It is what it is

Amanda's post -Christmas package of everything they could not stuff into 2 suitcases after a week here and 5 days in Phoenix, finally arrived yesterday.  It was mailed USPS on December 31st as UPS was closed.  I paid 45.00 for a box that must have been on a truck loaded on a buggy pulled by a horse that swam through the Panama Canal.  Did you know a tracking number is no good when a package is on a truck?  I had no tracking information from 12-31-15 until 1-17-16?  Shame on you USPS!     In addition, when I called the Livonia office, I was left on hold twice for the better part of 30 minutes, called back to a busy signal 9 times, called California post offices only to be told in Spanish I had numbers not in service (off their websites) and was treated very rudely both on the phone and in the office.  This is a federal service that our taxes pay for.  Sure think we deserve better service.  It is what it is and it is terrible service

I feel so guilty that I never got to write anything for December.  First month since I started this blog about a zillion years ago.   I am feeling so grateful tonight.   I am grateful that it is Friday and I made it through a whole week after 2 off.  My middle schoolers were crazy this week.  Worse than normal due to testing and different scheduling.  I hope.  I am happy that my Christmas decorations are 1/2 put away.   All the upstairs, bathrooms, kitchen and living room are packed away.   The big living room tree and village comes down tomorrow and hopefully the family room on Sunday.  I packed a lot of stuff tonight but put a lot in the dining room to pack but gave up.  I am beat!  Hard to believe only two weeks ago was Christmas and everyone was here.  It was such a good time.  I laughed until I cried.  I washed towels, bought food, cooked food, put food away, loaded the dishwasher, unloaded it (about 2 times...

I needed a break from all the cleaning and packing and schoolwork and can hardly believe I have been going at full speed since Wednesday noon.  Covered a lot of ground, put all the fall away, packing all the chotchki stuff to make way for Christmas.  Cleaning cabinets, corners and nooks.  Getting ready for my table for Festival of Tables in a week.  Face timed the kids, shopped until I dropped, generally caught up.  Found my picnic basket that wasn't really lost, just visiting someone far away.  Glad it is back home.  Took Lucy for a walk, took someone elses boots home last night (now exchanged), caught up on schoolwork for about 5 minutes and ready to cook a turkey pot pie.  I have no Blue Arpron tonight or this week, just needed to get in a blog for November before it is December.  Back to work, dinner, piano....it is what it is and it is always too busy.

Don't have any words to describe what happened Friday in my favorite city.  How does this happen?  How do people fill themselves with so much hate that they can kill so many people and then themselves.  In prayer and tears for Paris. Started my Saturday early with ADK luncheon and auction.  On the hunt to finish my Nutcracker table for FOT on Dec. 7th. I have grades/citizenship done for 1st quarter.   Amanda & Bryce are home from European Honeymoon with so many issues that Amanda was put through.   Andrew was in London all week and flew to LasVegas on Friday to meet Brian who is running his first 10K.   Matt & Dana & Hannah are all good in Chicago.  Fighting a sinus infection (Dobos thing), was up very early to play both services with Joyful Ringers this morning. Finished laundry,working on Festival of Tables table, lesson plans, tomorrows lesson,washed my car because it was 65 today, cooking turkey veg soup for non-blue apron ...

Normal busy week at school.   Midterm test and study guide is done thanks to my math coach!!!  Red team dance chaperoning tonight, as I can check papers and chaperone at the same time.  So angry that my main route home is again being re-constructed so I go about 15 miles out of my way to not sit for a half-hour as 4 lanes are reduced to one.  C'mon!    Early call tomorrow for a bell concert for a Christmas Tea....selfish me, one day a week I could sleep in and NOT get ready immediately......no comment Carol....no comment.  It is what it is!

Spent all day in Professional Development...not bad, not bad!!! Interesting stuff, we looked at testing.  Stopped to vote, stopped to ship everything back to Amanda & Bryce that was left here from the wedding.  It would have been cheaper to book a ticket to LA.....almost.   Just off the phone with Amanda, they are in Atlanta waiting for the final leg home from a 10 hour flight from Munich.  Amanda has been in a wheelchair for 2 days.  Stress fractures in both feet?   Eye yi yi yi yi.....On the "heels" of being sick in London, and Hives in Paris...A Honeymoon soon not forgotten!  It is what it is....on my honeymoon, I had hives in Hungary....(don't ask, I think it was fear) and flu in Hungary....again...don't ask)   Suddenly recovered once we arrived in Paris and London.  I think I wasted 5 days in Hungary but don't tell Otto that.   76 degrees  today on November 3rd.   Love getting the extra time to put outdoor away.

Home from an amazing weekend in Kalamazoo's WMU homecoming.  Broncos trounced  Miami of Ohio.  Friday night our best friend of 43  Tom Englert, retired CEO of Discount was honored as a Distinguished Alumni.  What an amazing night! So proud!  Saturday, we toured restored Heritage Hall on East Campus (formerly East Hall built in 1903, WMU's first building.  Tailgated, watched a victory in the President's Box (saw Michigan weather fully, sun, clouds, storm, downpour, back to sun!)  Had great digs at Kalamazoo's downtown Radisson, drove around our old stomping grounds, caught up with Tom & Cindy, reminisced with Rick Hyde and just celebrated and re-lived the last 43 years as best friends. Two wonderful weekends in a row.   Back to reality, full moon, school tomorrow and a Blue Apron waiting to be cooked.  It is what it is!