The saga continues...

I could bore you with the details how my car got stuck AGAIN at the end of the drive, and how I couldn't get in or out, though I was more out than in, and how I ended up with a $15 dollar parking fine. But despite all of the hassles of the day, the sun was shining and I got to spend some time with some friends I used to work with. I do miss those girls!

You may think I am insane for even trying to leave through our treacherous drive and hilly street, and maybe I am. Like did I really HAVE to get wipes the other day before the garbage guy came? Did I have to run out today to get snacks and diapers TODAY? I guess not but I think the cooped up feeling is causing me think these things are a little more urgent than they really are. At least the sun was shining, and because I got stuck out I was able to visit with some friends!

All's well that ends well and we are one day closer to summer. Here is Dane the roaring Dinosaur. I wish this was live footage instead of a photo because this dinosaur has one adorable roar. Baby roars are the best!

January 25

Check out the cars backed up outside our house. They are all stuck on the hill spinning tires making all sorts of ruckus while Dane is napping. Awesome. One trying to pass the other and then getting stalled themselves. Happens every time.

Supposedly today is nominated the most depressing day of the year. I could attest to that. Here we are again looking at a snowy and windy day, and haven't seen the sun in over a week. Yesterday doesn't count, it was too brief. Went out this morning to get my back fixed up by the chiropractor. Roads=not good=very slick. Thought about doing some other errands but didn't have a good plan in place also didn't really feel like getting out of the car and walking through the wind, almost lost my hat and my breath the first time, don't think poor baby cared for it either.

Here he is wearing his daddy's overalls from 1980. I think he is looking pretty cute.

So what exactly is one to do about this depressing day? I really don't know that I have the answer to that. All the things I can think of require getting out of the house. I just may do it, if only I had gone to the library and fabric store this weekend I would be all set. Well I can think of one thing, but it's a secret. Actually I already did it. What else can I do to accomplish my Blue Monday Challenge? Maybe Dane will get some extra special play time.

In the meantime, think warm and sunny thoughts.

That's a bunch of garbage

As you can tell my life is fairly uneventful right now. Today post ice storm, I really needed to go out since I have needed wipes since Monday. The car scuffle on Tuesday diverted that stop. So I have been surviving by using up all the little trial packs of wipes we have collected. Today I must go I thought, even though it is trash day and given the piles of petrified snow at the end of the drive are chest high, meaning the only option for the trash bins is place them in the center of the drive. Just so you understand the sequence of leaving:

• Drive down the drive.
• Stop.
• Get out.
• Move the bin out of the way. Not easy since it is like trying to walk on a waterfall. I would say lake but lakes aren't hilly, and pulling a bin heavier than me up an iced over waterfall is nearly impossible
• Walk up hill to car.
• fall into seat.
• drive onto street.
• park again with hazard lights on.
• get back out.
• walk up said frozen water hill
• gingerly attempt to move the bin back in place. with out falling.
• slide/skate/tiptoe down waterfall back to car
• get back in and leave for destination: Walgreens

Upon arriving home the sequence needs to be reversed. Quite the procedure. I forgot to mention while we were out I moved wrong as I was getting Dane out of the car and my low back went out. So I was dreading returning home, but didn't seem like I had any other options except to hope the garbage truck had made the rounds and the bins would be lighter. No such luck. So I reversed the sequence above and prayed know one would slide down the street and slam into our car that had our precious baby tucked inside while I was fighting with the trash bin. Got it moved. Got the car in the driveway. Returned bin to center of driveway. Got in car. Spin tires. Sliding sideways in my own drive, not that there is much room to go anywhere since it is like an ice ravine right now. Figured my options
A. move both bins into the street. back car up and try again and once again replacing the trash bins in the center of the drive
-or-
B. leave it there and try to walk up the drive with baby on my hip.
I settled for latter. Neither sounded easy with my back all cramped up and hurting. I made it up safely though almost fell twice with Dane. That part was a little scary, thoughts of falling with sweet baby. My wonderful husband fixed it though since he was out running errands for work. He swung by and put everything in it's rightful spot. I love that man. Now if I can get my back to stop hurting.

I love holding a sleeping baby. I made him sit on my lap last night and he fell asleep.

and the earth quakes again

My brother-in-law's unit the 82nd Airborne from Fort Bragg was immediately deployed to Haiti last week. He is the chaplain for that unit and their family had just moved only weeks before to NC. After saying goodbye with his wife three days in a row, he finally left last Friday for Haiti. I keep trying to post this video of Jeff leading his unit in prayer but am having no luck. Here is the link.
One of he and Andy's friends Matt and Pam McCormick live there as missionaries. Check out there blog Highway to Haiti to see things from their perspective. One particularly touching entry is made by Pam for the Beth Moore LPM blog. So challenging to read as I am sitting here in an ice storm with the power flickering complaining. Just to see her perspective 2 little boys 36 weeks pregnant here are a few of her thoughts:

" After all, I have a roof over my head, food to eat, clean water to drink, and…at the drop of a hat, I can get out of this mess and go back to the comfort of the US if I want to. If I offer them myself, I offer nothing. But if I offer them Jesus, I offer everything. For who better to understand their pain and suffering than He who endured the pain and suffering of the cross. Who better to comfort than the Father who watched his own son as he was crushed under the weight of the sins of mankind. Why He allowed it to happen? I don’t know. But in times like these, I can only cling to what I do know. And I know that He is good, and that His thoughts are higher than my thoughts, His ways higher than my ways."

Winter is the Worst

So it seems it is time for a new post. I really have nothing exciting to write about. Except that I really really really really really really really really really hate winter. 'Nough said. I tried for awhile to have a good attitude, still trying a little but I give up. I hate it. Summer is never long enough for me. People think I would get bored in a warm climate. Nope don't think so. I never even feel like putting shorts on here until mid May and then by end of August I am really starting to get into the summer groove and boom it's cold again for about the next 8 months. I need some sunshine. Even some snow with sunshine would be OK at this point. 3 days of fog is plenty. Oh wait we still have an ice storm tomorrow and some other storm coming this weekend. Awesome. On a positive note check out these spiky little frost things that were covering everything this morning. Beautiful. Not that my pictures do it justice.
Think maybe I have a case of the winter blues? How do you get rid of those? I need to win a free vacation, pretty sure that would do it.

The excitement for the day. I was in my first car 'accident', at least that I was the one driving. I have been in one other, but was not the driver. It was minor thankfully. Some highschooler sideswiped us and knocked the passenger side mirror off while trying to change lanes. Apparently didn't see the big black car right outside his window. He was a little frustrated with me for wanting to call the cops. He was going to be late for a bowling tournament, heaven forbid. Not like I really wanted to sit there for 45 minutes either, I had to get to the mall. I told him he should have thought about that before he changed lanes in an intersection. Glad I called. He got a nice ticket. He kept trying to down play it. Told the insurance lady he only cracked our mirror. Honey most of it is gone, sitting out there in the middle of MLK Pkwy, and yes there is a nice long scratch down the side. Well minor damage, minor annoyance, though I thought it funny that a kid would be such an expert on car damage and the procedure for sideswipes, must have happened before??

here's to dreaming of sunshine.

Don't worry Lost fans...

I am glad to hear the State of the Union address will not be given on February 2, the night of the long awaited Lost premiere. I really didn't even know it was a possiblility, but I am certainly glad it won't interfere, though I find it funny that they had to send out this press release to reassure all the fans. All I have to say is I am really excited for Feb 2!

sixteen below

That is the temperature I woke up to this morning. That is miserable cold. So Happy New Year to you all! This year is probably going to be the first year I have ever made a New Year's Resolution. I say probably because I can't remember actually making a new year's resolution any other time. Well I think I was forced to at school or something but it was never anything I wanted to do. My goal for the next year is to read some more classic type books or at least well known books. Somewhere in the range of 6-12 books for the year. The next step is compiling that list. OK so I am not sure exactly what category these fit into but here is the beginning of my list.

1. Little Women ( I have read it a long long time ago and want a refresher)
2. The Great Gatsby
3. One I can't remember the name of yet- but a friend recommended
4. Les Miserables (Yeah, I know I have never read this one.)
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
When I was little I loved Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden and I even read the Hardy Boys. I liked a good mystery, though not sure I can handle one now. The suspense kills me and makes me jumpy. Now more often than not I end up reading christian fiction or christian romance. They are all about the same, but I enjoy a nice easy quick entertaining read. So this year I am going to expand my horizens. So any suggestions on some must reads?

And of course a picture of my sweet little lad.