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!

I called it!

No school on Wednesday either.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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!

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??

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.

I've had a Rough Day

I've had a rough day.

My mom, aunt, and I sorted out my grandpa's clothes. Some of them went to Goodwill, some of them went in the garbage, and some of them were kept. It was difficult. My mom and I got in a fight. Typical of our relationship.

I have killer cramps and I'm freezing cold.

I did laundry all the live long day.

My step children do not listen to me. However, that one has been resolved for the moment.

I've had it with lazy, inconsiderate, rotten, dipshits.

I've taken to my bed. Kurt can deal with it. He's the only thing about today that isn't awful.

This and That

I've started studying for the NAB exam. I'm taking an online review thru DMACC. Now that I've finally been able to log in, I know why it was only $50. It's 173 (of I believe a bank of 20,000) possible questions presented in seven different formats. Of course, some of the answers are "none of the above" or "a and b" when there aren't any choices provided. Also sometimes they want 4 or IV or four. There appears to be no pattern to it either. Still, I think the game/flashcard/quiz format will be effect. I will at least have 173 of the answers memorized. Oh wait, some of the questions are presented twice with different answers. Nice.

We got a Phillips ipod docking station/speaker system yesterday (on the front of the target ad). I really really like it. It's causing me to watch less TV which is a good thing.

The lifestyle change is going ok even though there was a chocolate zinger incident the other day. Weigh-in is in two days.

My diploma arrived to day. I stuck it in my diploma cover. Now what shall I do with it? I got a transcript, too. My overall GPA was 3.21. I ordered two more study texts. The two new ones will bring my total to 7 + the study class. I need to review my medical terminologies too.

We bought a recumbent bike today. It's still in the box in the kitchen because I sidetracked Kurt when he was in the basement. We've now liberated 6 rubber maids (although 2 of them were refilled). I have a load to take to Good Will and the garbage can is filled to capacity as are the recycling bins.

Can you believe it?

My husband has never had beanie weenies! He didn't know what they were. I'm STARVING to death at the moment. Good thing it's still snowing and I'm in my nightie, or I would be in the truck on my way to Mickey D's for a quarter pounder with cheese.

I was expressing to Kurt how very very hungry I am. I grabbed the neck of his shirt to emphasis my point and pull him toward me - and I ripped his shirt! I told him I was hungry.

I've decided to go with beanie weenies. The beans are good...the weenies are bad so it should all even out right?

Celebrity Siting - I Guess

Kurt's at work so I went down to the casino (they have free pop). There's all kind of security guards everywhere. I thought I heard people talking about some football player going by. I get to the lobby and there's a rope line. People are standing there with all sorts of Packer items. I walk past. I ask a guard "Is there a football player here?" He replies, "A few."

I play the 25 cent and 2 cent slots for a while. I put in $5 and won $10. I came "home" with $9. Gambling is really not my thing and it was really smokey.

I go back to the room. There is even more security. The guard I spoke to before opens the door for a bunch of guys in suits. Then a very tall guy in a sweat suit comes out along with a littler dude. One of them handed me something (he must be a Jehovah's witness)(it looked like one of their brochures). The both looked at me, shook my hand and headed up the hall. All kinds of flashed were going off. I heard one of them call the taller one KBG.

I looked them up. The first one was DE KABEER GBAJA-BIAMILA #94 and the shorter one was Aaron Rodgers

Evidently the Packers stay here the night before a home game. I'm watching the news and they're interviewing some of the players. The footage is from inside the hotel.

Greetings from the Tundra

So I've come to Green Bay with Kurt. Tomorrow is the NFC game with Green Bay and (I think) the NY Giants. We drove by Lambeau Field tonite since he has a horrible sense of direction. People around here are in a green and yellow frenzy. It is -4 degrees with a -30 wind chill. The game is at 6 pm tomorrow. They are going to freeze to death. I asked the clerk in the gift shop how people are going to keep from freezing to death. He said, "Oh they aren't. You just wrap everything up except for a tiny slit for your eyes."

We had dinner at Old Chicago. I've never been there before. It was yum yum yummy. We had a thin pizza with Canadian bacon, pineapple and basil.

The hotel has a casino in it. After breakfast this morning we checked it out. There was a Deal or no Deal video machine. After waiting for eons for a change person we just stuck a 20 in. It was a 2 cent machine. We had no idea what we were doing. After 3 bets we'd lost $17. We were bickering about it and then made one more bet. We were sure but we thought we'd won. We walked away with $52.50!

Last night and this morning we went out to Door county. I'll have pictures once we get home.

Done!

I got done with my internship yesterday at 3:30 pm!!!