here is your recovered post, Mom....

I wrote a lovely little reply to all your questions but it didn't want to publish! I will try again:

10 years ago I was right here and working as "artist in residence" in craft shop.

5 things I did yesterday: smoked, ate, napped, read, made my bed!, and computer time.

Favorite snacks: cookies, anything chocolate.

If I had a billion dollars I would give it all to charity! (just kidding). Give some to charity, and then provide elegant living quarters for my whole family! Think I would replace my 20 year old Volvo too.

Bad habits: as you all know, I am a perfect person! (does smoking count?)

I have lived in California, New Jersey, Virginia, Spain, and Saudi Arabia.

Gosh - 5 jobs, eh? Is idle rich a job? Oh well, my favorite job was admin. assist. at a college - loved that job!

Dad is working in the computer room today - he is also driving me CRAZZZZZZZY! He has the ceiling fixed and is going to paint it. questions he asks (over and over): what color do you want the ceiling?, what color do you want the walls? where did the paint go? have you seen my brush? did I leave the roller downstairs? where's fritz?

meme

hi all -- glad to hear everyone is settled in and cleaned up! I would love to see your place Catherine - perhaps during one of my runaway weeks this summer! I look forward to a day at the beach and hanging with everyone. I hate moving, but, well -- that's a lie. I actually get the urge to move a lot....this house is the longest I have ever stayed anywhere! Consequently, there is no cleaning out of junk, and so I have a ton. I really will get it all organized. Really. This weekend was a wash- I like to think I accomplished something, but I really didn't do much - nursemaid to sore and whiny Scott (I could write a whole blog on his issues, but I'll spare you all), did some household chores, and started to settle in the screened porch- but it has been cold! In the 30's most of the time. So I have accomplished lots of computer games, the papers, a magazine, a quiche (best ever! I modified the recipe slightly so I'll tell you later mom) and two decent movies (Death at a Funeral, and Two Days in Paris - foreign films). I have also done some obsessive reading of blogs - watch for a big announcement coming soon on blogging. Here is a meme ( A meme (pronounced /miːm or mɛm/) consists of any unit of cultural information, such as a practice or idea, that gets transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another. Examples include thoughts, ideas, theories, practices, habits, songs, dances and moods and terms such as race, culture, and ethnicity. for everyone to do (and by everyone, I mean Marianne, Nancy, Jane, Zsuzsi, and Mom at least) Also - everyone make sure they have April 12th scheduled for girls night out!!!!!!!!!!!!

1.) What was I doing 10 years ago?

2.) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order)

3.) Snacks I enjoy

4.) Things I would do if I were a billionaire.

5.) Three of my bad habits

6.) 5 places I have lived

7.) 5 Jobs I have had:

***<>****

1.) What was I doing 10 years ago? March 1998 - I was very depressed and remember dating several different weird guys - and then swearing off dating - the "last" internet guy I agreed to date with reluctance came along in June - guess who he was. I was teaching 4th grade at Winding Creek, Katie was in 3rd grade and didn't like her teacher much (she WAS a bitch -the teacher). I had one dog and only two cats then.

2.) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order)

laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning, nursemaiding (don't ask what they are tomorrow - that list is 15 billion lines long)

3.) Snacks I enjoy
cheese, cookies, Stacy's Pita Chips (no fat!) in the garlic parmesan flavor, Wasa crackers, Triscuit Rosemary and Olive Oil flavor
4.) Things I would do if I were a billionaire.

Make sure Katie's college was paid for

build several beautiful homes on a sort of compound for all of us

see everything in the world except antarctica and the arctic circle

5.) Three of my bad habits
hair pulling
not putting away laundry
not making my bed

6.) 5 places I have lived
california
carmel valley, monterey, salinas, pacific grove, ft. ord
connecticut
torrington, winsted, riverton
virginia
va beach, farmville, fredericksburg

7.) 5 Jobs I have had:

archivist, exhibit coordinator, curator, secretary, collections agent

Hey Jane-I'm glad you guys got all moved in ok. Since you're home you should come by and see the apartment. I know you must be tired so if you're not feeling up to it..no biggie. Give us a call when you want to come by. I just cleaned the whole place really good and am working on all the laundry so it will be nice and clean for you to see.

love,
catherine

We are moved in and out

Well we have gotten all the stuff over here and out of the old house...I don't think I many more moves left in me! Joey and Jamie did help and awful lot...I couldn't have finished without them.
This house needs lots of work too....now I and just trying to put things away.

Catherine I am glad your dad is doing well!

Mark is on the road, he's in NJ right now, he's outta smokes and needs a cup of coffee. I told him he should bring the coffee pot.

this is going to be very short as my fingers are too sore to do much.

luv you guys
jane

TGIF!

Finally, it is Friday. I have another field trip today - yippee. It is supposed to rain, but we have to go anyway, they will test the water and catch macroinvertebrates anyway.
Our new porch is finished - minus the stain/paint/electricity. It is awesome!!! The cats are all out there now exploring. Scott has his kidney procedure today, and he is nervous, I hope it will all be ok.

Have a nice day everyone, I know you're all jealous that you can't go catch macroinvertebrates in the rain, but I am the lucky one today.

It's Wednesday and beautiful and sunny. Spent the morning outside raking and mulching. Will head on out again in a little while. this is my favorite time of year. Every day there are new surprises in the garden - perennials I had forgotten about are emerging from their winter rest - sometimes it takes me a while to remember what each little plant is.

I am posting here again because I want to relate a "funny" story about Dad. I have been cleaning the computer room and trying to eliminate some of the junk your father has squirreled away over the years. I mean, who needs 8 2006 calendars??? I have been dumping all this stuff into the wastepaper basket and he kept asking me if he should dump it. I kept telling him "no" - not wanting him to see what I had discarded. He finally just grabbed it and took it out by the garbage cans. I watched him search thru the trash and retrieve pieces and stuff them into his pockets. ROFLMAO. You know if I ever ask him to do anything resembling housework he might say yes but then not do it or conveniently forget. Years ago he would go thru the garbage and retrieve useless stuff until I learned to camouflage it with coffee grinds, egg shells, or bacon grease. Guess I'll have to resort to that practice again.

Sandi has suddenly decided that she needs to spend the night on our bed! I know she's got arthritis so I am reluctant to make her move - but can't she remember she has her choice of 2 sofas? Not to mention padded carpets and extra beds! She sleeps crosswise at the foot of the bed which makes Fritz sleep up near us. Sandi will snarl at him if he gets too close to her. Thank heavens for king'size beds.

Okay - back to the garden.

Hi everyone! Glad to hear the good news about your Dad, Catherine. Hope he continues to do well and remain pain free.

We had a nice Easter weekend with Ellen and Scott. Katie didn't come - didn't have $$$ for gasoline. Ellen made an Indian dish Saturday night - Vindaloo - which was very nice. Sunday was baked ham, etc. Hope Jane got all moved and glad Nancy and boys were able to help her so much.

I plan to spend all week trying to get my garden in shape. Yesterday we had rain/snow - no accumulation, it was kind of weird. It was rather warm for snow, and the flakes were gigantic. We did trot around town - copied IRS forms and got them mailed.

Saturday morning Ellen and I wandered thru the new Lowe's here. They had gotten in their spring flower shipment - lots of annuals in full bloom. I resisted buying - I know they will not survive these cold nights and people will be sorely disappointed. I did get 3 very nice gardenia plants - they were not very expensive - and fertilizer, grass seed, etc.

Sandi went to the groomer on Friday so she looks a lot better. She was pretty worn out when she came home and Fritz was VERY interested in sniffing her- lol and she was NOT very tolerant. She is pretty even-tempered so all she did was snarl at him. When Max arrived he too was very interested. Sandi and Fritz are both exhausted and slept practically around the clock since Max left. Today I expect they will be back to normal.

The television in our bedroom has "crapped out." Anyone got any advice on a new one? Will wait til we get our income tax refund, but am looking for the cheapest place.

Okay everyone - have fun today - over and out.

Mom

update

Well, dad is doing good, surgery went well and all. He was in the ICU-stepdown unit floor for a couple days and then they moved him upstairs to a regular room. He is unhooked from everything and gets to eat real food and drink juice and water. They still have a prescription in for pain medicine every 6 hours..only if he needs it. He gets up and takes walks during the day but it tires him out real fast and he lays back down for a while. The doctors say that he might get to come home tomorrow. I hope so but I don't want them to send him home too early because last time they did that he ended up back in the hospital the same day with an infection. So he'd rather they keep him until they are sure he won't have to come back. His doctor said that the hospital is the worst place to try and rest to get better and that once a patient goes home they can really start to recover and get some good rest. I think he his just scared that something else is going to end up going wrong. My mom said that it seemed like everytime he took a step forward he took two steps back. I hope this is it. Thank you everyone for all your prayers and concerns, it means a lot to all of us, especially my dad. He asked me to thank all of you.

Well Ellen, you are right about spring break.. it was over waaay too fast. I had spring break not last week but the week before. It was the fastest week out of the semester. I cannot wait until summer time. Taking away school for those few months makes so much of a difference. It just seems like I have so much more time to get things done and not so much to worry about. But there isn't one second of one day that I wish I could just go to school and live off my parents. I don't think I would be able to live like that.

Well sorry I haven't posted anything in a while. I'll let you guys know how things go with dad coming home and all.

I hope everyone had a Happy Easter!

love,
catherine

spring break *snap* over

and in a flash it's gone......and I accomplished very little, except perhaps a break. Now, I hit the dog days of teaching these days. Testing season begins. No days off until summer.

We had a relaxing weekend at mom and dad's - thank you -- and we headed home only to fight most of the way about "The Truck" which I thought (dummy me) was a closed subject. We walked in to a cat house, literally, and spent a few hours making it slightly more human. I wrote my lesson plans, have planned m6 wardrobe for tomorrow as well as my lunch, so now I just have to finish goofing around on the web (mom; you must get high speed) and then off to bed - hopefully minus insomnia and then tomorrow a new world begins.

They start building my porch tomorrow. I moved as many things out of the way that I could in the dark, but need to go yank out periwinkle in the morning.

Well, every one needs to post more.... bye for now from fredtown (oh - I am going to a gathering of people who read this blog: www.iambossy.com on tuesday!!)

Ellen

Happy Easter

Hi there -the Easter Bunny came to our house last nite - the boys are happy campers this morning. Bruti seems to speak his piece alot these days. He barks and wines when he is in his little pen for no amount of time - he knows it drives us nutty. So we end up letting him out to roam - but we have to watch him like a hawk. Bruti will still make he mark - even if he just went outside.

The boys helped Jane and Mark move stuff into the new place. And, I played chef - made a huge brunch - lunch (more like it) of all breakfast stuff. Then made Spagetti for dinner. It was also very nice yesterdy. Today it's nice too...but colderrrrr. Today i will make a little turkey and ham (for Jamie) at Jane's.

Ok, i'm now off to see if i can play literati -i couldn't yesterday - something wrong w/their website i think. And, to see if i won any $$$ for lotto---cross your fingers.

Mom, Ellen, Marrianne, Cathernine ---you need to blogggggg!!!

moving in!!! and out.....

the power was finally turned on last night, power company was there earlier in the day, but the breakers were on, so they couldn't turn power on.
This place is a mess now. We also had a screw up with uhaul...just costed us time and money!
We have a big day moving.

Hey Cat- How is your dad?

have a great weekend everyone
luv
jane

We're home!

We finally made it home. We still have a load, Mark just left to see if he can get unloaded, the appointment is at 8:00 am this morning. He trying to get unloaded early because he has his appointment at MDV at 8:30 am.

Lots to do today. Pick up keys to new house, get rental truck, move!
luv ya jane

Catherine - thinking of you today. Will check with Jane tonite.

I just listened to Barrack Obama's speech and all I can say is WOW! He put into words feelings that I have had for years, but didn't have the vocabulary to express! Very impressive and now that Hillary has loused up her campaign, I would not be disappointed at all if she lost the nomination.

NOW ONTO TO BOOKS!

Top 5 authors: Elizabeth George, Ruth Rendell, Peter Robinson, (can't remember any others, these are the 3 that I always buy. If Rohinton Mistry comes out with another one I'll be first in line.

The last book I faked reading was Moby Dick in 8th grade. Haven't read it to this day and probably never will. Uh - I should say NEVER will.

I'm always telling people to read The Power of One, but no one has taken me up on it.

The only book I ever bought for the cover was "The Beans of Maine" - cover was better than the text, but it wasn't bad.

Don't recall any book that has changed my life, but the more I read, the more I want to read.

Frankly my dear I don't give a damn is all i can remember right now.

I have reread Rohinton Mistry's A Fine Balance and would love to be reading it for the first time.

On my nightstand is Extremely Close and Incredibly Loud by Johathan Safron Foer. He wrote Everything is Illuminated - saw the movie (which I liked) but never read the book. It was recommended by our Katie. Sammy Davis Junior Junior! lol

As a child I read Ann of Green Gables - my mother, an orphan with red hair was raised by her aunt, gave me the book to read and I thought for a long time the book was about her.

And then there was Elsie Dinsmore - a real tear jerker! All the Nancy Drew books, Honebunch, and Rebecca of Sunnybrook farm.

My mother was a great believer in mustard plasters and would always read Ferdinan the Bull to me while I had to lay still. I remember that book extremely well - lots of mustard plasters!

A friend of the family, a very old lady who must have been a librarian or school teacher, recommended lots of books to me - I remember best Kon-Tiki and Sacajewa. She was a lovely lady and I wish I had known her better. She was Amelia Earheart's aunt.

hey mom I have been trying to VOTE 4 U

Just a quick update, nothing as deep as all that jazz about reading books!!!
We have left Alobama, and are to NC, we should be there around 2:30 today, and home tomorrow.

Cat, give us a call to let us know how he is doing. I know he is going to do great.

Adam has left for the US Army this morning. He is going to Richmond today and will leave for Ft. Leonard Wood tomorrow.

I will be reading an Ann Rule book very soon!
luv you guys
jane

see more crazy cat pics

books, again!

I have very bad insomnia, for which I will be seeking help this week, in the mean time - after I have counted backwards and paced the house, I finally started reading a new book (having finished the one mom wants next). I also went to the author's website (inspectorbanks.com) and found a transcript of an interview done with him and loved the questions. I 'd love to see your answers, too. Go to the website for Peter Robinson's answers.
On your nightstand now:

Favorite book when you were a child:

Your top five authors:

Book you've faked reading:

Book you are an evangelist for:

Book you've bought for the cover:

Book that changed your life:

Favorite line from a book:

Book you have re-read:

Book you most want to read again for the first time:

On your nightstand now: a large basket of books with Special Topics in Calamity Physics at the front.

Favorite book when you were a child: Depending on the age, I loved Nancy Drew, and also the Honeybunch series. Still have my original "Where the Wild Things Are"

Your top five authors:
John Cheever, Ursula Hegi, Ruth Rendell....Peter Robinson (right now)....even Jennifer Weiner.

Book you've faked reading: lots and lots - In a Plantation Household comes to mind - but I read some of it, and Old Man and the Sea....ugh, I could smell the fish just reading that.

Book you are an evangelist for: Stones from the River, also Suite Francais lately.

Book you've bought for the cover: None - except maybe coffee table books on sale - JFK book that I have right now.

Book that changed your life: This is a tough one, I have read many that I remember and that touched my life, but changed? Stones from the River, Suite Francais, Cold Mountain, Grapes of Wrath, She's Come Undone, The Joy of Cooking, The Almanac of American History (Schlessinger).


Favorite line from a book:
I wish I could remember one - besides, "I'll be there. Wherever there's a cop, beating up a guy, I'll be there. I'll be in the way a kid laughs when he's hungry and knows supper is ready. I'll be there." (Grapes of Wrath).

Book you have re-read:
Stones from the River, Grapes of Wrath, Cold Mountain, all of John Cheever's books at least twice.

Book you most want to read again for the first time:

don't know

Hmmmmmmmmm! We seem to have an escapee from SNL! Let's see, could it be Nancy? Naw - she be sleepin at that time. Could it be Jane, naw, that trailer be rockin long about time for SNL. Could it be Mama? Not unless she be startin her day early again. GOT IT! Must be baby sistah - she be the one who always watches SNL! If the bitch and the black dude don't cut out their squabblin, ol man McCain will be in, and we be in big trouble.

I just hope it's Clinton or Obama

We are still in Montgomery AlObama, and no white people here except us!
We are wondering now if usx will get us home by the 19th.......we will have to wait and see I guess.

I will update when we know where we are going next.
luv
jane

well...

BITCH may be the new BLACK, but black is the next PRESIDENT ya'll.

Catherine - please convey to your Dad our very best wishes for successful surgery and a speedy recovery. We will all be saying prayers for him and your whole family. And, be sure to let us know how it all goes.

Hey Ellen ---Mom isn't the only Hillary lover out there...I hope she wins the primary elections---and thanks for posting the Hillary banner!!!

aahhhmmmmmmmmm

This toots is learning how to change things......and i realllllllly want to add Hillary, but i haven't figure that out yet!!

somebody

has figured out how to add polls and change font colors......and it ain't me.

ellen

hmmmmmm.........

Here's one for all you people who think Jamie is the best...

The other day after i came home from work --Jamie begged me to try a jelly bean. He wouldn't leave me alone until i gave in...well...mr smarty pants gave me the most nasty tasting jelly been created. I took half a bite and had to spit it out it was that bad...."rotten egg jelly bean" is the flavor....ugh.....ewww....don't eat it.

And Catherine ---give your dad a kiss for luck w/his surgery. I think Jane has it right - he will have the luck of the irish w/him --along w/all the wee little fellows...we will all be keeping your family in our thoughts and prayers.

I meant 4th grade when I learned to read

Cat...tell your dad he'll have the luck of the Irish for his surgury! and be back to normal soon.

Well we are headed towards Alabama, it's about 800 miles from here where we are in IL=La Salle.

It's early morning...still dark out and very hard to type. I make a lot of mistakes.
We are rolling down the Interstate to Bolingbrook IL to get loaded then head to AL.

We found another site called: ripoffreport.com there are some reports about usexpress, and also alot of other trucking companies.

Everyone have a great day

jane

Well, dad decided to go ahead and get his permanent colostomy. He goes into the hospital on th 17th and has surgery the 18th. He will be in there for about a week to 10 days. Hopefully after this there will be no more hospital stays, surgeries, problems, pain, discomfort, or anything of that nature. I can't wait to see him back to his old self. He said thank you to everyone for asking about him and praying for him, it means a lot to him, me and my mom.

love,
catherine

Jane got the years right. I well remember being at the Recovery Center with Dad, standing at the end of a long hall, when Jane and family emerged from the elevator. Bobby saw me there and came running to me and I will always remember the sight of this beautiful blond child in a blue romper and white shoes running towards me with a big smile. It was in March and Bobby had just learned to walk!

As thankful as I was that Dad was getting sober, I used to get very angry with him while he was in recovery. He would call me at work and demand that I bring him all sorts of things on my lunch hour. Upon arriving I would always find him laying on his bed, never had a thank you for bringing the stuff, and, in fact, was usually mean to me. I would think how nice it would be to lounge around in bed and have someone bring me stuff. Guess I was pretty self-centered then, but I was recovering myself from years of being co-alcholic.

Well, it's been a long time sober now - and Ellen is correct in thinking Dad wouldn't be here with us if he were still drinking. Thank God for miracles!

More garden work today - hope it's not too windy - supposed to be in the 70's.

hola

I think Jane means she figured it all out about dad when she was in 4th grade -- Not that he started recovery then. I do have a lot of thoughts about the drinking years and the recovery center. Mostly, my thoughts are happy ones, I mean our memories are our memories, and with time they sort of dull. I loved the parties and the fun, but didn't love, in fact hated, the times when mom and I paced and worried about drunk driving....well, a certain drunk driving. I think that was the worst part. I love it when dad says he got a miracle, because I know for certain that is exactly what it must have been, and before it came, I couldn't have even imagined it. I am glad he got his miracle, because I am also certain he wouldn't be alive today if he was still drinking. He would have missed: Marianne, Katie, Joey, Jamie, Adam&Eric, all of us ditching lousy first husbands, my college degree, Jaida, Christian, and all the traveling and fun that he and mom have had so far. Another thing I think of is that Mark B., most of the grandkids and Scott don't really know the old dad - so to them, he is a different person. Oh well, enough deep thoughts.

In other developing news: I will not be having a mid-life baby......woo hooo!!! I mean, I love babies and all...but I'm not the best mother around, and so well, it would be a hard thing to do at this point when I am planning my retirement. I am considering going on the pill - but I guess this is too much information for the internet world -- if I thought there would be....a lot of baby-making-sessions I would, but since I know that aint gonna happen....no need!

Scott has been ill - pancreatitis. I hope this will convince him to eat healthier and come to the gym with me. His aunt had a heart attack followed by two strokes at his uncle's funeral this week. Both in their 50's~!!! His dad has already had a bypass and he is in his 60's and his mother.....well, anyway. In the mean time, I'm getting more insurance on his fat ass.

Two more teaching days until spring break. Whew! Then it's cram in everything I can before the SOL test, and then babysit until June something!!!!!!!!!!! I plan on being an annoying house guest this summer -- who wants me?????

ttyl!!!

Ellen

Dad's anniversary.........i remember

I remember when Dad went into the recovery unit. I remember William and i driving accross the country w/the three tractor cabs to deliver to Spartansburg SC...mom told me about it on the phone...So Jane you couldn't have been in the 4th grade- but i think you are right about Bobby being about 10mths old. I think William and i had been married just a few yrs --living in Fresno. HAPPY ANIVERSARY........

dad's anniversary

I think dad's anniversary is going to be 26 years because dad was in the recovery center when Bobby was 10 months old, he was born in 1981 and will turn 27 this May.

Well I am not sure exactly how old I was .... but I know how it felt when I figured it out, when it all clicked, and we lived in Carmel Valley, it may have been 4th grade.

For regrets.. I am sure I have lots, like not finishing my education - and I have had some opportunities to do so ...now I really don't want too.
I regret being stupid with money when we had it....I even knew it at the time, but I must say if we could undo it all ... and do it again...would probably do the same thing.I guess it would be...I regret that Mark and I spent money foolishly at times.

I can't believe I have a son that's 30! I hope I gave him enough hugs...probably not enough spankings. lol

oh ya ...we are leaving OH today..horrray!!!! I believe there were at least 6k accidents.
We are only going 165 miles to IL..and we will be there at 1pm today.We will see where we go from there.
luv to everyone
jane

I remember so well the first time I ever laid eyes on Michael - he wasn't even a day old yet. I was at the nursery window, the nurse, holding a baby, was walking from basinet to basinet looking for baby Norge. She finally looked down at the baby she was carrying - about the ugliest baby i had ever seen - caucasian but with GREY kinky hair - long and skinny - and I am thinking if she says that's baby Norge I will abolutely die!!!! Well, it wasn't him (thank goodness) - and when she finally located him I realized he was the most gorgeous baby there! All of my grandchildren were beautiful babies - I remember seeing each of them shortly after birth. The first time I saw Christian he was two weeks old and so tiny I was scared to hold him. It always comes as a shock to see how small new babies are.

Yes, Ellen, Dad has an anniversary this month - March 14th - 27 years!

Dirty Thirty.....

Ok, that is the only thing I can think of to rhyme with thirty. I can't freakin believe that little Mikey is 30. I remember very well when he was born - I was still back in CA-- mom had flown out to VA and Jane had been in labor for like a week. When we finally got the call with the news that it was a boy, he was 20 pounds or something like that, we were relieved. Then we didnt' get to see pictures until mom came back to CA and then they were only polaroids. I didnt' really get to see him until he was 6 months old, and he was huge! We actually (Nancy and I) fought over holding him. He loved to play and laugh and didnt' mind us changing his outfits several times a day.

I also think that around this time Dad is celebrating a birthday - is it 20 years?

I am almost over my cold, but am about to have cramps, so my mood is crappy. Cramps - hooray!!!

There is a post I am thinking of about regrets. Because, regrets, I've got a few. The one that is haunting me tonight is regretting I didn't kiss and hug my little girl a whole bunch more than I did.

Oh, and don't tell me about Bruti being a fraidy cat, my dog is afraid of an extension cord laying on the floor. Oh, and the floor itself.

ta ta for now, Ellen

Oh come now Jane!!! Surely you learned to read before 5th grade!! I was reading your compositions at parent conferences by that time!

I heard that there were more than 6,000 accidents in Ohio over the weekend!

Happy Birthday Michael!

Nancy - when people want to pet Bruti, have them hold their hand out first for him to smell - then he will be more apt to let them pet him. When we put Fritz on the leash he strains so much, that he ends up choking - then Dad yells at me, then I get pissed at dad - lol. Give Bruti more water at home so he doesn't drink out of the puddles so much. Glad that you had a nice long walk - do it a lot!

I hate this daylight savings time - woke up this morning at 3 A.M.! Of course I hadn't changed any clocks so it was really 2 A.M. I will have to work hard to stay awake tonite until a decent bedtime hour. I have a fear of falling asleep at 7 and starting my days at midnight!

My garden is a wreck! All these nights down into the 20's are killing all the tender new shoots that are coming up. Last week I saw peonies but they've probably been killed back now.

Jane - I hope you are out of the snow!

Kisses all around
Mom

GEEZ I CAN'[T REMEMBER!!

I can't remember either the first or the last book I read.....I really did learn how to read until about the 5th grade..then things started to make sense..I just faked it.

We are still in Ohio, doing Dollar General, we hate it..lot of work on our parts...mainly Mark..anyway we will windup in Zanesville.

When we got to Walmart in Grove City, there we 5 trucks stuck in the snow...we stayed there over night, we were lucky and didn't get stuck. Then we were at the usxpress terminal in Medway Oh - there were a bunch of trucks stuck there too..seems like us could have gotten them out...I really don't understand that. We were told I71 was level 3 conditions, if you get stuck there is a $1500 fine. We didn't know until we were off that highway. Roads here we very bad yesterday and the day before, today they are ok.

I slipped and fell in the parking lot of a TA truck stop, I only got dented, I couldn't get up because Mark was trying to pull me and I couldn't stop laughing...I did finally make it back on my feet.

Anywho..It's Michael's 30th birthday today..he was born at 1:49 pm...I will try and call him again to wish him a happy bday.
talk to yall soon
luv
jane

Brrrrr, when is spring going to spring up??

Hi guys,

Mom---i don't blog b/c i read everyone else's blogs. I guess i feel that my life stories aren't as exciting as everyone else's...

I took the boys to the "arena races" Saturday nite. It's little stock cars and top speeds are about 50mph. The drivers do 50 laps, and then lead car wins. The boys love it, although Joey said it wasn't as exciting this time as the last time - more wrecks last time. There are a lot of children who go to this event. The good thing - it's cheaper than a movie -$5bucks for kids.

Then yesterday, Jamie and i went to Mt. Trashmore. We took Bruti with us. I did a "brisk" walk mom. We walked for over a mile. I learned a interesting thing about Bruti--he doesn't care if he walks thru puddles, or drinks the standing water. The park had lots of puddles, and standing water. I watched him charge right thru the water as though there was no water. And, if he had a chance to stop and suck it up he did...also he's a friady cat...if others try to pet him...no way..he runs. Except for a young teen ager that was very mentally challenged---Bruti must have sense it because he went right up to her.

ok, it's monday,.........ughhhhhhhhhhh work

Talked to Jane last night - they were in Ohio driving through a blizzard. She said there were more than 600 wrecks in Ohio! It seems that Ohio has run out of salt so the highway was just awful. I stayed on the phone with here until they reached their destination. The weather channel shows that today will be sunny and warmer for them. We had pretty scary winds and it is very, very cold.

And, it sure would be nice to see some more picturess of our little Christian and hear about some of his exploits!!!!!!!!!!

Oh boy! Books- right up my alley.

I will never forget my first book - Dick and Jane - What elses?!? It was the very first day of first grade and I ran home for lunch yelling I CAN READ? My great aunt who was visiting flung the New York Times newspaper at me saying "oh yeah - read that!" Took the wind out of my sails. Nevertheless, from that time on I have devoured books.

Yesterday I finished "People of the Book" by Geraldine Brooks - very interesting, and started the Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown - more "brain candy." I read "the Senator's Wife" earlier in the week - fluff but interesting - but the last few pages made me want to sling that book against a wall!

Sandi had to have surgery yesterday - she has some sort of growth on her tongue - Vet won't give us an opinion as to what it is other then to say he doesn't like the looks of it. We have to wait for the biopsy. She also had a lipoma (benign tumor) removed from her shoulder so she's kind of out of it today. Fritz is VERY interested in her incision so it's kind of a battle to keep him away. We weren't supposed to let Sandi have anything but a little water last night - but the poor old gal stood next to kitchen table drooling while we ate. Now when she wakes up she can have some breakfast.

Nancy - how come you never post? Jane - where are you? Catherine - keep us informed about your Dad.

first and last

What was the first book you read all by yourself?

what was the last book you read?



My answers:

1. Where the Wild Things Are, but it may have been The Little Engine That Could, or Ukelele and her New Doll (now a collector's item which I found for sale for $175!! and I had the record, too!). In any case, I loved all three books immensely.

2. Cold is the Grave by Peter Robinson. Still reading it actually. Not anything deep, but a good read for during the school year when reading is a real escape.

What are your answers???


--Ellen

Hi Everyone!

We finally made it home and signed the lease, we were late though. Mark told usexpress he needs a restart, that means you have reached your driving hours for the week and you have to be off 34 hours straight, so that will be 11pm tonight.
Hey Catherine, Marked called Eric last night but got his voice mail, Michael and Zsuzsi said they think you had class last night..anyway give us a call today. I've got your dad on my mind....power of positive thinking...

I guess I will do some packing while I am home, we need to be back home on the 20th, that is when we get the keys.
If we don't start making more money with usexpress....Mark was making more at mdv..there is no point in being on the road, and being away from home..we will see.

A list of regrets...I am gonna think about that one...I think I could write a book.
take care everyone
luv
jane

Hi Catherine - GOOD news about your dad! Hope he never has to go through this again.

Since Ellen posted her list of wishes I suppose as the oldest person here I can post a list of regrets - maybe some of the young posters will benefit:

I regret never completing college (suppose I could do it now, but I don't want to work that hard).

I regret not having 1 or 2 more kids.

I regret being so "tough" on my daughters when they were little.

I regret being so fat (but ain't gonna give up what I like to eat).

I regret becoming addicted to cigaretts.

I regret that I never had a dog earlier in life.

I regret that I never had a very close relationship with my mother (I still believe it was her fault!).

Lastly, and this is rather frivolous, I regret that I (we) never flew home from Europe on the Concorde!

Off to the garden now,
Mom

Hope

Here is my list of Hope:

I hope Catherine's dad gets well and enjoys life again very soon.

I hope Obama wins tonight and that he wins in November.

I hope the rain doesn't flood the basement. Again.

I hope I get my period soon, because I ain't going to quit my wine.

I hope Kaiti will get nice and independent. SOON.

I hope we have a good time Karaoke and Dancing on April 12.

I hope Zsuzsi and Michael have a baby sometime - it will be sooooo cute.

I hope Christian gets a little sister sometime (not too soon, Marianne, when YOU want...no pressure)

I hope Bobby and Jaida and Shannon work things out in the best possible way.

I hope I can get rid of my cold soon.

I hope I get to travel the world like I always dreamed.

I hope my mom and dad live until over 100 each, with good health.

I hope Fritz gets a Mrs. (so we can have a wiener wedding!)

I hope Jane and Mark get off the road and get back to hosting Alden/Bailey Central Party house.

I hope I get to plan a wedding and coordinate it, cause I am good at that, and I know a great photographer. (hint C and E)

and, I hope Adam wears his flak jacket and comes home like Prince Harry - quickly and unscathed. But I do also wish I could watch just one day of boot camp and video it.


UHHH...and I hope my dog doesn't shit on the floor tonight. Again.



What are your hopes?????
p.s. I am on a sick day tomorrow trying to recover.

Thank you Grandma!

Well I just got off the phone with my mom and she said there is no cancer in there. He was having pain because there was no blood flow to the area right below where he had the surgery. The doctor said he wasn't sure why that was happening and he could try some sort of treatment that might work to get the swelling down and blood flow but if it doesn't work he will have to have a colostomy. I think my dad is over everything and would rather have a permanent colostomy rather than going through more treatment that might not work and end up with a colostomy anyways. He just wants to get back to having a life again and being able to enjoy it. He just got back to his room and is resting from the biopsy they did this morning. He is going to talk to the doctor later on to see about setting up a date to get his colostomy and he should be home tonight sometime. I'll keep you posted if anything new happens.

love,
catherine

Oh, Catherine - so sorry to hear about your Dad! I hope the doctors can find out what's wrong and correct it fast! It must be awful to live in constant pain.

We are having a rainy day here - warm and muggy, too. No gardening for me - this afternoon Sandi has a trip to the vet - yearly blood test, shots, and buying heartworm pills - mucho $$$$.

I will try to stay up late tonite - election returns! I am really hoping Hillary wins, but either way I think we have wonderful candidates.

I am expecting some videos today from Netflix - Lantana, whatever that is, and Miss Potter (about Beatrix) with Rene Zewilliger (sp). After we get back from Vet will probably watch one of them.

I am making corned beef has for dinner tonite - just chopping up all the meat and vegetables and mixing it with a lite cream sauce. Dad load up this morning with ice cream (!) - neopolitan which I won't eat - so if he doesn't like the hash, let him eat ice cream.

Catherin - keep us informed about your dad and tell him I am sending up messages to on high.

Love to all
Mom

poor daddy :(

Well I just found out that my dad had to go back into the hospital. He got his illiostomy (i think thats how you spell it) reversed in January and ever since he has been in an enormous amount of pain. He had his regular scheduled doctors appointment this afternoon and he told them that he couldn't live like this and so they admitted him in this afternoon and they are going to do a biopsy and run some tests. They said it might be a reacurrance or part of his infection he had from his first surgery to remove the cancer is left over and causing pain. So we will see how things go.

Love,
catherine

mmm corn beef and cabbage

Sounds good...I would like to fix it in the truck, but I think our frig is too small for a head of cabbage...I will have to check it out.

We picked up a load from another driver in KY that has 2 stops to the linen and things stores. We delivered to the distribution center. These loads are going to MI- Orion is the first stop and Saginaw is the second, its 7:55 am and we are on our way to Saginaw. Then we are picking up a load in PaPaw MI and taking it to Gordonsville VA..delivers on the 5th so it looks like we won't get home by the 4th..figures.
The snow seems to be melting here and it's a little warmer than the last time we were here.
I hope ..I will have a new niece or nephew!!!!
Ok that's it for now.
Love
jane and mark

Corned Beef With Cabbage

Yum.
Mom made it, so I copied. I did it in the Crock Pot - 7.5 hours on high - but it was fork tender. Put the cabbage in the last 1/2 hour - it could have been in longer, but I find for leftovers, best to have it a little firmer the first night. It was delicious!!!!!!!

We got a new vacuum today. A Euro Pro Infinity Pet Care Deluxe. It is bagless, which I didn't want, but you just push a button and all the stuff falls out the bottom. Unless you have a lot of hair and dirt, in which case, you have to dig it out. :-( Its better than the old one.

We went to a Log Cabin Expo yesterday - we saw lots of timber and log home designs and methods. We could get a Lincoln Log kit to build down on Alden's Acres for our old age home. I think I want it to be where the old veg patch was - behind the fruit trees - or up on the knoll behind the car parking area. Blah blah blah. I don't think I'll ever be able to "retire."

I saw "The Other Boleyn Girl" last night. Very good movie. I know I've been told we're related to Anne Boleyn- and a Jane Parker was her sister-in-law so I am wondering if that is the connection. I think Natalie Portman is a better actress than Scarlett (ridiculous lips) Johannsen. And, I think Henry VIII was not as good looking back then as they portrayed now...and they took liberties with history, but all in all a good movie - makes me want to go back to the U.K. I don't know how they thought they could tell Henry VIII's story without going to Hampton Court.....

I'm so not ready for Monday - but only two weeks until Spring Break. Too bad that it ends on Easter Sunday, making travel for the holiday difficult.

We won a weekend at a time share in Williamsburg at the Log Cabin Expo. We had to pay 99 dollars or something...2 nights including tix to Colonial Wmsburg in a cottage.... so we'll be going sometime.


In other news, I am missing a period, which hopefully means early menopause. If it means anything else....well......


adios for now,

crazy cat lady with annoying husband.

You may deliver the load from Linen and Things to my house! Would happily share them with kids and grandkids! lol

I am taking a break from the garden(s) now. They are alll overgrown and horrible. I do see some things starting to come back - that's encouraging - and I heard on the radio that daylight saving time starts next weekend. I am in the midst of a literati game and falling asleep here. Think all that fresh air has wiped me out. I will most likely go have a snooze when I get offline.

We had corned beef and cabbage last night - yum - Happy St. Pat's Day.

Tonite's episode of Extreme Makeover is in Farmville (but not my house - I would need extreme KNOCKover - lol).

Am reading a pretty good book now - The Senator's Wife by Sue Miller. I had a hard time getting interested in a new book and this one is "brain candy" but at least I'm reading again. I had last read Into thin Air by Jon Krakauer about the ill-fated Mt. Everest climb - 1996 I think it was. t was recommended to me by Aunt Joanne because the son (Scott Fischer) of very old friends of hers led one of the expeditions and he died up there. Anyhow, it was a very scary book - am thankful that no one I know is interested in mountain climbing. There is a new book out - "Mountain Madness" which is the name of Scott's mountain climbing company. Don't know if I'll read it or not. I love to read books that make my heart pound, but all thru the Krakauer book I kept thinking "WHY?"

Okay - siesta time.

Love,
Mom

Hey from Kentucky

We are delivering a load to linen and things. Don't know where we are going when we are finished here ....but we better be home by tues. morning. We picked up part of this load in Long Island and the rest of it in Brooklyn NY shooo!!!
Will keep you posted.
luv
Mark and Jane