FOR TODAY… February 19, 2010

Outside my window…

Still lots and lots of snow! We have had a record-breaking February as far as snowfall goes! Our driveway and sidewalk are finally clear, and what was once 8 foot drifts are down to 5 and 6 feet now. I love to shovel snow (strange, aren’t I?) so it has been a very invigorating couple of weeks. I now have MUSCLES. The sun is going down over my shoulder. It feels good on the back of my neck though as I sit here writing. We are suppose to have another two days of sun before we get some more bad weather.

I am thinking…

… about how I’m not going to go to training at Fidos For Freedom tomorrow. There’s a friend I’ve been meaning to visit, and I’m going to see if it will be a good time for me to do so. She went in for heart valve repair surgery at Thanksgiving and almost ended up dying. I’m so thankful she is home (though still recovering) now. It has been a long couple of months for she and her family.

I am hearing…

… not much of anything actually. My son is downstairs doing some homework and my daughter just left for work. Chloe is laying here quietly by my desk. My Elkhound… hmm. I do NOT hear my Elkhound which could mean trouble. I best go check on him, the little rascal.

I am thankful for…

… Elkhounds that find a nice sunny spot and take a nap. The alternative can be very, VERY bad. He’s finally matured out of that puppy “chewing” stage so I don’t have to watch him as carefully as I use too. He sure has enjoyed this snow! I guess that would make sense as he is a “winter breed”.

I am wearing…

… blue jeans, white turtle neck, purple sweatshirt with Baltimore Orioles stitched on the front. Also have my sturdy hiking boots on – a must have when out and about in the backyard among small mountains of melting, icy snow. My hair is in a clip pulled back. I look all of 12-years-old… or so I’ve been told today. Lovely. (?)

A Cochlear Implant…

… can feel very cold after being outside for a long period of time. I have found my best defense against “brain freeze” is a stocking cap or ear warmer headband. Keeps all that titanium from deciding it needs to be colder than my body parts.

I am remembering…

… a movie that I watched long ago. I received a book by the same title in the mail today. I ordered it from Amazon after the recommendation of a friend. “A Walk to Remember”. I need something to read in between my “have to” assignments for this PSYCH/535 class!

I am going…

… to go check on my Elkhound again actually. He’s barking… Ah. A squirrel decided to sit on the other side of the glass door and calmly munch on a peanut. Tyco was going… erm – NUTS.

I need to…

… finish preparations for supper. We are having chicken tacos. It’s a relatively simple meal to make, but I shred the cheese from “scratch” (none of that grocery store bagged stuff that adds saw dust to keep the cheese from making clumps for us!), cut tomato, cilantro, homemade guacamole, etc. Ya know how you look at a recipe and it says “Prep time: 10 minutes, Bake time: 40 minutes”? Well this meal takes longer to prepare for than it does to actually get the meal together at the end! It’s yummy though, so I can’t complain.

A disability is NOT…

… something to be ashamed of. I’ve been telling myself that this week after a mind-numbing slam at Wal-mart this week. I had about an hour where I decided I was done trying… “Why try to even be independent? Why try to shop and carry on like a normal wife and mother?” Well… I had my pity party for that hour. Done. I am a wife and mother first. I am just fine the way I am, thank you very much. Pooh on the disabilities. They are a very small part of who I am. (BIG GRIN)

I am currently reading…

… still reading a textbook written by Hall entitled, “Multicultural Psychology”, Tim Keller’s “A Reason For God” (a must read according to my husband), and no “A Walk to Remember” by Nicholas Sparks.

I am hoping…

… for more snow. But (whispers) don’t tell anyone. I may get strung up!

From the kitchen…

… Yup, Chicken Tacos… with flour tortillas. My family have never eaten the hard shell tacos. Are we strange? (ponders that for a second or two)

Around the house…

… I did laundry today, dusted, and cleaned the bathroom. I can tell it’s been more than a week since I’ve done the bathroom. Incredible how dirty a bathroom can get with 4 people living here. Even more incredible? The upstairs bathroom is really the “master bath”, and yet everyone uses it. Say what?

One of my favorite things…

… burning candles. Today I found I had too though. My 20-year-old daughter was fixing pancakes for lunch (not breakfast) and burned one very badly. I’m surprised the smoke alarm didn’t go off. At least it doesn’t smell like burnt microwave popcorn. Man oh man! Is there anything worse than the smell of burnt microwave popcorn?

My husband…

… burned some microwave popcorn two nights ago. That must be why my nose wrinkles in disgust as I remember the smell. He should be on his way home now. Long commute poor guy, but thankfully he enjoys numerous things he saves “on tape” and listens too on his iPod.

My daughter…

… is at work, and then will be stopping by a friend’s work after she gets off. She’s had a hard day. A bit of a “social crisis” unfolded here today. She handles things so maturely though. Although I hate to admit it, she really is ready to transfer to a 4-year school this fall and move away from home (sniff).

She and I made a pretty funny video during the snow this past week:

My son…

… looks bone tired. He has been working at McDonald’s for almost 2 years now. It is only 3 blocks away (so when he has no transportation due to family “have to” trips) he is able to walk. But let me tell you… McDonald’s is not an easy place to work! He is the “drive through” voice that you hear. He has been treated sooooo badly. People can be so incredibly mean. They treat him like the fact items are no longer for sale, or are a different price, or their coupon is expired is all his fault. He really comes home defeated sometimes. I keep trying to get him to apply to some other places, but he knows this job “inside and out”. He gets to work just 2 days a week, always has Sunday off… gets Tuesday and Thursday off to take classes at AACC. He tells me the perks are worth the “crap”. ????

My assistance dog…

… is looking out the window at the sun setting. We haven’t walked in so long, poor hound dog! I’ve seen plenty of cleared sidewalks, so want to try to do that tomorrow! Wish us luck!

A picture to share from this week…

Chloe admiring the sunset