BRRRR

***UPDATE***
Apparently the gauge marker had frozen stuck, and showed that we had propane, when we actually did not. Our propane company - - BLESS THEM - - actually came out and filled our propane tank last night, even though it was 9:00 PM. Thank you, Ames Propane, Decatur, Illinois!!

Ever wondered what would happen if your propane tank went down to ZERO before you realized it? On a night when the forecasted low is 8 degrees?

Let me tell ya - - it's NOT fun.

It is now 58 degrees in my house, and going down fast. Thank goodness for a propane company with a 24 hour emergency number . . . and the truck just arrived!

C'mon - - get that tank filled, and let's crank up some heat in here!

(Thank goodness we have cats to keep us warm!)

Grace In Small Things: 4/2010

What I am grateful for this week:

• Taking my grandsons out to supper (Mmmmm - - Culver's)
• Hearing my grandsons say, "I love you, Grandma" (*sigh* warms my heart)
• Surviving Hell Week Three at work!
• Spending time with my Dear Old Daddy Sunday afternoon
• Mr. Dizzy to curl up next to on the couch and watch a "Burn Notice" marathon

I really do have a good, blessed life.


Count your blessings - - join Grace In Small Things.

Winter . . .

*sigh*

First it was the bitter cold.

Then we had the heavy snowfall. Followed by high winds, causing drifting and whiteout visibility conditions.

Then we had nearly a solid week of dense fog. (And I do mean DENSE. Like, not seeing a stop sign until you are RIGHTUPONITOHMYGODHOPEICANSTOP!! dense)

NOW - - freezing rain. And tonight and tomorrow? MORE freezing rain.

I think my latest Facebook status says it all - -

"I am SO OVER Winter. I refuse to participate any more!"

I quit - - wake me in April.

Grace In Small Things: 3/2010

What am I grateful for this week?

• A three-day weekend after two weeks of sheer HELL at work.
• SURVIVING two weeks of sheer HELL at work.
• Fun times with friends at a *non*-birthday party.
• Making it home safely in thick, pea-soup fog. (NOT a fun experience)
• Spending the Monday holiday with dear Mr. Dizzy!

Count your blessings - - join Grace In Small Things.

Hell Week(s)

Haven't had the time, or the energy, to post much lately. It has been "Hell time" at work, with coming back from Winter Break, giving trainings and presentations to faculty, staff, and students, and then the semester starting.

Exhausting . . .

But I am at least posting my "Grace In Small Things" posts every Monday, and hopefully things will slow down soon so I can get back on the regular posting bandwagon!

Grace In Small Things: 2/2010

Five things I am thankful for this week:

• A tractor to dig through the PILES and PILES of drifted snow (thank you, Mr. Dizzy!)
• My four-wheel drive Jeep Liberty, pulling me through the large drifts and getting me home from work safe and sound.
• Carmichael-kitty crawling under the covers with me early in the morning and snuggling close.
• The smell of bread baking in my bread machine.
• Making cards on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Count your blessings - - join Grace In Small Things.

*sigh* Here We Go Again . . .

Mother Nature has done it to us again, dammit.

I left work today at Noon, because we have gotten around 6-7 inches of light, fluffy, powdery stuff, and now that the wind has kicked up and gusting, it's all IN THE AIR.

Visibility sucks.

See for yourself:









It's kind of hard to tell from the pictures, but if you are out in it? It's a total white-out. Driving home was definitely a "white-knuckle" experience!

I'm hoping for a snow day tomorrow . . .

Grace In Small Things: 1/2010

I have decided that 2010 IS going to be a better year than the past 2 years have been. One possible way to help that along will be to make sure I have reminders of the GOOD things in my life, and try to keep the negatives at bay.

So with this in mind, I have decided to participate in "Grace In Small Things". Every Monday in 2010 I will (try, at least) to list 5 positive things in my life. Hopefully, this will help me keep a more positive outlook about life in general, and maybe even help me over the "rough spots" that are bound to pop up now and then. (Well, that, and the med the Dr. has prescribed)

So - - with that in mind, here is my first-ever list:

• A nice, warm home on a brutally cold day (-14 degree wind chill today - BRRRR!)


• NCIS on the telly (Leroy Jethro Gibbs . . . *sigh*)


• Homemade Italian Wedding Soup, nice and warm in the tummy on a cold Winter day


• Kitty-girl Squeak trying to crawl under the laprobe with me so she can curl up on my lap and take a nap (but unfortunatel the laptop is always in in her way!)(But yes, I do move it for her!)(She's VERY demanding!)


• Deer-hunter Mr. Dizzy getting a deer, which will be processed and donated to the Food Pantry my Dad works with.

Hope everyone is staying warm and safe - - this is dangerously cold weather. Stay safe.

Dear Mother Nature . . .

Okay, I get it. It's Winter. It's supposed to be cold. I know.

But ENOUGH ALREADY with the below zero temps and wind chills!!

*sigh*

I. HATE. WINTER.

I can haz Spring now?