Grumpy...

I'm in a grumpy mood tonight and not really sure why. Work wasn't too bad - same old, same old. It was one of those days when I really thought about quitting. I wasn't really too grumpy when I got home but the grumpiness seems to have grown on me. Probably has something to do with the fact that I have to get up in the morning and DH has three days off, as does DD (tomorrow is mid-winter break at HS) and the boys are on Spring Break from Uni. I'm really tired for some reason.

I didn't do any stitching today or any reading. I looked at the growing piles of books and groan. I love to read and to buy books, but I have waaayyy too many. I can't seem to give any up either. I feel like I'm turning into a hoarder or something. I would really, really like a clean, minimal space but all I seem to have is pile of stuff!

I REALLY need a vacation. I'm just waiting for the plane ticket to come close to the price I want and then I'm booking it. I just want to get away....

Yup it snowed...

It was the wet, heavy kind. It looks really pretty on the trees and bushes, but it's a pain to shovel/snowblow and walk/drive through. I'd like it a lot more if I didn't have to go out in it. I wouldn't mind sitting in front of a warm fire (if I had a fireplace) looking through the windows at the snow falling outside. Unfortunately I had to go to work in the morning. We live on a hill and it's really difficult to get up the street when the road is snow covered. I ended up walking even though I go to work really, really early.

I can't wait for Spring. It's getting closer. It's one of my favourite times of the year. Everything is new and fresh - a time of rebirth and renewal. Our whole area suddenly bursts with colour after being dull and dirty and grey. Grey. That's exactly how I'd describe Michigan towards the end of winter. Snow begins to melt, getting mixed with dirt, the sun doesn't shine and everything just looks dull. When Spring finally emerges it brings with it a whole new burst of energy. There is nothing like the colour of the first spring grasses.

Updated - GARDEN CHILD

YES! I completed my goal for the weekend - to finish the wing parts I was working on. I'm really pleased with how it's coming along.

I actually had two days off in a row which explains why I reached my goal. Usually I'm too busy running around on my day off to sit and stitch. I took Friday off and enjoyed the day for myself. I read, caught up on some DVR shows and stitched.

It's always hard to go back to work after a couple days off. It was busy today. The weather people said the S word (SNOW!) and everyone came running. Let's see how much we actually get....

Phew!

I finally did it! The calendar I was talking about finishing for my Mum is finished and in the post. I am SO embarrassed that it's taken so long, but I'm glad it's finished and on its way to her. I guess it's better late than never. I haven't told her that it's on the way - hopefully it will be a pleasant surprise. It just seemed like one thing after another went wrong with it this time. Hopefully it will make it to her. One year it got 'lost' and I had to make another one. The original made it back to me a couple months later.

Watching a show on Animal Planet and going to get some stitching done. Already been to work and come home and trying to stay awake. The show is Werewolves: The Dark Survivors. It's a really interesting faux documentary. I like the idea of Werewolves - probably why I read too much paranormal/urban fantasy genre fiction.

YIKES!

Forty is getting closer and I'm beginning to feel old.

I was listening to the BBC World News in the morning on the radio (I go to work so darn early I get to listen to it for about an hour and a half!)and one of the main stories was that yesterday was the twenty year anniversary since Nelson Mandela had been freed from prison. I remember him being in prison and the stories in England about his plight. I remember the song Free Nelson Mandela. Yikes.

Today I'm listening to the radio on the way to the shops and it's the retro hour - and I RECOGNISE NEARLY EVERY DARN SONG!!!! Yikes! The Eighties are retro hour! It seems like just yesterday the sixties and seventies were considered retro and I was laughing at DH for knowing them.

I would say that soon I'll be getting stuff from the AARP - but I already have! Pretty soon the year I was born - 1970 - will be included on those ads where they say 'If you were born after...".

I think it's just one of those days and I'll feel younger tomorrow....Hopefully...

Pictures....

SNOW DAY today - at least for HS daughter. The university was open. It was my day off work so I didn't have to get up and go out into the yucky white stuff. I like snow - if I can sit in my house and look out of my window at it. I don't like it when I have to go out in it and I definitely don't like to drive in it. Call me a wimp but I feel really nervous about driving in it. I think I've said before that I learned to drive later in life so maybe that has something to do with it. I get REALLY nervous when my kids are driving in it - seems to bother me more than them. My mum tells me I have to relax and let them go...doesn't make it any easier.

Today I was looking through pictures I've taken in the past. I got a new camera for Christmas and I still haven't learned to use it properly. I enjoy taking pictures. I really do.


Today I'm going to post pictures that make me feel calm.

Teenagers....

Anybody want one? He comes complete with attitude. Sometimes living with teens tries my patience.

On a happier note - I've added a new update of Garden Child. I can see her face! I didn't move the q-snaps (too lazy) but it shows update and it's more than I've stitched in a while

GOAL...

I think the goal for my big 4-0 will be losing weight. I don't think it will be easy. I've been going on the treadmill six days a week and I think I'm losing but I don't want to get on the scales to test that theory. To be honest I'm embarrassed about how much I probably weigh. I really don't want to know.

Some days I really don't want to get on the treadmill at all. I don't really enjoy exercise especially after working - standing on my feet for eight hours. I really just want to sit down, but if I don't exercise as soon as I get home I won't do it. No good even trying to exercise before work. I get up at 2.45am and my eyes are barely open. I won't be getting up any earlier.

Grrr.....

I was SO looking forward to having some extra sleep (I usually have Wednesday's off). I get up at 2.45am the days I work so sleeping in to me is about 7-8am. DH is working funky hours this week 7pm to 7am so I figure I'll get lots of sleep in by the time he comes to bed (about 7.30am) and it won't be so bad getting up at that time. I usually lounge around in bed later than I wake up just because on the days I do work I jump right out of bed, get ready and go straight to work.

Around 3am the dog decides he doesn't need to sleep anymore, but does need to itch - continuously. He's DH's dog so apparently he got all his sleep in when DH did and doesn't need to sleep anymore. He's in and out of the bedroom, slamming against a wall close by when he's itching. He's a pretty big dog (black lab). Needless to say I didn't get a lot of sleep.

DH let him out when I got home and I was just getting back to sleep again when DH came to bed. It's now 12pm and the dog is sleeping soundly in bedroom with DH which means he won't be sleeping tonight. Sigh.

Must be a day to vent. I hate insurance companies and medical establishments. My daughter went to the doctors for a check up and to see whether she had scoliosis or not. The inital appointment consisted of a check-up (weight, blood pressure, etc) and some x-rays. Second appointment consisted of someone telling us what the x-rays said and what they meant. Total bill given to us (after insurance) $581!!! WTF! $192 of that the insurance company benefit explanation says we didn't owe. The bill from the hospital said yes we did. Called insurance company who then told us we had to call the clinic. Call the clinic who tell us we have to call the insurance company. Round and round it goes. No wonder we avoid going to the doctors when we can.

I was going to post an update of Garden child, but I really didn't get a lot done so I think I'll hold off until Friday. Posting pics and writing about the piece I'm working on certainly seems to help the motivation going.