So Long January; Hello February and other Miscellaneous Stuff

Yay - January has FINALLY ended! Don't you feel like that month goes on and on and on and . . . on!!! We are so happy to get it over and done with. Welcome to lovely short-month February!

Maddie and I decided to try and take back some of the joy that covid stole from us during most of 2020. So, we joined a gym again. We had given up our membership up when the pandemic started and most places had to close here. The one we're going to is nice and has great cleaning protocols plus it's fairly quiet. Yes, I am the old lady that does not like noisy, crowded gyms with music blasting and millenials running from machine to machine and room to room for their workouts. At one gym, I was nearly knocked over a couple times. I swear I was the oldest person there. Now, I'm definitely NOT the oldest. Anywho, M and I like to use the treadmill, elliptical and bicycle at the gym. She is definitely the Youngest person to go there and she is happy to excerise and listen to something on her headphones or watch one of the tvs. We are both feeling better from the exercise. Of course, we had planned to walk outside, but the cold and snow and cold and more snow prevented us from doing so. I wish I was one of those people who exercise outside, all year long, but no, we are weather wimps!

And, what do you do when you don't like the family photos? We had some scheduled for outside in July and then October and November and our photographer cancelled each time. So, we found someone else. She was very nice, but . . . not fans of the photos. Maddie and Connor were also there, but they didn't like them either and will be mad if they find out I posted any. But seriously, look at me and my turkey neck. Couldn't the photographer have suggesed I put my chin down or something to minimize that gobble gobble look??? I guess we can all get a laugh out of those. Wish I would have thought of My Big Greek Wedding and how the older ladies stood together and pulled each other's necks back! Do you remember that? Brilliant!! I do like my cute jaunty hat and have made a big note to myself -- wear more turtlenecks!! And really, does anyone want to see old folks like us kissing??? I don't think so.

On another note, I must get back to work. Yes, I am still working in Rickster's office. It's ok, but let's just say I enjoy my part-time seasonal gift wrap job more! Happy February!

Happy New Year and Happy Snow DAYS!

Hello friends! Happy New Year! One of my goals is to update the blog more - and I'm getting a bit of a late start to that! Hope you all had a great New Year's and are looking forward to good things this 2021! I know I am looking forward with bright, hopeful eyes. But, I do have that little thought sneaking in that even though 2020 was not the best year, 2021 will probably have it's own challenges!

Anywho -- the latest here in Nebraska is the incredible snowstorm we just had and are trying to work through! Oh my word - over 15 inches! We haven't had this much snow all at once since 1965! And guess what, I remember that one because it was a blizzard! My twin sister and I walked to school (yes, it was a mile away and mostly uphill). A kid in our class yelled out the door at us that we were stupid to go to school. My twin yelled back - "you're the stupid one!" Well, we got to Mass and school was called off after Mass. The happy news was that we were allowed to ride the school bus home -- not to our door -- home was a half-mile home from the dropoff - but better than having to walk all that way.

So, we've spent a lot of time the last few days digging out. We have the best neighbors -- everyone on the block pitched in to help others. I usually do scoop our front walk and the neighbors when we have a couple inches, but that 15 inches was so heavy there was no way I could get that done. And, I had to shovel paths in the yard for Frannie! She doesn't seem to mind the snow -- she's a dog that pretty much loves everything. And Rickster still has a cast on his hand/arm from his Christmas surgery, but he was able to the snowblower going to finish our driveway. Guess what -- today we woke up to another couple of inches of snow! I believe I am definitely ready for spring now! Sending good wishes from snowy Nebraska!

Frannie and the Snow!

After some wonderful, wonderful warm days last week (60 degrees plus) -- we are now back to more normal winter weather -- snow and 5 degrees! However, there is almost always a bright side -- having Frannie run around in the snow and wear herself out!

A tired dog is a good dog! I think this dog will be a puppy for many, many years! She hates wearing a sweater -- heck, she hates wearing a collar and putting on a leash for a walk! However, she kind of loved the snow.

Run Frannie Run -- her ears are flying behind her -- not sure how Maddie got this photo -- probably had a cookie (treat) for her.

Hope your December is going well. Are you like me and breathing a little sign of relief that the election is over and the vaccine is being distributed. Next year -- all good things coming up - right!!

Friday Memories - Mom Fails

Hello Friends -- it's time once again for another installment of my "Here's What I've Been Thinking About" series - this one about Mom Fails! For your viewing enjoyment (and mine) - here are some photos that are from this same time of year (Thanksgiving) from 2008 on to 2014 (i think). Photos have nothing to do with text -- I know, I'm weird that way.

1. Killing the stinking gecko . . . by accident! My sons had the stinkiest gecko when they were growing up that somehow fell to me for care for most of the time. I did draw the line at hand feeding it live crickets, so they did that, but the yucky crickets lived in the refrigerator next to the milk. GROSS! One bright, sunny warm spring day, I figured the gecko would LOVE to be outside in the sun. After all, I had to buy a warm rock for it to sit on in the house, so a bright sunny day sounded perfect. So, I put it on a little table on a deck in its glass container. The deck was black and I suppose reflected the sun back up into its glass home. Guess what was a crispy critter when we got home from work!! Yep -- that disgusting gecko! It looked worse than an extra crispy burned piece of bacon. Bye bye stinky gecko. Truly was an accidental killing as I figured that geckos like the heat in Arizona, why wouldn't it enjoy it on my porch in a glass container on a black deck???

2. Fireworks! Aren't there always fireworks incidents/accidents with kids? Who could forget the time that I allowed them to have some fireworks when I was at work. Who knew they would chase each other around with a lit punk and a paper bag full of fireworks with 2 neighbor boys?? You can guess where this is going, can't you? Of course, the punk lit something in the bag and loads of fireworks exploded in advance of July 4th - burning a hole through a table umbrella AND a huge burn mark on the patio table! I dreaded the 4th of July for many reasons after that year!

3. Magnifying Glass Incident. So proud the year one of the instructors at the tennis shack called me and Rickster over to say the boys had started a fire! WHAT??? Well, they were doing an experiment to see if using a magnifying glass with the sun focused on old dead leaves would result in a fire -- yep it did. It was quickly put out - but my face stayed red for a long time!

4. Sending kid to doctor on his own. You know how there is so much talk now about adulting and having your kids learn to be adults and do things on their own??? Guess I started early as my oldest was probably 12 or 13. We did not live far from the doctor's office and I had to work. I instructed him to ride his bicycle and go on his own and show them the rash on his legs. I figured they'd give him some lotion or creme and that would be it. Nope -- they got some needles out, dug in and cut into the abrasions on his legs! Who knew?? He rode home for the doc with his legs bleeding. BAD mom!

5. Ear Issues. Another one for the oldest. He had loads of ear infections and problems with his ears when he was young. After finally feeling like his ears were in good shape, I didn't want him getting a lot of water in them when he was swimming one summer. Every time he went swimming, I'd put some drying drops in each ear. Lo and behold, he complained his ears hurt. Took him to the pediatrician who said --"I don't know what's going on, but his eardrums are so dry, they are about to burst!!!!!!!!!" Oooops! Oh dear -- another fail! I threw those drying drops away and never admitted they might have contributed to the dry eardrums . . . until now!

FYI - That's my little sister Amy in that photo with a couple of her coworkers. We both went to parties that weekend (hers in Florida; mine in Nebraska) and I think she may have had more fun then me! :) Wasn't that a fun trip down memory lane? :) Have a good weekend!

It's Election Day - Let's Focus on Something Else!

Oh my word - are you like me and so ready for the election to be done and over with??? Yes! I'm not sure it will be over with after tomorrow, but I hope the constant focus will shift. Let's relax, breathe in and take in the beauty around us - isn't this flower gorgeous!

Just in case you need something else to look at and read about -- I've been wanting to tell you about Maddie's photography. She took up photography a few years ago after she got a little weary of me taking her pictures! So, she's been taking some friend photos, some senior photos, engagement photos and family photos! The family ones are probably the trickiest as there are so many people to focus on, have looking at the camera and eyes open. I, myself, have irritated photographers over the years with closing my eyes when everyone else looks perfect. This was a favorite photo shoot of Maddie's during the summer with Kamree and horse Tommy! Oh my word -- aren't they so pretty together!

One of Maddie's very good friends, Mia, never takes a bad picture. That girl is so pretty and SO sweet! I wish the pandemic was over and would allow the girls to get together more. They both are going to Southeast Community College, but in different classes, so don't see each other much. The college experience with the pandemic is a bit sad if you ask me. No sock hops (I kind of doubt there were sock hops anyway), but no get-togethers like bonfires, hayrack rides, etc. It's a different time. But let's think positive and get through this together. As my son says, we can do hard things!

Taking photos is not as easy as it looks. And she works so hard at editing and making the photos and the people in them look so good. She's also enjoyed taking photos of blooming trees and flowers. At first, she pooh-poohed my suggestion at flowers, but then later decided she liked those too. And flowers are not required to smile or keep eyes open! Anywho, I wanted to show you a few she's taken this year. My good friend's daughter was in town from Denver and asked Maddie to do some engagement photos! It was a very hot day, but they turned out sooooooo good. Best wishes to the happy couple who rescheduled their wedding from June 2020 to June 2021. Isn't she so beautiful! He looks good too, of course, but she is stunning!

The Big Red Jeep Had a Big Red Wreck

Oh no -- the big red jeep had a bit of a wreck recently! No one was injured and no one was even in the jeep. Some lowlife creep hit the front end of the jeep when it was in a parking lot -- somewhere. I didn't notice it at first! I took it in for some brake work and asked the mechanic about it and he said -- "hey lady -- it was hit - probably by some big truck or something!" Poor, poor jeep! The front grill and passenger side front light were all broken and something inside too - obviously, I have a lot of knowledge about vehicles! :)

Luckily, I still have my collision insurance for it and insurance did agree that it could be repaired and I could just pay the $1,000 deductible. So, it now feels like a new Big Red Jeep -- well, new with almost 125,000 miles. It's a 2005 and I've had it since 2005, though I didn't buy it new. I'm not sure why Jeep discontinued the Liberty style as I think it is the best looking jeep they've ever had and it is the best vehicle we've had for driving in the snow. I'm now being very careful where I park! Last week I even took a photo of a big truck that was near the jeep just in case!! Here it is . . . the new and improved Big Red Jeep!

Riding With the Top Down

 

Riding with the Top Down

Mr. Tennis a/k/a the Rickster has a convertible!  

Yes, he bought it a number of years ago without consulting me -- generally his MO when buying vehicles.  

One year, he and two salesmen showed up at the house -- he had bought an old used pickup and needed to get a check!!  Yes, I was surprised! I didn't know he was in the market for a small pickup! 

 It was a great little pickup and everyone in our neighborhood borrowed it to get mulch for their yard each spring.  

Sadly, most who borrowed it brought it back with the gas tank empty. 

One neighbor even told him when he brought it back that it needed gas!  

Hey, thanks dude and you're welcome!  :0 

Walt (age 9) and Rickster

Anyway, I digress - back to the convertible.  

As you might guess, it has a limited season of use and it's 2020 time is nearly up as the temps get cooler. 

 So, he decided to take each of the Little Grands for outings the last two weekends,

 except the baby - she's only 1-1/2.

Jane (now 10) was first and somehow missed the photo op!

Harry (age 7) and Rickster

They had so much fun riding in the convertible with him.  

They each went to some different places including to the zoo, to see a horse and each got lunch or a candy bar!  Those were 4 very successful outings with Poppa and they were only gone for 2 hours.

They are all requesting repeats already.

Dorothy (age 4) and Rickster

  He also gave each one some foreign currency!  

One received Canadian dollars; one got some Filipino cash, one some Chinese Yuan and

 Dorothy got some money from the Bahamas -- 

probably none of it worth more than $1 -- but very, very cool!  

I'm not sure what the next adventures with Poppa will be next time.

Of course, we're now having a warmup in temps so riding

with the top down can continue for a couple more weeks!