hollywood to meet Amanda for lunch.  Missed my stop on the way back and had to take another bus back.  Good thing I had some extra $$ in my pocket.  Can't use debit and the card didn't have enough on it!  Yikes.  Enjoyed the walk through the beautiful neighborhood.  Th...

Happy to be going on Jennifer's boat today.  It is so hot an humid that the pool is warm!  Amanda and I have a list a mile long!  Lots to do before the party but pretty well under control.  Just hope the weather holds nice.  It is what it is.

Yikes, got an hour in the pool today, emptied all the rain out of the plants before it started again.  Thunder, lightening and dark!  Sunny all day until about 6:00.  One upstairs window was leaking yesterday and those are new!  Oh rain!   Been home a week now.  A lot accomplished.  Ready for the shower, everything ordered and bought except for the last minute.  Went to the dentist yesterday for a crown replacement and wish I never had agreed to it.  Hurt so much, 2 1/2 hours in his chair.  Did get some good Ford Road shopping in the last couple of days....Ikea, shower needs, caught up after being gone for almost 2 weeks.   Door guys here today and spent most of the day preparing the new doors for installation upstairs only to find they are about 1/32 of an inch too large.  Had to take all of them to a guy who will plane them.  I understand how much that 1/32 is.  They did not close.  Old house, measures outdated...

Home from the most amazing 12 days!  Loved being in Rehoboth but being with my kids in Boston and touring on my own was so much fun.  Even though it was pouring at the beach in Maine yesterday, I got to go to Salem, Ogunquit, eat lobster roll, fried clams, dinner treat at the Salty Pig, good wine, good food, good family and friends....and a good 5 lbs. extra on the very long short flights home.  Happy to be home with Lucy, Otto and my yard, flowers, pool and house.  So fun to visit and be in the big city but so good to be home again too.  Wish they all lived closer!  It is what it is and I am one lucky girl to have the great experiences I have had these 12 days.  Summer has just begun!

Awesome city.  Really impressed with how easy it is to walk and walk alone.  Met Brian for lunch today with the Friday Food Truck....Chicken, rice, lamb, salad and pita.  So much, so good......6.00!  Took off to the Boston Commons and spent the afternoon wandering through the gardens, Cheers, Massachusetts State House, several churches, walked back to pick up Brian and home again.  Stopped at cleaners, wine store (only 1 bottle of White Zin), convenience store and will walk later to grocery store for dinner.  Waiting for Otto to arrive.  Still in Detroit with a canceled flight, stormy and not knowing if he will arrive tonight or not.  It was foggy and misty again this morning but by lunch it became sunny, hot and humid.  Still awesome day!  So appreciative of being able to travel a bit and visit my kids and their cities.  I may never be rich and able to afford designer brands, fancy clothes, second houses, expensive vacations but I ...

Foggy, rainy, misty, oh my!  Planning to head out on my own today to the Boston Commons and do some "touring".  It has been a fun week.  First our trip with the Ding-a-lings to Rehoboth, lots of sun, sand and surf, food and fun.  A quick flight to Boston, (not without delays and issues but quick none-the-less), and here now with Brian and Andrew.  Their new place is so charming.  The area is all Victorian walk-ups and oozing quaintness.  We walked to the grocery store Wed night for an evening of wine, bread and cheese and tuna salad sandwiches.  Yesterday it was quesadillas at Boloco with Andrew and I struck off on my own.  First stop was old South Church.  Amazing ancient architecture and awe.  Next stop was the finish line to the Boston Marathon, and the area right down the street from the church where the explosions were.  Chilling.  (Not being a runner it is the only way I would see the finish line is from the sidewalk...

I feel badly that a whole month has past and I had no blogs!  So we will pretend it is still May!  It has been a busy and productive month.  Racing through the end of the school year materials and tests.  Trying to get the yard in shape, planting 10 flats of flowers.  The pool is open, we have stayed at the Grand, Mother's Day past, Matt & Dana spent Memorial Day weekend with us, I have gained 5 lbs. again, looking forward to the summer, school out and vacation.  Invites are out to the big July shower, starting to do some cleaning and window washing and soon school will be out and we will be off to Rehoboth and Boston.  Lots to do, lots to see.  Brain and Andrew are moving, Amanda will be moving in August (hopefully), Bryce found a job.....change, change, change....it is what it is, and it is June!

After a very busy week, busy Friday and Saturday just doing stuff, I feel like I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off today.  OOOH sorry that was an horrible analogy.  Up late, slept late and went to late service.  Catching up today on a rainy cold day that is now suddenly sunny but not yet warm.  I have two weeks to recital, trying to decide when to book a flight from Baltimore to Boston (will be in Rehoboth June 21-25th or so), grades are suddenly due, lesson planning, dinner, laundry......argh....why am I soooo busy??????? I am sorry that someone hurt their back but if I hear ONE more complaint I am running thru the front door without it being open.  It is what it is and right now it is not very fun.  Lucy got ahold of one of my paper mache' lemons and destroyed it!  I have conferences, Language Art night, piano, fun run and writing project at my house this week.  Can I squeeze anything else in?????

Back to school!  Only 10 weeks of this school year left.  What a day, what a week.  So much accomplished.  Lots of cleaning, dog walking, friends visited, a new math book gone thru,  shopping, piano practicing, some reading, papers checked, facebook catchup, family catchup, refrigerator cleaned, miles put on my car, lots of sleeping in.....ugh....time to go back to school.  Looking forward to all things especially spring.   Spring has sprung, the grass is riz...wonder where the flowers is.  Enjoying every second of spring this year.  Long awaited.  The robins and cardinals are such a welcome sight and song.  Lucy is learning to go on long walks.  Loving the longer day...it is what it is and I am so glad it is spring.

It was ever soooo nice to sleep in forever this morning.  Met school peeps for lunch in Clawson which is almost a state away.  Cleaned bathrooms, did April flowers for church, graded some papers, made bean/ham (leftover) soup, walked the dog on the most gorgeous April day ever, and enjoyed the fastest April day ever.  It is what it is!

After a wonderful Easter weekend, it was early up to get Andrew to the airport for his trip back to Boston.  This was hard!  Now the last of my 4 were leaving.  As soon as I dropped him off, I had to drive to A2 for my hand appointment.  I won't give the details but it did take my mind off from my misery! I had x-rays and a very painful procedure that if it works (with cortisone injections), I won't need surgery.  It hurt, I cried.  I saw the bill that is being sent to insurance.   Over 900.00.  Unreal!  I still have to have a bone scan and follow up.  Thanks crappy Hamtramck sidewalks.  Really glad that I had some distracting shopping at BBB and lunch with a friend at Papa Vinos.  Once I was home I got to work and cleaned most of the upstairs.  Very therapeutic  since I rarely get a chance to clean.  Just finished a nice long walk with the shoulder dislocater dog.  Brain has done wonders with Lucy but then ...

After an exceptional and busy Easter weekend, we said goodbye to Matt & Dana, Brian and Andrew and I did what all good parents do with their adult children.....we went shopping!  We shopped for a new lease for me only to discover that I had been somehow hit in the front  popping  the pins to my bumper.  This was in addition to the damage on my back bumper from the thug that hit me on Saturday at the drive-thru of McDonalds.  After the 6 of us had a great time in Hamtramck and lunch at Polish Village, one of Matt's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives list places.  Today, the Livonia police told me that I have to file a report in  Detroit .  The good part was that  Andrew photographed the license when the little jerk would not give us his driver's license as he jumped in his car, backed up and took off. His comment was that since there was no damage to his bumper, there could not possibly be any damage to mine (as I was pointing out all the dents, ...

Such a busy day yesterday.  Matt and Dana took us to see St. Vincent Ferrer where they will be married in November this year.  Also saw Chandlers, the hall where the reception will be, Dana's dress, the bridesmaid's dresses (ordered Amanda's dress), Matt's hospital, ate lunch at a really cool place Wilde & Greene restaurant, Dana & I ordered my dress at Macy's for a smokin' hot deal, met her parents for pizza at Barnaby's.  Will post pictures when I have time.  Hope Lucy is ok.  Be back tonight. I love everything they have picked.  Top Notch, First Class!  PS  The woman at Bride's World was a real snob, the woman at Macy's could not have been more helpful.  It is what it is. Forgot one thing.  We visited the Bahai House of Worship.  It is open for all faiths. What a cool place. Beautiful architecture.

So, after a long conversation with my insurance carrier, the Valley Dentist as he will be called, was trying to pull some crap with Amanda.  It seems that after all she went through for a filling in a cracked sealant, they were trying to make her pay up front.  When I called and insisted they bill me they got all snotty and arrogant and tried to belittle me into paying.  A few days later, she tried to schedule a follow up that was needed to even up the edges of this filling (after they numbed her, they informed her they only do white fillings and those are 5X a silver filling and insurance won't pay), they told her he would not see her again unless she paid up front and she would be charged for this follow up.  He was mad that her mother called while she was there!!!  Well I was mad at his arrogance and that he was too worried about missing his lunch appointment and couldn't even up the filling when she was there.  After the call to the insurance company, I...

Happy to be home and not unhappy to be teaching again today.  It was such a wonderful trip and visit, that it was hard to come home.  I had wonderful Southwest flights!  They are so great.  I will never understand flight even though I have taken flight school!  From the pilots to the attendants they are wonderful. Celebrated Otto's birthday yesterday, made rice stuffed cornish hens with twice baked potatoes and chocolate cake (that I can't eat due to lent) Lucy was so glad to see me and would not stop following me around. We are expecting rain/sleet/snow tomorrow night and Wed. morning.  Hoping for a snow day!!  I just heard Texas has 17 inches and still snowing.  Since we had no days last year, we are due days this year!  It is what it is.  Snow Day Snow Day Snow Day.  Wearing my snowman vest to school tomorrow for good luck.  Also have to take a spoon, white crayon and penny to bed! Almost back on Eastern time.

So, Wednesday we started the day driving to the Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA.  We chucked the tour and just walked around and took photos in and around the grounds, including the upper floor outdoor gardens and area fountains.  Parking for about an hour was $14.00!  Next was Olvera Street which was the original part of LA in the 1800's.  Spent time walking around, shopping in the street booths, ate lunch at Mr. Churros and took a zillion pictures.  Using GPS we found all three Modern Family houses, took photos and headed home.  An hour later in LA traffic to go a few miles, we were back.  After a quick dinner we headed up the hills to Griffin Observatory for a chilly view of the most beautiful city I have ever seen by night.  It was awesome!  LA is magnificent.  So much to see and do but so $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!  It Is What It Is!

Wow!  What a day!  We started our day walking to Panera for cinnamon bagels...yum.  Then on to the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences....Emmy Park.  We had Warner Bros. Tour tickets for 11:45 which was so much fun and so much information it was mind boggling!  After a lunch at Subway, we took the subway to Universal City Walk.  After a walk around and photos, it was time to take the tram back down to the subway.  Once home we needed to do some laundry while Amanda is doing the big changeover from Valentine's Day to St. Patrick's Day decorations, I have to pack and off to B'dubs to meet Brian's sister Adriana, her boyfriend Manny and cousin Grisele.  What a wonderful whirlwind week.  If we could have packed any more adventures in (and we could afford any more adventures), we would have done even more.  It Is What It Is!

On Tuesday after our trip to Coronado, Amanda and I took off in the clouds for the Hollywood sign.  We hiked up as close as we could go only to be caught in the rain coming back down.  But, we got some great photos and saw some gorgeous homes.  The view was something else.  After drying out, we drove to Hollywood Blvd., parked and walked around.  We souvenir hunted since Hooray for Hollywood is my theme for table next December.  The construction crews are everywhere and Hollywood Blvd. is closed off getting ready for the Oscars next Sunday.  So is the Kodak theatre :(.  We ate at Mel's Diner (a platter of yummy fried samplings), stopped at the Hollywood Museum to take our tour and found it closed on Tuesdays!   ARGH!  We managed to fill the day somehow!  We walked around some more, found Ed O'Neil's star (that I wanted to find because I watched the ceremony when he got it), founds dozens of others and decided to find Paramount Studi...

Saturday morning started about 3 AM.  Arrived at Metro around 6ish for a 7 ish flight.  Very smooth to Denver, changed planes, flew to Oakland, over San Francisco, the Bay Bridge, the Golden Gate and downtown.  Only left on plane for flight to Burbank but the pilot came out and told me I could get off for a break.  Boarded first, had choice seating and he told me we would fly over the bridges again so I sat by the window in row 2.  What a view!  I never watch takeoff and don't do windows if I have a choice.  It was a short flight but awesome.  We flew over the coast all the way to Burbank.  I saw whales from 30,000 feet in the ocean.  It was the most glorious day.  I went from 17 degrees to nearly 80.  What smooth sailing we had all day.  It was a long day and I was barely able to make it to 9:00.  So fun to be with Bryce and Amanda.  Early day Sunday and drove to Coronado Island to spend Sunday and Monday with B...

Do you think it will ever stop?   Spring seems eternally away.  Started again tonight.  I love Tuesday nights.  I don't have to go ANYWHERE once I am home.  Classes were better today but I threatened to call ALL their parents.  C'mon, what 7th grader doesn't love graphing calculators????  Had to stop at Costco for 65.00 worth of batteries and figured a rotisserie chicken would take care of dinner. Could not figure why I hurt today and then I remembered.  When I came in from bringing  Lucy in, I took off my flats  (flashback word) and was in my nylons (another flashback word) and hit a small puddle on my ceramic tile floor where Lucy had dripped water after a drink.  I had a cup of her food in my hand and down I went.  I wasn't hurt.....(humiliated in front of a dog?) but it took her an hour to find her food that spilled all over, including down the stairs...(glad it was the food and not me!) Watched Downton last night...so ...

January 28, 2013 First snow/ice day in 2 years with school closed.  Dreary rainy day but who cares.  I can't believe I have not gotten to blogging since October.  School dictates a lot of my life and then came the holidays (and went). Will enjoy the day, I always do!  Have been quite sick with bronchitis and because I exams last week, I just kept going.  My asthma kicked up and had to go for a breathing treatment.  The first in 10 years.  Getting back to normal. The holidays were great.  Thanksgiving was childless but we had fun with Mike & Jan and Grams.  Then a day later we were decorating!  The kids were all here and gone before you could blink.  You look forward to something for so long.  At least Matt had been home a coupe times and with Dana 2 weeks before Christmas.  Andrew & Brian had been home in Sept. and then we had Jackie T's wedding in Traverse City in October with them.  But it had been ...