Vacation recap, Day 1.

Friday, July 14

Our adventure began at the airport. R&K had never flown before, so they were interested to see what happens beyond the security checkpoint. We ate lunch at McDonalds and were on our way! The view from the plane entranced the kids, and we took a bunch of pictures of the landscape and clouds.




After landing, we took the shuttle to the rental car agency. We were lucky to have a relatively short wait, but B was stuck guarding all our stuff while I dealt with the guy at the counter.

We ended up traveling with 10 bags: four suitcases, four backpacks, my purse, and our cooler for R's factor. (After all my stressing over getting syringes through security, not a soul said a word about all of the needles in our carry-on.)

Our car wasn't ready, so they gave us a Saturn Vue, a compact SUV. It ended up being the perfect size for us and our 10 bags!

From there we just had to get our feet wet, so to speak, so we headed towards the Pacific. Our first stop: the Santa Monica Pier. It was GORGEOUS!

The temperature in the upper-70s combined with the cold water of the Pacific let us know that we weren't in Texas anymore. We spent a little time walking along the famous pier:

At one end of the pier is an amusement park. Elsewhere, lots of vendors sell T-shirts, trinkets and miscellaneous art, but we were there mostly for the view.

The water was WAY too cold for me and B, but R&K just had to catch a wave (or two or 100).

From the beach we headed down Wilshire toward our hosts' house. The drive alone was amazing! We saw Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive and more luxury cars than we could count. I also got my first real taste of LA traffic. Good grief, those are some narrow lanes! And everybody keeps "beeping" (K's word for honking)!

After our scenic drive, we ended up at K&D's beautiful house, deluxe accommodations to be sure.

Even though they'd been at work all day, K&D were making pizza for us when we arrived. If you know K&D, you know they weren't just slapping some tomato sauce and pepperoni on the crust. We're talking gourmet pizza with the freshest ingredients, served alongside a tasty salad. We ate dinner in their backyard gazebo. The air was cool, and the aromas from their rosebushes and lemon trees were delightful.

B&I had our own suite, and R was set up in the den next to K&D's bedroom. Our K opted for a room downstairs, removed from the rest of us but all her own. (It was the same room where I stayed for the Rose Bowl in January!) Of course, before we went to bed, the kids had to explore the house, and they were impressed with the "secret" wine cellar (hidden behind artwork) and all of the animal paintings and sculptures around the house.

So that's Day 1. We were so thankful to have arrived safely, and we were excited that our journey had just begun.

California, here we are!

We made it! We arrived in LA Friday afternoon and have already had a fantastic vacation. Santa Monica Pier, Hollywood Boulevard, Chinese Theater, Forrest J. Ackerman's house, the Brady Bunch house, the cemetery where Marilyn Monroe and many other celebrities are buried, Griffith Park (with its view of the Hollywood sign), Universal Studios... Just incredible. And even more amazing: our hosts. They are the ultimate host and hostess, feeding us so very well and just generally taking care of us in every way imaginable.

We'll post a few pix once we return, so stay tuned!

California, here we come...

...or "See What a Dork I Am."

I LOVE planning for trips, and our big vacation (starting Friday) is no exception! Here's my portfolio of Cali-Fun:

















For weeks I've been scouring the internet, looking up destinations, comparing prices, searching for discounts, printing maps. Because I am such a geek, I enjoy all this prep work almost as much as the trip itself! When we get there, I like to have all this info on hand so we can pick and choose our activities without too much stress. And no, I don't for a second think we'll do all of the stuff in my folder. But it's nice to have options!

We'll be gone for nine days and will see L.A., Disneyland and San Diego. B will spend much of his SD time at the San Diego Comic-Con, the ultimate convention of its sort. We can't remember the last time we were away from home for so long, and it'll be the first flight for R&K.

I'm looking forward to seeing some friends in LA who will be our hosts. R, our future film director, is excited about seeing Hollywood, Universal Studios and the Warner Bros. lot. Both R&K are REALLY excited about going to Disneyland! Last night we watched an old Sing-Along Songs video of "Disneyland Fun," and even though it's a little outdated, just seeing a little of the place helped pump us up--as if we needed any help. And B is looking forward to hanging out in person with some of his fellow comics reviewers.

Wheeeee!!!!

Happy birthday, USA!

The rain made us reconsider our original plans to go to Bedford's 4thfest, but at the last minute, we headed to the old Traders Village area to see the fireworks at the old Birdville Stadium. Pretty good show, plenty of parking, and nice breezes to keep us cool. Not bad!

It's been six months and I'm still grinning!

Be amused.

On a lighter note...

As I drove towards Oklahoma City, I noticed a number of billboards with similar sayings on them: "Be --something--." I never could figure out who sponsors the signs, but they're probably tourism-related to get folks fired up about Oklahoma destinations. "Be spellbound." "Be fascinated." "Be amazed." Then there was this one sign just south of Norman, Oklahoma: "Be alive." Now that wouldn't be so bad, but as my eyes left that sign, they immediately fell on this, just across the interstate.

I know it's hard to tell from this picture (taken from a minivan in motion), but this is a cemetery that's within a hundred feet of the "Be alive" sign. Hmmm...

OKC is OK.

This week R spent five days at Camp Impact on the Oklahoma Christian University campus in Edmond. Because the camp director wanted a parent to oversee R's factor infusions, K and I spent a few days in Oklahoma, too. R left the church building right after second service Sunday, and K and I hit 35 Monday right after lunch. Our first stop was at the camp to deliver a friend's left-behind backpack. It was strange to see all these kids from church out of their usual environment, but it was so good to see R and his buddies having a good time.

After that, K and I checked into our hotel in Oklahoma City and then went to Cracker Barrel for supper. K enjoyed the IQ tester at our table...

as well as the giant lollipop she bought from the Cracker Barrel store.

After dinner we headed back to our hotel and swam in the indoor pool (TOO COLD!) and soaked in the hot tub (JUST RIGHT!).

Tuesday morning we woke up early to head back to Edmond for the factor infusion. Of course, R's an infusing pro so that was easy. After we walked R from the nursing station back to the dining hall to join his fellow campers, K and I had the rest of the day free to sightsee.

Our first stop was the Oklahoma City National Memorial. It was remarkably moving. It was so moving that I'm going to give that part of our trip its own entry later. Just WOW.

After that we found a mall with a Build-a-Bear Workshop in it. K has had a giftcard and I've had discount cards for that place since her birthday party at our Fort Worth BABW last October, so I figured this "just the girls" trip was the perfect time to redeem them. So may I introduce Dirk Noweisski (my creation) and Kesey (K's):

After a quick pit stop at our hotel, we again hit the streets of OKC, this time to see Bricktown. Bricktown is the old warehouse district that's been renovated to include a bunch of restaurants and the big draw, a canal a la the San Antonio Riverwalk. Of course, we had to ride a canal boat!

Our boat captain told about the history of Bricktown and about the sales tax OKC citizens had voted on to pay for improvements all over the city. He also pointed out the corporate headquarters of probably the best Cherry Diet Coke and Cheddar Pepper provider in the world:

The Sonic building is right there along the canal. Before the day was up, K and I ate supper at the nearby Sonic cafe--one of the indoor Sonics where customers order from their booths by picking up a phone. Fun stuff!

Farther along the canal we saw the first of what will eventually be several statues to depict the great Oklahoma land rush.

The statues were impressive and all, but I couldn't stop thinking about how the sooners got their name. They were basically land thieves! They started staking their claims sooner than they were supposed to! Gotta love that.

Along the canal are several restaurants, including Toby Keith's I Love This Bar and Grill, a movie theatre, and Bass Pro Shops. The area is also home to the Bricktown Ballpark where the Oklahoma Redhawks play.

The Redhawks are a triple-A minor league baseball team affiliated with the Rangers. K was up for a game, so we headed to the ticket booth. Turns out Tuesdays are two-fer days at the park, and with a Coke can, we could get two-for-one admission. A quick trip to a convenience store and 75 cents later, we had our Coke can and could buy two prime seats for $11. Not bad! We ended up being between home plate and the home dugout to watch the Redhawks take on the Round Rock Express.

The free thundersticks they were giving out helped K get in the mood:

The two-for-one soft drinks were a nice surprise, too. Four bucks got us two big drinks in the souvenir cups. What a deal! We both got into the game and were--believe it or not--disappointed when Oklahoma lost 2-1. (That may be the ONLY time you'll ever hear me say that!) I've always heard that minor league clubs try to generate excitement at their games, and now I know it's true! Every half-inning had some kind of crazy race or silly stunt. It made for a great evening, even if we were surrounded by a jillion fans in OU T-shirts and hats.

After the game, K wanted one more boat ride, so we hit the canal for a third time. The captain of our second cruise had suggested we take advantage of our all-day wristbands and come back after dark, and we were glad we did!

The lights were pretty, and we got to hear what a third captain had to say about the canal and OKC. By the time our ride was finished, it was getting late. We quickly drove past the memorial again just to see the chairs lit up, but then it was time for bed.

Wednesday morning at camp was a repeat of Tuesday, but this time, we had to say goodbye to R. Of course, knowing we'd see him back home the next afternoon made for a pretty easy farewell! Anyway, we did factor again, and again, he did a great job. (Notice K's "delight" at this part of our trip!)

After the infusion, K and I loaded up and headed home. We ate lunch in Ardmore at Mazzio's Pizza, which brought back memories of many a Friday night in Tyler after the high school football games. We were thrilled to get home before 2 that afternoon to see B/Daddy and give him a great big hug!

I have to admit that I was surprised by all the fun things we found to do in OKC. That OU paperclip symbol sure seemed to be everywhere, and one radio station played Boomer Sooner for no apparent reason. But beyond that, OKC has plenty to offer! We had several other places we would've loved to visit if we'd just had a little more time.

The next day R was home, too, so we celebrated the reunion of our Fantastic Four!

Remembering Baylee.

On Tuesday, Katie and I headed to downtown OKC to see the Oklahoma City National Memorial. Ever since the memorial was dedicated, I've wanted to see it for myself. Katie didn't know much about the bombing, but I'll never forget that day in April 1995 when 168 people died.

The memorial is stunning. When we first walked onto the grounds, we couldn't miss the "Gates of Time," two large structures with 9:01 and 9:03 on them. The flowing water between the two times represents 9:02, the minute the bomb went off. To one side of the pool is the field of chairs, each representing a victim. On a grassy area that's the footprint of the original building, the 168 chairs in nine rows represent the nine floors of the Murrah building. On the other side of the water is the Survivor Tree, an elm that survived the blast despite being in a parking lot directly across from the explosion. Its outline is now part of the memorial's logo.

Katie and I walked up to the Survivor Tree, which overlooks all of those empty chairs. The tears just came. I tried to explain to Katie how her Daddy and I had been married a little less than a year when the bombing had occurred, how we watched the news coverage in our first home, our apartment in North Richland Hills. I told her how sad everyone was that this terrorism could happen here on American soil and so very close to home. Of course, the enormity of 9/11 seems to overshadow Oklahoma City now, but the '95 bombing really woke me up to the hatred that's out there. Katie was really trying to grasp why this was such a big deal, so I told her how each of the empty chairs represents lots of people--friends, family, coworkers--who have empty places in their lives now because of that day's events.


I explained why some of the chairs are smaller, how the daycare center that had been on the second floor was buried beneath floors 3-9, how the murder of these babies and toddlers had underscored the depravity of those who did this.

And then I told her about Baylee.

Everybody remembers Baylee. She was one year and one day old on April 19, 1995. That day, as a firefighter gently cradled her lifeless body, a photographer captured an image that would symbolize the bombing. That's the photo that everyone who remembers that day can recall, a photo that led Baylee's mom and the firefighter to sue to halt its publication. That iconic image isn't the one that had the biggest effect on me, though. Soon after the bombing, the newspaper ran photos of all the victims. Among the men and women, boys and girls, there was this picture of Baylee, in her little Minnie Mouse overalls and pink headband, smiling for all the world. That's the picture that shook me to my core the second I saw it. I can still remember shaking, crying, taking the paper to Brett in another room of the apartment. Sweet Baylee!

After walking around the outdoor memorial, Katie and I toured the museum nearby. The museum does an exceptional job of telling the story of that day and the days that have followed. It shows what life was like on that April morning before the bomb exploded at 9:02. Lost watches, briefcases, coffee mugs and shoes pulled from the rubble were on display. Survivor stories--written ones accessed through a computer and filmed ones playing on large screens--helped us feel the chaos that followed the moment when their workplace crumbled under the feet and over their heads. One section had information and artifacts from the investigation that ended with McVeigh's execution (including the axle housing from the Ryder truck). Another section honors all the rescuers and other people who helped OKC heal after the bombing. And then there was the room with the funeral music.

In that room are 168 plastic boxes, each with a photo of a victim, most with personal items the victims' families chose to represent their lost loved ones. There were family photos, Bibles, lipstick, awards. And in one box, there was a Baby Miss Piggy toy. That was Baylee's box.

And she was just one of NINETEEN children who died that day. Baylee's chair is just one of 19 empty little chairs on a grassy field in downtown Oklahoma City.

Now is the time to worship.

Megann, a friend from church, has cancer, and she needs a miracle. Please pray for her! A blog has been established to provide information and updates:

http://megannupdates.blogspot.com/

That link can give you some details, but it can't possibly relay Megann's sweet spirit! Our small group at church has been so blessed since she and her husband came along, but ever since her initial diagnosis last August, we have been amazed by her strength and faith. She has ministered to us through her perseverance in ways she'll never know.

A few weeks ago, she learned that her cancer had likely returned. Our small group gathered at her home to pray with her the night before the surgery to confirm the recurrence. The assembled prayed, cried, prayed some more, and I think we all left uplifted and tuned in to God's power. When I got in the car to drive home, however, I felt very small and, in spite of all the praying, somehow detached from God. I was MAD. How could God let this happen to Megann? Then I turned on the radio, and the song that was just starting was "Come, Now is the Time to Worship." And that was exactly what I needed to hear. NOW--when we're scared and mad and depressed and frustrated, when we're questioning how all of this bad stuff could happen to such a faithful believer--NOW is the time to say YES! You are our God and we WORSHIP YOU. We THANK YOU for all the wonderful things you're doing in our lives every day and for the ways you have and will continue to bless Megann.

Come, now is the time to worship.
Come, now is the time to give your heart.
Come, just as you are to worship.
Come, just as you are before your God.
Come.
(by Brian Doerksen)

I don't have to have the perfect attitude to worship him. I can worship just as I am, with my anger, my doubts, my fears. God is good!

Please join us in praying for Megann.

Superheroes and Pink Things.

Yesterday we made our annual trek to Six Flags. It was a pleasant day: The crowds weren't too bad, we had a few rainshowers to cool us off, and the new rides were welcome additions to the park. We were pleased to see that the Six Flags folks are finally cashing in on their Warner Bros. connection and incorporating the DC superheroes into the park. We had barely made it inside the front gate when we met Green Lantern...
















and the Flash, of course!
















We rode all but one of the new rides and enjoyed them thoroughly. They're billed as "family friendly," and our family found them to be just that. From Crazy Legs...
















to the Batwing...

to our old favorite, the Sidewinder (formerly the Scrambler), we enjoyed the carnival-type, go-around-in-a-circle rides. Then there were the spinners, such as the Cloud Bouncer (in which you can spin your gondola as your hot air balloon lifts you) and the teacups (with the Spanish name I can't recall--something de los Tazas, I think). Both let us spin ourselves around as much as we wanted. (Not recommended for visitors with full stomachs.) A few bouncy rides like Boot Scootin' and Rodeo were more fun to ride than they first looked, and the Acme Rockin' Rocket was fantastic, like the Conquistador out of control, rocking higher and higher until finally flipping us upside down.

We all got to ride our favorite rides, but K was sad to miss out on the Batman ride. She was just millimeters too short, but she overcame her disappointment by riding the other coasters we love: Titan, Giant, the Judge. She and I also had two rides on the Superman Tower of Power. Wow! That was breathtaking!

Both R and K were thrilled to win stuffed snakes since the teenager at the "Guess Your Weight" booth couldn't tell exactly how much they weigh, which led to sophisticated parkwear such as this:

We couldn't leave before we got in a little shopping at the Justice League store...

and of course, we had to get our Pink Things (even if the price doubled from $1 to $2 since last year):

Because this year is Six Flags' 45th anniversary, the park was decorated with old photos from years past. By the Tower, for instance, there was a picture of the old slide. It was neat to see those glimpses from the Six Flags of our youth, just as it was interesting to see a glimpse of our future, just eight years away:
















We're exhausted today and our feet are more than a little sore, but we still love Six Flags and will look forward to next year.

Check and check.

Music camp? Check.

SAT class? Check.

Today feels like a fresh start to the summer. I still have plenty of obligations to fulfill (curriculum writing, planning for fall, prepping for camp/vacation), but it is a huge relief to have some free time on the horizon after these past two weeks.

Music camp was great fun, as always, but it's an exhausting week! And with all the rehearsals and outings and lunch breaks with 58 kids, I have reaffirmed my calling to teach HIGH SCHOOL. Whew! The camp's younger crowd generates energy and noise levels that just amaze me! The performances blow me away, too, though, and it's so much fun to spend a week with (or at least near) R&K. Being able to help with music camp is one of many blessings that come from getting "laid off" every summer.

About 13 hours after we struck the set for the children's musical Sunday night, I was at Trinity High School to begin teaching an SAT prep class. Because I've taught this class for two summers already, this is a pretty low-stress gig. In spite of the two sets of essays I had to grade, the class was beneficial because it allows me to keep abreast of the SAT and interact with a variety of students. This summer, since I'm helping to write senior English curriculum for the district, I spent Monday and Wednesday afternoons after the class working with my writing partner. Since she teaches at THS, it was awfully convenient to meet in her classroom after lunch. We were able to wrap up our tasks that were due this week and get a head start on the units we'll be writing individually throughout the summer and fall. It felt good to check off that item from my "to do" list.

So here I am, tackling the piles of laundry that have accumulated this week and updating this blog. B had an errand to run for work, so R&K went with him. They'll stop by the bowling alley before heading home; they each get a free game every day of the summer. So right now, I hear nothing but the soft rumbling of the washer, which is surprisingly soothing. And even as I enjoy the relative silence, I'll be even happier to hear the glass door creak to announce that my family's home for the afternoon--a whole summer afternoon to fill. I'm hoping that in November, when work is beating me down and I'm questioning my career choice, I can look back at this post and see the light at the end of the school year! I do enjoy my job--most of the time--but this stay-at-home mom stuff is THE BEST.

This is what summer looks like.

a.k.a. the day I took the time to post pictures!

R thinks ChaCha looks mean in that other picture.

So here's a better one of her!




















And here's one with R and both chitties:

Meet the kitties.

Introducing KitKat...
















and ChaCha!

KitKat and ChaCha are sisters and look an awful lot alike. ChaCha has little white streaks down her nose (they look like paint) and a black spot on one of her hind paws.

WE LOVE THEM.

First, a confession: I'm a dog person. Always have been, thought I always would be. Then KitKat and ChaCha came into our lives. B and I are still terribly allergic to them, but these outdoor cats have already given us so much joy! We spend more time in our backyard just watching them play and run around. The swing we bought two summers ago has never seen so much use! We'll spend hours just swinging and talking "kitty talk" and trying not to howl as a cat claws her way up to the seat, using a bare leg as her ladder.

A few times the kittens have run away, sending our household into a near panic, but so far, our kind neighbors have helped return them to their home. We started out with them in our gazebo, but now that they're free to roam our backyard, they tend to stay around or under the deck. Most mornings, I start my day by checking the "chitties" (as B has nicknamed them), and until I see both of their furry little bodies, I can't do much else.

A lovely Saturday already

I woke up first, around 7, grabbed a Diet Coke, slipped on my sandals, found my book (Where or When, Anita Shreve), and headed outside. After feeding our hungry kitties, I meandered to the swing to read.

B, R and K ended up going to find garage sales and donuts. They just made it back home. The garage sale run was a bust, but they did find some good grub at Got Donut (my favorite donut store name--and not a bad donut!). We just finished eating, and already it's a lovely Saturday. And it's not even 9 yet!

B made the comment that a morning without factor just seems so free, so open. A Saturday morning without factor seems downright decadent.

Happy Anniversary

Today should've been my parents 43rd wedding anniversary. Instead, it's my mom's 14th time to observe this day without my dad, who died just a few months shy of their 30th.

Whew

Our hemophilia nurse called and said we were exactly right to treat the "bleed" the way we did. Since R's arm seems fine now, we wonder if it ever was a bleed! In any case, we're relieved that for now, at least, we're still doing factor every other day.

Another reason that's good news: R is really stressing out over every infusion. He gets everything set up, but when it's time to stick, he starts to panic. Sometimes he'll put the needle right up to his skin, just millimeters from it, and have to back up and start over. For Wednesday's infusion, he got a bubble (lost the vein, which means the factor goes under the skin instead of into the bloodstream). This led to a big meltdown. He gets so frustrated sometimes, and we can't blame him! We start our positive talk (how wonderful it is to have factor, how we know he can get through his), and eventually he dries his eyes and is good to go. As soon as he gets a good stick, R's mood brightens completely. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and all is right with the world.

All infusions aren't quite so dramatic. On some days, like today, he hits the vein in one stick, the factor goes in smoothly, and the whole process is no more stressful than brushing teeth. (But don't get me starting about how R and K feel about brushing their teeth!)

School's Out!

Memorial Day 2006. We made it to summer! Because we're hosting some of our family for a cook-out today, we get up early to start cleaning the house. Then R_Dub, our 9-year-old, comes in the kitchen, holding his right arm at a funny angle.

"My arm hurts."

B_Dub and I take a look, and yep, it looks like a bleed. The bicep's swollen. It's not huge; it's not hot. It is swollen, though, and since our h/o nurse told us to be wary of any changes, I call the hospital. Because of the holiday, our hematologist isn't on call. The doctor who does speak to us tells us to go ahead with today's scheduled infusion and call the clinic in the morning. Gee, thanks. Why didn't I think to treat a bleed with factor? Ugh. We'd been told to notify them if we had any problems, but when I do, I feel stupid.

So R gets his factor and spends the rest of the day swimming, eating, playing with cousins, performing for grandparents. His arm isn't bugging him, and except for the time when K_Dub, his 8-year-old sister, socks him in the pool, the bleed is forgotten for the day. But tomorrow looms, and I'll have to call and follow up on this scary development.

The blasted inhibitor that turned our lives upside down in October of 2004 returned this March. This time around we aggressively attacked it with high doses of factor 8, and the level (which was never too terribly high) returned to zero within a few weeks. Part of our aggressive attack was to do infusions daily instead of every other day, but we were told that would be for just one month. After 10 weeks of the daily routine, we FINALLY got the go-ahead to drop back down to every other day. Just in time for summer, we thought.

We've been on our every-other-day routine for a week and a half, and R gets a bleed.

So what? Why does this matter? Why get bummed about an added 20 minutes of procedure on alternating days? We are so very grateful to have factor in the first place. Our kid is in great health, active as he wants to be. Still, the thought of returning to daily factor haunts me. The best I can figure, it boils down to this:

• Having a day off from factor helps to ward off the drudgery of the routine.
• To get the super-high dose of factor, R has to get four boxes' worth of factor. Each box is 2"x2"x1". When we have a month's supply of factor in our house, about a third of our fridge is consumed by those boxes.
• When R goes to camp later in June, I may have to be there every morning to oversee his infusions (as opposed to two mornings in the middle of the week). It wouldn't be such a big deal if K had a place to be that week. I can't bear the thought of leaving her here with B (who'll be working from home) while big brother's having fun with all of his church friends.
• When we take our big vacation in July, we're looking at transporting gobs of factor, which has to stay refrigerated. I've already been trying to wrap my head around those logistics, and now we may have to double the amount of factor we'll have with us.

So maybe everything's fine. Maybe the swollen arm is nothing. Or maybe we just need to give up the hope that we can go one day in a row without factor.

K_Dub: Basketball Superstar

Once again, K_Dub scored all of her team's points: 12 today. So far for the season, she has scored all but 2 of her team's points! Now that the season is nearing an end, we're wishing we had kept track of her point totals from each game. We recall that her team won their first game 12-6, with K scoring all 12. Their second game, she scored an amazing 20 points, and her teammate added another 2--to no avail. It was a barn-burner. After that, the point totals get fuzzy. I was sick and missed one game, and other games have been so frustrating, that the numbers just fall out of our heads. We think she had 8 points last week, so we know she has at least 52 points with two games to go.

Anyway, she is a joy to watch on the court. Her ball control, her tenacious defense, her ability to make some really tough shots while being guarded by a girl who's a foot taller than she is--WOW! Other parents compliment her mad skills each week, and we've noticed that the opposing team goes on a scoring tear during the two quarters when she's on the bench.

Our outing to the game and to the 99-cent Store complete, we're back at home, ready to snuggle up and stay cozy. The temperature's dipping below freezing for one of the few times this winter, and freezing rain is falling. Not much is sticking yet, except for on our deck where B narrowly avoided becoming the first casualty of the storm while he was getting firewood ready. It's been too hot lately for coffee, so I'm off to brew some for this chilly day. Speaking of chilly/chili, we're having Frito pie tonight.

Resolution kept

Start blog. Check.

Maybe the resolution should've been to maintain a blog.

I read blogs all the time, and I'm always inspired by the way the "rock star" bloggers eloquently describe their goings-on. And my, what they have going on! They make me feel like I'm not going at all. But that's not true. My world can be just as exciting or tumultuous or comedic or tragic as anyone's.

So here goes nothing...