Friday, February 29, 2008

I'm so Happy

I alphabetized the items I have under "Favorites". No more frustrating search for the right category. It's the little things my friends!

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

I called it!

No school on Wednesday either.

Monday, February 18, 2008

We Made It

What is normally a 5 hour trip took 9 1/2 hours over two days. Nice. When we got up this morning, Amherst, had indeed received almost 18" of snow (and it had started snowing again). We left at 8:30 am. In the first 10 minutes on the road we saw more traffic than we had seen the entire day previous.

We went over through LaCrosse, cut across SE Minnesota and then took 52 down into Iowa. The blowing snow was incredible. Luckily, with the truck we were high enough up that we could see over or through the drifting while cars wer just having to drive through it blind. Huge piles of snow on the sides of the road were major hazards. As were the retards who were driving without their headlights on. It was very tense, very windy, and we switched drivers often. There's no way the kids are having school tomorrow*. I have my doubts about Wednesday, too if this wind continues. We could see that the East/West gravel roads were completely drifted shut. There is a tow ban on for most of Northeast and North Central Iowa.

I have pictures from our travels, but I have a new camera. Kurt still needs to load the software so that I can upload them. The ice on the trees that was glistening in the sun was gorgeous. The ice that was glistening on the highway, not so much.

Hopefully, we don't have to go to Green Bay anytime soon. Although, Rikki and I are planning on going to Madison to see Korrena on Saturday. I hear there is another storm coming - arriving on Saturday. Being trapped in WI twice in one week is probably more than I can handle.

*School cancelled for tomorrow at 3:20 today.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

And we're stuck...

We left Green Bay at 8:30 this morning on a sheet of ice. We decided to head west to get out of the ice zone and into the snow zone. Two and a half hours and 71 miles later we called uncle and found ourselves an inn. Bob and Tom (no, not the radio guys) are a very friendly and accomodating couple who have taken us in for the night. We're the only ones here besides them, their 2 cats and 2 dogs. So far Amherst has received at least 12" of snow and it could hit 18" before it's over.

The kids are spending another night with their brother, the pooper is spending another night at the doggy hotel and we are tucked away in the J & J Suite.

We'll have to see what tomorrow brings.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

We have the worst luck

We're in Green Bay yet again. This should be that last trip for a while. The forecast is 7-12" of snow with at least an inch an hour. Don't forget about the 20-30 mph winds, too. Sunday is showing at 100% chance of snow with blizzard conditions and travel is called "hazardous, if not impossible". Nice. Kurt is working until probably 3 am tonight. Amy said I should cut my losses and start driving!

I got an email from Mom that saying that IA is predicting a 1/2" of ice under the snow. We brought the truck, but still. The guy on NBC26 just said the average snow pile in Winnebago is 20 feet high! It could be an exciting weekend.

I won 1.96 in the casino last night. Tonight the plan is to study and take practice tests. On the first section I got 52%. One needs 70% to be liscensed. If I hadn't second-guessed myself I would have had over 70%. I'm not sure what to do about that.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Happy 2nd Anniversary, Babe!


Kringla

The first weekend we went to Green Bay we bought some Kringla. It was freezing and we were bored last Sunday so we attempted to make some. Kurt remembers making it with his Grandma Marcile as a child. We have a 1954 cookbook from Fenton (where he grew up) and it had an incomplete kringla recipe. It was just ingrediants and "add flour as needed". We tried to supplement the recipe with some online research.

I didn't think they were very good. Kurt and the kids ate them. I commented, "these taste nothing like the ones we bought". To which Kurt replied, "Well those weren't right", but they were good (unlike these).



We will have to try again!

Lake Michigan at Algoma, WI


Algoma, WI


Monday, February 11, 2008

Not Again

They cancelled school yet again. The kids are going to be going well into June. They were scheduled to get out before Memorial Day. I'm not sure why it was cancelled today. It is bitterly cold at -15 windchill and 1 degree temp. Also another storm is predicted for this afternoon and evening. Only 2-3 inches of snow but high winds.

My insomnia is back evidently. I didn't get to sleep last night until almost 2 am. I've decided to try to go to sleep the minute I feel sleepy whether it's 9:15 or 6:30. It seems there's a 5 - 10 minute window where there's a chance I may get to sleep. Once that window is closed I am f***ed.

Thursday, February 07, 2008

What I Accomplished Today

  • Washed, dried, and sorted 3 loads of laundry
  • Made dinner
  • Took the dog out twelve thousand times
  • Bought school and study supplies (new class starts next Tuesday)
  • Began cleaning/organizing the scrapbook table
  • Made the bed (that usually happens just before sleeping)
  • Got bread, milk, and juice
  • Studied for 4 HOURS!
  • Went through the mail
  • balanced my checking account
  • Chatted with Rikki
  • Took a load to Goodwill (There was just a commercial begging for goods ~ I'm doing my best!)
  • Went to Water Aerobics
  • Dealt with my husband's dry cleaning
  • Bought Valentine's, anniversary, and birthday cards
  • Mailed out a resume

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

A Geography Test

How well do you know your states? I think this is fun! I missed by an average of 17 miles in 255 seconds!

Monday, February 04, 2008

Packing on the Pounds

Kurt and I have both gained weight since the Friday morning weigh in. We ate out WAY too much plus went to the birthday party. Plus I'm sick. When I'm sick all I do is eat.

Iowa weather continues to blow. I see on the news that everything north and east of us is closed while schools to the south are either 2 hours late or closed. It's thundering now and raining. There's also occasional snow and sleet. I also hear freezing rain is a possability.

I had crazy dreams last night including one where I was one of Hef's girlfriends. We weren't getting along though so nothing naughty happened (thank goodness!). I like old guys but 81 is a little much. I remember feeling a sense of dread that since I wasn't putting out I was going to get kicked out of the mansion. THEN what would I do??

Saturday, February 02, 2008

Saturdays have such Promise

I've spent the morning/early afternoon cleaning. Our vacuum is back from the repair shop. It got a tune-up and a new HEPA filter. It's working so well it about sucked the pattern off the carpet!

Tonight is a 60th Birthday part for my Aunt Merry. It's at a restaurant here in town. I told Kurt "crap" because now we'll have to buy food rather than have it provided like when it was at the house. He, however, pointed out than now we can order drinks! He's a smart one :)

I've pretty much lost my momentum, but scrubbing around the toilet base will do that to a person. Eeeewwwww.