Insert your favorite cliche about the swift passage of time here.

Holy cow.  Almost February.  We have several milestones here.  The first semester of the 2010-11 school year is over, here in the frozen tundra where the legie says we can't start until after Labor Day.  In that time we crammed in a long weekend in the Black Hills, a ski trip in Mankato for the teens while Mom and Dad went to meetings, and the normal Thanksmas and Christmas mayhem.  That means my eldest is half done with her senior year.  The first semester spreads over 5 moths with the various holidays and breaks, but the last is crammed into four, and will fly by.  I have to plan a graduation party.  Memorial Weekend, Saturday.  Bring a salad and stop by :)
It's also time for our first half-year exchange student to return home, which no-one is happy about.  We liked her so much we took on another half-year, a He-wi to replace our She-wi, currently staying with a welcome family until she departs.  Silly state department, not letting us have more than two in the house (we have a full year German with us as well.)  Shameless plug:  we've been hosting for nearly 10 years, we love it.  You should try it.  Go to effoundation.org to check it out!
The first of the foot dragging daughters finally got her driver's license, and had her first accident (minor) within eight days.  Nothing hurt but pride, and a dented door.  And a side-effect of a mother wistful for the days of toddling and tricycles.
So, we gather up to launch into the new month, new semester, and new family dynamic.  I'll send a postcard now and then.

Well, hello there, October...

Wow. The time, she sure does fly. Let's see what's been going on around here.
After the first weird week at school, we rolled into a normal year. Our normalcy hit a little bump last week with a small epidemic of three different family suicides within our district. Follow that with the news yesterday of a substantial layoff at a major employer in the district, and to say the mood is a little gloomy around the building is an understatement. We soldier on, though. The kids are pretty resilient, and the staff is first rate.
I got out to Meander a little this weekend. In the past I've always worked these weekends, so it was kinda fun to be out and about for a bit with all the other artsy farts, wishing I had more money to spend.
I treasure my weekends at the moment. All too soon, my Saturdays will be claimed by Knowledge Bowl meets, and then, pending school board approval, speech meets. I think common speculation is that I'm a bit cracked to take on so many extracurriculars, but being part-time gives me a little more time to devote to such things, and the extracurriculars pad my itty bitty paycheck just a titch.
Thing 1 is taking a recreational vehicle class at school, and has made the Purple Ride her project for the term. She transferred to my school this year, and frequently pops in on her way to her class across the hall from me, smelling of motor oil and happily mussed up. What a kid.
Our borrowed daughters for the year seem to be settling in. The Swiss Miss is quite busy with volleyball. Our VIetnamese daughter plans to try basketball. I, of course, made both daughters at my school try Knowledge Bowl for the season, and from the interaction I see there, they both seem to be fitting in just fine.
Now I'm off to plan and set up for my week. I'll talk to you in another month!

MNDOT Wants to kill me slowly

Our normally 2 1/2 - 3 hour drive to the cities tonight took 4 hours. We alternated routes to avoid a detour and ran smack into more detours. iPastor is sure the fine folks at the DOT had a lovely laugh while effectively entangling every east/west route out of the metro this summer.
Thing 1's mission presentation in the morning at church. We're heading home via a southern route. Maybe we'll get there by Friday.

I love a parade?

Yesterday was the "grand finale" of the local celebration, Fiesta Days. As we were returning from the next town south, where the wedding reception was held at the local casino, there were people everywhere. In recent years there has been a move to bring more of the celebration back downtown. The park has undergone renovation and the local railroad history club has revitalized the depot, turntable and yards. All of those were in full swing with music, activities and people as we made our way back home. I settled in with MIL, completely content with the prospect of an afternoon spent snugly in a recliner, or perhaps on the deck in the sun. In the background, I could hear occasional sirens, horns and bass drums reminding me of the festivities a few blocks away. I was surprised to find myself wishing I was there. Usually about halfway through viewing a parade I find myself reflecting on the inanity of watching a procession of cars and people go by. It is a bit odd, when you stop to think about it too much. Despite that, parades draw people together. No matter how big a homebody one might be, I believe there is a certain aspect of human nature that is drawn to a crowd. Whether it is simple curiosity, a deeply embedded seed of desire to be part of a larger whole, or a fear of missing out, something makes a person want to join a group of others. As I sat comfortably settled in a sunbeam, the occasional rumble from downtown tugged quietly at the back of my mind. It was a curious sensation, but the comfy chair prevailed.

It's snowing!

I like snow when it's like this. As far as I know there are no weather advisories. A quiet, steady white fluffy accumulation has fallen so far. I just heard the first plow of the day go out and it's been coming down all morning, so it can't be piling up too fast. It cleans things up and lessens the gloom. It's definitely a white day, not a gray one. We haven't had a lot of snow in our neighborhood this year, so if we don't get more soon it will be an awfully dry spring. I just hope it keeps coming like this.
***
I have a confession to make. I like school. I am awfully tired of the commute, and the drain on the pocketbook, however, I like to be at school. I like to read books, find the merit or fault in them, pick them apart and read between the lines. I like to find hidden meanings as well as to conclude that the cigar is just a cigar. I like to examine ideas and talk or write about them. I like hanging around other people doing the same thing. iPastor and I can do this, but it out here in the real world there isn't enough time. We get too busy paying bills and trying to schedule the lives of 7 individuals. If this material wasn't required to complete the requirements of a teaching degree, I wouldn't have made the time for it either. I'd be using that time making money somewhere instead. Somewhere where people blink if I use a word like "conspiratorial." Sad. It's also one reason I get so frustrated with this blog. I think I have something to say. I think I can be witty and entertaining, and sometimes insightful. But after grinding out four pages of feminist theory found in Pride and Prejudice, then waiting tables for six hours, the well is dry when it comes time to haul the bucket up for you, dear interweb. Sorry you come out on the short end of the stick.
With that, dear friends, I am off to do some housework and make like a good mommy. Ta.

The Valentine Post

For those who missed the comments on my Caucus post, let me clarify that iPastor did, in fact, squeal like a schoolgirl, but he did it for effect. I wish everyone would take such an active interest in the political process, instead of just complaining about it.
***
So it's Valentines Day. I got a Valentine from iPastor earlier in the week. He and Thing 1 were reporting back on their excursion to the Evil*Empire Stupid Center. "I got a Valentine for you!" he said as he scurried off to get it. He returned with both hands behind his back and presented with flourish, a large jug of Heinz 57 steak sauce. I fear he read my expression of bewilderment as disappointment, but I must give him all credit where it is due. On an earlier excursion to the store, we had done some comparison shopping and though we did not bring home said jug of steak sauce, I mentioned that it was a really good buy. He bought it, thinking I wanted it (Thing 1 testified to his enthusiasm in the store: "Mom is gonna love this!"), because (listen up here, guys, and rejoice women everywhere) he paid attention to something I said! That I really wasn't all that interested in steak sauce pales in comparison to the fact that he tuned into something in which I showed an interest. I don't mean to make it sound as if it is such a rare occurrence around here, but little things like this help buoy a gal up when the world weighs her down.
Here's the valentine I sent him. I likes it.

moar humorous pics
Off tonite to wait on Valentines diners. Better to make money than spend it!
Happy hearts to all of you.

Our new little bundle of joy...

I love exchange students. They come already potty trained and with their own spending money. We fetched Alex from the airport Wednesday nite, and headed for a day at Maul of America and the Park formerly known as Camp Snoopy. For your info, the past couple times we have laid down hard-earned money to go to the park, we have done a birthday package. The price is better, and the 5 hour time limit on the wristband is plenty if you plan for a good day. Middle of the week meant short lines. You also get some free game tokens and a cupcake. They were pronounced good, although apparently loaded with food coloring.


Hey! Scroll Wayyyyyy down and sign my guestbook. I saw that widget at Holtieshouse and had to go get my own!

Bo-ring

Life in my comfy rut plods along as per usual. The end of the school year is approaching at a frightening rate. One of the signals of this is dance recital, which happens tomorrow. Firestorm is the official videographer of said event, but this year, the Minnesota Scottish Fair unfortunately moved to the same weekend. iPastor is the regional commissioner or grand poobah or whatever of the Minnesota chapter of Clan MacDougallso his loyalties were a bit divided. He swapped labor with one of our trusty occasional camera ops, and will head off to the Fair while someone else runs the cam for once. I won't have to run a camera either, so for the first time in seven years, I will not have to watch the show through a viewfinder. Cool. Now I have to buy a ticket...
Nina seems to be responding well to chemo. She was almost her normal self last week at church. She still has a long road ahead, but hopefully it will all go this well.
With that, I leave you to go get all the little dancers settled in for their beauty rest. G'nite!

Chirp Chirp

The snow melted, and the temps have been decidedly more spring-like, so I've been spending a fair amount of time outside and not at the computer. Today is a pretty day, but the breeze makes it a bit too cool for a weenie like me to want to spend any real time out there, so I'm back to grace you all with my presence.

Yesterday was Thing 3's spring concert for school. They gave a little program about a bullfrog who bullied all the animals in the swamp. When they needed someone to sing for the swamp concert, they asked the bully-frog because they heard him sing in the shower, then he was friendly. Moral: if you want the lead in the show, bully everyone until you get it. Seems to work in real life...

I have been working since Easter with no full days off. I will work until April 27, when I go to women's retreat. I'll need it. Dang those bills, anyway.

I should now go feed the Things. You all have a delightful day!

A Monday morning funny

My inbox this morning contained the following anecdote of uncredited origin. It came via my wickedly witty friend Ann who needs to post on her blog more frequently for my enjoyment.

****

I was in Wal-Mart buying a large bag of Purina for my dog Lola and was in line to checkout.

A woman behind me asked if I had a dog........Duh!

I was feeling a bit crabby so on impulse, I told her no, I was starting The Purina Diet again, although I probably shouldn't because I'd ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I had awakened in an intensive care unit with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IV's in both arms.

Her eyes about bugged out of her head.

I went on and on with the bogus diet story and she was totally buying it.

I told her that it was an easy, inexpensive diet and that the way it works is to load your pockets or purse with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry.

The package said the food is nutritionally complete so I was going to try it again.
I have to mention here that practically everyone in the line was by now enthralled with my story, particularly a tall guy behind her.

Horrified, she asked if something in the dog food had poisoned me and was that why I ended up in the hospital.

I said no ..... I'd been sitting in the street licking my butt when a car hit me.

I thought the tall guy was going to have to be carried out the door.

****

With that, I return to the everyday ramble. Have a good one.

Certifiable

Proving once and for all that I should be institutionalized, I checked my family and a few extras into the local Country Inn and Suites for Thing 3's requested ninth birthday party. The calling card there was the pool, and it really didn't cost me much more than when I pack a herd of kids off to the bowling alley or skating rink for birthday mayhem. By and large, all kids were well-behaved, they just outnumbered me. They did run the complimentary hotel cookie jar completely dry in a matter of minutes, and I found out by the multitude of extra pillows that they had been sneaking off to the front desk one by one to get them. I think we had nine pillows in the room when we were done.
Now that we are safely home, I have been cleaning out the mud room/dog kennel, and biding my time until a quick trip to Granite Falls to meet my Ma and pick up some meat she and dad have been getting way cheap. It's always a hit to the grocery bill at once, but 40 pounds of pork loin goes a long way, even for a family of 6. And it's yummy! After I get back, I'll fetch Thing 4 and friends from the church program (got well-rounded kids, they attend several local church kid's programs. This one an all-day, once a month, one every Wednesay evening, and our Sunday program) they went to, and come home to fix dinner and maybe catch a quick nap before work. Gotta cram a Sunday School lesson in there, too. Dang. Better get at it. I'll chitter away at you folks some other time.

Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming...

We're cruising right along with the work, sleep, work, work, sleep, work schedule here. Not too bad actually. Makes the cold weather pass without too much misery. Today is sunny and we've had a break in the bitter cold. Think I'll take the dogs on a walk later.
I started on my taxes and was almost finished when I found an error from former job 1. Withheld too much FICA/Medicare. Bummer. Ye olde online tax software says DO NOT FILE until I get them to correct it. Poo. They're cramping my style. I like to do my taxes because ours is the poster family for the earned income credit. The annual tax refund catches up bills, pays off car loans, and otherwise rewards us for working 4 or 5 jobs between us and still residing under the poverty level. Wahoo. I am a huge fan of online filing, though. In the years I've been doing my own taxes online, the longest I've had to wait for a refund has been ten days. Gotta love that.
I guess Thing 4 thought the blog was good enough, because he clicked "publish" while I was chatting up the gas man. That aforementioned break in the weather made for a better day to run the propane tank dry. Never a good day for that, but at least it's still warm in here. The bottom floor is so drafty, I usually only keep the thermostat at 65 degrees or so, but while the furnace keeps the main floor at that temp, the uppers are usually nice and cozy. The kids have been properly drilled in keeping sweaters and slippers or shoes on, so we're comfy on all levels.
It seems as if most of my day was wasted behind a screen today, but iPastor and I spent a lot of time getting the financial house in order and forging a plan of attack. Off now to put the physical house in order and settle the family in for the night.

Not much news

Job #2 is swell, a few hours over lunch a few days a week. Hopefully flexible enough to facilitate the finishing of the degree as well.
The progress around the house has slowed considerably, but still continues, so that's hopeful.
Other than that, Tuesday means that we must kill time in town between dance classes. Today that means pizza with grandpa. I'm off to make a salad to go with that. TTFN!