And then came the rain

So far this year we have broken the record for snowfall in the months of January and February.  This, of course, has been accompanied by subzero temperatures which makes it difficult to do anything outside.  Because of this, I think just about everyone was knocked on the floor when we had a near record high temperature yesterday of 65 degrees.  The snow finally melted around the area.  Where did it go, you may ask.  At my work, it went nowhere...it sat in the parking lot.  To add to this, we had one to two inches of rain that fell in a short time, compounding the situation.  I am posting a picture of the school.  Because of the extreme wind, the water looks like a lake with waves and everything :)

You can still see the curb on the upper left side of the picture.  That is the sidewalk to get to the superintendent's office.  Three of the four sides of the building look like this.  It looked like an island :) I don't know how the workers got in there without their wading boots.

Going home from work was quite an ordeal.  The wind was blowing my car all over.  The roads were flooded.  I was worried that my brakes would get flooded.  But, thankfully, I arrived home safe and sound.

Today, the water had receeded to the normal ditches.  And life returned to normal. 

My little embarrassment

I am going to admit right now that I am a little embarrassed by what I am going to post, but here it is.  As many of you know, I am a "t.v.holic", but normally I don't get so moved by a show.  I just have to get this out before I go crazy.  I, shamefully, watch Dance Moms, because I think that those girls are wonderful dancers and let's face it, many people in America like a little drama.  Now, I have always had to record it because I can't watch it when my blood pressure is high.  Anyway, I am officially DONE with this show and I think everyone else should be too.  Abby Lee Miller is the biggest jackass that has ever walked the planet and she deserves whatever misfortune should happen upon her.  I have watched her berate her dancers (keeping in the back of my mind, that it was probably partly for ratings - I mean who could really be that mean, right?) since the show came on.  But this season she has crossed the line.  I just can't watch anymore.  It's not entertainment.  I think that she honestly fancies herself a celebrity.  And, as far as the girls are concerned, I have always liked all of them for one reason or another, but Maddie is turning out just like her mother.  And that is a shame that she has finally been taught that lying and cheating is a good thing and a way to advance yourself in the world.  It's unfortunate that this show promotes dropping out of school at a young age so that you can pursue a career when you are over the hill by 30. 

Anyway, I apologize to the people who read this.  I have wasted two minutes of your time today!  Go do something useful to make up for this loss of your time :)

The emerging sense of humor

Anyone who has known Austin for a while knows that he has struggled with pragmatics and in understanding jokes.  This has improved somewhat over the years; and more and more I hear him say things that are funny in his own way.  We don't always share the same sense of humor, but the things are funny in his own circle of friends.  Anyway, tonight we were watching a commercial where one of the men said something like "I just looked at her and knew I would marry her one day".  Austin says, "I think my dad must look at a woman and say, 'oh she looks like she has money...I'm going to marry her someday." I sat there kind of stunned, wondering if he actually did say that and then he just starts laughing hysterically.  I love that he is developing a sense of humor and that he realizes that his dad is not a role model to follow in regards to relationships :)

ISPA

I got to the ISPA convention on Thursday morning without much trouble.  I only got lost once (GPSs are great, sometimes).  I went into the hotel and there were blowers everywhere.  Initially, I assumed that there had been some sort of flooding.  Anyway, my workshops were great, except that I seemed to have the long winded speakers so when it was break time and lunch time the lines for the food and restrooms were huge and it took forever.  But I did learn a lot.  I met up with a couple of my friends from grad school, and met a few new people.  I didn't stay at the hotel where the conference was held because it was a little bit high, so I stayed at the hotel across the street.  I had stayed there before and it was so-so.  I did not remember that they did not have irons and that the garage is so scary.  But other than that it was fine.  On day two, I learned that the blowers were due to the fact that there was a fire in the hotel on Wednesday night.  I went up to a friend's hotel room where they instructed me to look out the window because it felt funny.  As I approached the window, it was true.  I felt dizzy and had to hold onto the wall because I felt like I could just fall through the glass.  It was weird.  The windows must have been on an odd angle or something.  Overall, it was fun.

There was snow/sleet/freezing rain on the way home, but the roads weren't bad.  But, as I turned into the driveway my car slid a little bit.  I pulled into the carport and got out.  As I stepped back out of the carport to get my bag out of the car, I slipped on the ice and fell.  I hurt my knees and initially I couldn't move.  I was trying not to cry, and Austin was there flipping out, wanting to call 9-1-1.  I was finally able to calm him down, and army crawl back to the carport so I could lift myself up.  I just kept slipping in the driveway.  I don't have any scratches, but my knees are still pretty swollen and hurt.  My muscles in my legs, arms and back feel stressed too today.  I am really thankful that I wasn't hurt more.  It was a hard fall and with my weight, it could have been bad.  But I'm fine or I will be in a few days.  For now, I will continue to take my ibuprophen.

2014

So far, not lovin this year.  It has been super cold and snowy.  Austin has had a perpetual attitude and whines every day, almost all night.  I am STRESSED at work.  All these snow days has put me behind and I'm having to work at home a lot.  My evaluation has been cancelled twice due to the inclement weather and I just want to get it out of the way.  I am very nervous about it.  I have been blindsided in the past at a previous job and I just hope it doesn't happen again.  All this has loosened my willpower to not eat.  I have caught myself several times snacking on things without even realizing what I've eaten.  My poor habits are just so engrained in my brain.  I need to get back to it!

Maybe my next blog will not be a complaining one (but I don't know :)

Snow Days

No new pics today, but we did get about 13 inches on Sunday/Monday and then another 1-2 inches today.  This is the most snow I have seen in a while.  I've got to say that shoveling is moving up my list of least favorite chores.  Washing dishes still holds the number one spot after all these years.  Anyway, I have had snow days all week.  Austin's school was called off for tomorrow already as are many other schools in the area.  My schools have not called off yet.  While I really need to be at work to get some serious testing finished.  I'm already pretty screwed because I have lost four days.  I still kind of want another snow day.  I keep checking the internet like a little kid.  While my head knows what I need, my heart really wants to be off.  I am, however, really done with all this snow.  Once Christmas is over, I really have no desire for any more cold weather. 

On a brighter and totally unrelated note, I have been doing pretty well on all of my resolutions so far.  Maybe this will be my year :)

The polar vortex

I saw on the news that there is a polar vortex that is taking over the eastern half of the U.S. today through Tuesday.  The local news reporters have said that there will be record breaking low temperatures on Monday and Tuesday.  I think here the lows may reach into twenty something below zero.  We are expected to get a total of 6-12 inches of snow between last night and today.  I read on MSN that the state of Minnesota has cancelled classes at every school for Monday due to the expected low temperatures.  I took a couple of pictures at 9:00 this morning, but the snow is even higher now.  We are going to stay in and hope that the power doesn't go out and that the heat continues to work.  With the wind expected, it is supposed to be blizzard like conditions.