Rainy Day Rant

*begin rant*

It is a VERY nasty day here today. Chilly, raining buckets, windy . . . not a nice day, not at all. And yours truly had to be out in it to finish up the grocery shopping.

So as you can probably tell, I wasn't very happy to begin with.

When I was finished at Walmart, I decided to go down the road to the Mall and check on a new raincoat.

*Side note: Yes, I know, should have thought about that BEFORE the rainy day, right? Well, I do have a long trench-style raincoat that I use for work, but it doesn't have a hood, which I am wanting. Okay?*

*One more side note: I do have a rain jacket, with a hood. I was wearing it today. Okay?*

ANYWAY - - I head to the Mall and duck inside one of the major Department anchor stores to see what I can find. I'm looking through the coat section, and I see LOTS of rain JACKETS, but no rain COATS. I find someone and ask about them, and am told that the rain JACKETS is all they have. Okay, I can live with that, but it's the next sentence that comes out of her mouth that really frosts me:

"You probably need to look online. You will find a lot more stuff online."

Um...???

Okay, here's my thoughts, which I did not say out loud to the poor girl, but was thinking it pretty loud . . . "Why am I out in this nasty-ass weather? I'm cold, wet, and cranky. But, I'm trying to support a LOCAL BUSINESS, when my happy ass could be at home, warm and dry, while I surf the Web."

Okay. I hear a lot of things in the news about businesses really hurting for customers; there are many, many stores, including the major chains, that are closing stores left and right. They whine and complain and carry on about how online shopping is ruining them. I see advertisements all the time encouragine consumers to support their local businesses first.

But then, when a customer does make the effort to shop there and support them, this is what happens?

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE???

As far as I'm concerned, it's their own damn fault.

*end rant*

Grace In Small Things: 12/2010

What I am grateful for this week:

• My new flooring is all installed and makes the whole place look so beautiful, and open and airy . . . it's made me fall in love with my home all over again
• Grilled corned beef and swiss on rye sandwiches for supper (it's pretty yummy)
• The smiles on my grandson's faces when I brought over new Wii games
• The hug from oldest grandson when I fixed his "broken" favorite computer game
• Hugs from Dear Hubby, making me feel all warm and fuzzy inside

This week I hope to be able to start posting more than just these once-a-week "Grace" posts - - the meds from the Doctor seem to be working, and I'm not as deep into my "funk" as I had been in the past. I'm actually looking forward to writing more again! :)

Count your blessings - - join Grace In Small Things.

Grace In Small Things: 11/2010

I have A LOT to be thankful for this week!

• My oldest grandson's fingers NOT broken after he shut his hand in the van door - - that was so lucky!
• Chicken Tetrazzini for dinner - - yum!
• Finding my grandson's favorite computer game on eBay, and being the winning bidder - - which means Grandma Rocks! :)
• My new flooring makes my hallway, entryway, dining room and sunroom look totally different and absolutely beautiful.
• SUNSHINE and warmer temperatures!

Count your blessings - - join Grace In Small Things.

Grace In Small Things: 10/2010

Things I am grateful for this week:

• My Dad's second cataract surgery went off without a hitch, and he is home and seeing great!
• Joining a group of friends to help another dear friend with a home remodeling project; and we ROCKED! :)
• My supervisor's Chicken Tetrazzini (yum!)(and I will share the recipe when she gives it to me this week)
• Extreme Arms and Abs class at the Gym - - TOTALLY awesome workout!
• Sunday dinner with the grandsons at Mr. Dizzy's brother's house. My sister-in-law is an incredible cook.

Count your blessings - - join Grace In Small Things.

Grace In Small Things: 9/2010

What I am grateful for this week:

• Spending the day with my grandsons (and even surviving McDonald's Playland! On a Saturday lunch hour, no less!)
• Picked out beautiful new flooring for our hallway/entryway, and new carpet for the dining room/sunroom
• Possibly finding a home for the kitten dumped on our doorstep a month ago (a very good home at that!)
• Getting to keep the Lil Dude for possibly another month while prospective new owner moves (yes, I've fallen in love with him . . . *sigh*)
• Monkey Bread for supper . . . (yum!!)

Count your blessings - - join Grace In Small Things.

Grace In Small Things: 8/2010

What I am grateful for this week:

• Celebrating Mr. Dizzy's birthday Friday (Happy Birthday, Babe!)
• The little kitten we rescued is healthy and growing like a weed
• Brownies baking in the oven (yum!)
• My best friend's knee surgery went without a hitch (Yay Judy!)
• Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes for dinner (our favorite comfort food)

Count your blessings - - join Grace In Small Things.

Happy Birthday, Dear Mr. Dizzy!

Today is Dear Mr. Dizzy's birthday!



So - - Happy Birthday to . . .

The "King of Air Guitars" - -


The best Grandpa in the world - -


And the love of my life - -


Happy Birthday, Babe. Love you!

Grace In Small Things: 7/2010

What I am grateful for this week - -

• The SUN finally peeking out after a nasty week of winter weather! (FINALLY!!)
• Breakfast with my Daddy
• Spending the day making cards with my Aunt and cousins
• Listening to my grandsons playing "Cat-opoly" with Dora the Explorer playing in the background
• Pizza for lunch! (Sausage and pepperoni!)

Count your blessings - - join Grace In Small Things.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Go kiss your sweetie and tell him/her you love them.

Grace In Small Things: 6/2010

What I am grateful for this week:Seeing my son for the first time in many months (he lives out of state)

• The little "foster kitty" we have at the moment has been declared healthy by the Vet, clearing the way for us to try to place him in a good, permanent home
• Indian Butter Curry Chicken and Rice for dinner - - SO yum!
• NCIS Marathon on the TV
• My "Snuggie" on a cold winter day

Count your blessings - - join Grace In Small Things.

Grace In Small Things: 5/2010

What I am thankful for this week:

• Only missing ONE day of work because of my sinus problems (feeling MUCh better now, thank you very much!)
• Rescuing the itty bitty kitty someone dumped out at our place last week:

• Spending the morning with my two Grand-boys (my little men!)
• Doing business with a Propane company that will come out at 9:30 PM - - yes, AT NIGHT - - to fill out our propane tank when we ran out of fuel, and the temps were getting down to 7 degrees
• Hot Creme Caramel Tea on a cold winter's night

Count your blessings - - join Grace In Small Things.

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?