Construction Zones Everywhere!

Everywhere you turn it's a construction zone!

I spent my day driving through every construction zone in Northern Illinois while went around to the colleges I'd attended to get copies of my transcript faxed over to the university.

In one area, a worker was standing in the middle of the road, another worker was sitting atop a piece of machinery waving me on like I'm some kind of idiot. I point to the worker in the road, worker #2 ignores me and waves me on again like I'm too stupid to understand. SO.... I point to the worker #1 again. Worker #2 looks over at worker #1 and yells something at him, I can only imagine what was said. Worker #1 looks at me dumbfounded as to why I would be driving on the road in the first place and slowly shuffles out of the way.

As I drive on through, they both look at me like I'm some kind of idiot.

My dorky voice & Lemonade Shake-ups

Well, I did it anyway, I did an audio post and decided to leave it on here. I still think I sound goofy but oh, well......... life goes on.

Now Burfica...... a lemonade shake-up...... fresh made lemonade with the lemon peel still in it. They squeeze the lemon while you watch, put juice, peel & all into the cup with ice & sugar, then they shake it up. The sugar is mixed right in so there are still a few sugar granules on the edge of the cup. That sweet lemony goodness is making my mouth is water just thinking about it........ good stuff and PROOF there is a kind and loving God watching over us........ hehehe

Audio Posting......My first

Lazy summer days.....

The aliens and I got some relief from this oppressive heat by taking a swim at the quarter pool today - named by the kids because of the cost to get in - $0.25.

It may have rained in Freeport where we go to church, however an hour away in our little town, not a drop fell. Everything is dry and dusty. The dust and grit from the road construction seems to multiply in this intense dryness we have.

Since we were feeling so dry and hot, we decided to take a dip in our little twenty-five cent oasis. The aliens lied about applying sunblock so they are a little on the reddish-pink side this evening. Their little lie about applying sunblock has cost them any more trips to the pool until the redness goes away. Not a punnishment, just don't think they need anymore sun until the sunburn is cleared up.

Maybe next time they'll listen to Mom - on occassion, I do know what I'm talking about. Scary thought isn't it?? Mom actually KNOWS something! Will wonders never cease????

Let it Rain!!!

The aliens and I usually go to the Saturday night service at our church, it's easier to get them ready then than to try and move 'em out early on Sunday morning.

As the pastor was finishing up the sermon, you could hear the thunder roll...... the thunderstorms we have been waiting for were here!!! During the closing prayer before the offering, the clouds opened up and you could just hear the downpour on the roof of the building. The pastor closed with "... and thank you God for the badly needed rain!" I've never heard such a huge "AMEN" from the entire congeration as I did tonight.

The praise and worship team swears it wasn't planned but the lyrics to the closing song were something to the effect of "....... rain down on me, wash away the clay....." ...... planned or not, it was poetic.

Heat Index of 110 Degrees

I'd hate to think what it's like down in the South right now since we're so blazin' hot in Northern Illinois right now.

The heat is so oppressive it's almost unbearable. When you go outside, there is a thick haze that hangs in the air that you can see for miles. People are driving with their lights on all day long just to make it easier to see one another through the thickness of the haze that hangs in the air.

I don't think I posted this but I gave my two weeks notice, today is my last day at work. I will be taking the rest of the summer off and going back to college this Fall.

It was a bittersweet day, the garbage that's been getting me down at work is now ending however, I will miss the children terribly. My co-teacher is a very sweet and I will miss working with her.

However, I need to get back to college in order to get a better job and to make a better life for my children and myself. I'm excited at the prospect of what lies ahead for me and the aliens. I wouldn't have had the strength to make the decision to quit my job and return to college without God. He is my strength and my guidence and my support.

The Heat is ON......

Well, it's about a billion degrees today and is supposed to be hotter tomorrow. OK, it's not really a billion degrees.......... the heat index is about 102 today. Tomorrow it's supposed to be hotter. This means we can't take the kids outdoors at work, we have to amuse them for 9 hours indoors........ heaven help us.

It's June and the grass is already burned up - brown and crispy. Now, brown and crispy are great if we're talking fried chicken, however, this is not KFC and the Colonial isn't doing the cookin' here.

There is a tree one of the classrooms planted out in the yard, our room planted some hostas around it and then spread the mulch. Of course we've been watering since there isn't any rain. Today we noticed something odd looking......... There is a dark green ring about 6" wide around the outside of the mulched area, then the grass is just burnt. It's really strange looking to see this lush green ring of grass and then - nothing but dead grass from there on out.

They keep saying we're going to get severe thunderstorms but nothing yet. We're waiting for them but no one is holding their breath.

Happy Father's Day

A very Happy Fathers Day to all the Dad's out there! My own father is feeling a bit tired so the kids and I went with a friend and her son to a local small-town festival.

"Polo Town and Country Days" had a parade & carnival so that's where we spent the day. After over 5 hours in the sun though, Mommy ends up with sun poisoning. I'm not burnt, just over-exposure to the sun so I'd better take it easy for the next week or so.

The five of us had a great time, the three aliens got to ride as many rides as possible in 4 hours all for the price of one $12 wristband each. With the cost of the rides being $4 each, it didn't take but three rides per alien to pay for the wristbands. Of course we ate ice cream, pork chop sandwiches, nachos, corn dogs, gyros and the topper on it all??? A lemonade shake-up of course!

Ahhhh corn dogs & lemonade shake-ups, life is good.

This Explains A LOT

I'm only half normal... what's the other half? Abnormal?? If so, it does explain a lot of things.... hehehe

You Are 50% Normal (Somewhat Normal)

While some of your behavior is quite normal... Other things you do are downright strange You've got a little of your freak going on But you mostly keep your weirdness to yourself

How Normal Are You?

Weekend Update

My Aunt & Uncle from Philly were in town last weekend and the aliens and I spent all day Sunday with Dad & Mom, Auntie & Uncle. We spent the day cooking out at Mom & Dad's house (brats, venison steaks, burgers....yummy!) Dad's doing great. He still tires easily & those ribs are still causing a lot of discomfort but he's getting back to his old self.

I finally got to see the pics of the accident - WOW! You can see the fuel tank is just mashed. It looks like a crumpled wad of aluminum foil. It is only by God's Grace that no fuel spilled onto the accident scene (what with the downed transformer & natural gas main leak). There is nothing left of the steering column that had him pinned. You can see where the trailer tried to come through the back window of the cab.

I knew that Dad was a miracle from God but after seeing the pictures, I am more amazed than ever that he lived to tell his story. Then again, maybe that's why he's still here - to tell the story of how he SHOULD'VE died but God saved him.

My little stitched-up alien is doing fine, jumping around & being a dare devil. The pool party went off well, the kids that went swimming were throwing a beach ball back & forth to little alien so he got to join in a bit of the fun.

Birthday Party Snafu

The younger alien has a birthday in March, the older one, in July. The boys love to do things together so..... around the time school gets out, we have a pool party for both of them at the local community gym. The kids swim for awhile then we have cake & presents. Great plan, at least usually it's a great plan.

At 11:25 AM, my cell phone goes off - I figure it's an emergency to do with Dad - nope, it's the new babysitter. When I answer it, she informs me that the younger alien is on the way to the ER & his big brother rode with him (babysitter had 2 other kids & couldn't go). Thank God she sent them to the hospital in the town where I work. I managed to arrive at the ER before the ambulance did.

Little Alien was playing on the merry-go-round at the park. He was running & holding onto it to get it going, tried to jump up on it and missed. There was a pretty good gash on his left shin. I've got a strong stomach but seeing your own kids leg laid open like that will freak you out. It took five stitches to close it up (I thought it would take more). Poor little guy was screaming the whole time because he was so scared & it hurt but he held Mommy tight & kept his leg perfectly still. As we walked out, the people in the waiting room just stared at us. I looked a little confused and one of the women gave the hand signals to let me know half the hospital could hear him.

Big Alien was pretty shook up too - having to be the "grown-up" for the ambulance ride is tough for a 10 year old. He wanted to watch the last couple of stitches go in though so I let him. We got a Dairy Queen on the way home (cures almost everything) & that seemed to help a bit.

The worst part - no swimming until the stitches come out in two weeks. No swimming for him at his own party. There is nothing I can say or do to make this Saturday better. We are going to get his friends together in a few weeks and just do the swimming thing, I hope that helps a little.

Poor babysitter was freaked out completely! The aliens just started going there last Monday & this happens. She's about 27 and has a little girl about 3 years old. No experience with active little aliens like mine. I tried to calm her down too & let her know everything was alright & sometimes, stuff just happens.

The up side - we sat on the sofa in the A/C this afternoon & watched cartoons. Beats the heck out of working!

What the HECK??!!!??

Why can't I pick the size or color of my font or, for that matter, my font type anymore? What's up with that?

What Color Are You???

You are

What Rejected Crayon Are You?

Road Construction Season In Illinois

Aaahhhh - it's here! Road Construction Season. Northern Illinois has two seasons, the other one is Winter.

I love road construction season... The stop & start traffic, road blocks, delays, detours, dust, dirt, gravel dings on my car, the stench of asphalt...... NOT!

Happy Monday. ; )

Which Muse Are You?

Your Inner Muse is Urania You are most like this muse of astronomy. Your head is in the stars, and you look to the future. You give off a heavenly, mysterious vibe. And you're not too bad at predicting the future. What Muse Are You? Take This Quiz :-)

Ancient Japanese Probverb

Starbucks anyone?