It's cold.
'Nuf said.Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Holidays
Well, the holidays are finally over. It took a while, but I managed to see pretty much everyone in my family between Thanksgiving and New Years.
We did Christmas at my dad's on New Years Day this year - more of us could come, and dad doesn't care if it isn't on the actual day of Christmas. So, we drug our hungover, overtired, sad butts to dad's to eat, play games, open gifts, and carouse in a mild-mannered way.
The kids had a great time playing the Wii they got from Santa... (Note: I have NO rhythm; this was proven yet again as I tried my hand on drums.)
We did Christmas at my dad's on New Years Day this year - more of us could come, and dad doesn't care if it isn't on the actual day of Christmas. So, we drug our hungover, overtired, sad butts to dad's to eat, play games, open gifts, and carouse in a mild-mannered way.
The kids had a great time playing the Wii they got from Santa... (Note: I have NO rhythm; this was proven yet again as I tried my hand on drums.)
Livia has really gotten the hang of opening presents...
and even the damn dog got into the festivities...
plus Nathan gave us his usual "bah-humbug" look, as classic as stockings on the mantle...
while Colleen searched for...something...oh, wait, yep, a can of whoop-ass in cribbage. Found! (Sorry, dad!)
It was a great holiday - hope everyone else had a good one, too!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Why Cars Suck
Why Cars Suck: An Ode to Suck-dom
by Diane Dugas
You run for a while,
you big shitty pile,
and then
you just break on down.
You were crusing just fine
through so many county lines
why then
did you have to break down?
As soon as I thought I was home free
you, my car, said, "nuh-uh, it's not to be!"
And sputtered to a halt
amid snow, dirt and salt
right there on 35-E. (well, it was 35-W, but that doesn't rhyme with anything)
So I cruised off the road, almost into a ditch,
and called my Uncle Mitch.
Who came
with a gas can for me.
Alas, it wasn't the gas
the engine just wouldn't last
So we called
a tow truck instead.
The car's now in the shop
the bill's going to pop
my eyes
right outta my head.
I picked up a rental
and am trying not to go mental
but my mind
keeps on thinking, "For real?!"
So I am waiting to hear
from my mechanic so dear
who will call
soon to tell me the deal.
In the meantime dear clan
I am without Grand Am
it's a sad, sad, sad
state of affairs.
My thoughts of a spa day
or a trip to somewhere far away
are subsumed now
by the cost of car repairs.
by Diane Dugas
You run for a while,
you big shitty pile,
and then
you just break on down.
You were crusing just fine
through so many county lines
why then
did you have to break down?
As soon as I thought I was home free
you, my car, said, "nuh-uh, it's not to be!"
And sputtered to a halt
amid snow, dirt and salt
right there on 35-E. (well, it was 35-W, but that doesn't rhyme with anything)
So I cruised off the road, almost into a ditch,
and called my Uncle Mitch.
Who came
with a gas can for me.
Alas, it wasn't the gas
the engine just wouldn't last
So we called
a tow truck instead.
The car's now in the shop
the bill's going to pop
my eyes
right outta my head.
I picked up a rental
and am trying not to go mental
but my mind
keeps on thinking, "For real?!"
So I am waiting to hear
from my mechanic so dear
who will call
soon to tell me the deal.
In the meantime dear clan
I am without Grand Am
it's a sad, sad, sad
state of affairs.
My thoughts of a spa day
or a trip to somewhere far away
are subsumed now
by the cost of car repairs.
Monday, December 08, 2008
Evan David
Evan David was baptized last Saturday, November 29th, surrounded by family and friends. He was a complete trooper through the entire process, barely even making a face when anointed and vigorously rubbed dry. What a guy!!
Auntie Di and Auntie Amanda were on hand to proudly bear witness.
(We missed you, Auntie Nat!)
It still boggles my mind that one of my best friends is a mom.
Holy scha-moly!!
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Adventures on the Western Front
Hello all from Great Falls, Montana!
I made it out here on Saturday, after attending Geb's little boy's baptism (pics and post to follow soon). Our flight didn't leave until 9:15 CST, so we didn't get out here until 11:30 MST. I was a pooped puppy - way past my bedtime!! And, strangely, traveling always makes me tired. I don't get it - I'm just sitting there, right? But sleepiness abounded nonetheless.
We had a full day to "play" when we got here. Sunday found us on our way down the road to Belt, MT, and tiny podunk that boasts its own post office, a few bars, some churches, and not much else. Now, you know I didn't go for church, and the post office isn't open on Sunday. So... you guessed it, bar time!
Linda & I enjoyed the local fare at the Harvest Moon Brewery. Delicious brewed beverages and, I swear, the best darn cheeseburger I've had in a long time!! (Oh, and our waitress was from MN! How random is that?) I tried the Harvest Moon Select, Harvest Moon Pale Beltian, and something called "Charlie Red." All good, baby, all good.
Monday and Tuesday were hard-core studying days, and Wednesday a super-review day. We had a small group (5 counselors & one educator) and really hit the books. The test, supposedly very rigorous, would be set up for Thursday as soon as we got our HUD agency number from our boss back in MN.
We studied charts, tables, definitions, etc. We did word problems to learn practical application of various formulas and terms. We filled in blank spreadsheets with product-specific items. My head ached, but it started to set in. Flashbacks to college abounded.
Lo and behold, the boss back in MN didn't get the HUD agency number to get us registered for the test. So, our educator tried to register Linda and I as employees at his agency. The testing center didn't care, which was good. Linda got the 2:30 slot on Thursday in Helena, MT (the nearest site).
But me - nada. They have no more spots available. Unless I want to stay in Helena, MT another week (no can do).
So. A summary:
1) I took a short Thanksgiving weekend at the last minute to come out here. Did not go to Duluth, did not see immediate family.
2) I took a full week off at TCF to come out here (lost earnings for which I will not get reimbursed).
3) I studied my ass off for the past three days.
4) Now I can't take the test as planned, will have to set it up somewhere else (God knows where) and some other time (again, will likely miss work). And, to top it off, I'll probably have forgotten half of what I crammed in this week.
Not a happy Di. My boss that's here with me, Linda, not a happy Linda. Grrrrrrrr.
Hopefully I'll find a test site near the Twin Cities and a date and time that isn't too inconvenient. Keep your fingers crossed.
I made it out here on Saturday, after attending Geb's little boy's baptism (pics and post to follow soon). Our flight didn't leave until 9:15 CST, so we didn't get out here until 11:30 MST. I was a pooped puppy - way past my bedtime!! And, strangely, traveling always makes me tired. I don't get it - I'm just sitting there, right? But sleepiness abounded nonetheless.
We had a full day to "play" when we got here. Sunday found us on our way down the road to Belt, MT, and tiny podunk that boasts its own post office, a few bars, some churches, and not much else. Now, you know I didn't go for church, and the post office isn't open on Sunday. So... you guessed it, bar time!
Linda & I enjoyed the local fare at the Harvest Moon Brewery. Delicious brewed beverages and, I swear, the best darn cheeseburger I've had in a long time!! (Oh, and our waitress was from MN! How random is that?) I tried the Harvest Moon Select, Harvest Moon Pale Beltian, and something called "Charlie Red." All good, baby, all good.
Monday and Tuesday were hard-core studying days, and Wednesday a super-review day. We had a small group (5 counselors & one educator) and really hit the books. The test, supposedly very rigorous, would be set up for Thursday as soon as we got our HUD agency number from our boss back in MN.
We studied charts, tables, definitions, etc. We did word problems to learn practical application of various formulas and terms. We filled in blank spreadsheets with product-specific items. My head ached, but it started to set in. Flashbacks to college abounded.
Lo and behold, the boss back in MN didn't get the HUD agency number to get us registered for the test. So, our educator tried to register Linda and I as employees at his agency. The testing center didn't care, which was good. Linda got the 2:30 slot on Thursday in Helena, MT (the nearest site).
But me - nada. They have no more spots available. Unless I want to stay in Helena, MT another week (no can do).
So. A summary:
1) I took a short Thanksgiving weekend at the last minute to come out here. Did not go to Duluth, did not see immediate family.
2) I took a full week off at TCF to come out here (lost earnings for which I will not get reimbursed).
3) I studied my ass off for the past three days.
4) Now I can't take the test as planned, will have to set it up somewhere else (God knows where) and some other time (again, will likely miss work). And, to top it off, I'll probably have forgotten half of what I crammed in this week.
Not a happy Di. My boss that's here with me, Linda, not a happy Linda. Grrrrrrrr.
Hopefully I'll find a test site near the Twin Cities and a date and time that isn't too inconvenient. Keep your fingers crossed.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Hi-Ho Silver...
I found out late last week that I get to go out West, to Great Falls, Montana, for a week!
Yes, it's for work, so it's not like a vacation, really - but I'm excited nonetheless.
My boss, Linda, and myself are attending training and certification to become certified reverse mortgage counselors. (It's one more notch in the proverbial belt of training I can use in my eventual bid to take over the world.) We leave Saturday, 11/29 and come back Friday, 12/5.
A little info: reverse mortgages are basically loans against your home that you do not have to pay back for as long as you live there. They are typically given to homeowners who are 62 and older, have most or all of their mortgage paid for, and need more than their fixed income to make ends meet each month. People are turning to this option as they see a plateau in their Social Security income, pension, or retirement payouts, while cost of living keeps going up.
There's a lot of studying to be done prior to leaving for the trip...ugh. But we get a full day of "fun" out there on Sunday, to just bum around, before getting into the nitty-gritty. We cram for two days, take the certification exam on the third day, then observe certified counselor the last two days to get the "feel" for it.
I'll let you all know how it goes - and hopefully I'll have some nice scenic pictures to post of Montana. I haven't been there since I was 18, but from what I recall - mountains. Lots of mountains.
Yes, it's for work, so it's not like a vacation, really - but I'm excited nonetheless.
My boss, Linda, and myself are attending training and certification to become certified reverse mortgage counselors. (It's one more notch in the proverbial belt of training I can use in my eventual bid to take over the world.) We leave Saturday, 11/29 and come back Friday, 12/5.
A little info: reverse mortgages are basically loans against your home that you do not have to pay back for as long as you live there. They are typically given to homeowners who are 62 and older, have most or all of their mortgage paid for, and need more than their fixed income to make ends meet each month. People are turning to this option as they see a plateau in their Social Security income, pension, or retirement payouts, while cost of living keeps going up.
There's a lot of studying to be done prior to leaving for the trip...ugh. But we get a full day of "fun" out there on Sunday, to just bum around, before getting into the nitty-gritty. We cram for two days, take the certification exam on the third day, then observe certified counselor the last two days to get the "feel" for it.
I'll let you all know how it goes - and hopefully I'll have some nice scenic pictures to post of Montana. I haven't been there since I was 18, but from what I recall - mountains. Lots of mountains.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Congrats, Geb & Paul!
So my dear friend Geb and her hubby Paul welcomed their son into the world early Thursday morning (just after midnight!). Evan David is a beautiful baby, with a good head of hair and all the important parts. Nestled next to his mommy on the hospital bed, I was just amazed. He's here. He's really here!
Congratulations to Geb and Paul, who have waited and wondered and hoped and prayed for so long. Their little man has arrived!!
Auntie Di gives two thumbs up.
Congratulations to Geb and Paul, who have waited and wondered and hoped and prayed for so long. Their little man has arrived!!
Auntie Di gives two thumbs up.
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