January 31, 2009

A brief entry to update our rather unexciting life. Tessa had a sleepover last night, but with John having to work today we could not go and have a bit of fun ourselves. He is so tired of how they work that plant. I heard him sharping his knife this morning and literally felt I should tell him to NOT use that on anyone. I am making a point to enjoy this house to myself, but still feel bad that John is so distressed. Seeing 25 degrees this early in the morning is an added bonus. Now if I had not broken the snow shovel I could try and move the mess the plows left at the end of my driveway. GRR! Have a great day guys!

Where did she go?

This is actually a photo of a photo. Tessa had this taken years ago at Missionettes. It was pasted to an old disc and decorated. I love the look on her face. I miss that little girl.

Diary of a Demented North Dakotan

Found this in my email. I just had to laugh! December 8, 6:00 PM It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses print. So romantic we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow! December 9 We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the whole world? Moving here was the best idea I've ever had! Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snowplough came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life! December 12 The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment! My neighbor tells me not to worry-we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man, I'm glad he's our neighbor.. December 14 Snow, lovely snow! 8 inches last night. The temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks.. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn't huff and puff so. December 15 20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska, after all. December 16 Ice storm this morning. Fell on my ass on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like hell. The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel. December 17 Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. God I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room. December 20 Electricity is back on, but had another 14 inches of the damn stuff last night. More shoveling! Took all day. The damn snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they're out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they're lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying. December 22 Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white shit fell today, and it's so cold, it probably won't melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to piss. By the time I got undressed, pissed and dressed again. I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter, but he says he's too busy. I think the #*@#!!+*&&^ is lying. December 23 Only 2 inches of snow today. And it warmed up to 0. The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she, nuts?!! Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did but I think she's lying. December 24 6 inches - Snow packed so hard by snowplow, I broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the son of a #%@&* who drives that snowplow, I'll drag him through the snow and beat him to death with my broken shovel. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I've just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was too busy watching for the damn snowplow. December 25 Merry friggin Christmas! 20 more inches of the damn slop tonight - Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. God, I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she's a #@*%$#@@@ idiot. If I have to watch 'It's A Wonderful Life' one more time, I'm going to stuff her into the microwave. December 26 Still snowed in... Why the hell did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves. December 27 Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze; plumber came after 14 hours of waiting for him, he only charged me $1,400 to replace all my pipes. December 28 Warmed up to above -20. Still snowed in. The %@#*^%@# wife is driving me crazy!!! December 29 10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am? December 30 Roof caved in. I beat up the snowplow driver, and now he is suing me for a million dollars, not only for the beating I gave him, but also for trying to shove the broken snow shovel up his @##. The wife went home to her mother. Nine more inches predicted. December 31 I set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling. January 8 Feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?

12-27-08

Sitting here with Tessa and I really should be in bed. Addison was here tonight, but she was not a happy little girl. Spent the evening trying to keep her from crying. Thank goodness for John and his ability to get photos posted or else it would never get done. He spent the last couple of days trying to keep my old laptop going, but it seems to be a lost cause. I will not bore you with the details. Hope you have all had a great Christmas!

4 Generations

Whose house is this? Is it the same house in both photos? Looks like the same picture on the wall in both.

Christmas 1988

Mom, do you remember this one? Here is one of your cakes with Alicia, Brenna and Samantha. It must have been the last one that I was in the Obrien house.

Unexpected Visitor

I am looking out the kitchen window thinking I am seeing a big cat and about to tell mom that she still had to throw food out to still. My mind quickly realized that special little wobble SKUNKS have as they walk and what I was actually looking at, much yelling to get the gun and hurry up. Glad the kids were not out playing at the time and that Jerry's dog was safely over at his place. A loud BOOM and watching the skunk spray something that almost looked bile colored into the air. Oh boy, we all wished it has walked further away before Dad put an end to it. You all know, John was out there getting a shot of it. Haven't decided if we should share or not yet. Would hate to upset any ones gentle constitution with that photo.!! Time to sign off and get a bit done. Looks like I am going to that movie for the third time today. :o))

November 25, 2008

Where did this weekend go? I spent 12 hours or more of it reading. John was feeling ignored, but I could NOT put those books down. I now understand what Tessa's obsession for them has been. I finished 2 of the Twilight series and I know I am going to have a hard time concentrating at work as the third one awaits me. Tessa will probably remember this weekend forever, and not maybe in a good way. One month til Christmas and I have NOT started to shop! I HATE shopping! John did get the christmas cards figured out and I ordered them. I thought it would have been ok to skip a year, but that was a NO go. Well, time to get ready for today. I know my desk is covered in files and papers and one things has to be finished to get it into the mail, sooo I hope you all have a great MONDAY!

Better than I thought

I have looked forward to this day for a while. Lunch with some really fun coworkers, and them a night out with John, Tessa and her friend. I know how much Tessa has been waiting for this night. "Twilight" the movie is finally here. John and I enjoyed this movies more than we thought we would. Now to just enjoy the rest of the weekend! How is everyone else?

Not sure about Papa

The girls were here while Gregg did some work in the shop. I grabbed John's camera while he was holding her. She was not sure what she thought of Papa John. Love the expression on her face in this one.

His Last Day

Today is Barry's last day. Yesterday there was cake and Ice cream, cards exchanged and goodbyes said. A few of us gathered at Ground Round to laugh and hear stories. It is NOT going to be the same with him gone.

Turning Point

This was a weekend where it seems like Tessa just kind of decided to grow up, one area is all of the sudden an interest in makeup. Where did that come from? The truck left and it was actually sad to see it go. The weather was to wonderful for words. A visit from Dad and Mom was nice but rather quick! They picked up the table for Julie and brought back the other couch. I tried to find my table, there was SOOO much junk mail to go through. Finally cleaned Alicia's road of the van and John put in new headlights on cutlass. I hope this was a wonderful weekend for the rest of you. Time to face a new week and I am so glad that the secret spook game is over. I can NOW relax and now worry about sneaking around with little gifts! I have photos of much of that, but did not want to bore any of you with them. I think John is out trying to start a fire for me I was asking for S'MORES!

More Office

My office partner received flowers yesterday from her husband. They sure helped to cheer the place up. That is a view of my corner of the office now.

Addison

She has found her feet. We were waiting for Mommy to get done with a meeting.

Maple plant

It finally has blooms on it again. You will remember this plant, Mom.

Yesterdays message

I guess Tessa thought someone was being a grumpy guss.

He beat me!

Susan, this was the bird I rather screamed in your ear about. Sorry about that! I see that John posted his shots of this same bird already.

September 1, 2008

Mom, not long after our phone call the rain found us. I am rather curious as to how much we have had already. This time at home has not been long enough. We all have to face going back to the normal routine of work and school. Tomorrow will be my first full day with Liz. She is the other person hired to do what I have been doing. Now we will finally start to figure out what kind of a routine will work for us. OK, I guess I should get back to working on the scrapbooks. Have a great week!!

August 30, 2008

This was actually a pretty great day. The morning was nice and cool and so John and I did the yard work them. I am not sure the neighbors appreciated my mower before 9am but I did not want to do it when it was hot. John started to pull the weedy flowers out of the right side of the bed. Next year they will all be back. Addison is getting dedicated tomorrow at the Church that Alicia and Gregg have been going to on and off. The rest of this weekend is up for grabs. NO plans, just whatever comes our way. My car has not been repaired, but now we know what it is and can plan for it. (all $500 of it!) Time to get ready for a movie. Hope all is well with everyone!

White Cake Lie

Have you ever told a white lie? You are going to love this, especially all of
those who bake for church events.

Alice Grayson was to bake a cake for the Baptist Church Ladies' Group in Tuscaloosa , but forgot to do it until the last minute. She remembered the; morning of the bake sale and after rummaging through cabinets, found an angel food cake mix & quickly made it while drying her hair, dressing, & helping her son pack for Scout camp. When Alice took the cake from the oven, the center had dropped flat and the cake was horribly disfigured. She thought, 'Oh dear, there is not time to bake another cake.'

This cake was important to Alice because she did so want to fit in at her new church and in her new community of friends. So, being inventive, she looked
around the house for something to build up the center of the cake.

Alice found it in the bathroom - a roll of toilet paper. She plunked it in and covered it with icing. Not only did the finished product look beautiful, it
looked perfect.

Before she left the house to drop the cake by the church and head for work, Alice woke her daughter Amanda and gave her some money and specific
instructions to be at the bake sale the moment it opened at 9:30 and to buy the cake and bring it home.

When Amanda arrived at the sale, she found the attractive, perfect cake had already been sold. She grabbed her cell phone and called her mom.

Alice was horrified - she was beside herself. Everyone would know! What would they think? She would be ostracized, talked about, and ridiculed! All night,
Alice lay awake in bed thinking about people pointing fingers at her and talking about her behind her back.

The next day, Alice promised herself she would try not to think about the cake and would attend the fancy luncheon/bridal shower at the home of a fellow
church member and try to have a good time. Alice did not want to attend because the hostess was a snob who more than once had looked down her nose at Alice
because she was a single parent and not from the founding families of Tuscaloosa but, having already RSVP'd, she couldn't think of a believable excuse to stay home?

The meal was elegant, the company was definitely upper crust old South and, to Alice's horror, the cake in question was presented for dessert! Alice felt
the blood drain from her body when she saw the cake!

She started out of her chair to tell the hostess all about it, but before she could get to her feet, the Mayor's wife said, 'What a beautiful cake!' Alice still stunned, sat back in her chair when she heard the hostess (who was
a prominent church member) say, 'Thank you, I baked it myself.'

Alice smiled and thought to herself, 'God is good.'