Dr. Phil. I have wrote my first letter to Dr. Phil.
Dr. Phil would probably have me on his "blocked senders" list within two weeks.
If anyone watched Dr. Phil today, it started out because somebody videotaped a woman dragging her kid around a store by a monkey leash. Okay, smartest thing in the world to do? Probably not. Was it punishment? No, the kid wanted his mommy to drag him around. Point Dr. Phil made: Does anybody want their parenting skills to be judged entirely on a 13 second video? Uh, no.
Andrew and I had a run in with a lady at a Chinese Restaurant when Robert was three. It was so totally unfounded and we were dumbfounded by it. A neighbor and I had taken Robert and her daughter to the pool one Sunday afternoon, the kids played all afternoon, when Andrew got home from work, I didn't want to cook so we loaded up and went to the local Chinese restaurant. This was in Pontiac and the restaurant was a nice quiet place. When we got sat down, it was very evident that Robert was tired, cranky and in no mood to sit. We decided to get our food to go and Andrew went ahead and took Robert to the car, not before Robert ran under a couple of tables, giggling that he was keeping away from Daddy. Andrew finally got a hold of him, not rough or anything and took him to the car. There were two ladies in the restaurant and I didn't realized they were waiting on me to get our food. When our food was ready, they followed me out the door. Robert was standing in the back seat of the car, I opened the door and told him to get in his car seat, he told me he didn't want to. The women had pulled up behind me and was watching. I turned to them and said, "He's tired and cranky, do you have any ideas?" The driver said "Just don't beat him." I said, "I have no intention of beating him, he hasn't done anything wrong, we should have not got him out tonight because he has had a big day." The lady says, "He's afraid of his dad." I said, "Lady, if he was afraid of his dad, I don't think he would have been playing the game he was inside, he would have been to afraid of what would happen." (and why didn't they follow ANDREW out, to see if he beat him?) Anyway, the lady informed me she had my license plate and was prepared to call the cops if I laid a hand on him. I told her I did have to get him in his carseat but that he would not be beaten. I was so shook up, Andrew drove me to Robert's preschool teacher's house, who eased my mind that nobody would take Robert away on one person's claim. It was still scary and totally, totally off the wall.
Then later on in the show, Dr. Phil shows this one girl whose mother made her hold a sign up at an intersection that basically said, "I don't do my homework and I slack off in school, my mother is preparing me for my future--will work for food." I had to laugh. Anyone who knows Olney very well, knows the area known as "goosenibble". Goosenibble is home to a really rough trailer park. When Robert was in 1st and 2nd grade, and would act up, or lie, or not want to do his homework, etc. I would put his little rear in the car and take him and drive him around goosenibble. I tell people that and some people thinks I am terrible. I say so far, it has been a good thing.
As I said, Dr. Phil would be sick of me, good thing I am only off until next Tuesday!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
My Norman Rockwell Christmas
I think I have officially had the best Christmas I have had in years. Yesterday, my sister, her husband, my guys and my mom were sitting by the fire visiting, just relaxing honestly and my sister says, "I keep remembering when you lived at Pontiac, it was really your first Christmas to fix dinner for everyone and you had kept saying you wanted a Norman Rockwell Christmas." She then said, "I remember us standing in the garage that afternoon with you bawling because it just didn't happen. Well, no, it truly didn't happen that year. In fact, there are lots of memories of that Christmas that I would just as soon forget. Anyway, my sister went on to say, "I think you are about to finally get your Norman Rockwell Christmas...if it would just snow!" At that time it was still 45 degrees outside. It also dawned on me that she must be feeling like it is a great day too or she wouldn't have said it.
Well, the company was perfect, the meal was perfect, the naps that afternoon by the fire...perfect.
As the morning began yesterday, my uncle, who is in his 80's didn't have any water. My mom had helped him until 3 the day before, I wished they would have called the boys on Christmas eve but they didn't. So I called Mom early and said I thought the guys should go, she didn't say no. They loaded up all their tools and I told Andrew to call me when they were ready to start home because we would just hold off on lunch. He called about 10:00 and they had it fixed! That was probably just the icing on the cake. This was MY uncle, not Andrew's, but he didn't hesitate to go help. I love my husband! I need to add to this that his back is still a mess and he goes on the 4th for an epidural but as he says "Life goes on".
My sister is a photographer, so she took most of the pictures, she even took a ton of pictures of the food, I will have to nab her card and download it before she leaves.
I still know, as I put in my last post, that the reason this has been such a perfect Christmas is that it has been more "Christ-centered" than I have ever had. Thank you Lord, for my Norman Rockwell Christmas.
Well, the company was perfect, the meal was perfect, the naps that afternoon by the fire...perfect.
As the morning began yesterday, my uncle, who is in his 80's didn't have any water. My mom had helped him until 3 the day before, I wished they would have called the boys on Christmas eve but they didn't. So I called Mom early and said I thought the guys should go, she didn't say no. They loaded up all their tools and I told Andrew to call me when they were ready to start home because we would just hold off on lunch. He called about 10:00 and they had it fixed! That was probably just the icing on the cake. This was MY uncle, not Andrew's, but he didn't hesitate to go help. I love my husband! I need to add to this that his back is still a mess and he goes on the 4th for an epidural but as he says "Life goes on".
My sister is a photographer, so she took most of the pictures, she even took a ton of pictures of the food, I will have to nab her card and download it before she leaves.
I still know, as I put in my last post, that the reason this has been such a perfect Christmas is that it has been more "Christ-centered" than I have ever had. Thank you Lord, for my Norman Rockwell Christmas.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Christmas Time is Here
Every year, it seems there is one Christmas song that runs through my head most of the Christmas season. Last year, it was Amy Grant's "A Christmas to Remember" and though I still want to "Light up the fire" and "Wake up to a World of White", this year, it has been the "Christmastime is here" from the Charlie Brown special. This Christmas has been such a nostalgic Christmas for me. I don't really know why, I have just spent a lot of time remembering Christmas' past.
Who else remembers Benedict's Store in Charleston? When I was little, my grandmother didn't drive and my mom and I would take her to do her Christmas shopping. My grandmother very rarely got farther than Greenup so going to Charleston with her was huge, though we still made it home for lunch. I only remember my grandmother eating out one time in my life, she died when I was 18. Anyway, Benedict's was a two story dime store and it was just a wonderland to a little kid waiting for Christmas. One year, in fact probably the last year I got to go, Mom bought three plastic Christmas decorations. When I mentioned them to her, she produced them the next day. They are now proudly on display through my house. I also remember the last time I was there, Silver Bells playing on the music. Funny the things we remember.
How about Holt's in Greenup? That has been another memory that has popped through my mind. One Christmas they were having a drawing for a doll that was as tall as I was, I was so excited about the possibility of winning that doll. I didn't win it but I will always even remember the smell of Holts.
Andrew has found that he has become desensitized to eggs, he has been eating straight eggs, meaning I can make my mom's awesome Fantasy Fudge for the first time in our married life.
We currently have chocolate walnut, peanut butter, butterscotch and white chocolate. That has been a big memory!
I have also went back in time to so many of our Christmas programs. Trygve Butler and Robert were part of my high school boys for the skit in the Awana program. How many Christmas programs were Tryg's mom, Amy and I in together? I have pictures of a couple of times we played our flutes together.
That helps me remember there is no place like home and the love of lifetime friends.
This post is more for me than anyone reading it. I wanted a record for myself of what has been going through my mind. I know I am backwards to the entire world but this is honestly our slow time with band taking up fall and chorus taking up spring, we have had more time than normal. I only bought for Robert and the great-neices this year, everyone else is getting homemade things. I liked that too, I liked the feel of that and will probably expand on that next year.
This is probably not the last "Christmas post" but for today, Merry CHRISTmas!
Christmas time is here
Happiness and cheer
Fun for all that children call
Their favorite time of the year
Snowflakes in the air
Carols everywhere
Olden times and ancient rhymes
Of love and dreams to share
Sleigh bells in the air
Beauty everywhere
Yuletide by the fireside
And joyful memories there
Christmas time is here
We'll be drawing near
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year...
Who else remembers Benedict's Store in Charleston? When I was little, my grandmother didn't drive and my mom and I would take her to do her Christmas shopping. My grandmother very rarely got farther than Greenup so going to Charleston with her was huge, though we still made it home for lunch. I only remember my grandmother eating out one time in my life, she died when I was 18. Anyway, Benedict's was a two story dime store and it was just a wonderland to a little kid waiting for Christmas. One year, in fact probably the last year I got to go, Mom bought three plastic Christmas decorations. When I mentioned them to her, she produced them the next day. They are now proudly on display through my house. I also remember the last time I was there, Silver Bells playing on the music. Funny the things we remember.
How about Holt's in Greenup? That has been another memory that has popped through my mind. One Christmas they were having a drawing for a doll that was as tall as I was, I was so excited about the possibility of winning that doll. I didn't win it but I will always even remember the smell of Holts.
Andrew has found that he has become desensitized to eggs, he has been eating straight eggs, meaning I can make my mom's awesome Fantasy Fudge for the first time in our married life.
We currently have chocolate walnut, peanut butter, butterscotch and white chocolate. That has been a big memory!
I have also went back in time to so many of our Christmas programs. Trygve Butler and Robert were part of my high school boys for the skit in the Awana program. How many Christmas programs were Tryg's mom, Amy and I in together? I have pictures of a couple of times we played our flutes together.
That helps me remember there is no place like home and the love of lifetime friends.
This post is more for me than anyone reading it. I wanted a record for myself of what has been going through my mind. I know I am backwards to the entire world but this is honestly our slow time with band taking up fall and chorus taking up spring, we have had more time than normal. I only bought for Robert and the great-neices this year, everyone else is getting homemade things. I liked that too, I liked the feel of that and will probably expand on that next year.
This is probably not the last "Christmas post" but for today, Merry CHRISTmas!
Christmas time is here
Happiness and cheer
Fun for all that children call
Their favorite time of the year
Snowflakes in the air
Carols everywhere
Olden times and ancient rhymes
Of love and dreams to share
Sleigh bells in the air
Beauty everywhere
Yuletide by the fireside
And joyful memories there
Christmas time is here
We'll be drawing near
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year...
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Learning Experience.
Most people who know me well, know I am a cryer. I bawl over songs, movies, cute babies, ugly babies, weddings...you get the picture. In normal everyday life, it can be embarrassing but in a professional life, it can downright be a sign of weakness.
Today I had a breakthrough. Yes, I had a real opportunity for tears and they never came! Had they came, thirteen of my friends would have had to maintain their composure while watching me loose it. I am still patting myself on the back.
Now, for the reason I should have been in tears.....or not. We get up to do the Christmas Cantata this morning in our Christmas program. We are doing the Christmas cantata to a DVD that is showing a movie while we are singing. Half way into the first song, three of our choir members make it clear to me that they can hear the people singing on the DVD. Everything is unplugged that is supposed to be and there are no reasonable explanation for what is happening, but the plain bitter truth is, it's happening. As we go on, I get to thinking, while directing the current song that we have one song that I have changed DRASTICALLY to fit the needs of our choir. I finally realized at the end of a song, that there was nothing else to do but quit, tell the congregation we are having technical difficulties and start over using a different media.
We lived through it and I feel the presentation was better because of it. After I had stopped the DVD and announced to everyone we would have to start over, found the CD, got it in and got back on the podium; that was the second I felt tears start to well up. Then I thought, "Really, this is the small stuff. The people in front of me are my friends, the people behind me are my friends and we are all here to honor God." I also had a flash run through my mind of something major that happened this week at work. A little senior citizens couple now have heat that they didn't have at the beginning of the week because of a joint effort of several of us at work. That was the big stuff, this wasn't. This was for God's glory and me falling apart was not the best way to glorify God.
Tonight, as we are walking through the halls of a nursing home, singing Christmas carols to the residents and them waving to us as we walk by, my son caught the "Christmas Spirit". He came running to me outside of the nursing home and said "Now it feels like Christmas". That's the big stuff. Christmas to my son is showing God's love to others, not thinking about what is under the tree. I got in the car considering what I had just received for Christmas.
Today has been a very eventful day, not exactly as I had planned but had it went as planned I would not be feeling anymore accomplished, or wiser than I was when I got out of bed this morning. Some of God's greatest gifts come in the oddest packages.
Now I'm crying.
Today I had a breakthrough. Yes, I had a real opportunity for tears and they never came! Had they came, thirteen of my friends would have had to maintain their composure while watching me loose it. I am still patting myself on the back.
Now, for the reason I should have been in tears.....or not. We get up to do the Christmas Cantata this morning in our Christmas program. We are doing the Christmas cantata to a DVD that is showing a movie while we are singing. Half way into the first song, three of our choir members make it clear to me that they can hear the people singing on the DVD. Everything is unplugged that is supposed to be and there are no reasonable explanation for what is happening, but the plain bitter truth is, it's happening. As we go on, I get to thinking, while directing the current song that we have one song that I have changed DRASTICALLY to fit the needs of our choir. I finally realized at the end of a song, that there was nothing else to do but quit, tell the congregation we are having technical difficulties and start over using a different media.
We lived through it and I feel the presentation was better because of it. After I had stopped the DVD and announced to everyone we would have to start over, found the CD, got it in and got back on the podium; that was the second I felt tears start to well up. Then I thought, "Really, this is the small stuff. The people in front of me are my friends, the people behind me are my friends and we are all here to honor God." I also had a flash run through my mind of something major that happened this week at work. A little senior citizens couple now have heat that they didn't have at the beginning of the week because of a joint effort of several of us at work. That was the big stuff, this wasn't. This was for God's glory and me falling apart was not the best way to glorify God.
Tonight, as we are walking through the halls of a nursing home, singing Christmas carols to the residents and them waving to us as we walk by, my son caught the "Christmas Spirit". He came running to me outside of the nursing home and said "Now it feels like Christmas". That's the big stuff. Christmas to my son is showing God's love to others, not thinking about what is under the tree. I got in the car considering what I had just received for Christmas.
Today has been a very eventful day, not exactly as I had planned but had it went as planned I would not be feeling anymore accomplished, or wiser than I was when I got out of bed this morning. Some of God's greatest gifts come in the oddest packages.
Now I'm crying.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Once Again.....
I'm slipping, horribly, again.... I am truly realizing I am one of those people who does not function well without a certain degree of stress. I don't know what to do with myself and the worst part is I get behind. How much sense does that make? Honestly, the only thing I am behind on is my blog, and my attic, and my garage. I am having this awful urge to come home of an evening and sit. I'm not used to the concept and I don't really like the feeling of "non-accomplishment" that comes with it so I am going to have to do better.
Here is an update--seeing as how I haven't posted a thing since the 30th of Novemember.
Andrew and I celebrated our 18th anniversary on the 6th. We went out, by ourselves, two weekends in a row. That, I am most definately sure, was the first time in 17 years that had happened. We went to Niemergs for Andrew's birthday,which we decided we were probably old enough for the crowd, and the next weekend we went to Robinson and saw The Blindside. The movie was awesome, if you get a chance, you should see it.
Of course, we are getting ready for Christmas, I have my shopping done, now if it were just wrapped. I used to love wrapping presents, now, for some reason, not so much. I am not being a scrooge, just one of those things I think I need to be a perfectionist in, so it takes such a long time. I normally wrap as I buy so I don't have a mountain facing me, another thing I am slipping on.
The Awana guys were all here Sunday to decorate cookies, we had a great time, my mom had the camera that day, I will have to wait until a get pictures from her to post, my batteries were dead. We have our Awana Christmas program tonight, the guys are great in their part and can't wait for them to do it. They are doing a skit that leads to them reading the Christmas story. Everyone is amazed that high school boys would be willing to do this--I have the cream of the crop as far as I am concerned.
Our Sunday School program and Choir Cantata is Sunday morning. This will be my last " stressor" of the season. Our last practice for the cantata is normally a bad one, this one went extremely well--would you believe that makes me worry?? It just means I have to pray more. If you aren't busy Sunday morning at 10 a.m. come out to our program. We are showing a DVD with our cantata and I think the effect is really good.
Last Friday night, I got to go with a group of friends from church to the Angela Lilly Christmas Show at LTC. This was my first time going and I loved it! What a great way to take a little time out and just enjoy the season!
Looking forward, as of today, I have six days of work left this year! I haven't taken an entire week off since last Christmas. I am SO ready. I am never going to let that happen again! Of course, we normally spend a weekend in St. Louis while I am on vacation. This year, I am technically taking sick time instead of vacation because Robert is having his wisdom teeth cut out. That happens at 8:45 on Monday the 28th.
It looks like after the first of the year, Andrew is going back to days. He will be working 4 twelves like he does now, but 8-8 on days. It will be a big switch, especially since we will both be getting ready for work at the same time each morning. The plus side, maybe we won't have so many times we go for days without seeing each other! Last week, I said goodbye to him Thursday evening and didn't see him until Saturday morning, we had both been home, just not at the same time. I am especially looking forward to more Saturdays togethter that he doesn't have to spend half the day sleeping.
Here is an update--seeing as how I haven't posted a thing since the 30th of Novemember.
Andrew and I celebrated our 18th anniversary on the 6th. We went out, by ourselves, two weekends in a row. That, I am most definately sure, was the first time in 17 years that had happened. We went to Niemergs for Andrew's birthday,which we decided we were probably old enough for the crowd, and the next weekend we went to Robinson and saw The Blindside. The movie was awesome, if you get a chance, you should see it.
Of course, we are getting ready for Christmas, I have my shopping done, now if it were just wrapped. I used to love wrapping presents, now, for some reason, not so much. I am not being a scrooge, just one of those things I think I need to be a perfectionist in, so it takes such a long time. I normally wrap as I buy so I don't have a mountain facing me, another thing I am slipping on.
The Awana guys were all here Sunday to decorate cookies, we had a great time, my mom had the camera that day, I will have to wait until a get pictures from her to post, my batteries were dead. We have our Awana Christmas program tonight, the guys are great in their part and can't wait for them to do it. They are doing a skit that leads to them reading the Christmas story. Everyone is amazed that high school boys would be willing to do this--I have the cream of the crop as far as I am concerned.
Our Sunday School program and Choir Cantata is Sunday morning. This will be my last " stressor" of the season. Our last practice for the cantata is normally a bad one, this one went extremely well--would you believe that makes me worry?? It just means I have to pray more. If you aren't busy Sunday morning at 10 a.m. come out to our program. We are showing a DVD with our cantata and I think the effect is really good.
Last Friday night, I got to go with a group of friends from church to the Angela Lilly Christmas Show at LTC. This was my first time going and I loved it! What a great way to take a little time out and just enjoy the season!
Looking forward, as of today, I have six days of work left this year! I haven't taken an entire week off since last Christmas. I am SO ready. I am never going to let that happen again! Of course, we normally spend a weekend in St. Louis while I am on vacation. This year, I am technically taking sick time instead of vacation because Robert is having his wisdom teeth cut out. That happens at 8:45 on Monday the 28th.
It looks like after the first of the year, Andrew is going back to days. He will be working 4 twelves like he does now, but 8-8 on days. It will be a big switch, especially since we will both be getting ready for work at the same time each morning. The plus side, maybe we won't have so many times we go for days without seeing each other! Last week, I said goodbye to him Thursday evening and didn't see him until Saturday morning, we had both been home, just not at the same time. I am especially looking forward to more Saturdays togethter that he doesn't have to spend half the day sleeping.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Congratulations Robert!!! (AGAIN)
For making the cut to ALL-STATE chorus!!! Wow! To top it off, Robert was the only guy AND the only junior chosen from our chorus! At least his friend Danny is going in band, that rounds out the guys going- all two of them. A total of five girls are going; 4 in chorus and 1 in band.
Looks like we have a concert at Peoria the end of January!
Yes, Robert thought it was U of I, but upon further investigation, it was Peoria.
Way to go! To say we are proud would be an understatement!
Looks like we have a concert at Peoria the end of January!
Yes, Robert thought it was U of I, but upon further investigation, it was Peoria.
Way to go! To say we are proud would be an understatement!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Our week in Review
I hate when I get behind on my blogging and this has been one of those weeks; no good excuses, not overly busy right now, just taking a breather. BTW, I have tried and tried to get my blog "unattached" from facebook. I thought it was a neat idea at the time but now, there are things I wish to say on my blog that I don't necessarily need to say on facebook. I have changed every setting I can think of on both my blog and facebook. Bottom line: facebook is holding my blog hostage. Oh well....if anyone knows of something else to try, fill me in.
The pictures are from IMEA last weekend. What a show! These pictures are of the chorus concert. 225 high school choral students from our district--the best of the best and the songs proved it. All the songs were good but there was one that was an african piece that I hope to hear again sometime in my life. It was just so cool!
Robert had a great time, memories he will keep for a lifetime.
Once again, Thanksgiving came and went and I didn't get any pictures taken. We had a great day. Andrew of course, had to work the night before so he came home and went to bed. My mom came down and helped me get started cleaning out the attic. You know how there is always one room in your house that just seems to be a catch-all? I have one that runs the entire length of my house--it ain't pretty. It is getting better but we still have a LONG way to go--and a BIG yard sale in the spring!
Black Friday: This was such a weird year for us and Black Friday. At first, I had decided not to go at all because it was Andrew's birthday. Then, his dad sent our Christmas present ($$$$) and we decided that we wanted to get a tv for our bedroom. I was thinking a nice little 19 inch. Andrew was thinking a little bigger--a 32 inch. And of course, the 32 inch was on sale during the "Yearly Event" (Walmart's new code for BLITZ). Sooo, I decided we would just go get the tv and come home. Then Andrew tells me if his birthday was on any other day, I would be at work when he came home so we might as well go shopping if we wanted to, he was fine as long as we were home for dinner that night. Robert and I ususally go to St. Louis, but we wanted to be in Robinson at 5:00, so we originally decided Indy, then we realized there was stuff we wanted at Tuscola so it was a no brainer to just head to Champaign. Of course, we weren't "looking" for anything, if I could get ahold of the tv, I had everything I had planned to do that day finish. At 10 til 4, I walked into Walmart, got my ticket, got in line and knew I had nabbed a tv, just had to wait until 5 to pick it up. We found tons of bargains and made it home in time to get Andrew up and have dinner with him--and give him his cake--a pineapple cheesecake.
He got new driving lights for his jeep as his present.
We have finished the week off by getting the Christmas decorations up, hooked up our tv in the bedroom and Andrew and Robert got his new lights on.
Grandpa, we gave Robert a third of the Christmas money and he bought a new Call of Duty game for the Wii and a pair of Docker Sunglasses. Thank you!
This week looks right now to be a calm one--hope it stays that way!
The pictures are from IMEA last weekend. What a show! These pictures are of the chorus concert. 225 high school choral students from our district--the best of the best and the songs proved it. All the songs were good but there was one that was an african piece that I hope to hear again sometime in my life. It was just so cool!
Robert had a great time, memories he will keep for a lifetime.
Once again, Thanksgiving came and went and I didn't get any pictures taken. We had a great day. Andrew of course, had to work the night before so he came home and went to bed. My mom came down and helped me get started cleaning out the attic. You know how there is always one room in your house that just seems to be a catch-all? I have one that runs the entire length of my house--it ain't pretty. It is getting better but we still have a LONG way to go--and a BIG yard sale in the spring!Black Friday: This was such a weird year for us and Black Friday. At first, I had decided not to go at all because it was Andrew's birthday. Then, his dad sent our Christmas present ($$$$) and we decided that we wanted to get a tv for our bedroom. I was thinking a nice little 19 inch. Andrew was thinking a little bigger--a 32 inch. And of course, the 32 inch was on sale during the "Yearly Event" (Walmart's new code for BLITZ). Sooo, I decided we would just go get the tv and come home. Then Andrew tells me if his birthday was on any other day, I would be at work when he came home so we might as well go shopping if we wanted to, he was fine as long as we were home for dinner that night. Robert and I ususally go to St. Louis, but we wanted to be in Robinson at 5:00, so we originally decided Indy, then we realized there was stuff we wanted at Tuscola so it was a no brainer to just head to Champaign. Of course, we weren't "looking" for anything, if I could get ahold of the tv, I had everything I had planned to do that day finish. At 10 til 4, I walked into Walmart, got my ticket, got in line and knew I had nabbed a tv, just had to wait until 5 to pick it up. We found tons of bargains and made it home in time to get Andrew up and have dinner with him--and give him his cake--a pineapple cheesecake.
He got new driving lights for his jeep as his present.
We have finished the week off by getting the Christmas decorations up, hooked up our tv in the bedroom and Andrew and Robert got his new lights on.
Grandpa, we gave Robert a third of the Christmas money and he bought a new Call of Duty game for the Wii and a pair of Docker Sunglasses. Thank you!
This week looks right now to be a calm one--hope it stays that way!
Friday, November 20, 2009
My Dad
My dad was the greatest. He passed away 29 years ago today. Just a few pictures in memory of him:
My parents dated 6 weeks and then went to the preacher's house and got married. (Andrew and I dated 6 weeks and then went to Kentucky and got married.)
Me and my dad.
Mom had wrote "Put it in Gear- Mindy's first time behind the wheel, July '80" I didn't know at the time that it would be our last summer together. I am so thankful my dad taught me how to drive. I was 12.
My parents dated 6 weeks and then went to the preacher's house and got married. (Andrew and I dated 6 weeks and then went to Kentucky and got married.) Me and my dad. Mom had wrote "Put it in Gear- Mindy's first time behind the wheel, July '80" I didn't know at the time that it would be our last summer together. I am so thankful my dad taught me how to drive. I was 12. I am so thankful for the family I was born into. I truly wish my dad could have been here for all the wonderful things that ended up happening in my life--especially Robert. Can you tell how much Robert looks like my dad? Believe you me, he acts like him too. I don't believe in reincarnation, but I do believe some of the things that Robert says and does couldn't happen without the hand of God. When Robert was little, my mom would have "Nana" days and then she would have "Grandpa" days, spending the day doing things with Robert that my dad would have done, and making my dad a real person to Robert. Although they never met, I know Robert knew my dad differently than even I did.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Pops!
The NCHS Chorus had done it again! What a fantastic show!
If you didn't have the opportunity to attend last night, you have your last chance tonight, 7 p.m., NCHS Auditorium, $5 at the door.
You won't be disappointed!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Party time!
There is nothing in the world like a houseful of boys! We decided at the beginning of the year, that since there was AWANA and no school, we should do something special--they wanted to come to our house. I have to admit, our house is set up pretty nice for things such as this. Rock Band can be blaring in the family room and Mom and I can keep our sanity and our hearing by being in the living room. We can still hear everything that is going on, we just don't have to sit in the middle of it. I made tacos, upon request. We also had sausage dip and chips. So sorry to Sandra Lee, I didn't pull off any tablescapes but I still thought everything looked really nice.
The best, absolute greatest part for me is that it was a Saturday on a Wednesday, which means if I am careful, my house will still be clean on the real Saturday--giving me an opportunity to be home and do some things I WANT to do instead of HAVE to do. That would be wonderful!
Here is our spread for supper, I started out with three, then the fourth made it. My fifth boy is a picky eater so he ate before he came. It is amazing how much food teenage boys can put away though.
Robert, Garrett and Adam, ready to eat.
Trygve and Adam, playing Rock Band, well, with Adam answering the phone.
Garrett and Robert being the "fans" for Rock Band. Nobody would sing last night!
This is Clayson trying to look mean....I hate to tell him, but it just doesn't work for him. Of course, seconds later I am telling him not to smile and then he really looses it.
The best, absolute greatest part for me is that it was a Saturday on a Wednesday, which means if I am careful, my house will still be clean on the real Saturday--giving me an opportunity to be home and do some things I WANT to do instead of HAVE to do. That would be wonderful!
Here is our spread for supper, I started out with three, then the fourth made it. My fifth boy is a picky eater so he ate before he came. It is amazing how much food teenage boys can put away though.
Robert, Garrett and Adam, ready to eat.
Trygve and Adam, playing Rock Band, well, with Adam answering the phone.
Garrett and Robert being the "fans" for Rock Band. Nobody would sing last night!
This is Clayson trying to look mean....I hate to tell him, but it just doesn't work for him. Of course, seconds later I am telling him not to smile and then he really looses it.Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Say Goodbye to October
October 2009 was probably one of the craziest months so far in my life. For the most part, it was good; I just never imagined my life would be like this. I thank God for every part of my life and the people who are in it. There are times he takes me on a real roller coaster but I feel like I am heading down the path He wants me to be on.
Here a couple more pictures from Lexington. There are lots of horses, of course. These were taken at Kentucky Horse Park. Our hotel touted that it had views of the Red Mile track...Carol and I both had rooms that looked out onto the parking lot. Oh well...
Robert and I went to Effingham last Friday night to price the parts for his exhaust. The sky was so beautiful on the way over I couldn't resist.
Band season 2009 is in the books. There are tons of new trophies in the bandroom as a result. The show was awesome and classy this year. I am sure the kids were sad to see it be over too.
We came home from Oblong with a first in auxillary (Congrats girls, that made it a clean sweep of the year--everywhere we went, auxillary placed first). The rest of the awards from Oblong: Percussion 2nd, Drum Major 2nd, overall 2nd.
Great job Newton Marching Eagles.
Here a couple more pictures from Lexington. There are lots of horses, of course. These were taken at Kentucky Horse Park. Our hotel touted that it had views of the Red Mile track...Carol and I both had rooms that looked out onto the parking lot. Oh well...
Robert and I went to Effingham last Friday night to price the parts for his exhaust. The sky was so beautiful on the way over I couldn't resist.
Band season 2009 is in the books. There are tons of new trophies in the bandroom as a result. The show was awesome and classy this year. I am sure the kids were sad to see it be over too.
We came home from Oblong with a first in auxillary (Congrats girls, that made it a clean sweep of the year--everywhere we went, auxillary placed first). The rest of the awards from Oblong: Percussion 2nd, Drum Major 2nd, overall 2nd.
Great job Newton Marching Eagles.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Browning Family Update
What a week it has been! This one will definately be remembered for a while. It is probably the closest I have ever came to being truly about to have a real comeapart.
We ordered 4 new computers for work, one of them being for our Executive Director, our main boss. Last Monday, after I had put all the programs and settings on it for her, put all of her documents, emails, and email addresses on it. We figured out that we hated the setup. She previously had a 15.4 in laptop and a replicator. We bought a 17 in laptop and a "dynadock". It was a BIG step backwards and I was just sick over the results. Cords everywhere, the dock would not let the laptop screen black out while you were using the monitor and the laptop didn't have a secure port for the monitor, so if you plugged into it, which had to be plugged in on the side, you were constantly accidentally unplugging your monitor. I had a second computer ready to go with all the programs and settings, just not the personal information. The problem was, I had used both computers, they were what I had ordered and the total of all the computers and the dynadocks was well over $5,000. Yesterday, our system provider agreed to take all four of them back and sell us what I wanted in the first place. I know nobody in the building was blaming me--except me. I slept so hard last night it isn't even funny. Of course, it was the first night this week I had slept at all. I am still thanking God for his hand in this. I was not wanting to have to eat two computer systems that nobody liked or wanted.
In the meantime, Andrew's Aunt Ina Lou passed away in Cape Girardeau. We didn't go, she was the only member of the family left in Cape and has had Alzheimer's for several years. This was my mother-in-law's sister and after she passed away, my father-in-law was still in charge of her care. He flew out from Texas to take care of the final arrangements. Robert had actually went to Cape with Bob this summer to check on her, he was the last one in our house to see her. She had a hard life and I know it had been painful on both Bob and Linda watching her in such a state. I am sure Bob feels like she is at peace now.
The bright note of the week: the kid is moving from Baritone to Tuba. He is excited. He loves learning new things. He started with Trumpet, then Baritone and now Tuba. He is trying to talk Mrs. A into teaching him how to play Trombone next year just so he can say he knows how to play every brass instrument.
He is also getting ready for the pops concert- November 12th and 13th. Last night was the last evening band practice of the year and Saturday we travel to Oblong for the last competition.
I believe the highlight of this week has been Tuesday evening. Newton Elementary and Jasper County Jr. High put on a talent show. Wow!! I know I have been an emotional wreck this week but seeing those kids made me want to cry. In a world, where there is so much bad, we are blessed with so much good. We have a LOT of awesome kids in Jasper county-- and to top it off, they can sing and tumble and recite poetry! The performances were amazing but the time that was taken to practice and prepare is what hits home with me.
People who do not believe music programs can change lives have never been in a music program. When you are part of something that is all about performance you learn how to be a part of the team. A field show is only as good as it's weakest member, a talent show, the weakest act. These kids are learning that it's not all about them. It's about what you can do together as a team. Wow, if that isn't a life lesson, I don't know what is. You learn to hold up your end of the deal, you learn that you can't skate by because of who you know, you have to do the work or the spectators will know you didn't. Most importantly, you learn that it doesn't matter how much money you have or who your parents are but it's all about what YOU can do with hard work. I realize now that being in band and chorus taught me that you don't go to work seeing how much the light can shine on you, but how much the light can shine on what you are accomplishing, and it is so much easier to accomplish big things when you have people beside you, wanting to accomplish the same thing. Once in a while, you get someone who wants to run everything, and deep down inside, I know....they weren't taught that being part of a team is far greater than standing alone.
Last night, the girls on facebook were talking about halloween costumes. I went upstairs to look for pictures of Robert in some of his costumes and realized I have a bunch of pictures that are in need of attention. I have scrapbooked the last few years but I have a crate of pictures that I am going to have to sort before they get ruined. Hopefully tonight I will find my pictures but in the meantime I created a BUNCH more work for myself.
Robert has another El Camino project too, last Friday, the muffler fell of the truck. Tonight he is going to Effingham to buy all the stuff for a new exhaust, including a cherry bomb. This should be interesting.
Enough of my ramblings, I am SO ready for this day! Happy Friday everyone!
We ordered 4 new computers for work, one of them being for our Executive Director, our main boss. Last Monday, after I had put all the programs and settings on it for her, put all of her documents, emails, and email addresses on it. We figured out that we hated the setup. She previously had a 15.4 in laptop and a replicator. We bought a 17 in laptop and a "dynadock". It was a BIG step backwards and I was just sick over the results. Cords everywhere, the dock would not let the laptop screen black out while you were using the monitor and the laptop didn't have a secure port for the monitor, so if you plugged into it, which had to be plugged in on the side, you were constantly accidentally unplugging your monitor. I had a second computer ready to go with all the programs and settings, just not the personal information. The problem was, I had used both computers, they were what I had ordered and the total of all the computers and the dynadocks was well over $5,000. Yesterday, our system provider agreed to take all four of them back and sell us what I wanted in the first place. I know nobody in the building was blaming me--except me. I slept so hard last night it isn't even funny. Of course, it was the first night this week I had slept at all. I am still thanking God for his hand in this. I was not wanting to have to eat two computer systems that nobody liked or wanted.
In the meantime, Andrew's Aunt Ina Lou passed away in Cape Girardeau. We didn't go, she was the only member of the family left in Cape and has had Alzheimer's for several years. This was my mother-in-law's sister and after she passed away, my father-in-law was still in charge of her care. He flew out from Texas to take care of the final arrangements. Robert had actually went to Cape with Bob this summer to check on her, he was the last one in our house to see her. She had a hard life and I know it had been painful on both Bob and Linda watching her in such a state. I am sure Bob feels like she is at peace now.
The bright note of the week: the kid is moving from Baritone to Tuba. He is excited. He loves learning new things. He started with Trumpet, then Baritone and now Tuba. He is trying to talk Mrs. A into teaching him how to play Trombone next year just so he can say he knows how to play every brass instrument.
He is also getting ready for the pops concert- November 12th and 13th. Last night was the last evening band practice of the year and Saturday we travel to Oblong for the last competition.
I believe the highlight of this week has been Tuesday evening. Newton Elementary and Jasper County Jr. High put on a talent show. Wow!! I know I have been an emotional wreck this week but seeing those kids made me want to cry. In a world, where there is so much bad, we are blessed with so much good. We have a LOT of awesome kids in Jasper county-- and to top it off, they can sing and tumble and recite poetry! The performances were amazing but the time that was taken to practice and prepare is what hits home with me.
People who do not believe music programs can change lives have never been in a music program. When you are part of something that is all about performance you learn how to be a part of the team. A field show is only as good as it's weakest member, a talent show, the weakest act. These kids are learning that it's not all about them. It's about what you can do together as a team. Wow, if that isn't a life lesson, I don't know what is. You learn to hold up your end of the deal, you learn that you can't skate by because of who you know, you have to do the work or the spectators will know you didn't. Most importantly, you learn that it doesn't matter how much money you have or who your parents are but it's all about what YOU can do with hard work. I realize now that being in band and chorus taught me that you don't go to work seeing how much the light can shine on you, but how much the light can shine on what you are accomplishing, and it is so much easier to accomplish big things when you have people beside you, wanting to accomplish the same thing. Once in a while, you get someone who wants to run everything, and deep down inside, I know....they weren't taught that being part of a team is far greater than standing alone.
Last night, the girls on facebook were talking about halloween costumes. I went upstairs to look for pictures of Robert in some of his costumes and realized I have a bunch of pictures that are in need of attention. I have scrapbooked the last few years but I have a crate of pictures that I am going to have to sort before they get ruined. Hopefully tonight I will find my pictures but in the meantime I created a BUNCH more work for myself.
Robert has another El Camino project too, last Friday, the muffler fell of the truck. Tonight he is going to Effingham to buy all the stuff for a new exhaust, including a cherry bomb. This should be interesting.
Enough of my ramblings, I am SO ready for this day! Happy Friday everyone!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Lexington
Told you I would start taking pictures again!! Second night in Lexington. Things are going well. I wish I had more time to spend with the program and system I am supposed to be learning but I will do what I can. The building to the left in the bottom picture is where are meetings are--the Hilton. There is a series of skywalks between all the buildings downtown. Three of the four buildings actually are upscale--very upscale--shopping malls. I walked them all over lunch hour today. Tomorrow I am going back to the Victorian Shoppes. There was a portrait shoppe there, a lady was actually painting as I walked by. I want to go back and stare tomorrow. Carol and I went to the real mall tonight. Talk about a weird mall! It is the largest mall in KY, I fell sorry for Kentucky! The mall at Champaign would give it a run for it's money-- St. Louis Mills would eat this mall for breakfast. Anyway, a new purse and sweater later and we were back home to our "suitette"-- I call it that because, yes, it is nice, but I think a "real" suite is supposed to be separate rooms, my room is cozy. The tv is on a wall that is half in the living room, half in the bedroom, you turn it to face whichever you are in. It's nice though, and clean and that is a big plus and I have big plans to curl up on the sofa with a cup of fresh brewed decaf and the Jennifer Weiner book I purchased last night. Oh, by the way, back to the mall--you walk THROUGH the middle of Sears to get from one side of the mall to the other.
I will try to take more pictures of the scenery on our way home. The rolling hills of changing trees were beautiful!
I am missing my guys, I honestly thought I would be better this time but Robert was sick when I left and I think that has changed the dynamic. He sounds better tonight, but thinking my baby was sick and I wasn't there tugged at my heartstrings a bit, even when I get "MOM, I think I can take care of myself--it's just a bad cold" Last night, I couldn't get ahold of either one of them --they had both went to bed by 8:00--I had it in my head Robert got deathly sick and Andrew had taken him to the ER. I STILL couldn't get ahold of them this morning, but my mom had to remind me I was an hour ahead and they probably weren't even up. She was right.
Till later,
The Weekend
Those of you that also are my friends on Facebook have already seen these, but I know I have some family members who aren't on facebook, so....The above happened on Friday night. You remember those days, you are supposed to act all mad about this when you are a teen, but hey, the fact that someone took the time.....remember those days? Moms are also supposed to be mad when teepee shows up in your yard, so I did my "it better be picked up by the time I get home". Once again, just glad he has friends.
The Newton Marching Eagles at U of I, they looked SHARP!!
as well as in the parade--Robert is in the center of this row.
Robert and Trygve clowning around in the stands.As I said earlier, it goods to have friends.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Nearing the end....
It's now down to 2, 2 days till will leave for Lexington. My last day of work. I am starting it out at the Newton Sr. Center, installing a printer. Then back up to my office to tie up tons of loose ends. I had planned on getting two new laptops ready for their users by today. They were supposed to be delivered Wednesday. I still haven't seen them. That will have to wait until I get back, actually until the Monday after I get back. I don't want to install their new systems and have something not be tweaked just right and be 270 miles away.
I thought this would clear up a lot of time for today, remarkably it didn't.
Tonight, the mop is getting cut off, I CAN'T WAIT!! It has gotten entirely too long and the only thing that stopped me from getting it cut sooner was time. It is down to the last minute, it HAD to be done before Sunday. I had even debated walking into the shop at Walmart if nothing else. They don't know my hair like Amanda though so the thought was scary but not out of the question.
Tomorrow the kids head to U of I. I truly believe it will be a good day for them. I haven't sat down with all the stats from the other bands yet, but I will. I got such a kick out of Bruce last year. We marched first in our class last year. While we were at the parade, Bruce said if we would have marched later in the class, we would have gotten 2nd, but since we marched first, we were going to get third. He nailed it. I had, by the stats, put us in 2nd. We march 2nd to last in our class this year--that's a great thing!
Oh, somebody asked WHY I am going to Lexington. We are having PACE training. PACE is the accounting software used for the agency, used for a lot of government agencies actually. While I am not an accountant (Thank you Lord, and of course, anyone who knows me is thanking him too, especially if they get paid by ERBA--I am not good with numbers--I like mine in the form of reading reports, not writing them) Anyway, as I was saying, while I am not an accountant, being the IT Coordinator makes it necessary for me to learn all the software used by the agency, so if something breaks, I know how to fix it, or when I can't fix it how to call support and explain accurately what is malfunctioning. Seeing as how I haven't had time to learn to do anything more than install the software, I will not have to worry about confusing what I already know with what I am learning. Thankfully, Carol, who is the other lady going, works with it everyday.
Sidenote--yesterday it took Five, count 'em, FIVE Verizon techs to figure out what was wrong with our wireless card. I kept telling them I felt like they needed to reset something on their end. The first one told me I needed to update software, the second one told me I needed to uninstall the old program after the update (that one didn't make sense and didn't work). The third one said it was MY computer, the fourth one gave me to the fifth one who said, "Let me reset our DMU". It worked. My boss was funny, she said, "When are they going to learn that when you call, it is a problem on their end!". Glad she has so much faith in me! Glad I was right, I had lost a bit of patience after person number 3.
So, here we go, the last 48 or so hours. Have a mentioned yet that I found out last night that the largest shopping mall in Kentucky is in Lexington? We get out at 4 each evening, except Sunday, our meeting Sunday is 4 to 6 and is a meeting, not a dinner or anything fun, I can't believe we are having a meeting on Sunday but oh well.
Happy Friday, y'all. Hope it's great!
BTW, I have committed myself to this being the weekend I return to loving my camera. My posts WILL start having pictures again, SOON!
I thought this would clear up a lot of time for today, remarkably it didn't.
Tonight, the mop is getting cut off, I CAN'T WAIT!! It has gotten entirely too long and the only thing that stopped me from getting it cut sooner was time. It is down to the last minute, it HAD to be done before Sunday. I had even debated walking into the shop at Walmart if nothing else. They don't know my hair like Amanda though so the thought was scary but not out of the question.
Tomorrow the kids head to U of I. I truly believe it will be a good day for them. I haven't sat down with all the stats from the other bands yet, but I will. I got such a kick out of Bruce last year. We marched first in our class last year. While we were at the parade, Bruce said if we would have marched later in the class, we would have gotten 2nd, but since we marched first, we were going to get third. He nailed it. I had, by the stats, put us in 2nd. We march 2nd to last in our class this year--that's a great thing!
Oh, somebody asked WHY I am going to Lexington. We are having PACE training. PACE is the accounting software used for the agency, used for a lot of government agencies actually. While I am not an accountant (Thank you Lord, and of course, anyone who knows me is thanking him too, especially if they get paid by ERBA--I am not good with numbers--I like mine in the form of reading reports, not writing them) Anyway, as I was saying, while I am not an accountant, being the IT Coordinator makes it necessary for me to learn all the software used by the agency, so if something breaks, I know how to fix it, or when I can't fix it how to call support and explain accurately what is malfunctioning. Seeing as how I haven't had time to learn to do anything more than install the software, I will not have to worry about confusing what I already know with what I am learning. Thankfully, Carol, who is the other lady going, works with it everyday.
Sidenote--yesterday it took Five, count 'em, FIVE Verizon techs to figure out what was wrong with our wireless card. I kept telling them I felt like they needed to reset something on their end. The first one told me I needed to update software, the second one told me I needed to uninstall the old program after the update (that one didn't make sense and didn't work). The third one said it was MY computer, the fourth one gave me to the fifth one who said, "Let me reset our DMU". It worked. My boss was funny, she said, "When are they going to learn that when you call, it is a problem on their end!". Glad she has so much faith in me! Glad I was right, I had lost a bit of patience after person number 3.
So, here we go, the last 48 or so hours. Have a mentioned yet that I found out last night that the largest shopping mall in Kentucky is in Lexington? We get out at 4 each evening, except Sunday, our meeting Sunday is 4 to 6 and is a meeting, not a dinner or anything fun, I can't believe we are having a meeting on Sunday but oh well.
Happy Friday, y'all. Hope it's great!
BTW, I have committed myself to this being the weekend I return to loving my camera. My posts WILL start having pictures again, SOON!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Congratulations Robert!
For making the cut to District IMEA in chorus. Looks like we have a concert to go to at Eastern Illinois University on November 21st.
Good job kiddo!
Good job kiddo!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Down to 6
My countdown is going REALLY fast!! I have accomplished so much though and am really proud of where I am starting the week. Last week I installed a total of 10 computers. I have a few "finishing touches" to put on tomorrow but by the time I get home tomorrow evening, that will be completely crossed off the list.
The 2009 band classic is in the books--what a relief!!! I did much better handling the stresses of tabulator this year. I actually haven't lost any sleep over it this time and KNOW it was correct. Eventhough it was cold, the sun shone and we had a successful day. Effingham went well and our kids did amazing. We had a marching judge AND a general effect judge crucify us, don't know why, all the other judges seemed to love us. The end results were 1st place auxiliary, percussion, and music. 2nd place overall for our class. Considering we were against several other bands, it was still a great showing!
This morning Robert heads to IMEA auditions at Effingham. I think he is ready as he is going to be. He has practiced for this and I am proud of him for it. Yesterday afternoon, he went into church where he could use the piano (he doesn't like "pecking out notes" on our electric piano). I wish him all the luck in the world and have seen his voice improve over working on this.
Andrew and I are headed to covered bridge today. I felt a little bad about leaving Robert behind until I realized Robert was feeling a little relieved at being left behind. He plans on going to work at Nana's house when he gets home. I think he thinks he got the better end of the deal so that worked to my advantage.
This week should be a breeze compared to the last couple. No class this week, no ballgame at home this week. Just Awana, a quick choir practice, hopefully a basket bingo Friday night, U of I Saturday and then leave for Lexington at 8 am Sunday morning. I have already positioned myself not to have work hanging over my head while I am gone and I have the world's greatest assistant so I know I don't have to worry about things while I am gone either.
Bring on the final countdown!
The 2009 band classic is in the books--what a relief!!! I did much better handling the stresses of tabulator this year. I actually haven't lost any sleep over it this time and KNOW it was correct. Eventhough it was cold, the sun shone and we had a successful day. Effingham went well and our kids did amazing. We had a marching judge AND a general effect judge crucify us, don't know why, all the other judges seemed to love us. The end results were 1st place auxiliary, percussion, and music. 2nd place overall for our class. Considering we were against several other bands, it was still a great showing!
This morning Robert heads to IMEA auditions at Effingham. I think he is ready as he is going to be. He has practiced for this and I am proud of him for it. Yesterday afternoon, he went into church where he could use the piano (he doesn't like "pecking out notes" on our electric piano). I wish him all the luck in the world and have seen his voice improve over working on this.
Andrew and I are headed to covered bridge today. I felt a little bad about leaving Robert behind until I realized Robert was feeling a little relieved at being left behind. He plans on going to work at Nana's house when he gets home. I think he thinks he got the better end of the deal so that worked to my advantage.
This week should be a breeze compared to the last couple. No class this week, no ballgame at home this week. Just Awana, a quick choir practice, hopefully a basket bingo Friday night, U of I Saturday and then leave for Lexington at 8 am Sunday morning. I have already positioned myself not to have work hanging over my head while I am gone and I have the world's greatest assistant so I know I don't have to worry about things while I am gone either.
Bring on the final countdown!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Yeah for us!!
Yeah #1. The Weatherization building computers are installed and working properly, complete with networked printer and wireless connectivity Two little tweaks to take care of--one I have to run to the Weatherization building in Olney before I can finish, which I am doing today and the other is one last program that needs loaded but I ordered a new disc. When it gets here, that will be about a 20 minute total job. All the hard stuff is done though! And it works!! Which is actually quite amazing even to me. It went way too easy. I think I am just getting to where I know what I am doing without a lot of hassle and that in itself is a big thing.
Yeah #2. My assistant Carrie was in charge of getting all our LIHEAP files ready for audit, which is all next week. She finished yesterday and we are 100% ready! Yeah Carrie! It feels a little weird not being responsible for this myself but I trust her and am excited that she is doing so well!
Yeah #3. I had all SIX of my guys at Awana last night, at the same time!!! SIX 16 &17 year old boys that take the time, one after he gets off work, two after football practice, to come and learn more about what God wants for their lives. I am so impressed by the fact they are there. Then, there is the fact that they are truly wanting to learn. Probably the biggest YEAH of all! I am not opposed to girls, we just don't have any coming right at the moment. So, if you all know any high school girls that want an opportunity to hang around with six very, very nice high school boys for a couple hours on Wednesday evenings, send them to the Hidalgo Townhouse at 6:15!
Yeah #4. On the road today to get 4 of the 6 Sr. Center towers in. If I can get all these computers installed this week, I will have the 4 days next week to actually stay in my office. Which would be great. I stayed late last night to clean. You know how messy your house gets when you are just in and out and throw things everywhere? My office was looking like that too. It's better but I am not 100% caught up. Four days there though and I would be.
My countdown is going well! Tonight I have to knock out everything for my part of the band classic, which I have everything gathered up, just need to sit down and do it-no problem!
Yeah #2. My assistant Carrie was in charge of getting all our LIHEAP files ready for audit, which is all next week. She finished yesterday and we are 100% ready! Yeah Carrie! It feels a little weird not being responsible for this myself but I trust her and am excited that she is doing so well!
Yeah #3. I had all SIX of my guys at Awana last night, at the same time!!! SIX 16 &17 year old boys that take the time, one after he gets off work, two after football practice, to come and learn more about what God wants for their lives. I am so impressed by the fact they are there. Then, there is the fact that they are truly wanting to learn. Probably the biggest YEAH of all! I am not opposed to girls, we just don't have any coming right at the moment. So, if you all know any high school girls that want an opportunity to hang around with six very, very nice high school boys for a couple hours on Wednesday evenings, send them to the Hidalgo Townhouse at 6:15!
Yeah #4. On the road today to get 4 of the 6 Sr. Center towers in. If I can get all these computers installed this week, I will have the 4 days next week to actually stay in my office. Which would be great. I stayed late last night to clean. You know how messy your house gets when you are just in and out and throw things everywhere? My office was looking like that too. It's better but I am not 100% caught up. Four days there though and I would be.
My countdown is going well! Tonight I have to knock out everything for my part of the band classic, which I have everything gathered up, just need to sit down and do it-no problem!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Life
Countdown is now down to day 11. I finished the last class of this session last night, one thing to mark off the list. Today I finish (I hope) getting the systems set up at our new building across the drive. I will take some pictures to post, our new place is pretty impressive. I was having a discussion last night with our Executive Director and our Head Start Director--we definitely have a wonderful work environment. Anyone who would like to see, drop by, let me show you around and see just exactly what all we do.
Tomorrow, I am on the road all day, Olney in the am, Robinson and Oblong in the pm. These will all be "reinstalls"- hoping and praying they all go well or I will have more days of travel and I am really wanting and needing to be in the office all next week. Thursday night is officially designated as "Band Classic" night for me. I hope to have my part all finished by the time I hit my pillow that night.
Robert has had practice all week for IMEA after school, he has also had band practice the last two nights. Needless to say, I haven't seen much of him. Last night, I got home at 8:30, he got home at 9:10. We did at least sit down and watch NCIS together.
On the homefront- I believe I mentioned I fried my computer. I did every diagnostic I knew how to do and kept coming up with the same answer- tons of blocks corrupted in tons of areas. I brought home my last textbook because I thought I might be missing something. Nope, same answer. I couldn't let it go though and loaded it up and took it to work with me. When our guy, Mat, from MASS computers came over, I sent it with him. Bless his heart, he has worked on it for two days. He called Monday evening and said he was done doing what he would do for a normal client, but since it was me, he was going to just let it sit on the diagnostic machine as long as it would run. Yesterday evening, he called and said he had "bad news and good news" the bad news was he still hadn't been able to retrieve anything. The good news was it was still running, which means there is still hope. I am pretty well over it. I realized that I have ALL my pictures backed up, which was the only thing I couldn't replicate. I have set up a new checkbook on Excel and so I am not really even missing the old one. It is never as bad as it first looks when something happens. It just makes me a little aggravated that someone can call and say, "My computer keeps freezing up and I can't even get it to shut down" and I can go figure out what is going on and fix it (that just happened yesterday) and I wasn't able to do anything about mine. As Mat says, when a Hard drive gets corrupted this bad, there is really nothing that can be done.
That's life.. 11 days to driving through the Hoosier National Forrest in the fall, my hotel suite, shopping, a spa night, and oh....yeah....learning new software in the meantime. Funny, I used to really dread trips, and though I will miss my guys, I know they will take care of each other, themselves and if things go as usual, the house.
Tomorrow, I am on the road all day, Olney in the am, Robinson and Oblong in the pm. These will all be "reinstalls"- hoping and praying they all go well or I will have more days of travel and I am really wanting and needing to be in the office all next week. Thursday night is officially designated as "Band Classic" night for me. I hope to have my part all finished by the time I hit my pillow that night.
Robert has had practice all week for IMEA after school, he has also had band practice the last two nights. Needless to say, I haven't seen much of him. Last night, I got home at 8:30, he got home at 9:10. We did at least sit down and watch NCIS together.
On the homefront- I believe I mentioned I fried my computer. I did every diagnostic I knew how to do and kept coming up with the same answer- tons of blocks corrupted in tons of areas. I brought home my last textbook because I thought I might be missing something. Nope, same answer. I couldn't let it go though and loaded it up and took it to work with me. When our guy, Mat, from MASS computers came over, I sent it with him. Bless his heart, he has worked on it for two days. He called Monday evening and said he was done doing what he would do for a normal client, but since it was me, he was going to just let it sit on the diagnostic machine as long as it would run. Yesterday evening, he called and said he had "bad news and good news" the bad news was he still hadn't been able to retrieve anything. The good news was it was still running, which means there is still hope. I am pretty well over it. I realized that I have ALL my pictures backed up, which was the only thing I couldn't replicate. I have set up a new checkbook on Excel and so I am not really even missing the old one. It is never as bad as it first looks when something happens. It just makes me a little aggravated that someone can call and say, "My computer keeps freezing up and I can't even get it to shut down" and I can go figure out what is going on and fix it (that just happened yesterday) and I wasn't able to do anything about mine. As Mat says, when a Hard drive gets corrupted this bad, there is really nothing that can be done.
That's life.. 11 days to driving through the Hoosier National Forrest in the fall, my hotel suite, shopping, a spa night, and oh....yeah....learning new software in the meantime. Funny, I used to really dread trips, and though I will miss my guys, I know they will take care of each other, themselves and if things go as usual, the house.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Happy October!!
I think we could call September a rough month. Seems like nothing went as planned for us. October WILL be better!!
For the moment, Andrew's life is the calmest, but he has inventory the 4th week so it's still not going to be a walk in the park. He also has a couple other irons in the fire that can just cause a little stress.
Robert has 4 band competitions, one exhibition at our own competition, the homecoming parade and two more football games to play at for band.
He has IMEA tryouts for chorus on the 12th. Besides the fact that report cards come home the end of the month, I think that is his October in a nutshell.
I have went around and round with him about a job. Most of his friends are now working a steady job and he thinks he should be too. I really believe, because of the dyslexia, he has to put more effort into keeping his grades up. He has more A's than anything right now and I would like to see it stay that way over the next two years. He works for a few of his farmer friends when he gets the chance and his help is invaluable around here- I couldn't be gone as much as I am if he didn't help out. So, for the moment, he is working when he can for who he can.
I think it is my October that is feeling a bit like warp speed. I am on a now 18 day countdown to get everything done for everybody. The 18th, a coworker and I leave for Lexington KY for a conference on payroll software. This is for a system that is used pretty well exclusively by Government agencies. They are putting us up in an "all suites" hotel, Carol and I each get our own rooms---they may have to drag us out Wednesday when it is time to come home!! To top it off, Carol sells Beauticontrol on the side. They are the ones that come to your house and do spa treatments. She is bringing her spa stuff with her!! See why I have my eye on having everything else out of the way when we leave?
Meanwhile, back to the here and now. I go to Lawrenceville and Bridgeport today to work on Computers, play with the Alumni band tonight at Powder puff. Work in the morning, off at noon to be in the Homecoming Parade, and play with the band tomorrow night. Saturday I plan to get my spring bulbs set out, and go to Robinson to a band competition. Next week, we have a Band Booster meeting on Monday night, my final class on Tuesday, Awana Wednesday, PT Conferences Thursday, my first Keep Warm Illinois Workshop of the year on Friday and the Band Classic Saturday morning, where I do the tabulations for the scores--believe you me that is a scary job to have! That Saturday we go to Effingham. On the 11th, we sing at Simple Blessings in the afternoon. On the 12th, I have the day off and am planning on hitting COVERED BRIDGE!! Yeah!! U of I is that Saturday and that brings us to the 18th. Sometime during the next 18 days, I need to install 11 new computers. 5 of them new installs for our new Weatherization building in Greenup and 6 "re" installs which means I have to pull all the documents, emails and programs off of the old machine and put them on the new ones --these are on computers in Richland, Crawford, and Jasper counties. I don't mind doing this, in fact I love doing everything mentioned above. I was bouncing around the office yesterday just happy about all the new things happening--we are also getting new internet pipe in our office, this will bring in another router and more challenges but I am up for them.
Well, Day 18, here I come!
P.S. While typing this I got an email from Sarah @ Sarahsellz, my new orange and blue purse will be waiting for me when I get home this evening! Thanks again Sarah. I am always the one that misses something the first time and she has to "keep her eye out" to find what I was looking for. I am so excited that she was able to find it.
Thanks again!
Happy October!!
For the moment, Andrew's life is the calmest, but he has inventory the 4th week so it's still not going to be a walk in the park. He also has a couple other irons in the fire that can just cause a little stress.
Robert has 4 band competitions, one exhibition at our own competition, the homecoming parade and two more football games to play at for band.
He has IMEA tryouts for chorus on the 12th. Besides the fact that report cards come home the end of the month, I think that is his October in a nutshell.
I have went around and round with him about a job. Most of his friends are now working a steady job and he thinks he should be too. I really believe, because of the dyslexia, he has to put more effort into keeping his grades up. He has more A's than anything right now and I would like to see it stay that way over the next two years. He works for a few of his farmer friends when he gets the chance and his help is invaluable around here- I couldn't be gone as much as I am if he didn't help out. So, for the moment, he is working when he can for who he can.
I think it is my October that is feeling a bit like warp speed. I am on a now 18 day countdown to get everything done for everybody. The 18th, a coworker and I leave for Lexington KY for a conference on payroll software. This is for a system that is used pretty well exclusively by Government agencies. They are putting us up in an "all suites" hotel, Carol and I each get our own rooms---they may have to drag us out Wednesday when it is time to come home!! To top it off, Carol sells Beauticontrol on the side. They are the ones that come to your house and do spa treatments. She is bringing her spa stuff with her!! See why I have my eye on having everything else out of the way when we leave?
Meanwhile, back to the here and now. I go to Lawrenceville and Bridgeport today to work on Computers, play with the Alumni band tonight at Powder puff. Work in the morning, off at noon to be in the Homecoming Parade, and play with the band tomorrow night. Saturday I plan to get my spring bulbs set out, and go to Robinson to a band competition. Next week, we have a Band Booster meeting on Monday night, my final class on Tuesday, Awana Wednesday, PT Conferences Thursday, my first Keep Warm Illinois Workshop of the year on Friday and the Band Classic Saturday morning, where I do the tabulations for the scores--believe you me that is a scary job to have! That Saturday we go to Effingham. On the 11th, we sing at Simple Blessings in the afternoon. On the 12th, I have the day off and am planning on hitting COVERED BRIDGE!! Yeah!! U of I is that Saturday and that brings us to the 18th. Sometime during the next 18 days, I need to install 11 new computers. 5 of them new installs for our new Weatherization building in Greenup and 6 "re" installs which means I have to pull all the documents, emails and programs off of the old machine and put them on the new ones --these are on computers in Richland, Crawford, and Jasper counties. I don't mind doing this, in fact I love doing everything mentioned above. I was bouncing around the office yesterday just happy about all the new things happening--we are also getting new internet pipe in our office, this will bring in another router and more challenges but I am up for them.
Well, Day 18, here I come!
P.S. While typing this I got an email from Sarah @ Sarahsellz, my new orange and blue purse will be waiting for me when I get home this evening! Thanks again Sarah. I am always the one that misses something the first time and she has to "keep her eye out" to find what I was looking for. I am so excited that she was able to find it.
Thanks again!
Happy October!!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Another week in the books, hope it stays there.
We had a bad week in the Browning house. Robert has had some hard lessons learned this week and I had to fight him on it all the way. Turns out Mom was right and Robert was wrong. Bottom line, Robert is not singing anything in the pops concert- why? Because he worked on a song, then last weekend he screwed his voice up between the football game and the band competition. Wednesday the day he was supposed to try out, he was mad at me and didn't think he was up for it emotionally so he told her he didn't have his CD. Thursday he really DIDN'T have his CD. Then, when what he really wanted to do was to emcee, he didn't work at that either and didn't find someone to do a skit with until the last minute. It didn't fool anybody. Lessons learned. Not easy on Mom, when half of me wants to hug him and tell him I am sorry and half of me wants to say "I tried to tell you". Robert has had this thing with getting things his way even when he shouldn't have. He has FINALLY gotten old enough for people to expect him to earn what he gets and I don't think he is adjusting well. I debated about whether to even put this on the blog, but somewhere down the line, somebody may be running into the same thing, just wanted you to know this "Mom thing" has conflicting days even when the kid is almost grown.
He also went to the oral surgeon on Monday, his Christmas vacation is going to be spent recovering from having his wisdom teeth removed. Mine went from vacation time to sick time, because I don't think being at home with him is going to feel like a vacation. We are all getting wisdom teeth for Christmas. The receptionist handed me the bill, our dental insurance does not have Dr. Jenssen on their network. They want their money the day of the surgery, all $2004 of it. Wonder if we could get matching necklaces made out of the teeth??
To top everything off, I am trying to balance too many things and have had to spend this week admitting it. I am in charge of selling the old uniforms for the band, when we started talking about selling them at the fall festival, I said I thought it was a great idea but I wouldn't have time to take off work on Friday. Thursday morning, we were still looking for workers for Friday (Thank you Vaneta, Michelle and Glenna for filling in the gaps!). I had a list a mile long at work of things that needed done and I knew, I really knew that by Thursday night, I would be in tears. I also knew that my time wouldn't be my own until at least 8:00, so I didn't "have time" for a breakdown until at least 8:00. Shortly after 8:00, I hear the band and yell at Andrew that I thought they were marching down Washington. We took out of the house to go watch and listen. Sure enough, they were getting ready for today's parade. They looked really good. They turned around and went by again. When they were all the way past, they did a roll off and started playing, it was really, really GOOD!!! I love their parade song this year! And that was it, tears started running down my face. Andrew was like, "What is wrong", I said I told you this was going to happen, it just needs out. I just need to cry." By the way, Julie Matson, THANK YOU for telling Andrew last night it just a woman thing! I feel a little less crazy.
So, I am realizing this is not my normal "Life is Wonderful" post and I also know tons of people are going to be reading this and tons more that I don't even know follow the blog. Sorry about the downer, I am secretly hoping that just by putting it down in words, it will all go away.
I went to a book signing of Dave Pelzer's (The Boy Called It) once. Someone asked him how he handled carrying around all that resentment. He told them he had not resented any of it for a long time. He tells his story to let people be aware and to help others. He said something to the effect, "if you carry around all your troubles, it gets to being like going to the bathroom in a bag, then tying the bag around your neck, after a while, nobody wants to be around you because you reek of bad stuff". I am hoping this is now behind us and we can have a great day. So, if you see me uptown today, I hope and pray you see the cheerful, happy me you are all used to.
Happy Saturday!
He also went to the oral surgeon on Monday, his Christmas vacation is going to be spent recovering from having his wisdom teeth removed. Mine went from vacation time to sick time, because I don't think being at home with him is going to feel like a vacation. We are all getting wisdom teeth for Christmas. The receptionist handed me the bill, our dental insurance does not have Dr. Jenssen on their network. They want their money the day of the surgery, all $2004 of it. Wonder if we could get matching necklaces made out of the teeth??
To top everything off, I am trying to balance too many things and have had to spend this week admitting it. I am in charge of selling the old uniforms for the band, when we started talking about selling them at the fall festival, I said I thought it was a great idea but I wouldn't have time to take off work on Friday. Thursday morning, we were still looking for workers for Friday (Thank you Vaneta, Michelle and Glenna for filling in the gaps!). I had a list a mile long at work of things that needed done and I knew, I really knew that by Thursday night, I would be in tears. I also knew that my time wouldn't be my own until at least 8:00, so I didn't "have time" for a breakdown until at least 8:00. Shortly after 8:00, I hear the band and yell at Andrew that I thought they were marching down Washington. We took out of the house to go watch and listen. Sure enough, they were getting ready for today's parade. They looked really good. They turned around and went by again. When they were all the way past, they did a roll off and started playing, it was really, really GOOD!!! I love their parade song this year! And that was it, tears started running down my face. Andrew was like, "What is wrong", I said I told you this was going to happen, it just needs out. I just need to cry." By the way, Julie Matson, THANK YOU for telling Andrew last night it just a woman thing! I feel a little less crazy.
So, I am realizing this is not my normal "Life is Wonderful" post and I also know tons of people are going to be reading this and tons more that I don't even know follow the blog. Sorry about the downer, I am secretly hoping that just by putting it down in words, it will all go away.
I went to a book signing of Dave Pelzer's (The Boy Called It) once. Someone asked him how he handled carrying around all that resentment. He told them he had not resented any of it for a long time. He tells his story to let people be aware and to help others. He said something to the effect, "if you carry around all your troubles, it gets to being like going to the bathroom in a bag, then tying the bag around your neck, after a while, nobody wants to be around you because you reek of bad stuff". I am hoping this is now behind us and we can have a great day. So, if you see me uptown today, I hope and pray you see the cheerful, happy me you are all used to.
Happy Saturday!
Monday, September 14, 2009
Competition Weekend #1
Well, Marching season has offically begun. I am super-excited about the show! Last Saturday we travelled to Belleville and O'fallon. We placed 5th at Belleville, which is fine, the big thing is we outplayed Mater Dei, both times. As in football, there have been times, Mater Dei has been a bit of a thorn in our sides. Mater Dei and Newton were predicted to run for the title in our class for both competitions, Belleville didn't happen. I still don't understand the class set up in Belleville but you know, you always have to have the "very first" time on the field. These two competitions gives the kids that starting point.
The big news of the weekend was O'Fallon-- We placed 2nd!! AND our auxillary won the caption award AND we won the caption award for Best Visual! Okay, here is the secret--the kids still have things to add to the show--lots of things. Effingham is who took us out, We split the caption awards with them and when it came down to it, they were first, we were second. I am looking forward to seeing the scores.
There are a couple of things in this years show that the next time you are at the football game, or at a competition, be sure to notice. First, the kids start performing this year before they ever get on the field: When they get lined up across the back of the football field, Mrs. A. calls Parade Rest; in sequence, starting at the 50 yard line, they all go into parade rest, doing a wave down to the ends, it is cool. The coolest thing though, is when she calls them to attention, they do it in reverse meaning the two people on the ends start it and it always ends with the three snare drummers on the 50. It looks SHARP!
Another thing, there is a point in the opener where they are back marching, they turn around and it is gorgeous. At this point, sometime just shut your eyes and listen to the music. I think at times we get so involved in the show, you don't just enjoy the melody.
I am just really excited and talking to the kids lately, my biggest thrill is they are too. I have especially been impressed with the enthusiasm of some of the freshman. They are enjoying being a part of something bigger than themselves. I'm not going to go off on a whole post of how band teaches you things you can never learn in a regular classroom, but I will say there are reasoning and coping skills I use everyday that comes straight from my young years of learning to become one with 250 other people.
The rest of our weekend was good too. We stayed in O'fallon Saturday night. Plans were to go back to the hotel and swim, somehow, after everyone found the beds, nobody made it down to swim. It was really nice not having a two hour drive home though and I will venture a guess I plan the same thing next year. We went to the zoo yesterday and had a great time. I am in a picture taking funk at the moment. I gave the camera to Robert and he took pictures but nothing of US at the zoo. Oh well, deep down inside that is some physcological thing because I am so far behind on scrapbooking--if I don't have pictures I can't scrapbook, I will have to work on that before I end up regretting it.
Here is the rest of our Marching Season schedule:
September 19th Fall Festival here in Newton-- we stay home the rest of the day!
September 26th Eastern Illinois University--they didn't have this competition last year but Robert's freshman year, we took home Grand Champion!
October 3rd Robinson
October 10th, Newton Classic/ Effingham
October 17th University of Illinois
October 31 Oblong.
The big news of the weekend was O'Fallon-- We placed 2nd!! AND our auxillary won the caption award AND we won the caption award for Best Visual! Okay, here is the secret--the kids still have things to add to the show--lots of things. Effingham is who took us out, We split the caption awards with them and when it came down to it, they were first, we were second. I am looking forward to seeing the scores.
There are a couple of things in this years show that the next time you are at the football game, or at a competition, be sure to notice. First, the kids start performing this year before they ever get on the field: When they get lined up across the back of the football field, Mrs. A. calls Parade Rest; in sequence, starting at the 50 yard line, they all go into parade rest, doing a wave down to the ends, it is cool. The coolest thing though, is when she calls them to attention, they do it in reverse meaning the two people on the ends start it and it always ends with the three snare drummers on the 50. It looks SHARP!
Another thing, there is a point in the opener where they are back marching, they turn around and it is gorgeous. At this point, sometime just shut your eyes and listen to the music. I think at times we get so involved in the show, you don't just enjoy the melody.
I am just really excited and talking to the kids lately, my biggest thrill is they are too. I have especially been impressed with the enthusiasm of some of the freshman. They are enjoying being a part of something bigger than themselves. I'm not going to go off on a whole post of how band teaches you things you can never learn in a regular classroom, but I will say there are reasoning and coping skills I use everyday that comes straight from my young years of learning to become one with 250 other people.
The rest of our weekend was good too. We stayed in O'fallon Saturday night. Plans were to go back to the hotel and swim, somehow, after everyone found the beds, nobody made it down to swim. It was really nice not having a two hour drive home though and I will venture a guess I plan the same thing next year. We went to the zoo yesterday and had a great time. I am in a picture taking funk at the moment. I gave the camera to Robert and he took pictures but nothing of US at the zoo. Oh well, deep down inside that is some physcological thing because I am so far behind on scrapbooking--if I don't have pictures I can't scrapbook, I will have to work on that before I end up regretting it.
Here is the rest of our Marching Season schedule:
September 19th Fall Festival here in Newton-- we stay home the rest of the day!
September 26th Eastern Illinois University--they didn't have this competition last year but Robert's freshman year, we took home Grand Champion!
October 3rd Robinson
October 10th, Newton Classic/ Effingham
October 17th University of Illinois
October 31 Oblong.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Never a Dull Moment
That can certainly be said at our house. I was just trying to put down on paper everything that is going on this week, it's exhausting and exciting, I have to say. A couple of weeks ago, Andrew and I were working on the old band uniforms. For those of you who haven't spent any time at NCHS lately, the downstairs boys bathroom is now storage for the band. It was hot in there and there are little benches outside of the bathrooms now. I sat down on one of those and looked down the hall toward the rec room. I could almost see me, Dani, Tammy, Tina and Valerie sitting on the floor down there, eating our chips and drinking our pop for lunch. Did I have a clue then? I don't think so. You know I honestly thought, because of all the people who had died in my life that I wouldn't live to be 21? I NEVER thought I would get married or have kids, I seriously never even thought that when I was engaged at 21--probably the reason I didn't stay engaged long (on my first date with Andrew--I knew I had been wrong all those years but I never had an inkling until then).
Growing up there was a plaque by our backdoor. "Happiness always thrives on very full and busy lives". Yes, saying you were "bored" at our house was about the same as cussing a blue streak, somehow, it must have soaked in. And when I sit down and really think "Am I happy or am I crazy?" Well, the answer is probably both but I DO know how to say no. I just don't find many things I want to say no about.
Andrew goes back to work tonight, his schedule will be Tuesday-Fridays from now until the first of the year when the restructuring of management schedules happen. We don't know what any of that will bring, but it will be nice to have him home Saturday afternoons and Sunday's for a while, plus Robert will get to spend time with him on Monday nights, that's a good thing too.
Today, I have to work at the Sr. Center here in Newton to get a computer hooked up and going, then I have to run a tower to Tuscola, tonight I have class, which is going well but slowly, I always want to take it at the pace my students can learn.
Tomorrow, I speak to everyone in the office about their computer usage, I hope and pray it is received well. Thursday is Band Boosters, and somehow I have misplaced my agenda from the last meeting, which wouldn't be such a big deal if I weren't supposed to have minutes done Thursday, I have my notes, and Vaneta will save me on the agenda, just makes me mad I've misplaced something!
Tomorrow night we have our planning night for Awana, I am super excited, especially since I have ran into some of my kids and they are ready and excited too.
Tonight and Thursday, Robert has band, Thursday starts auditions for the pops concert too. I am proud of how much he has worked on this, I hope he does as well in front of everyone as he has here at home.
Saturday is the band's first competitions of the year. Bellville and O'fallon. I am encouraging Andrew to try to get off early, the first band starts at Belleville at 10:15, I doubt if we make it but I would like to see as much as possible. This year, Belleville and O'fallon overlap so we won't stay for the awards, which I hate, but I can't feature missing the O'fallon performance. Historically, we have done better at O'fallon than Belleville anyway.
Saturday night, we are staying over in O'fallon and spending a family day together, either at the zoo or the science center, depending on the weather. I am still kicking myself because we didn't get a real vacation in this summer but a day away will be good.
That's our week in a nutshell, I am either very happy, or very crazy, but as I said earlier, it's probably both--have a great week!
Growing up there was a plaque by our backdoor. "Happiness always thrives on very full and busy lives". Yes, saying you were "bored" at our house was about the same as cussing a blue streak, somehow, it must have soaked in. And when I sit down and really think "Am I happy or am I crazy?" Well, the answer is probably both but I DO know how to say no. I just don't find many things I want to say no about.
Andrew goes back to work tonight, his schedule will be Tuesday-Fridays from now until the first of the year when the restructuring of management schedules happen. We don't know what any of that will bring, but it will be nice to have him home Saturday afternoons and Sunday's for a while, plus Robert will get to spend time with him on Monday nights, that's a good thing too.
Today, I have to work at the Sr. Center here in Newton to get a computer hooked up and going, then I have to run a tower to Tuscola, tonight I have class, which is going well but slowly, I always want to take it at the pace my students can learn.
Tomorrow, I speak to everyone in the office about their computer usage, I hope and pray it is received well. Thursday is Band Boosters, and somehow I have misplaced my agenda from the last meeting, which wouldn't be such a big deal if I weren't supposed to have minutes done Thursday, I have my notes, and Vaneta will save me on the agenda, just makes me mad I've misplaced something!
Tomorrow night we have our planning night for Awana, I am super excited, especially since I have ran into some of my kids and they are ready and excited too.
Tonight and Thursday, Robert has band, Thursday starts auditions for the pops concert too. I am proud of how much he has worked on this, I hope he does as well in front of everyone as he has here at home.
Saturday is the band's first competitions of the year. Bellville and O'fallon. I am encouraging Andrew to try to get off early, the first band starts at Belleville at 10:15, I doubt if we make it but I would like to see as much as possible. This year, Belleville and O'fallon overlap so we won't stay for the awards, which I hate, but I can't feature missing the O'fallon performance. Historically, we have done better at O'fallon than Belleville anyway.
Saturday night, we are staying over in O'fallon and spending a family day together, either at the zoo or the science center, depending on the weather. I am still kicking myself because we didn't get a real vacation in this summer but a day away will be good.
That's our week in a nutshell, I am either very happy, or very crazy, but as I said earlier, it's probably both--have a great week!
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Our Weekend Getaway
If you are on facebook, you have probably seen many more pictures of our weekend from my sister's perspective. Most of the pictures I am posting are actually "Robert"s perspective". I will be excited when he gets his own camera! His granddad has promised him his professional grade 35mm. Robert has already figured out that he is going to need to set up and learn to use a darkroom!
The fly in on Saturday morning
The fly in on Saturday morning
One of the balloon setting up Saturday evening
Railsplitter Wind Farm
These each stand 300 ft tall
Sis had this same picture, the windmill is several 100 yards
behind the farmhouse.
My van is at the base, it's so small you can't see it.
Now you can at least see the van, but I am about 1/4th
of the way down the lane.
this is Phenious Fairhead, at the Postville 1800's craft fair. He was telling us Robert's abilties. He also admitted that
his practice was mainly one of quackery.
Imagine how exciting it was to see a '77 El Camino in the car show.Robert's has a way to go, but he will get there!
This is a regular El Camino, Robert's is a Classic, which is why it
is the two-tone.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Our "Runaway" Day
I didn't take pictures-- right off the bat, just sayin' I didn't get it done. Don't know why, I just didn't. Somethings I wish I would have now, but I didn't so oh well.
Andrew and I had decided to head north to Arcola yesterday. We had the top off the jeep and it was just a beautiful day for it. We made it to Arcola about 10:30 and visited the Amish Interpretive Center. It was a nice little "museum" of Amish life. We watched an 18 minute video that we both had to laugh about. It was almost like it was slanted toward "You really want to be Amish", it would talk about their lifestyle as calm, peaceful and loving; then it would make comments like "When you pass the rolling land of horses grazing and haystacks, clothes on the line and buggies, and get back to field after field of corn and beans, you will know you have reentered your hectic world" Anyway, it was interesting. We ate lunch at the Dutch Kitchen. Andrew had homemade Amish sausage and was very impressed. I had baked steak with mushrooms, it was very good as well. The apple butter was excellent.
We then made our way out to Rockome Gardens. As a kid, we would take off and go up there at least once a summer. I loved this place. It always had this calm, serene, "other worldly" feeling. I always loved walking through the well kept gardens, watching the little model railraod that was so big it was outside, going through the Amish house, seeing the horses.....all just stuff to help you slow down and settle in for some relaxation.
Well......first off, apparently the economy has hit Rockome hard. We deposited $8 a piece and went out the door. The first gardens we went to was pathetic. I don't think anyone had actually watered the flowers all summer, instead of lavish cockscomb, begonias, marigolds, and cannies, there would be a plant, tons of dry, cracked soil, then another plant, more soil, then some weeds. I was very sad but decided it must be a bad year and went on, there was this poor looking blue spruce in the middle of the garden, it was in such bad shape it reminded me of what Charlie Brown's Christmas tree would have looked like had it been allowed to grow to 15 feet.
We went to see the Amish house---Closed. The bottle houses are completely gone and when we got to the viewing area for the little model train, the weeds had grown up in the tracks so bad that you could hardly see the tracks and it was very clear the little train hadn't ran for a long time. Remember the rock shop? The only thing it is open for is to get to the hayloft and the lookout. All the rocks are gone and it is basically being used for storage.
On a "brighter" note. There was one building that seemed to be kept up very well. the ARCADE!!!! This was about the final straw for me. Video games and pool tables in the middle of Rockome Gardens. ARGH!!!
We walked on down to the end, when I was a kid, you could go to the little shops and women would be making beeswax candles and lye soap that you could buy. Now, there was sidewalk sales with most of the junk saying "made in China". The stables told where all the horses lived, but there was no sign of horses. It was time to leave. It was too depressing. We were there 20 minutes. I said I wished I had nerve enough to ask for our money back, Andrew said he did. As we walked in the door of the gift shop, I said "be nice" and he said "let's just forget asking, I'm afraid I wouldn't be nice". So we left, poorer in many ways.
We drove through the countryside, enjoying seeing the Amish houses and gardens (I at least got to see some beautiful gardens on the drive). We ended up at Tuscola, stopping and getting a coke and a tea and heading home. At least we had fun in the jeep and being together.
I always want to "fix" things when I see them going downhill. I think Arcola is a bit far away to "fix" Rockome Gardens for me. I guess it is a sign of our times. I still believe it is sad.
Andrew and I had decided to head north to Arcola yesterday. We had the top off the jeep and it was just a beautiful day for it. We made it to Arcola about 10:30 and visited the Amish Interpretive Center. It was a nice little "museum" of Amish life. We watched an 18 minute video that we both had to laugh about. It was almost like it was slanted toward "You really want to be Amish", it would talk about their lifestyle as calm, peaceful and loving; then it would make comments like "When you pass the rolling land of horses grazing and haystacks, clothes on the line and buggies, and get back to field after field of corn and beans, you will know you have reentered your hectic world" Anyway, it was interesting. We ate lunch at the Dutch Kitchen. Andrew had homemade Amish sausage and was very impressed. I had baked steak with mushrooms, it was very good as well. The apple butter was excellent.
We then made our way out to Rockome Gardens. As a kid, we would take off and go up there at least once a summer. I loved this place. It always had this calm, serene, "other worldly" feeling. I always loved walking through the well kept gardens, watching the little model railraod that was so big it was outside, going through the Amish house, seeing the horses.....all just stuff to help you slow down and settle in for some relaxation.
Well......first off, apparently the economy has hit Rockome hard. We deposited $8 a piece and went out the door. The first gardens we went to was pathetic. I don't think anyone had actually watered the flowers all summer, instead of lavish cockscomb, begonias, marigolds, and cannies, there would be a plant, tons of dry, cracked soil, then another plant, more soil, then some weeds. I was very sad but decided it must be a bad year and went on, there was this poor looking blue spruce in the middle of the garden, it was in such bad shape it reminded me of what Charlie Brown's Christmas tree would have looked like had it been allowed to grow to 15 feet.
We went to see the Amish house---Closed. The bottle houses are completely gone and when we got to the viewing area for the little model train, the weeds had grown up in the tracks so bad that you could hardly see the tracks and it was very clear the little train hadn't ran for a long time. Remember the rock shop? The only thing it is open for is to get to the hayloft and the lookout. All the rocks are gone and it is basically being used for storage.
On a "brighter" note. There was one building that seemed to be kept up very well. the ARCADE!!!! This was about the final straw for me. Video games and pool tables in the middle of Rockome Gardens. ARGH!!!
We walked on down to the end, when I was a kid, you could go to the little shops and women would be making beeswax candles and lye soap that you could buy. Now, there was sidewalk sales with most of the junk saying "made in China". The stables told where all the horses lived, but there was no sign of horses. It was time to leave. It was too depressing. We were there 20 minutes. I said I wished I had nerve enough to ask for our money back, Andrew said he did. As we walked in the door of the gift shop, I said "be nice" and he said "let's just forget asking, I'm afraid I wouldn't be nice". So we left, poorer in many ways.
We drove through the countryside, enjoying seeing the Amish houses and gardens (I at least got to see some beautiful gardens on the drive). We ended up at Tuscola, stopping and getting a coke and a tea and heading home. At least we had fun in the jeep and being together.
I always want to "fix" things when I see them going downhill. I think Arcola is a bit far away to "fix" Rockome Gardens for me. I guess it is a sign of our times. I still believe it is sad.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
What a Tuesday!
Yesterday was one of those crazy but typical Browning days. I had to go to Springfield, Andrew had to have a series of shots in his back and Robert had a dentist appointment. I thought, of all those, Andrew's shots would be the most eventful....turns out that was wrong.
I am sitting in my meeting at Springfield and get this text
"I have to have my wisdom teeth cut out"
Really??? He's 17! I HONESTLY thought he was joking since it was the first time he had went to the dentist by himself.
Next text:
"Yes, really"
Okay, I was just totally unprepared for that one and now that it has sunk in, it is fine but it did throw me for a loop. Of course, overprotective isn't even the word you can use for me when it comes to Robert. I was just sick because I know him, things like this kinda put him in a panic.
I didn't get home until about 8:30 last night, he got home at 9, walked in the door, white as a sheet and his dad said "What's wrong" and he said, "I think I swallowed fluoride at the dentist, I have been sick at my stomach ever since I left there. I puked at band this evening." and I said I thought it was nerves and he said he believed that was probably the real reason so we talked about it. His worries: being put out, missing band and missing the pops concert. I pretty well put his mind at ease about the last two. We will get in to do the consultation but I really imagine I can talk a doctor into doing this either over Thanksgiving or Christmas vacation. The teeth aren't through yet. His biggest thing about being put out was that he was afraid he would still feel. The surgeon we are going to is the same one that pulled a couple of my wisdom teeth a few years ago and I assured Robert he is very good.
To top it off, I have to say I am REALLY thankful to Walmart for having good dental and health insurance. Andrew's shots yesterday will start out costing us between $1600 and $2000. By the time our part comes around, it will be down to between $150 and $200. A small price to pay for the relief it brings. I don't even want to think about how much Robert's will cost initially, but I know the insurance will pay a bunch and it will be doable.
Usually, it is my trip to Springfield (and the subsequent shopping) that cost the household the most in a day. I had a per diam check for supper and gas, and actually spent less than $40 the whole day. So it was me that was the cheap one (last week's trip to Springfield was a different story, but I'm just talking about yesterday :-) ).
Anyway, I think by the time we hit the hay, I had gotten used to the fact my baby boy is going to be put under and have stitches in his mouth, Andrew had about 15 needle pricks in his back and though he says there is a lot of pressure from all the "stuff" they put in, his back isn't hurting and Robert seemed to have been relieved of most of his fears.
Life is an adventure.......
I am sitting in my meeting at Springfield and get this text
"I have to have my wisdom teeth cut out"
Really??? He's 17! I HONESTLY thought he was joking since it was the first time he had went to the dentist by himself.
Next text:
"Yes, really"
Okay, I was just totally unprepared for that one and now that it has sunk in, it is fine but it did throw me for a loop. Of course, overprotective isn't even the word you can use for me when it comes to Robert. I was just sick because I know him, things like this kinda put him in a panic.
I didn't get home until about 8:30 last night, he got home at 9, walked in the door, white as a sheet and his dad said "What's wrong" and he said, "I think I swallowed fluoride at the dentist, I have been sick at my stomach ever since I left there. I puked at band this evening." and I said I thought it was nerves and he said he believed that was probably the real reason so we talked about it. His worries: being put out, missing band and missing the pops concert. I pretty well put his mind at ease about the last two. We will get in to do the consultation but I really imagine I can talk a doctor into doing this either over Thanksgiving or Christmas vacation. The teeth aren't through yet. His biggest thing about being put out was that he was afraid he would still feel. The surgeon we are going to is the same one that pulled a couple of my wisdom teeth a few years ago and I assured Robert he is very good.
To top it off, I have to say I am REALLY thankful to Walmart for having good dental and health insurance. Andrew's shots yesterday will start out costing us between $1600 and $2000. By the time our part comes around, it will be down to between $150 and $200. A small price to pay for the relief it brings. I don't even want to think about how much Robert's will cost initially, but I know the insurance will pay a bunch and it will be doable.
Usually, it is my trip to Springfield (and the subsequent shopping) that cost the household the most in a day. I had a per diam check for supper and gas, and actually spent less than $40 the whole day. So it was me that was the cheap one (last week's trip to Springfield was a different story, but I'm just talking about yesterday :-) ).
Anyway, I think by the time we hit the hay, I had gotten used to the fact my baby boy is going to be put under and have stitches in his mouth, Andrew had about 15 needle pricks in his back and though he says there is a lot of pressure from all the "stuff" they put in, his back isn't hurting and Robert seemed to have been relieved of most of his fears.
Life is an adventure.......
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Happy 17th Robert!
Yesterday, my baby boy officially turned 17. It still doesn't seem possible.
He had a pretty great birthday and was totally shocked he actually had presents to open ON his birthday. There have been several birthday presents over the summer--a new windsheild, personalized tags, a leather coat, and so on and so forth. I couldn't let him have a birthday without a few presents though so he got a clock he had been wanting for his room ( neon, how cool is that?), a shirt, dishes for the basement, some CD's and a CD case for his truck and floor mats.
Nana bought his stereo for his truck, which actually was put in a couple of weeks ago. She also thought he needed something "ON" his birthday so he got another $10 which he used to buy a cable to hook his mp3 player to his stereo. Grandpa sent him money and he purchased several things for his truck, a steering wheel cover, vinyl top conditioner and a sticky pad were some of them.
He thinks he had a pretty good birthday, I do too, except for the fact that it was his 17th......
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Happy Birthday to my blog!
It's official, I have been blogging for a year last Thursday. If you are reading this on FB, you have probably realized by now that my blog feeds into my fb account. I may change that soon, sometimes I just want my blog to be on my blog, but for now, I don't have time to mess with that, so it stays.
My first blog was of Robert's first day of his Sophomore year, Here is his first day of his Junior year.
I think he has changed a little over the last year......
Somehow, over the past year, my little boy has become a man. Not easy to take.
Tomorrow he turns 17, where did the time go?
Monday, August 17, 2009
Turning 42
I don't believe I have ever had a single birthday that went exactly as I figured it would go. Yesterday was no exception. Saturday, Robert and I had planned to go to work for probably 3 hours while a new system was installed on one of the servers. We were then heading to Tuscola, where I would pick myself out something and call it my birthday from the guys. Well, at 5:30, when the people left work, Robert and I decided we weren't in the mood to drive to Tuscola, rush around and get our shopping done before the stores closed so we came home.
Even though I was going to buy the present myself, I was still feeling a bit dejected that I didn't get a birthday present for my birthday and I can't really say that I didn't. Mom had given me money a couple of weeks ago to get myself something in St. Louis and I bought a beautiful sweater set, my camera batteries are dead, pictures will have to come later.
Yesterday morning, Andrew came home, I was downstairs ironing a shirt for Robert. Robert had gotten me a really great card, and Andrew was bringing me his card. This was the normal routine. I brought Robert's shirt up and opened my bedroom door though and there on the bed was a gift bag! Okay????
When I opened the gift bag, Andrew had bought me this beautiful green cultured pearl necklace and earring set! It was gorgeous and so something I wouldn't have spent the money on myself!! Green is my favorite color and so I have tons of clothes green goes well with. Bottom line..Andrew did good!! I will have pictures of the necklace and earrings before the weeks out too.
The rest of my day was pretty nice, Mom and Robert took me out for lunch, a few of us from church went to Simple Blessings and sang and then church last night. All in all, just a great day that I really expected to be a bit of a bummer.
Except for the fact that I think most of the time I feel more like 24 than 42, I ended out having a pretty great birthday. (And Robert reminded me that I still need to buy myself something from him!- not bad at all)
Even though I was going to buy the present myself, I was still feeling a bit dejected that I didn't get a birthday present for my birthday and I can't really say that I didn't. Mom had given me money a couple of weeks ago to get myself something in St. Louis and I bought a beautiful sweater set, my camera batteries are dead, pictures will have to come later.
Yesterday morning, Andrew came home, I was downstairs ironing a shirt for Robert. Robert had gotten me a really great card, and Andrew was bringing me his card. This was the normal routine. I brought Robert's shirt up and opened my bedroom door though and there on the bed was a gift bag! Okay????
When I opened the gift bag, Andrew had bought me this beautiful green cultured pearl necklace and earring set! It was gorgeous and so something I wouldn't have spent the money on myself!! Green is my favorite color and so I have tons of clothes green goes well with. Bottom line..Andrew did good!! I will have pictures of the necklace and earrings before the weeks out too.
The rest of my day was pretty nice, Mom and Robert took me out for lunch, a few of us from church went to Simple Blessings and sang and then church last night. All in all, just a great day that I really expected to be a bit of a bummer.
Except for the fact that I think most of the time I feel more like 24 than 42, I ended out having a pretty great birthday. (And Robert reminded me that I still need to buy myself something from him!- not bad at all)
Monday, August 10, 2009
Points to Ponder
I wasn't going to put this in my blog post about our shopping day because it is a bit of a downer for me. I can't stop thinking about it though. Something happened Saturday that broke a piece of my heart.
Robert and I went to Wilson's Leather to look at coats. There was a young man working there, he couldn't have been over 20. He was helping Robert with the coats. Robert and I were joking around with each other in our usual fashion. The boy said it was so great that we had that kind of relationship. He hadn't seen or heard from his parents in a year and a half.
He was raised Amish. When he decided to not live their lifestyle, they discommunicated him. To them, he is dead. I don't get this. I'm trying very hard not to be judgemental and I know you see this happen on tv shows but really?? I can't understand. I have been told and believe it to be true that there is no pain greater than loosing a child. I miscarried Robert's twin in the very early stages of my pregnancy. I never met this child, but am sure there will come a day when I will and I still have feelings about it. I couldn't live with myself knowing Robert was out there in the world and I truly didn't know if he were literally dead or alive.
The boy didn't dwell on it, he just made a statement and then went on about how much fun our day sounded.
I kept thinking about the peanut butter in Sarah's post. All the things that aren't tainted by society in the Amish world. I know these people goals are to live closer to God and maybe they have maintained the lifestyle all these years by being just that rigid but I keep thinking about the fact that God loved us with unconditional love and I believe whether we are living for him or not, he knows where we are. I also believe it is true that if we haven't chosen Christ as our Savior that we can't communicate with him but at the same time, there is never a time he doesn't know where we are and what we are doing.
I'm not meaning to start any quarrels and I am seriously not judging their lifestyle because yes, there are things I see them do that I know I would be better off if I lived closer to that ritual but this "if you don't live exactly as I live, I don't ever want to see you again" thing just blows my mind.
Robert, I am openly telling you, I love you, I think you are great and I love the decisions you have made with your life so far. If you ever start making decisions that I don't like, I WILL tell you about it, you know that but I will NEVER turn my back on you, no matter what. I promise.
Robert and I went to Wilson's Leather to look at coats. There was a young man working there, he couldn't have been over 20. He was helping Robert with the coats. Robert and I were joking around with each other in our usual fashion. The boy said it was so great that we had that kind of relationship. He hadn't seen or heard from his parents in a year and a half.
He was raised Amish. When he decided to not live their lifestyle, they discommunicated him. To them, he is dead. I don't get this. I'm trying very hard not to be judgemental and I know you see this happen on tv shows but really?? I can't understand. I have been told and believe it to be true that there is no pain greater than loosing a child. I miscarried Robert's twin in the very early stages of my pregnancy. I never met this child, but am sure there will come a day when I will and I still have feelings about it. I couldn't live with myself knowing Robert was out there in the world and I truly didn't know if he were literally dead or alive.
The boy didn't dwell on it, he just made a statement and then went on about how much fun our day sounded.
I kept thinking about the peanut butter in Sarah's post. All the things that aren't tainted by society in the Amish world. I know these people goals are to live closer to God and maybe they have maintained the lifestyle all these years by being just that rigid but I keep thinking about the fact that God loved us with unconditional love and I believe whether we are living for him or not, he knows where we are. I also believe it is true that if we haven't chosen Christ as our Savior that we can't communicate with him but at the same time, there is never a time he doesn't know where we are and what we are doing.
I'm not meaning to start any quarrels and I am seriously not judging their lifestyle because yes, there are things I see them do that I know I would be better off if I lived closer to that ritual but this "if you don't live exactly as I live, I don't ever want to see you again" thing just blows my mind.
Robert, I am openly telling you, I love you, I think you are great and I love the decisions you have made with your life so far. If you ever start making decisions that I don't like, I WILL tell you about it, you know that but I will NEVER turn my back on you, no matter what. I promise.
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