stupid snow!

Well, I was SOOOOO excited about spring and warmth and mosquitoes, so naturally we are going to have snow this weekend.

Winter has to blow one more big raspberry at me so that it can say NANANANANA you were wrong!

Bad Good news

I have news. It is bad news. But it is good, no, GREAT news also.

I got bitten by 3 mosquitoes today.

Yep. I was outside the school waiting for parents to come pick up my tutoring kids and I got bit. I also killed several, so I am positive they are mosquito bites.

I hate mosquitoes and itchy bug bites.

BUT...it means spring is upon us!!!!

Goodbye winter and your cold stupid snow. Goodbye grey all the time and heavy coats. GOODBYE INDOOR RECESS!!!

It's Spring!

Anchor Inn

This is Anchor Inn on the Lake, located in Branson West. it is the prettiest place I have ever stayed (in America). The octagonal lighthouse part on the side is where our room, "The Mediterranean Lighthouse Room" was located. There are 3 other rooms, "The Maryland Room," "The Virginia Room," and "The Kansas Sunflower Room." The Innkeepers, Mike and Dee let us see all the rooms before other guests were there and I really think our room was the prettiest. If it were unavailable, I would take the Virginia as a second choice. It has a pretty four poster bed with red linens, an electric fireplace, a sliding door that leads to a deck and path to the lake and a jacuzzi tub in the bathroom. I didn't find anything wrong with the Virginia room, it just wasn't quite as nice as our room. The Maryland was a pretty blue, with a jacuzzi, but the jacuzzi is in the bedroom, not seperate, which is a loss for me. Also, the fireplace was 2 feet from the side of the bed, which is too close to really enjoy. The Kansas room was too small for me, also the clawfoot tub was in the corner of the bedroom. It was my least favorite.

But, back to our room. This is the top of the lighthouse. There are windows all the way around, and a jacuzzi tub. This is not the typical jets out of the side jacuzzi. It was an air massage with tiny holes along the floor of the tub, which sent bubbles up. Much less forceful than the jets in a normal jacuzzi, but super nice feeling. And, the super-bonus was underwater lights! My water could be blue, purple, orange, green, teal, red, and yellow. I could freeze it, or set it to cycle at a speed I liked. So much fun. This was also the largest tub I have ever been in. I wanted to forward my mail and just live in this tub, but Donald said no.

Directly across from the tub were sliding doors leading to our own balcony. Unfortunately, we did not use the balcony, what with the 35 degree temperature. But it was pretty. Also, the vertical blinds that covered the sliding glass doors had been individually covered in shirred chiffon, as had the thing above them that holds them, making them soft and pretty. I've never seen that before but I loved it!
From the outside, you can see we had a balcony and a deck, also. Very cool. We had two exits from our lower level, one to the deck, one to the common areas of the house.



This is the view toward the common areas and deck door. Off to the left was the bathroom with a shower (for the non jacuzzi soakers).




This is the view from the common area door, here you can see our beautiful bed. It was super comfy and very pretty. It was also a king sized bed, which we have never had before. It felt so big!

We loved this bed and breakfast. If I had to list any complaints they would be that it is hard to find (especially in the dark) and that the cooking, while tasty, was not "creative" like some other places we have gone. Simple food like pancakes, fruit and ham were the dishes we ate. Truthfully, that is not a huge problem for me, since it was still yummy and she avoided the foods I told her I was allergic to and Donald wouldn't eat. (Raspberries and eggs.)

Overall, I am pleased. We will go back. We will stay in this room if possible. It's the perfect room. It was clean and fresh and calm feeling, with pale sage and whites and touches of lavender.

I loved the fact that this inn was not covered in flowers everwhere. Some places are flowered walls, beds, table cloths, everything. I hate that. This in was just crisp and nice.

Each room has a theme based on where the inn keepers lived while Mike was in the Navy. Each bed, when you arrive, has a special gift that is from the area the room represents. We got italian glitterati candies. Our room was based on their time in the Mediterranean, on the island of Sardignia, La Meddaluna.

I also loved the fact that the innkeepers were christians and the entire inn was nonsmoking, including outside. No smoking anywhere on their property.

Good news

Gramma called me and said that Papa's preliminary body scan does not show cancer anywhere else in his body.

They are going to need to do chemo or radiation or both to treat what they couldn't get out of his face/neck.

My great grandma Bea (Papa's mom) had chemo and did really badly on it, so Papa wants to try radiation alone first. He sees the oncologist later this week to discuss it and see what the best option will be.

Keep praying! It's working!

strange sickness

Well, this illness started with Davy having a sore throat, then throwing up, then feeling better in a couple days.

When I got it, it started with the sore throat, then a fever, then congestion and a bit of cough.

Now that my husband has it, it is a fever, a little throat soreness, a headache, chills, coughing and sneezing.

How does one illness manifest in so many different ways? Or did we not have the same thing?

I am feeling better, still a little congested and my throat is still a little tender, but I can swallow things again! No more fever and no more cough.

I hope he gets better soon, though. He actually agreed to take medicine, so I know he is feeling bad.

What an anniversary weekend, huh? (Saturday was our 6 year anniversary...we couldn't do much. Hopefully we will be all better and able to celebrate on valentines day!)

Tea

I really, really wish I liked hot tea. It sounds like it would be so soothing to my poor angry throat. But try as I might to doctor it into something drinkable, I just cannot get past the fact that it tastes awful. I could make it drinkable with honey, but by the time I did, I may as well just drink honey.

Pray for Papa

My Papa, Jim, was diagnosed with lymphoma today. Right now, thats all I know. They haven't told him what kind yet, he has to meet with 2 more doctors and get a full body scan to see where all in his body it is. Then they will give him a treatment plan.

This hurts my feelers really bad.

I want miracles. I want it to disappear. I want him to not push away from God because of this. He was estranged from God for almost 20 years and has slowly found his way back over the last two years. He is in a good place right now, I want his faith to continue to grow strong.

I want a lot. But I serve a big God.

Pray with me. Pray for Papa.

Okay, I totally agree now.

Today, I looked outside, and I thought for sure school would be in session tomorrow. The roads were getting clearer, the weather had stopped and we had already missed two days.

Then, the text from SPS Alerts. School cancelled Thursday. (Sponsored by AGCU, which cracks me up.)

I was a bit confused. And couldn't decide if I was happy or not. I mean, I know I won't want to make these days up. That part of having snow days really sucks. But, I also don't relish the idea of going outside at 7 am in half a foot of snow and spending the day in a classroom with kids who cannot have outside recess and have spent the equivelent of a weekend at home after only one day at school. So the third snow day was a bit of a drag, but also a bit of a relief.

Still, I was wondering why it was cancelled.

Then...I decided to drive to school to check on the pets (2 guinea pigs and a betta in my room, a goldfish and a turtle in Charles' room). I knew I'd have to go tonight or tomorrow, so decided to just get it done.

The whole way down Ingram Mill, Sunshine and Scenic, I thought "It's not great, but it's certainly not bad enough to cancel school."

But when I turned off of Scenic to come to the school, I realized just how bad the "secondary" roads still were. It has not been warm enough to get rid of anything, and the roads that aren't plowed are BAD. I spun out 4 times in one block on Walnut. I pulled to a stop at a stop sign and had to try three times to get the car moving again. That's a road several of my kids have to come down on their bus to school.

I am thankful that the administration cancelled tomorrow. I totally see why and agree with the decision. I am glad I drove to the school, so that any second guessing was put to rest. I am glad that the safety of our students was put above the need to get 175 school days in.

Thanks, SPS. I appreciate your decision.

late Christmas present? Early birthday present?

I am not sure why only the title of this post published the first time. I will try again!

My present was a wonderful, fabulous gift that made my whole week brighter. Here's the story:

Guy 1: Amber's birthday is in less than a month. We should get her a present.

Guy 2: You know, we really should. We've never given her one and she HAS been a loyal fan since she was 6.

Guy 1: But what can we give her that would make up for all the years we didn't give her anything?

Guy 2: I don't know...

:both guys thinking:

Guy 1: I've got it! We can fire Herm Edwards!

Guy 2: You're right! That would make her really happy! Let's do it!

(The previous conversation took place between the decision makers of the Kansas City Chiefs. Donald thinks I am nuts and this decision was not about me. He's totally wrong.)

Random update info

I've had stuff to write, but no real motivation to blog. So I didn't. Sorry for anyone who wished there was a post in the past couple weeks. Here is some of the stuff I may have written about if I'd felt like it.

Jax is getting better. No more twitching when touched and his fur is growing back. After all that, he caught a cold and sneezed non-stop for a week or so, but he seems to be over that, also. He doesn't mind his new food too much. The hardest adjustment has been not getting table scraps from Donald. (It's been as hard on Donald as it has been on Jax.

I got my SMART Board on Friday! It is wonderfully fun and I cannot wait to see how much fun my students have with it.

In related news, I am thinking I am too much of a teacher. Saturday night I dreamt of using my SMART Board. Sunday night I dreamt of teaching other people how to use it and also about playing with new Play-Doh with my students. Dreaming of school is just a little too lame for me to be ok with it.

Apparently my mind is REALLY into the SMART Board. I also got Play-Doh for my room on Friday night, we have not had any in our room this year. I know exactly how much my kids love Play-Doh. Having regular Play-Doh sessions will make them very happy. Apparently my mind was thrilled about that, too.

I took Gabbie roller skating last weekend. It was fun, she had a lot more patience and stamina for it this time (last time she was only 4, now she's 6). However, she also had more guts and tried to skate faster, resulting in a lot more falls. Combine that with her insistence on wearing a dress and tights instead of jeans, and she probably had bruises all over her behind and thighs from falling down on her skate wheels.

By my school, there was a sign advertising "Germin Shepherd Pupys for Sale." I am thinking the only way they spelled Shepherd correctly was by looking it up. They must have thought they knew how to spell the other words. Nope. A few days later they changed the spelling of Germin to German, but puppies is still spelled pupys. I am waiting for the third edition.

I think there my be more to say, but dinner's ready. Later.

Jax update

Well, Jax is definately sick.

He has the feline equivalent of shingles. Which means he is in a lot of pain, even if he is not acting like it and all of his nerve receptors are extremely sensitive. He got a cortosteroid shot today to help calm his nerve receptors and block pain. The vet said the effects of the shot should last at least a month, keeping him out of pain until the other treatment puts the shingles in remission.

After the shot takes effect, and he isn't in a lot of pain, he has to get a bath and comb out tomorrow to remove all the dander and stuff from his skin, so the lesions heal better.

The next day, after his skin oils have built back up, we have to put this oil treatment on his back to help knock out the shingles.

Just like in humans, shingles never go away, they just go into remission. Stress brings them back out. Meaning if we ever have a baby, move, get a dog, etc. he could flare back up. If that happens, we have to take him back and repeat the process.

The vet said that it probably was not his food that triggered the autoimmune response, but his kitty condo tower that he loved so very, very much. The carpet it is covered in is apparently treated with chemicals, and then when the cat scratches it, as it is meant for, those chemicals release and land all over the cat, in addition to being inhaled by the cat. Not good.

The vet says I can vaccuum and steam clean the tower and try it again, but no thanks. If it made him this sick, it can hit the dumpster. Its just not worth it.

In addition to all of that (like we need more!), he also is showing signs of feline type 2 diabetes. I had already bought him hypoallergenic food when all his problems started a month or so ago, but it is really expensive. The vet recommended some other options that are better priced (like 10.99 instead of 23.oo for 40 oz), but still better for him. Corn apparently is really bad for diabetic cats, since it converts to sugar quickly. He needs a grain free diet. No more Whiskas. I got him some of the new food, so we'll see how he likes it. He also cannot have any table scraps, which will break Donald's heart, since they love to share. The vet also said he should only be having 1/2 to 3/4 cup of food per day, not the 1.5 cups he has been getting.

Poor baby. This will be a rough change, between the bath, no table food, no kitty condo, switching foods again, and decreasing his food.

But to add insult to injury, he has to go back in 3-4 weeks for a rabies shot, too!

no vet

The vet cannot see Jax until Saturday morning. I hope its nothing serious.

Home again

We are back from Mom's house. I love going...but I hate leaving.

Our poor cat pulled out chunks of his own fur while we were gone. He's going to the vet tomorrow.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

It's Christmas, folks! That is simultaneously happy and sad. I am happy to celebrate Christmas and all it's joys. I am happy to see people I care about.

But...after today, there is little good left in winter. Just 3 more freezing cold months of grayness. (There is a brief respite of joy in February, with my anniversary, Valentine's Day and my birthday...but then more cold grayness.)

The trees come down, the lights come down, the brightness of December drains away.

But, for today, I choose to ignore what happens on the other side of Christmas. I choose to celebrate Jesus. I choose to spend time with loved ones. I choose to get off the computer and make the dessert for dinner tonight!

Quiet Christmas Eve

Today has been on the quiet side. I slept in, then made waffles and sausage for Donald and I. We went and bought one gift (for the Potter children) and some butter for my apple pie crust. We hung out here for a bit (Donald enjoying video games and me finishing up my Grandma's Christmas cross-stitch present). We attended the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at Second. Now, I am making a fancy-ish dinner for us to enjoy (bacon wrapped steak filets with a creamy gorgonzola sauce over whole grain pasta, with green beans). Then we are going to watch a movie.

That's all. No rushing around, trying to do a billion things. It's been quite nice.

BREAK!!!!

It is officially Christmas break!!!!!!!

12 days of no students.

12 days of no lesson planning.

12 days of no disciplinary reports.

12 days of no waking up at 6 am.

12 days of not dealing with parent calls.

Yes, people, these are the true "12 Days of Christmas" for teachers.

tires

The guy at the shop says the entire problem is our tires being "out of round." He says it usually happens from hitting potholes or curbs. I've definately been guilty of curb checks on occasion...

He says you notice it more in the colder weather because the tires get harder and do not flex to the road like they do when they are warm, so it feels like driving on a square.

He says replacing the tires will fix the problem.

4 tires, diagnostic fee, valve stems, installation and recycling fee is nearly $300. Merry Christmas to us.

Thanks Murphy. P.S. I hate you.

Well, our lives being what they are at the moment, naturally our car has broken down. Again. 1 month and 18 days after the fuel pump quit. I month and 15 days after the battery died.

I had it towed today, but the shop isn't open, hopefully I will know something tomorrow.

We went to Gabbie's birthday party yesterday and when we left the car made the exact same sound and feeling it does if you have a flat.

Only, our tires are not at all flat. The last week or so, Donald felt a "pulling" and I felt a little "wobble." But everytime I felt it, I wasn't sure if I was making it up in my head. Apparently, it was something.

Pray it's cheap. Otherwise, we can't really afford to fix it. And more than likely, I can't go home for Christmas.

I hate cars.

Gabbie

Gabbie is 6 today. (In real life, in my head she hasn't even turned one yet.) The little, sweet, angel doll baby is growing up so fast. She's in school now. She can dress herself and write her name. She can express her opinions (and drive her mother crazy in the process). She holds entire conversations that make total sense.

She still makes me smile, just like she did as a baby. But now, she can also make me laugh! She is unintentionally hilarious. She cheers me up and makes a bad day better, just by her sheer Gabbieness.

I feel sorry for people who don't have a Gabbie in their life.

Gabbie is 6. 6 years old. Where does 6 years go?

Happy birthday, Gabbie! I can't wait to see where the next 6 years takes you. (Although...I am certainly not ready to think of you as a teenager...) You'll always be that special, beautiful, porcelain baby I met on a cold december night 6 years ago. I am so glad you came into my life. Thanks for being you.

I probably shouldn't, but...

I am going to anyway. I know the situation is a tragedy and many people are very upset. So it may be inappropriate to ask about it so soon. But I have to.

There is a person who died (either last night or today) during a Nativity Play. The person was playing one of the magi. He died when his cable that was suspending him from the ceiling snapped.

So...why was the Magi suspended from the ceiling? Could the Magi fly?

This whole situation confuses me.