It is what it is

Home from piano recital. Glad it is over but happy that I did ok in my 6th recital. It has been 7 years of lessons since Amanda graduated from high school almost 8 years ago. We have been involved as a family for 25 years with Mona. Does not get any easier and yes, I was the oldest one playing. Would love that concert grand in MY house. Snow/rain all day. Dark and dreary. Happy that I made chicken noodle soup on Friday night while waiting for Otto to come home from Minneapolis. I was too sick to eat it and he was too tired (after 10:00) so wallah...instant Sunday dinner!!!!! It is what it is. Andrew is in Chicago with Matt, Dana and Hannah, Brian is in LA for work and visit his family, Otto and I are both home, i have a sinus infection under control with cortisone and anti-biotics, Lucy moping as she is stuck inside with the rain and snow and Sunday is almost over. 2 1/2 weeks to Boston!

Choose a file to upload Feeling Thankful. Arrived home from school, went to take my watch and bracelets off and noticed my tennis bracelet missing. I had stopped at a couple stores on the way home and didn't know where to start so I phoned and left my name etc. I knew it was too late to call school or go back so I said a prayer and got Lucy ready for her daily walk. I had emptied my purse, schoolbag and checked my car only to find nothing. In the middle of the garage under the area where Otto usually parks I found my bracelet. I nearly fainted. I have had this for nearly 25 years and with minor repairs and yearly insurance have a lot of history behind this bracelet. Otto gave me the bracelet on our 20th Anniversary. I could write a chapter on all of the bracelet's escapades! I lost it a Meijer when it caught on the cart and some sweet woman turned it in, I lost it at Plymouth Fall Festival and someone turned it in to the police! I have...

Time change...already?   Takes so long to change ALL the clocks and watches.  It will mean the days are longer and more outdoor/dog walking time.   Busy sending out my Easter cards and cards for March.   Washed my car from stem to stern today.  First time since about October or November.  I could not stand the filth any longer.   The car wash is fine for freezing cold weather but they never really get it clean like me.  Got most of the paint off the bumper where I slid into the white mini-van taxi that probably had no license or insurance and no tail lights and I think the mini gap in the bumper can be popped back into place.  Not as bad as I thought the damage was going to be.   It was so dirty it was hard to tell.   Still some damage to the bumper where I hit a large umbrella on the highway last fall on a very windy day.   There it was in the left lane as I was going 70mph and no where to go.  Hopefully when I turn this ...

My blogs are getting fewer and further apart.  Just don't have much time to write anymore.  A welcomed snow day since February is nearing the end and so will our chances of winter weather.  Spent the day reading the paper on the same day it came!   Also did catch up on schoolwork, got my tires switched, took Lucy back to the vet for a sore paw that was making her limp.  Just took her Monday for a check-up and a vaccination.  That was an expensive week for Lucy!.  Spent Valentine's Day in Chicago with Hannah who is growing like a weed. Always seem to have so much to do.   It is what it is, and this year is flying by.  Between bronchitis and now a cold, we are all sick of winter!

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.