It is what it is

Adjusting to all the quiet time. Andrew and Bryce left Friday.  Amanda is here a couple more days but everyone is probably ready to wind down and get back to normal.  Whatever that is in the Dobos household!  Enjoying our time playing Scrabble, watching Modern Family, movies (I think we have watched 4 now) and mostly yakking!   The list of to-dos when she is home is long and we never get it all done!  Lucy has enjoyed our down time on our laps...smelly beagle! My brother is still in the hospital but headed to a nursing facility for some re-hab and continued improvement.  He has a long way to go but with a team of doctors and the right medications, he should improve.  Going to see him Tuesday.  Will stop and see my other brother and his family.  Hopefully the weather improves. Quiet a Christmas.  Andrew fell down the stairs (all the stupid stuffed animals on the stairs are not conducive to travel up and down them I guess!), broke a cha...

Dark dreary Christmas Eve morning.  Rain, dismal but the lights look great.  Otto is at work, Brian in LA, Bryce, Andrew & Amanda are taking a long winter's nap (not up yet) and Matt, Dana & Hannah never made it from Chicago.  Traffic was so bad last Friday, they turned around and went home!  We opened our Secret Elf gifts via Face Time.  Our Christmas gift exchange is over except for stockings in the morning.  (What Lucy didn't eat of the summer sausage that was wrapped for Otto).  Just ornament exchange and silly candy etc.  Looking forward to Christmas Eve service tonight.  We will re-do another Christmas meal, much like Sundays before Brian left.  What a mixed up holiday!  Grandma even went to Vermont!   Very fun though.  It is nice not to have to be spending this time running crazy and frantic wrapping (we did all that Friday and ALL day Saturday, cooking on Sunday).  It has been a little slower pace. ...

Spent the day doing decorating inside and some outside because it was over 50 degrees.  Feel like it is the calm before the storm!!!  Schoolwork, grades for progress reports are DONE!   Lucy had a bath in the basement and I had to change my clothes!   Haircut, manicure, shopping, decorating, church, cleaning....scheduling, hosting, Christmas is EXHAUSTING!!!!   It is what it is!

Spent the day catching up as usual.  Laundry, ironing, washed the car in 43 degree weather, walked the dog, posted grades, comments, dinner is in the oven, general stuff.  Up early to go to church with friends of our.  Someone forgot to check the time and assumed it incorrectly.  Arrived, only to notice that no one was walking around,  in or near the church.  Yup.  Someone was wrong and we were 20 minutes late instead of 10 minutes early.  I can't even express how angry I was.  Got dressed up for an early morning Sunday drive.  Someone needs to pay attentions a bit more.  Friday, our chimney and ducts were scheduled to be cleaned (2nd time moved) and that same someone was 10 minutes late and now it is re-scheduled....again.  I can't do everything and yet sometimes, I feel as though I must.  It is what it is, and was not a great start to the day!

So, the day started with not much sleep after yesterday's student incidents.  Anyway,  the day progressed to my prep when we met with a parent of one of the problem students (hopefully issue resolved) and I saw my new math coach in the hallway.  Forgot she was coming today for my worst hour of the day.....3rd.   I have 34 students, many problematic, and it is a nightmare.  Hopefully after observation she had comments that will help.  Fast forward to the "dance" after school.  I ran out to get a soda between school and the dance.  There was a problem with the DJ and we had crazy 7/8th graders to deal with but nothing compared to getting ready to leave and I could not find my keys.  Ran out to my car only to see them on the front seat with a door that was locked.  Thank goodness my principal has "connections" and within 5 minutes we had a "guy" that is connected to the HPD retrieving my keys.  What was amazing was how fast he was in m...

What a busy Saturday.  After working around the house, changing the bed, doing laundry, grading papers, paying bills, decorating for Halloween, I did errands, went to the grocery store, washed the car, took Lucy for a walk, washed all the downstairs windows,and called my brother (who is back in the hospital).....I am ready for bed.   Early call for bells tomorrow, 2 services and back to work with school tasks, packing up the back yard chotchkee stuff, and all the other Sunday tasks.  It is what it is and it is busy!!!!!

Where does the time go??? This week has been short.  We had a religious holiday on Monday in our district so we had the day off.  Nice 3 day weekend.  Wednesday I was out for Math PD. Full Red Moon this week, dealing with a major brother issue, worried about EVERYTHING, lockdown yesterday (even though I was not there, it was a big issue), winter, math, minor procedure at podiatrist    today (unexpected) and now sore foot, glad tomorrow is Friday.  FaceTime with my new granddaughter, glad that my kids will all be here for Thanksgiving, math, days are shorter, kids missed me, math, math, math.  I am so proud that I know how to solve Y=mx+b in a graph, an equation and a table.  Did I mention that my foot hurts (hate foot issues that are on-going, since I love to walk and I am on my feet all day), and I love math??? It is what it is......I am ready for a trip somewhere.  Andrew told me today that Copley Square is missing me...well I am missing Co...

I don't know where the days have gone.  From swimming pool to fall in a day.  Yesterday it was 88, today 57 and I don't think it will be back until next summer.  We finally got summer...in fall.  I needed to blog for September and this is IT!  So much has happened and I have been too busy with school starting, math, math, math, managing school, house, piano, bells, ADK treasurer, committee work at school, my brother, my kids all over the country, a house, a dog and an new member of our family....Hannah Margaret Dobos born September 10th.  She is a beauty and a cutie!!!  Weighing in at 7 lbs. 2 oz. 19 inches, she made her appearance at 9:18 am.  It was great to all be together in Chicago to celebrate, much to Dana's chagrin to endure a planned c-section.  Much to soon, we all returned to a new normal. So summer closes, fall arrives and another chapter of It It What It Is.

Why do the days of summer fly like a jet, when the rest of the year is like a turtle?  Enjoyed the ocean yesterday.  Ogunguit and lobster roll, fried clams, and the Salty Pig were a bonus.   The weather was stable, no rain, but only partly sunny.  After last year we sure are not complaining.  Went on my birthday and it poured all day!  The beach was nice, the water cold.  So peaceful and serene.   Fun to people watch and water watch.  The tide goes in, the tide goes out.  That is enough for me!  The winding roads I can live without, but it didn't take long to feel normal again after our drive through Maine.  Amazing how many tourists there are! After a too fast day, we returned home and walked to The Salty Pig and enjoyed a relaxing evening outside on their patio, and a satisfying meal of cheese, meat and bread.  We closed out the evening with a walk to the store for breakfast frittata fixings. Flying home tonight, meeti...

The days have flown as has the summer!  After our busy rainy Wednesday and our yummy seafood dinner "down by the bay" at                              , Thursday dawned sunny but cool.  We drove with Andrew to Providence where his current office is.  Once in Newport, we found a cute bar called the Gaslight Lantern to have lunch.  I had my first real clam chowder.  One word.....YUM!  Otto and I continued to The Breakers, which takes a while to get through but is so interesting and mammoth.  We ran out of time to drive around and gawk at the other mansions or do the cliff walk, that I so wanted to do again.  One big difference from April was that the foliage is so thick on the trees now but didn't exist in the spring so you could see so much more from the mansions set back from the road.  What a place.  What a life they must have lived.  Imagine a summer home ov...

42 years ago today; Sunday, August 13, 1972, I said "I do".  After many ups and downs, I would not have had it any other way.  So much has happened.  I ended up a city girl, with three great kids that have, in my opinion, made great choices in partners and in life.  They live in 3 of the countries top cities, making travel to visit them fun.  I have a job that has been a career, teaching what I love (in addition to writing), and a husband that has been a good choice for a life partner.  (Most of the time...LOL).  And, don't forget, a dog that makes daily life interesting. Today, visiting Boston (in the rain) we are together celebrating.  We are past the going-out to a night club life (guess we were never really there!).  Most of the time we just enjoy each other's company and sharing the daily hum-drum activities. Every year we try and spend this day together.   Last year we were in Frankenmuth, Michigan, two years ago, Chicago, then...

Well thank God, there was no shower during the shower even though they were predicted.  I can't believe after all the planning and anticipation, it is over and everyone is back home (almost).  The shower was almost perfect!  The major meltdown was the food not happening at the last minute (Wednesday night) but Andrew helped me through it and I got it together enough to organize and find what we needed in time. Amanda and Bryce arrived first taking a red-eye from L.A. arriving around 6:30 Thursday morning.  Spent the day busy, she surprised her bff,  and we did all sorts of running around.  Friday, Andrew and Brian arrived in the morning from Boston, followed by Matt & Dana from Chicago.  We were able to pick up the remainder of the needed/ordered.  The day flew by and it was 2:00 in the morning before we knew it. Saturday there was so much to do to finish.  I get bossy and stressed but it all came together.  Everything was finally ...

Today my dad would have been 93.  He has been gone 33 years, more years than I knew him.  Hard to imagine that I am older now than he was when he died.  I have tried very hard to NOT do the things that were so harmful that he didn't realize he was doing.  You know, very little meat, lots of exercise, NO SMOKING, watching the BP and cholesterol .........so far so good since I have another birthday in 2 days.    Today it is suppose to storm.  Would like to hit the pool if the sun will stay out long enough!  Had Melissa's shower yesterday in Dexter at a wonderful restaurant with the best salmon salad I have ever eaten and cake (which I normally do not eat) that was filled with a raspberry jelly, and frosted with buttercream and shaved white chocolate....this is why I don't eat desserts....ooooo!   Beautiful shower.  Rain spoiled my nice clean car on the way home and we never got a drop here.    Went to the Spree to work the...

It could not get any better!

It just passed me by.   Will edit later.  Nearly half-way through June!

Well, it is Friday already!  Went so fast but packed a lot in.  Yesterday, Andrew hit a chunk of cement on the way to Providence (his new work remote office M-T) which is a 50 mile commute one way, and before he could get to the exit, the tire had gone flat.  The car is 3 weeks old and they have about 1000 miles on it.  He waited over an hour to get the service truck and had to return home surface routes, ending up going to the Ford dealer and replacing the tire.  (No Discount Tire in this part of the country, and he needed the car checked out for any damage anyway.)  We will be off soon to get the tire changed as they had to order it and replace the lug nut that could not be put back on!   Didn't let that stop us from a trip to Sullivan's fried clams on Sullivan's Island.   Yum but we ate ourselves sick. It was so cold we sat outside at sunset and shivered.  Home to a nice cozy fire and catch-up on Jeopardy (are we old or what?) and Modern F...

After my trip to the grocery store lugging all the stuff for Minestrone, I decided to take the subway yesterday!   Did the food truck chicken, lamb and rice with that yummy garlic sauce with Brian for lunch and it was a misty sky.  Walked to Copley from his office, took the subway/trolley to the Fine Arts Museum and it was a downpour, heaving wind.  Missed my Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and had to have Brian GPS me in.  My jeans and backpack were soaked and I was freezing despite a sweatshirt and jacket.  Enjoyed the house and by the time I was ready to head back, the rain had stopped but the wind picked up!  Walked to a restaurant called Shabu Shabu and had my first taste of a boiled Japanese dish with vegetables, meat and noodles, done like a fondue.  Also sampled Pho.   Enjoyed all except for the Thai pepper that I ignorantly sprinkled on the first bowl.   YIKES!!!   Nice to see Andrew & Brian's friends, Josh & Kat.  ...

I have been lucky enough to take another trip during my Spring Break that we thought would NEVER arrive!  Friday, I flew to Boston through jetBlue (first time on this airline)...was a wonderful experience.  Andrew & Brian picked me up at Logan after some other guy tried to pick me up..or kidnap me I am not sure which!   We spent the afternoon walking around the Commons and the Marathon sight at Copley Square and Boylston.  Ate lunch at Boloco which is so delicious.  Friday night was a relaxing, bread and cheese kind of night.  Saturday was an early start to Newport, RI, about an hour and a half away.  The day was spent in jaw dropping splendor as we toured the Vanderbilt mansion called the Breakers.  Afternoon we did the servant's tour at the Elms, another drop dead gorgeous mansion in Newport.   To end the day we did the Cliff Walk along the mansions.  On the way home we stopped at Plymouth, Massachusettes, saw the "rock" and The Ma...

So the day started at 6:00 AM because we had two bell performances that turned out to be fun.  Usually my knees are knocking so hard that my book partner tells me to stand away from the table because I shake the table and the music!   I have to see the music because I am old and mid-range is very hard.   Anyway, performance went well and then it was time for piano recital.  It is NOT fair to play these pieces hundreds of times for almost a year and work very hard only to be soooo nervous that I had to start the 2nd piece again after flubbing the first measure.  I was fine in rehearsal and got to the church early and played almost flawlessly but.........being # 36 out of 38 and I thought I would faint, pass out or have a heart attack.   Not sure if I can do this after 6 recitals of my own and 23 with my kids.   It is what it is but maybe I really am too old to endure this much stress!   I envisioned passing out on the way to the piano.....(which, b...

A month has gone by since we agreed to a new contract that changed us to a cheaper insurance with supposedly the same coverage.   "SOME" coverage would me nice.  We have nothing.  I don't dis my kids on FB but I am now fed up with everyone else as to why the first package was cancelled before the 2nd package kicked in.  We have nothing.  I don't care who reads this, people should be aware of how we have been kicked around and treated.  It is what it is and hopefully fair enough so that nothing catastrophic happens to anyone.  We can't have Dr. appointments, prescriptions, treatments, nothing.  Or, out of pocket it cones.  And then we file to get it back.  Well everyone I work with does not have an extra 500 for their son's insulin, 170 for a son's ADD meds, and on and on.  And they are notorious for being buried in paperwork which takes forever to get our $$ refunded.   Anyway, we are all fed up and frustrated....it is what it ...

Early in the afternoon I went out to the garage to wash the windows in my car and vacuum the floors. I heard a funny bark and went to the back yard to investigate.  Lucy was on our side of the wooden fence trying to get a squirrel immediately on the other side.  I threw some sticks at the squirrel and it just sat there until I hit it and it meandered up the pole in the backyard that leads to the wires.  Lucy was going nuts and I tried to get her and bring her in the house.  I kept throwing sticks at the squirrel and it seemed in no hurry to leave.  Lucy nearly climbed the back wooden fence while the squirrel walked the wire, slipping and a couple of times turned upside down and sideways.  I finally got Lucy by the collar and brought her in.  When Otto go home, he let her out and she hopped on her dog house and over the fence while he was chasing her and trying to stop her.  He followed her into the neighbor's back yard going the same way she went....

Yesterday was in the 50's.  Melting everywhere.  A lot of the pack was gone and very little ice left on walks and streets.  I took Lucy for a mile and a half walk.  She didn't want to stop.  My jacket made me too warm.  I didn't wear scarves, gloves or earmuffs and Lucy didn't need a sweater.  Water was deep enough on the sidewalks that my pants got wet and it leaked in over my shoe tops but it didn't matter!  Altered my route because I noticed that no one had cleared the walks on Schoolcraft Rd. so they are all ice pack still. Today I woke up to a phone call at 5:30.  Snow Day!  It has gotten a lot colder and is currently 30 with temps falling to 12 by 9 tonight.  We will get wind, lightening and thunder and more snow.  Gotta love winter.  Sure is having the last word!  Let's drift too. There are already 2-7 inches from this snow.  About an inch an hour.  Glad to be watching from MY window and not my CLAS...

Typical day except for the fact that is is melting melting melting.  For the first time in months we can see roof tops!!! I think it hit 50 today!   Bad news is that it is suppose to snow mid-week.   UGH!  The piles are getting smaller.  Tried to walk Lucy yesterday but the ice is still on driveways and some walks that make it hard.  Nice to smell the fresh air again.  Test on 4th math book today.  4 to go! Found the Dr. that did my root canal 19 years ago.  He has moved to Ann Arbor and I was able to get an appointment.  Still uses the same office for sedation, AA office!  I was on a roll!  Spent a great weekend home but as usual, it goes too fast.  Can't believe we are in the spring forward time!  Booked Easter trip to Boston.  It is what it is!

Since the photos I took yesterday had a title of Hump Day Walk through Hancock Park today's title will be Throwback Thursday.  Tonight I am taking my first Uber car down to Hollywood to the El Capitan Theatre (right across the street from Grauman's and the Kodak) to see a Throwback Thursday movie with Amanda.  She wants me to see the theater and thought Saving Mr. Banks would be there but Throwback is Aladdin.  It will be fun!  Haven't been quite that far down this trip and we can go early and walk around a bit. Yesterday was the same trip as Monday and Tuesday and today.  I don't get tired of the walk through Hancock Park.  Always something more to see and I can't get enough of looking at those houses.  Wish we had time in the evening to explore more, there are many streets I haven't seen yet! I don't like the bus when it is crowded.  People are not very polite!  The subway is always busy.  Like I posted yesterday....too many people, ...

Since we are huge Downton fans, you could say that Amanda and I have been meeting for tea.  It is so good to be back in L A and enjoying the warm weather.  Nice break from our Michigan winter from hell!  I know it is chilly here but the sun has been warming, flowers are blooming, gardeners are cutting the grass (oh the smell), I can wear shorts, capris and flip flops and the walks through Hancock Park are amazing.  I walk to Wilshire Blvd., take the bus to Wilshire/Vermont, get on the subway and off at Hollywood & Vine.  I love the walk down the Hollywood Walk of Fame to get to the film school.  Today I got the grand tour.  We ate outside on the parking lot/roof top/eating area and could see the Hollywood hills.  It is an amazing place.  And to think that Michigan got another 4 inches last night.  We watched Downton last night, Bryce worked late so we will probably watch it and Jimmy Falon tonight.  I made Black Bean Chili last ...

Perfectly normal Sunday at home.  Church, laundry, catching up, more snow and packing for LA.  The flight to Denver started off normally but was already dark at 7:00.  I had a window seat which I hate!  By the time the plane got to the de-icing pad, we could have BEEN in Denver.  Metro does not look that big until you bump around in a 737 at 5 mph.  Then bumped back to the runway.....finally after 7:30 we were off.  I didn't look out again until just before Denver because my window was all frosted over.  Comforting!  The pilot warned us it was extremely windy and only one runway was being used to land and take off so it would be awhile.  My connection to LA was leaving 9 minutes after we landed.  The board said "delayed".   I only had 6 gates to go and I had gate checked my carry-on so I only had my purse and my big computer/book bag (that weighs a good 25 lbs.)  As I hoofed up to the gate, there was no one left in the boa...

What a nice surprise to have Friday off!   It was too cold to go to school again.  Four days already this year and we were in the middle of mid terms.  Lucky to have the day to prepare for Matt & Dana, Andrew & Brian and the "J's" for the weekend.  Was able to withstand the cold and get out and shop for what was needed.  What excitement to have everyone here Friday night.  Then the dog ruined it all by barking half the night.  Saturday was the North American Auto Show and being Matt's 30th birthday, celebration here with breakfast and Buddy's take out.  Cake, ice cream and game night with Scattergories, Face time with Amanda and Bryce, and a great time.   Boden is such an entertainer!  So fun but again, Lucy ruined it for all.  Got a script for her for Xantax.   That middle of the night barking has to stop!!! Next time...kennel!    Sunday was breakfast and B'dubs.  More snow, cold predicted again for this...

The last time I wrote was getting to work in a mess a week ago Monday.   The rest of the week was normal until I was out Thursday for math and returned Friday to have one of my students tell me "I am so glad you are back, yesterday was more boring than normal"........don't know whether that was good or bad.  Today is Wednesday and since last week, I had debit fraud, only to spend the weekend with no "plastic".  Thank goodness for my bank alert that someone was trying to spend 600.00 on groceries at a Food Lion in Virginia.  I never have that much in my account so, of course, it was declined!!!! This week we are "Mid-term" and I am looking forward to the weekend with Matt & Dana home for Matt's 30th birthday......where the heck did that 30 years go????  I hate the weather, the temperatures, near the minus again, snow, snow,snow and very happy that I have a trip booked to warm California on the 16th of February.  Tired of the sniffles, sneezes a...

Spent the last week de-decorating.  Sure is more fun to put it up than it is to take it down.  This morning it took me an hour and a half to drive a 20 minute drive.  Yes, the weather broke and the snow has been melting but it re-freezes and people forget, spin out and something died on that highway this morning. Weekend was full of shopping, un-decorating, talking to everyone, got to walk Lucy (who slipped her harness and ran away only to be caught by Otto and the neighbor.....thanks).  Organized, trimmed and watered what is left of my plants after the greenhouse disaster.  Today it was 80 degrees warmer than a week ago.  It hit 45 below on the windchill and 18 below for real. Today hit 45 and I am walking Lucy again through the water melting everywhere.  Last Tuesday,  my plants froze and there was almost a fire in the greenhouse.  I went out to check on things to find things dying and freezing.  Saw smoke coming from the extension co...

So, after 19 days off, including 3 extra snow days, doing what I wanted to do...cooking, Christmas, my kids, decorating, watching movies and tv, parties, staying up late, sleeping in, you get the picture, I had to go back to work.  Now mind you, we have had two feet of snow and temperatures that froze the plants in the greenhouse and nearly started a fire with a bad cord, however, today was BTW or BTS. My car that is 6 mos. old and is garaged didn't want to start.   It took me over an hour to drive in on the "good roads" that were snow covered and slippery and full of drivers that don't get iced over intersections and not clear lanes.  Finally reached my destination and walked in with the kids. The room where the books are kept (and  7th grade finished a math book before break) was locked.  No one had a key to unlock it except the person that was absent.  So, no books for the 7th graders.  I decided to just pass out worksheets and collect the "done" bo...