Sir is getting a few projects done this weekend (which for me started yesterday). I am not. I did have some plans but here is how it goes:
I planned, simply enough, to straighten, dust and vacuum the living room. I had a couple of sack of books in there that needed going through and – if you believe it – a few Christmas decorations that still needed putting away.
Sir also had some things he wanted to get done – great! But tell me, why is it when he gets things done – it interrupts my “getting things done” – but my projects don’t interfere with his? i.e. if I’m working on something it doesn’t interfere with his Western Movies?
I am in the living room, sorting books, and along comes Sir with his drill.
“Where do you want that hole in your desk?”
Me, “huh?”
“You know, so you can put the cords down for Blondie’s computer.”
“oh.” (I had stopped asking about that – I think I asked a couple of months ago. We had gotten use to the cords draped across the front and the tower sticking out – it had become rather handy as a little end table.)
“well, why don’t you show me where you want it.”
So I go upstairs to the “office” and say “here.”
“Didn’t you want another phone line, too?” “yes, but I need another connection.”
“Well, let’s just get it all done then. Do you need another surge protector?”
“No- I was going to switch a few things around, and do something different with the phone-computer connection.”
He wanted me to explain. I couldn’t. He doesn’t speak computereeze – and frankly, I don’t either, but I can visualize what needs to be done. He’s an electrician; so what I was saying didn’t make sense in electrineeze. So finally I said “Just let me take care of it.”
So he drilled a nice hole in the back of my desk. And three hours later I had moved out two computers, a printer, dusted behind it all, moved them back into place and reconnected all the cords, etc.
Why did it take three hours? Because while I’m doing that, Sir is going through stuff in my messy office and saying “do you need this?” And I have to crane my neck out from under the desk to look and give an answer. And he decided to clean the hallway (that goes the length of the house upstairs) – “DO YOU NEED THIS?” I finally said – just take care of it.
Well, that was a mistake. I looked in the garbage and rescued that little bit a material that helps hold back the drapes in my bedroom (I had wondered where it went). Also when I opened the hamper to put some clothes in there, I discovered some clean socks, a clean shirt (still folded) and a few other clean items. I know what he did – there was some stuff in a pile on the floor so he just threw them in. And I’m wondering what happened to a few more things – but am afraid to ask.
I do know that I’m going to get my laundry done today before Sir tackles the bedroom. Last time he did that I lost my navy slip for several months. Finally found it on a hanger in the closet. Odd.
And my living room isn’t dusted, vacuumed – and Sir is watching a western.
It's been several weeks since I've blogged. I've finally entered the world of facebook. I'm not sure if that's a good idea, but I did, and it is fun.
It just doesn't take the place of blogging. This is where I can just tell my stories, or just ramble away. You can't ramble on FB - I think you're only allowed so many lines!
FB did pose an immediate problem for me: you have to ask to be friends. It reminded me of high school and not being popular. Does that sound pathetic to anyone else? "Pretty please, can we be friends?" Ah, well. And then there is the impulse to automatically agree to be friends with anyone who asks you - no matter how distance that acquaintance is. So I ended up "friending" people that I would not have sought out.
I started out with the ulterior motive of checking on clients who had FB - only to realize that you had to be "friends." Not going to happen. What person in their right mind (okay, that's debatable) would ask a custody investigator to be their friend? Nope.
But then I realized that I had some old high school friends there. Now, that's been fun. I will friend anyone from my old school. EVEN those that never spoke to me. AH, popular at last. Me and their 139 other friends.
Of course then I have friend whom I could just pick up the phone and call but of course I'd friend them because it was just, you know, FUN.
But then I allowed some of their kids "friend" me. And that's when I started thinking: this is a problem.
Now, understand I just started FB in the last couple of weeks. And I realize it promotes a familiarity with its' users that may not occur during a physical face to face conversation.
So, when a young teen son of a friend questioned me on a subject, and then seemed to (I'm sure in jest) criticize my cousin, I had to take another look.
And I decided: I'm not friends with everyone. I needed to set some limits! Sir thinks I overthink this whole thing. But I had to work it through my mind! Crazy as it seems.
So, I am thinking of my FB as an extension of my home. Other than my old HS friends, if a person isn't someone I'd be comfortable having a chat with in my own living room - they aren't "friends." So with that in mind - I "unfriended" some people. First to go were the teenage sons of a friends. They are perfectly good kids, but the FB allowed a familiarity I did not want.
OH! I love to browse to see who has a FB. I saw that the Judge (whose courtroom I'm generally in) has a FB, too, and I saw all her friends: other attorneys, social workers, etc. that I know.
And I thought - I want to be their friend too! And I almost... ALMOST...asked. And I didn't.
Because... it's an extension of my home. I fought down the old high school feeling of unpopular and reminded myself that I didn't want or need to be "friends" with them!
I can’t resist a homeschool field trip to the planetarium. It’s the same planetarium where I attended college and took an astronomy class.
It was also Red’s first field trip.
But let me back up to how my day started. During the night I took my usual 3am stroll down the hall; however the usually uneventful trip back to bed was rudely interrupted by the big toe of my left foot colliding with the rocking chair – ripping the nail and exposing raw skin. It hurt, it bled. It did NOT disturb Sir’s sleep. I went back to sleep.
In the morning I sat at the computer checking my email, Blondie stood next to me. I stood and as I moved around Blondie my right foot smacked into something and I badly hurt the “this little piggie had none” toe. It hurt, it turned purple.
We had an hour before we were to leave on the field trip. I got Red ready and then myself. Slipped the socks on… that’s a NO! Big time hurt: sock rubbing against hurting flesh of the left big toe. So dispensed with the socks, and put on my moccasins. Still hurts, but doable.
I walked on the side of my left foot to ease the big toe – and then tried to do the same with my right foot for that toe. I felt a little silly but we took off. I hurried a bit more not wanting to be late. With the way my feet were I wanted to walk leisurely and not run to get to the building from the parking lot.
Well the homeschool families rolled into the parking lot together and we were able to walk to the building in a not too hurried manner.
We settled in. Lights went down. Red chimed up, “poopy, mommy! Poopy, poopy, poopy!!
Sigh. I take him to the restroom. I used the larger, handicapped, stall. Red did his business and then he said “you’re turn, Mommy.” I thought – sure why not. So I sat, firmly holding Red with my left hand. The phone vibrated and I saw it was my sister. I answered it thinking I’d just tell her I was on a FT and I’d call her later. As I’m talking (seated on the “throne,” holding Red with my left hand and the cell in my right hand) Red hit the stall door and it swings open. Now, remember, I’m in the large handicapped stall – the VERY FIRST stall as you enter the restroom. There I am looking at the door. I tried to pull the door shut with my left foot… OW! My toe! Red is laughing – and I can’t let go of him. I said “got to go!” to my sister and dropped the phone toward my purse on the floor (yes I know you fanatics you’re supposed to hang your purse on the door…get over it). I lunged at the door with my right hand, pants around my ankle, while still holding Red with my left hand. Somehow I managed to re-lock the door, rearrange myself and step out of the stall without any perky, cute coeds entering the restroom.
We washed our hands and I thought I’d call my sis back to tell her why I yelled and hung up.
Where is my phone?? Not in my purse, not on the stall floor. Huh. I walk around and feel something down my leg. There it is – instead of landing in my purse it fell down my pant leg and there it was by my calf. I couldn’t kick it out and I’m still holding Red. Can’t unzip with one hand that way and I was not going back in that stall.
I finally was able to work it down my pant leg and out. By that time I had worked up a sweat - or was it another one of those blasted hot flashes?
We continue to do fine. The waters are receding from the field; however the road north to us is still flooded. This water is working its way to Fargo. They may have crested today - but it may hang on for several days.
I have friends who gave up the fight on their home. 7 sump pumps and they couldn't keep it up.
It's amazing what the people in the community have pulled together to do. Anyone wanting updates check on the paper or this station.
All schools, colleges, etc are closed through next week.
The law enforcement building was evacuated to move into the courthouse (right next door away from the water). So all court hearings are canceled next week. Shouldn't interest anyone out there in bloggerland - except it does effect my work!
They needed more clay to add to the dike - so they ripped up the school playground next door to use that clay.
Can you imagine the work that has gone into saving these cities - and then the work that will take to clean it up?
We can't even go to our church tomorrow! First of all we CAN'T GET THERE! And second -our church family is dispersed into safer locations.
So I'll be visiting my old church close by. However, it will take about 30 minutes to get there - and it is normally only 5 minutes away. The bridge is closed over the river!
Such is life.
I will close with this quote that was sent to me:
Quote from C. H. Spurgeon, Morning & Evening
It is a happy way of soothing sorrow when we can feel-"HE careth for me." Christian! Do not dishonor religion by always wearing a brow of care; come, cast your burden upon your Lord. You are staggering beneath a weight which your Father would not feel. What seems to you a crushing burden, would be to him but as the small dust of the balance.
O Child of suffering, be thou patient; God has not passed thee over in His providence. He who is the feeder of sparrows, will also furnish you with what you need. Sit not down in despair; hope on, hope ever. Take up the arms of faith against a sea of trouble, and your opposition shall yet end your distresses. There is One who careth for you. His eye is fixed on you, His heart beats with pity for your woe, and His hand omnipotent shall yet bring you the needed help. The darkest cloud shall scatter itself in showers of mercy. The blackest gloom shall give place to the morning. He, if thou art one of His family, will bind up thy wounds, and heal thy broken heart. Doubt not His grace because of thy tribulation, but believe that He loveth thee as much in seasons of trouble as in times of happiness.
What a serene and quiet life might you lead if you would leave providing to the God of providence! With a little oil in the cruse, and a handful of meal in the barrel, Elijah outlived the famine, and you will do the same. If God cares for you, why need you care too? Can you trust Him for your soul, and not for your body? He has never refused to bear your burdens, He has never fainted under their weight. Come, then, soul! have done with fretful care, and leave all thy concerns in the hand of a gracious God.
Tragedy! Families at risk of losing their homes.So many are being evacuated.In one town the warning has gone out to evacuate; there will be no emergency services after 6:00pm.If you are still there you may not be rescued - not out of callousness, just not being able to get to them.Sir and Blondie were just at Church friend’s Sunday night sandbagging – now they may lose their home.
I just called another friend – the water has now surrounded their home.Young children have been sent to relatives.They are trying to decide to stay or not.The area is to be evacuated.If they evacuate they know they will lose their home if the electricity goes out and the pumps stop.So they are trying to decide whether to stay in order to man the pumps with a generator if necessary.However, they have the risk of not being able to get out if they need to leave.
This river and overland flooding is the worse that anyone has seen.The highway taking us to town is flooded – that didn’t even flood in ’97.
Our home is still fine.Well, maybe not FINE but its problems has nothing to do with the flood!Lol – oh I shouldn’t laugh.
The first is our house in the distance (looking north). Note - we DO NOT live by a lake or anywhere near one. This is overland flooding. The second picture is just north of the house - this is normally a dry creek bed - it now has been filled with the overland flooding and going over our road. This dry creek bed winds around our home - and saves our home.
