Gmail

Is anyone else having problems getting into Gmail?

I've been getting the "Can't find server" message for two days and I'm starting to get upset. I've got email that I can't get to and I need the info, like yesterday.

This will teach me to not print that stuff out right away.

How to lose 4 days...

It's good to be back. heh.

My back has been very angry at me since Friday night (I still have no idea what did it) and I've spent the last 4 days either walking like I need a cane or just laying in bed. Yesterday was the first day I felt up to driving anywhere and today I can actually sit in a chair for more than 10 minutes.

So the recap.

Saturday morning, Dawn and I walked (shuffled) over to the school for the city Easter Egg Hunt at 9 am. The kids did their thing and they came home with prizes. Grace won a HUGE basket with a stuffed bunny and Tristan won a bottle of Bubbles. I worked a miracle, selling the "Bubbles are Better!" story. I climbed back into bed until I needed to get up for the Easter Cantada at church at 7 pm. I shuffled down the block for that and when we got home, I climbed back into bed.

Sunday, Joe went to work for a while and I set up for the indoor Egg Hunt. Dawn brought the kids over and they went crazy. We were planning on hiding eggs in the back yard, but it snowed overnight and was raining all morning. Joe got home just in time for the festivities and then we all headed to Fred's before the church rush. I got a regular heating pad and some self-heating things to go on my back because we had a Easter dinner to go to in the evening. The food was good and I met a fellow crafter, named Gina. She does all the same things I do, so it will be interesting to see if we get together soon.

Monday, you couldn't have pried me out of bed for anything. I finally got up about 10 am, shuffled around the house for food and kid requests and then read two entire books, while lying in bed. Joe didn't get home until late and it was Book Night with Bakka (my mom calls and reads a story to the kids over the phone), which Tristan decided not participate in. As soon as I got off the phone, he threw a fit sobbing that "Bakka had zoomed away" and "Bakka just put down her phone." Hard lesson in consequences. I tucked him in bed and read him a story (Mulan) and he was asleep in seconds.

Tuesday (yesterday) was Joe's day off. We bought some new shelving for the downstairs and spent most of the day cleaning, reorganizing and finding everything a home. Joe made a run to the dump in my car - and got it all muddy. The garage is filled again with stuff, but we will need to borrow the truck to get it all this time. I also got my new pants from Old Navy in the mail. I have officially lost a pant size and the new ones fit great.

We called the property manager to see about ripping out the kitchenette and propose signing another lease. The comment was made that they were considering selling it, so there is hope that we will be able to buy this house and not have to move again. We are still waiting to hear back on both subjects - not a big surprise.

Joe is back to work today and I'm trying to take it easy, but the house is a mess and it's starting to bug me. My back is feeling better, I can at least bend over and get up from a chair without help, but I don't want to over-do it.

Dawn came over for a bit this morning and we played with our stamping inks. We both made two pages of samples with our inks, so we know if we need "The Perfect Color" which one it is and which one of us has it.

I still need to get the kitchen/living room cleaned up (at least) and we have Cubbies tonight, so I'll have to tackle baths this afternoon. Crawling back in bed and reading another book sounds like it might be the best thing for me right now.

Getting to Know...

Me!

Welcome to the 2005 edition of getting to know your friends. What you are supposed to do is copy (not forward) this entire e-mail and paste it onto a new e-mail that you'll send. Change all the answers so they apply to you, and then send this to a whole bunch of people including the person who sent it to you. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little things about your friends, if you did not know them already.

1. What time did you get up this morning? Awake at 7 am, out of bed at 9 am. Not normal!
2. Diamonds or pearls? Both.
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Hitch - last month
4. What is your favorite TV show? Amazing Race
5. What did you have for breakfast? Coffee and a Costco muffin
6. What is your middle name? Kathryn
7. What is your favorite cuisine? Italian
8. What foods do you dislike? oysters, chocolate pudding, sushi
9. What are your favorite Potato chips? Cheetos, Fritos and any tortilla chips
10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Big and Rich, Newsboys
11. What kind of car do your drive? Ford Focus Wagon
12. Favorite sandwich? Rueben
13. What characteristics do you dislike? Dishonesty
14. Favorite item of clothing? Fleece pants
15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Ireland
16. What color is your bathroom? White, with purple accents
17. Favorite brand of clothing? Old Navy pants
18. Where would you retire to? I have no idea.
19. Favorite time of day? Morning
20. Where were you born? Wyoming
21. Favorite sport to watch? Football
24. What fabric detergent do you use? Right now, Kirkland brand, but usually All, Free and Clear
25. Coke or Pepsi? Pepsi, but I'm addicted to Mt. Dew.
26. Are you a morning person or night owl? Morning person
27. What is your shoe size? 8 or 8.5
28. Do you have pets? Not right now.
29. Any news you'd like to share with your family and friends? Nothing new.
30. What did you want to be when you were little? A nurse.

Spring Fever

Spring is on the way. Finally!

Yesterday, Dawn and I took the kids over to the nearby park - for 2 hours! We just soaked up the sun and let the kids play. Lunch was picnic style in the front yard, until her son threw a fit, the likes of which Grace could match at that age.

Last night, I got to be a (substitute) Teacher at Cubbies and the puppet show was about Spring too. Go figure. :o)

I need to get to Costco this morning and drop off a couple of payments in town, so I can enjoy the afternoon weather - calling for highs near 50*. It's already clear and sunny. I'm ignoring the last of the snow in the front yard and letting the kids run around without coats.

We planted some seeds in a starter greenhouse and we are getting sprouts after only a couple of days. We should have a great garden if they keep growing gangbusters. The kids are excited to check on them too.

Wednesday Already?

Monday - I was up with Tristan at 4:35 am, so I figured I night as well get dressed and head to the gym. I did 16 minutes on the elliptical and headed home, while I could still walk under my own power. I am sorely out of shape for sustained exercise. I got home and started quilting on The Quilt. The kids were up about 6:30 am, with the sun so to speak. I got a shower, left the kids in the care of the sleeping form (otherwise known as Daddy) and headed to the Dr. for my blood draw. I was back within 20 minutes (LOVE living in a small town!) and went right back to quilting. Joe left for work about 10 am and by noon, The Quilt was DONE!! I took a nap and then we all headed over to Dawn's house for the afternoon. The kid's were home and asleep by 7:45 pm. I was out by 9 pm.

Tuesday - the kids tried the Early To Rise act again and I told them to get back in bed! That worked until 7:08 am. I made coffee and read a book until Dawn needed me to help her shuttle her car to the shop. Joe finally got up at noon, I trimmed his hair and he left for work (on his day off). I went to the PO and mailed The Quilt (Yippee!!!) with the kids and came home to lounge around for the rest of the afternoon. The kids picked up the living room and I did the dishes. I finished my book, started another knitting project and ordered some new pants from Old Navy, a size smaller! Joe made it home about 7 pm and I left with Dawn again to go pick up her car. The kids were in bed by 8 pm. Tristan fell asleep holding his water bottle! I watched Rob and Amber kick behind on the Amazing Race and then went to bed. What a thrilling life I lead, I know.

Today, I have grand plans to wait for the mail carrier and hope my Sensaria order is delivered today. I need to get the air miles total and see if we get a break on tickets for our trip to Seattle in July. I need to make those reservations as soon as I can too. I want to go to Costco and find a book I didn't buy last time I was there, but now really want to read. I have film to pick up at Fred's and another roll to drop off. I might take the kids to the gym for a Creative Movement class, if their coughs have improved. It's very possible that I will stay home and knit or scrapbook all afternoon too. Grace has Cubbies tonight and I was planning on staying for her class, but I can't remember why right now.

I best go get my coffee made and hop in the shower before the day gets away from me.

Sunday Review

The retreat was good. I wish it had been longer though. I slept on a top bunk and it was very much like Girl Scout Camp, but without all the giggling. I also didn't break out my stash of chocolate and cookies. Apparently, they were all about eating healthy food, so I figured it was a reminder that I was not needing to binge on junk.

I met some wonderful ladies, who (I am ashamed to admit) I didn't even know went to our church. That reflection is not only of my own avoidance of meeting strangers, but also of the self-reliant nature of the people that live here. No one needs anyone else for anything, so it seems. It also didn't help that we have been sick (seemingly all winter) and I refuse to get everyone else (and their kids) sick, just so I can be at church every weekend. There were several comments of my sparse attendance since moving here six months ago, but not one of the ladies had ever asked if there was anything they could do to help.

Anyway, it was relaxing and next year, I should know more people and I will have been more involved with church activities this year. I asked about getting it changed to two days next year and it sounds like that will be the plan. I will just work on the homecoming, as this one lost me the Wife and Mom of the Year Award. I won't go into details, but it scares me that missing my Prozac one day can cause me to be so emotional. Of course, I don't know if that was the only reason, but I think it was a factor. Maybe the lack of chocolate affected me too.

The car is great. Her name is Esmerelda Olivia. I am loving the freedom of going where I want, when I want. It is proving to be a strange adjustment though and I'm finding out everyone has a thought on how I should be spending my time. I'm going to practice my "No, I can't" without adding, "I'm Sorry." Because I won't be.

I go in for another re-test for my cholesterol in the morning. My doctor didn't believe the results, so he's ordering a different test this time. I lost 13 pounds, improved my blood pressure and it makes no sense that the numbers went up.

I'm tracking the last of the Iditarod mushers (3) still on the trail. I need to update with all of the stuff that happened in the last week too, but that might just have to wait.

I finished another scarf at the retreat and I want to learn how to make something else. Like hats and mittens. I will be stopping by the LYS (local yarn store) for the class schedule this week.

I have to finish The Quilt and get it in the mail early this week. I'm ready just to be done with it. I have some blocks to make by the end of the month and I'm feeling the time crunch. I want to get my obligations done so I can take a break.

I have a bunch of stuff to scrapbook and I'm going to focus on that next. My mom brought out three albums from when I was little (all in magnetic pages) and I want to get them transferred as soon as I can. I also need to get a grip on my 2005 pages BEFORE I get behind anymore. The digital media mess I have is daunting, so I'm trying to break it down as best I can. I'm going to try monthly pages and I need to get back to the SC forum regularly.

I'm going to start going to the gym in the morning, before Joe goes to work and then go back in the evenings with him to lift weights. I need the extra cardio time and I have friends already meeting at 5 am. Now, just to get to bed early enough tonight and I could have a very productive day tomorrow. I also want to reach my goal weight before our trip Down South in July. I could shop for a new wardrobe. *winks*

New Addition to the Family

I'll be bringing her home later today.

The parent's visit went well and thanks to the Bank of Mom for the financing.

The kids are coughing and hacking again and I'm just hoping I don't get worse. I go on my retreat tomorrow afternoon and Fishing Guy will be leaving the kids in the care of a sitter (for the first time) while I'm gone.

I'll try and update before I leave, otherwise I'll be back on Sunday sometime.

Happy St. Patty's Day!

TGIF!!

After yesterday, I'm feeling rested (finally) and happy that the house is half clean.

My Sensaria party was fun. Small, but fun. We laughed a lot and the treats I made were a hit. There were only 4 of us (5 with the consultant, who is a friend too) and everyone left about 9:30 pm. I have so many cut up apples leftover, that I think I'll make an apple crisp today. It seems that the cream puffs and brownies were much more popular.

I talked to my sister-in-law, Racheal, for the first time in several months and that actually went well. I also got her punch recipe for the party and everyone was thrilled with it.

I've got today and tomorrow to get the basement cleaned up and ready for guests. My parents arrive tomorrow night for 3 days. I'm procrastinating (of course) by updating my blogs, checking on the Iditarod and avoiding the HUGE quilt I should be working on. I have laundry to do and I feel like knitting instead, while I watch my recording of Survivor from last night.

In fact, I think that's what I'll go do right now. :o)

Hump Day

And boy, does it feel like it this week.

For Pez (and anyone else wondering) I've been updating about the Iditarod on my "other" blog.

http://fromtheeaglesnest.blogspot.com/

It's too much to cross post all of the info, so go there if you are interested. It also saves those of you who couldn't care less, from reading about it. *winks*

Tonight is Cubbies. I have to go pick up the child in a few minutes. She loves it and I literally have to drag her home.

Tomorrow is my Sensaria party and I HAVE to finish cleaning the upstairs/kitchen.

In order to be really on top of things, I decided to start reading a book (Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons) today instead. Thanks Pez, for the recommend! I'm loving it so far and really wishing that I had a book club. I have to remember to record Survivor tomorrow night too! No TiVo. *Sniff*

Friday and Saturday, I will finish cleaning the rest of the house, in preparation for my parents coming to visit for three days. They will arrive Saturday night and leave early next Wednesday morning. I have a Ladies Retreat on Friday night, coming home Saturday afternoon.

Somewhere in there, I have to finish a quilt and keep up on the Iditarod, as well as the normal family stuff. I'll check in as I can!

The word of the day...

...is Hippo-Pie-Potamus. By The Prince.

When I asked him why there was pie?

"Maybe the hippo ate it."

Now, it is simply the Pie-potamus. And I will be laughing all morning.

Dog Fever!

It is Iditarod time here in Alaska!

I have a friend of my aunt's racing this year, Rob Greger, so I've been following the results like a freak. There is also a young woman racing, Rachael Scdoris, who is legally blind and a couple of other mushers (Alaska legends) I'm tracking. I'll post more about them later.

They started the actual race yesterday at 2 pm Alaska time and I was checking the results until just after midnight. I resisted getting up in the middle of the night to check. Instead, I ran right downstairs, at 7:30 am when the kids got me up, with my bowl of Cheerios. Nothing much happened during the night, so I was relieved. LOL!

Rob is on his way to the Finger Lake checkpoint this morning (as of about an hour ago) and running about 50th. It's too early to pick a leader yet, as there is still about 1000 miles to go.

If anyone needs me, I'll be only an arms reach away from the computer for the next 10+ days.

"Healthy" is a Pipe Dream

I'm sitting here with the latest results from my cholesterol tests that came in the mail today. (and I'm just now reading at 9 pm)

My numbers went UP.

I'm hoping there is an error because if not, I'm likely to drop dead tomorrow. And when I say they went up? It was by almost 100 points each for the total cholesterol count and the LDL (bad).

In 2 months.

In those 2 months, I lost 13 pounds and ate better than I have in years. I actually ate salad ya'll and that is a rare thing. I've eaten more protein and no cookies. I've tried to be more active. I've eaten more fiber and drank more water.

And now this.

Pass the chocolate. I'm going down in flames.

"Cousin Mojo"

Also known as Quasimodo - from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. LOL!! The Princess left me with that little gem before she fell asleep last night.

Have a Great Thursday!

Tuesday, March 1st, 2005

1:51 am - Grace is up and needs the light on to sleep. A quick potty stop and then I tucked her in on the couch with the lamp on. I go back to bed.

6:10 am - The alarm goes off for Joe to go to work. He gets up and resets it for an hour later.

7:10 am - The alarm goes off for the second time and Joe gets up. His morning routine includes turning on the light to find his socks. For some reason, this morning he also turned on the radio (loud) in the bathroom and I woke up to "Save a Horse," followed by "Mud on the Tires."

7:22 am - Grace is awake and wondering if she can watch cartoons. I got some snuggles from her and sent her back to the couch. I try to disappear under the covers again.

7:31 am - Joe is out of the bathroom, Grace is back in the bedroom and Tristan is just climbing out of bed. I'm forced out of bed against my will. Goodbye cozy flannel sheets.

7:40 am - Joe is walking out the door. I look outside to realize that it is Trash Day. Joe takes out the trash!, with help from Grace (wearing her Hello Kitty rain boots, pj pants, long john top and the hood to Tristan's coat). Joe leaves for work without coming back through the house. He is pulling out of the driveway and I have to wave him back because Tristan is heartbroken and crying crocodile tears. Daddy left without saying goodbye. Hugs and kisses make everything better. Daddy finally leaves for work.

7:50 am - Bribe the kids with promises of watching the new Netflix movie "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." Tristan counts to 10, while watching the DVD scan. Four times. Realize, after Grace has changed into her Esmerelda dress-up dress, that the DVD isn't reading because it is cracked in half. Tears follow. Go downstairs to log on to the Netflix site and report the damage and to get another copy shipped right away. Explain that it won't be here today. More tears. Distract with video game.

8:15 am - I check email, forum messages and decide to blog because the kids are playing Monster Jam on the PS2. Together. Without fighting.

9:00 am - NEED COFFEE. Head up stairs to make coffee and breakfast. Unload dishwasher, reload and run again. Drink some coffee. Add more creamer. Send Grace out to the mailbox to put in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" in time for the mail pickup this morning. Run down to the garage for box of milk*. Restart dryer. Back upstairs. Drink some coffee. Add warm coffee from the pot. Pour cereal for kids. Potty for Grace. Wash hands. Drink coffee. Look for clothes to wear and end up folding a basket of laundry. Kids help put away their things. Drink more coffee. Add more creamer. Tristan's diaper changed and dressed. I'm still in my PJ's.

*We have an emergency supply of boxed milk in the garage. It doesn't need to be refrigerated until it's opened and is great for the mornings I wake up and realize we have exactly 1/4 inch of milk in the jug. My dad introduced me to it when we went camping last summer and we can buy it here at Costco by the case. It's also handy for when all the stores in town run out of milk before the next barge comes in.

10:25 am - I finally get into the shower. Play "Save a Horse" on the CD player and dance and sing in the shower. Get dressed. Dance with the kids. Practice dips. Clean up breakfast dishes. Wash off counter. Throw away dead roses. Rinse out vase.

11:00 am - Put in "Pocahontas" for the kids. Head back downstairs to pay a couple of bills. End up back on the computer playing "Jewel Quest" and checking email. Still drinking the same cup of coffee.

11:29 am - Tristan is bored with the movie and needs me to tie his Musketeer cape on him. For some reason, he needs it to play with the Matchbox Car Wash. Head back upstairs to change his poopy diaper.

11:35 am - Fix snacks/lunch. Work on the puzzle.

1:10 pm - Joe comes home from work. With 2 gallons of milk. Work on the puzzle more.

1:22 pm - Dawn calls from next door. Chat for a while. Make plans to go run errands after Rob gets home at 3 pm. Get list ready. Prepare bank deposit. Cut out JoAnn's coupon. Talk with Joe. Get dressed to go out.

3:05 pm - Put coat on and work on puzzle, while waiting for Dawn to call.

3:22 pm - Dawn calls. Head out the door with Grace in tow. She was good today and she really wants to go look at fabric. Clean out the front seat of the car. Back inside for a quick potty stop and a change of boots.

3:30 pm - Head out. Drive by post office, line is out the door. Go to bank. No line. Go to JoAnn's. Buy batting (40% coupon), thread and square punch (50% off) = $30. Drive back to post office. Stand behind 2 people in line, while line of 10+ forms behind us, Dawn waits in the car. Mail quilty packages = $1.35. Drive home.

5:01 pm - Try to figure out what to make for dinner. Steal Dawn's idea and make spaghetti. Kid's have polish dogs I was going to put in the sauce instead. Remembered the garlic bread in the freezer and am forgiven for being out of Parmesan cheese.

6:15 pm - Work on the puzzle again.

6:57 pm - Head downstairs to play darts. Skip NCIS because it's a rerun.

7:50 pm - Go back upstairs to clean up dinner before Joe comes up to watch AR with me.

8:00 pm - Amazing Race starts. Be even more excited, as I forgot that Rob and Amber were in this one. Put the kids to bed on the commercial breaks. Joe is playing Tennis on the PS2, downstairs until 9:30 pm. Finish watching AR in the bedroom.

10:05 pm - I'm sound asleep.

11:17 pm - Joe climbs back into bed, waking me up. Turns out Grace had fallen out of bed, but hadn't woken up. All is fine now. Go back to sleep.

The Creative Muse has returned!

Praise God, I got some quilting done yesterday!

The new table rocks too. I put the new stereo together and got to work. I finished the base quilting on my lap quilt and pieced the backing for the comfort quilt. I need to baste everything together and then get moving on the quilting.

I have to go get more batting, because the piece I have is about 3 inches too short. *grumble* Of course, I had to clean the downstairs, vacuum and pick up all the toys, only to find out the quilt is too big to fit on the open floor space. Lather, rinse and repeat for the upstairs (except the quilt DID fit on the floor) and I found out the batting was too short about 9 pm last night.

I'm almost caught up with the laundry. Joe went into work for a few hours this morning and then I have to get to the bank, post office and JoAnn's this afternoon. We might go look at a couple of houses for sale too.

Right now, I HAVE to go get some coffee made!!