Ahhhh winter! Sunday we got a mother of a storm - lots of snow (Dad guesstimates 6 inches at our house - Duluth got 9.3) and a great day to be inside! Amazingly, the church Christmas program was still a hit with all that snow - 150 people in the church to see the little angels sing and speak! THIS is true Minnesota folks!
Since Sunday it's become quite bitterly cold and if I hear one more person whine about how cold it is...I don't know what I'm going to do! Good grief people! We live in the great white North, whaddya expect? 70 and sunny all year round? Move to Florida! (where they have hurricanes and alligators!)
I'm a happy person as long as the sun is shining. It can be a bazillion degrees below zero but as long as the sun is shining, I'm good. The sun shone all day long yesterday, I went out of the office three times just to spend some time in it. Today it's not sunny and yet cold, but still, not whining! It could be 120 and a hurricane outside instead! Or, we could be broke and homeless!
Or, I could be the one-ton woman who needs a forklift to get myself out of the house. Heavens, it could always be worse, be happy it's not!!! ;)
Anyway - I said I'd tell you about my weekend when I came over next so here goes! :)
Saturday I met my friend Andy in Owatonna for some shopping and lunch. I drove 35W south on purpose just so I could drive over the new bridge - it's pretty cool - funky little SSS decor on both sides of it, very streamlined! I can still see the TV in Sam's Club showing footage of the old bridge collapse (that's where I was when it happened, you see). I must admit that I wondered aloud if it smelled like toast down there because of the burning bread truck - yes, I have no heart.
I also saw a santa in a fire truck in Wyoming (MN, silly)...they were getting gasoline at the Citgo! :) Oh - and seriously, don't drive W south of 94, the construction on Crosstown is stupid insane - what a mess to have to drive through that crap?! Take E if you're just going through the cities, completely not worth it just to drive on the bridge!
Anyway - shopping was tons of fun, I'd forgotten that there's a Target in Owatonna and a new Fleet Farm has been built since I was there last. We shopped at Cabela's - got super cute pair of boots. Then had lunch @ Famous Dave's - I don't think you can go wrong there ever, can you? We went to the outlet mall in Medford (just three miles north). Wandered in all the shops there - really cute little antique store, filled with all kinds of antiques and new stuff - very nicely done. And hit Columbia - got an excellent jacket for just $30 - I've worn it twice now and it's super warm! We didn't want to say good bye, so we drove around Owatonna a bit - went to Target and Fleet Farm...it was funny cuz Andy sat down to test out a chair, I found another chair and we sat there for about 5-10 minutes just talking! :) Who needs a bar when you can go to Fleet Farm and talk? Heh heh...
So with this "huge storm" coming, I decided I'd better not stay over in Owatonna and headed home around 5.30...stops at the McStop in Lakeville and Tanger in North Branch (cute sweater and top there) got me home around 9. Only the last 5 miles were iffy - the rest of the trip was uneventful home...
...woke up at 7.45 on Sunday to only 1/2 inch of snow - grrrrrrr! I could have stayed in Owatonna! 1.5 hours later there was 3.5 inches of snow and more coming! Ok - good call, but still - ugh!
I watched Elizabeth:The Golden Age (very good - cool views of the Spanish Armada defeat) on Sunday and read The Tale of Despereaux (highly recommend it!) yesterday. Am going to get started on Revolutionary Road today sometime.
So - there you go - another update in the life of Anne! Family Christmas coming up on Saturday!
16 December 2008
12 December 2008
Snow!
Someone played the "Snow" song from White Christmas this morning - ya know, the one where Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Bing Crosby and that other lady are on the train to Vermont?! Well anyway, we're getting more snow they say this weekend. 8-12 inches - ya right, I'll believe it when I see it! I hate these false alarms anyway. Besides, I'm headed to Cabela's in Owatonna tomorrow, it can't snow until I'm home safely. I really want to go to Cabela's! :) No - not in Rogers, I've been to that one already. I've driven past Owatonna how many hundreds of times and have yet to visit the store. I'll be sure to let you know all about the trip south. It's going to include a drive over the new bridge in Minneapolis as well as Medford Outlet Mall shopping and at least one stop at Target - whether Vadnais Heights, Lakeville or Forest Lake has yet to be seen.
Janna said something so intelligent and cute the other day. We were watching Dora and it was "Best Friends Day" so Boots and Dora were finding things for a picnic (strawberries - 10 of them and "Shock-o-latte" from the Chocolate Tree) and Dora had to go through the gate to get to Rainbow Rock for their picnic. (Boots had to go over the crabs to get to Rainbow Rock but that's another story) So anyway - Dora comes to the gate and the gate is locked - oh no! Lock is very sad b/c he doesn't have Key (his best friend) and sure enough here comes Swiper (Swiper, No Swiping!) who throws Key into the shrubbery. Lock is even more sad...poor Lock! Anywho - Janna turns to me with her crinkled up nose (loooove that look) and says, "Why are Lock and Key best friends - they don't do the same thing? They're completely different?" Omigosh - she's too funny. I explained, of course, that a lock is no good without a key to open it and a key serves no purpose without locks. I think she got it, but I'm not sure...
Good grief I love other people's kids! Reese loves to repeat everything you say, just so his vocabulary grows. He says "pillows" in the funniest way - something like "piddows" oh dear. I could go on and on and on about them!
I said in an earlier post that I'd gotten a lot of Christmas shopping done...well, now it's done-done. I went to Duluth on Saturday evening and finished up. Although I'm not really happy with what I found Mom, so I might be getting her something different...anyway. It was fun to get done. Even more fun to wrap on Sunday! I'm looking forward to everyone's reactions to their gifts. I LOVE giving gifts - it's the reason I was put on this earth I think - to shop and give gifts! I love shopping for other people even more than for myself! I find Janna something new nearly every week - that kid's going to have quite the wardrobe! Ally is fun to shop for too - she loved the sweater I gave her and it looked as awesome on her as I thought it would. She's got this great little 4th grade body - loooong legs and she looks fantastic in everything! Aaron - well, he just doesn't care - as long as he has something on his body, he's happy! :) Reese - as long as it's orange he's happy too! :) Oh heck, he doesn't even care if he's clothed!
So let's see...what have I watched lately? I saw Howard's End last night. That's it - I haven't watched a movie in a couple of weeks! I have Elizabeth: The Golden Age and Children of Heaven waiting to be watched - maybe Sunday. I've finished A Breath of Snow and Ashes - am still looking forward to the next book - I need to find out how it goes for Jamie and Claire in Scotland and how Roger, Bree, Jemmy and Mandy adjust to life in the 70s! I just started reading One Fifth Avenue (Candace Bushnell) last night and I'm hooked! Very good so far. I also read A Good Woman (Danielle Steele) this weekend. I was a little disappointed - too much happened to Annabelle in that book. I know it's fiction, but even for fiction, it was just a little over the top. But then again, isn't all candy a little over the top?
That's it for now. I'll update you on my Cabela's run sometime in the near future and will have Telker Christmas pictures next week! Oh - and be sure to check my facebook page - I have thanksgiving pictures as well as "Ghosts of Telker Past" pictures too!
Janna said something so intelligent and cute the other day. We were watching Dora and it was "Best Friends Day" so Boots and Dora were finding things for a picnic (strawberries - 10 of them and "Shock-o-latte" from the Chocolate Tree) and Dora had to go through the gate to get to Rainbow Rock for their picnic. (Boots had to go over the crabs to get to Rainbow Rock but that's another story) So anyway - Dora comes to the gate and the gate is locked - oh no! Lock is very sad b/c he doesn't have Key (his best friend) and sure enough here comes Swiper (Swiper, No Swiping!) who throws Key into the shrubbery. Lock is even more sad...poor Lock! Anywho - Janna turns to me with her crinkled up nose (loooove that look) and says, "Why are Lock and Key best friends - they don't do the same thing? They're completely different?" Omigosh - she's too funny. I explained, of course, that a lock is no good without a key to open it and a key serves no purpose without locks. I think she got it, but I'm not sure...
Good grief I love other people's kids! Reese loves to repeat everything you say, just so his vocabulary grows. He says "pillows" in the funniest way - something like "piddows" oh dear. I could go on and on and on about them!
I said in an earlier post that I'd gotten a lot of Christmas shopping done...well, now it's done-done. I went to Duluth on Saturday evening and finished up. Although I'm not really happy with what I found Mom, so I might be getting her something different...anyway. It was fun to get done. Even more fun to wrap on Sunday! I'm looking forward to everyone's reactions to their gifts. I LOVE giving gifts - it's the reason I was put on this earth I think - to shop and give gifts! I love shopping for other people even more than for myself! I find Janna something new nearly every week - that kid's going to have quite the wardrobe! Ally is fun to shop for too - she loved the sweater I gave her and it looked as awesome on her as I thought it would. She's got this great little 4th grade body - loooong legs and she looks fantastic in everything! Aaron - well, he just doesn't care - as long as he has something on his body, he's happy! :) Reese - as long as it's orange he's happy too! :) Oh heck, he doesn't even care if he's clothed!
So let's see...what have I watched lately? I saw Howard's End last night. That's it - I haven't watched a movie in a couple of weeks! I have Elizabeth: The Golden Age and Children of Heaven waiting to be watched - maybe Sunday. I've finished A Breath of Snow and Ashes - am still looking forward to the next book - I need to find out how it goes for Jamie and Claire in Scotland and how Roger, Bree, Jemmy and Mandy adjust to life in the 70s! I just started reading One Fifth Avenue (Candace Bushnell) last night and I'm hooked! Very good so far. I also read A Good Woman (Danielle Steele) this weekend. I was a little disappointed - too much happened to Annabelle in that book. I know it's fiction, but even for fiction, it was just a little over the top. But then again, isn't all candy a little over the top?
That's it for now. I'll update you on my Cabela's run sometime in the near future and will have Telker Christmas pictures next week! Oh - and be sure to check my facebook page - I have thanksgiving pictures as well as "Ghosts of Telker Past" pictures too!
04 December 2008
Thanksgiving!
The whole crew - Tad and Don watching the game...Auntie Karla and Sophia hanging out. Dad trying to get Calvin to come and see him...great day!
Chaserino - what a ham! He loved mugging for the camera all day!
The Calvinator - just learned to walk. His Auntie Christine said he looked like a little square walking! :) Soooo cute!
in the words of the great Micheal Wilson "mmmmmm.....pie" Every year Auntie Karla makes gingerbread boys and girls for Thanksgiving. My cousin Amanda refers to them as eyes and buttons cuz that's all she eats! :) So anyway add the pumpkin cheesecake pie and Diet Coke and I'm as happy as a pig in...well, mud!
Hope you had a great one!
Chaserino - what a ham! He loved mugging for the camera all day!
The Calvinator - just learned to walk. His Auntie Christine said he looked like a little square walking! :) Soooo cute!
Ok - so here are the Thanksgiving pictures I promised...We were at Auntie Sue's in St Paul and along with her, we had Tad, Amanda, Donald, Jonathan, Chase, Auntie Karla, Randy, Jason, Sarah, Calvin, Christine, Sophia, Mom, Dad, David, and I there. Full house and it was AWESOME! Auntie Sue is a great cook and the turkey, potatoes and gravy and all the trimmings were wonderful. I had two platesful (pig!) and loved every bit of it!
I had to take a picture of what I was thankful for -
in the words of the great Micheal Wilson "mmmmmm.....pie" Every year Auntie Karla makes gingerbread boys and girls for Thanksgiving. My cousin Amanda refers to them as eyes and buttons cuz that's all she eats! :) So anyway add the pumpkin cheesecake pie and Diet Coke and I'm as happy as a pig in...well, mud!And to sum up the day....Jonathan's grumpy cowboy imitation -
Hope you had a great one!
03 December 2008
Mouse Wars Update
I got Mouse number 10 about two weeks ago...and I haven't seen any indications that there are any further mice in the house - party on, excellent!
Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness!
Loove that line from Annie (the 1981 version) - July kept saying it everytime something funny happened. So what happened here is that it's been over a month since I updated you all on the excitement that is my life. It's not because I've been busy - heavens no - it's because I'm lazy!!! Yes, all together now---"like we didn't already know that!"
So life has been entertaining. In the last month I've had Thanksgiving festivities, board meetings, committee meetings, work, monster time, reading time and very little exercise time. I got on the scale today and I'm over my limit line again - ugh! Time to quit eating cheese popcorn and/or M&Ms at the computer.
There have been some amazing sunshine days. I always say it can be 40 below as long as the sun is shining! I was going to help Tom (the Cromwell city guy) put lights on the building yesterday but he's doing them today instead. It'd have been a great day today to be outside even though it's nasty cold out there! One patient just said it's 13 degrees! Wow!
Christmas shopping is in full swing for me - I spent the day in Duluth with DeAnn on Friday. Didn't get any shopping done at ShopKo, the line was halfway around the building just for check out - amazing! We went to Office Max, Michaels, ShopKo, JCPenney, Bath & Body Works, Younkers, Target, Kohls, Gander Mountain and Olive Garden! Olive Garden was the longest line all day - only because we got there at 10.45 and they open at 11...perfect mid-day snack, soup, salad and breadsticks!
The Ladies Christmas Brunch is on Saturday - I'm all ready for it. Tom M called last night asking me how I wanted the tables set up. In true Tom M fashion he didn't understand what I meant by "I'm taking care of it all - you don't need to set up tables" and so he's setting up tables today...gotta love him, no? So tomorrow I'll be setting up tables and cleaning out the fellowship hall so the ladies can start decorating their tables on Friday. I love the start of the Christmas season - speaking of which, David and I sang "How Many Kings" for church service on Sunday - I love that song! We sounded pretty good, if I do say so myself. David played guitar and I played the piano part - it was only one handed, don't think I've been playing excessively!
Haven't had any strange patients lately - it's been a lot of people with colds and coughs. Amazing how much Bactrim can be prescribed in a day! Thrifty White needs to start paying me a salary with all the scripts I'm taking care of, copays collecting and phone calls made! ;)
I'll post some Thanksgiving pictures in just a bit - meanwhile, I've watched Beyond Borders, Kit Kittredge, Rabbit-Proof Fence and Kiss the Bride in the last couple of weeks. Even saw Madagascar II with DeAnn, Colton, Bryan, Elizabeth and JR - "I like to move it, move it" - very funny movie.
I'm reading "A Breath of Snow and Ashes" right now - for you non-Jamie & Claire people, it's by Diana Gabaldon and it's the 5th in her Outlander series. I'm reading in anticipation of next falls release of the next book!
Oh! And I've discovered the secret to Anne-sleeping Success! It's my new bedtime hygiene routine as Dr. Benzie would say...after you're in your PJs, brush your teeth & wash your hands. Then turn on your electric mattress pad so you'll have toasty toes and then put your new favorite lotion on your hands (Tea Tree Lavender Sage body butter) and head off to the Land of Nod...works for me! I highly recommend the lotion - Michelle L-F has tons at her shop!
Have a fabulous Wednesday!
So life has been entertaining. In the last month I've had Thanksgiving festivities, board meetings, committee meetings, work, monster time, reading time and very little exercise time. I got on the scale today and I'm over my limit line again - ugh! Time to quit eating cheese popcorn and/or M&Ms at the computer.
There have been some amazing sunshine days. I always say it can be 40 below as long as the sun is shining! I was going to help Tom (the Cromwell city guy) put lights on the building yesterday but he's doing them today instead. It'd have been a great day today to be outside even though it's nasty cold out there! One patient just said it's 13 degrees! Wow!
Christmas shopping is in full swing for me - I spent the day in Duluth with DeAnn on Friday. Didn't get any shopping done at ShopKo, the line was halfway around the building just for check out - amazing! We went to Office Max, Michaels, ShopKo, JCPenney, Bath & Body Works, Younkers, Target, Kohls, Gander Mountain and Olive Garden! Olive Garden was the longest line all day - only because we got there at 10.45 and they open at 11...perfect mid-day snack, soup, salad and breadsticks!
The Ladies Christmas Brunch is on Saturday - I'm all ready for it. Tom M called last night asking me how I wanted the tables set up. In true Tom M fashion he didn't understand what I meant by "I'm taking care of it all - you don't need to set up tables" and so he's setting up tables today...gotta love him, no? So tomorrow I'll be setting up tables and cleaning out the fellowship hall so the ladies can start decorating their tables on Friday. I love the start of the Christmas season - speaking of which, David and I sang "How Many Kings" for church service on Sunday - I love that song! We sounded pretty good, if I do say so myself. David played guitar and I played the piano part - it was only one handed, don't think I've been playing excessively!
Haven't had any strange patients lately - it's been a lot of people with colds and coughs. Amazing how much Bactrim can be prescribed in a day! Thrifty White needs to start paying me a salary with all the scripts I'm taking care of, copays collecting and phone calls made! ;)
I'll post some Thanksgiving pictures in just a bit - meanwhile, I've watched Beyond Borders, Kit Kittredge, Rabbit-Proof Fence and Kiss the Bride in the last couple of weeks. Even saw Madagascar II with DeAnn, Colton, Bryan, Elizabeth and JR - "I like to move it, move it" - very funny movie.
I'm reading "A Breath of Snow and Ashes" right now - for you non-Jamie & Claire people, it's by Diana Gabaldon and it's the 5th in her Outlander series. I'm reading in anticipation of next falls release of the next book!
Oh! And I've discovered the secret to Anne-sleeping Success! It's my new bedtime hygiene routine as Dr. Benzie would say...after you're in your PJs, brush your teeth & wash your hands. Then turn on your electric mattress pad so you'll have toasty toes and then put your new favorite lotion on your hands (Tea Tree Lavender Sage body butter) and head off to the Land of Nod...works for me! I highly recommend the lotion - Michelle L-F has tons at her shop!
Have a fabulous Wednesday!
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