I'm sick...

... and waiting to go to the Doc tomorrow. Hopefully she'll tell me its not Strep throat again. Or if it is, prescribe some generic RX pretty fast...
... in my last 4 days in bed, in sweats, in the bath... had time to think, relax, catch up on time inside my own head...
... completely sick of magazines, books, TV, movies, baths,sleep and time inside my own head, I organized 4 years of pictures today (seriously, Lauryn's photo album ends at 2 months. ..sigh..)... Now 100+ rolls of film are organized and ready to be put into albums... sigh... 6 more rolls yet to be developed....
...stressing out because my best friend at work has to fill in on my very odd shift... my sickness means her inconvenience and lack of sleep...
...hoping I'm feeling better for a big night of trick or treating... the little pink witch and Ninja Turtle are excited...
... hoping tonight will be a restful night of sleep, no weird sickness dreams, no waking up to a searing throat, no strange wake-ups at 3 a.m. wondering where I am and why I feel so bad...
Here's hoping modern medicine, lots of hot baths, hot tea, noodle soup, rest and a little bit of love will have me on my feet again soon.

Cleveland Rocks!

Score: 1-1 top of the 2nd.... and Owen thinks this video should be on my blog!

90 minutes and counting....

...to the CLEVELAND INDIANS game! They're up in the series 3-1 against Boston and tonight is their last game at home. A win tonight and they'll be heading to the WORLD SERIES! Keeping my fingers crossed!
GO TRIBE!

Surprises in film...

Yesterday I found 2 rolls of film in the bottom of a purse that I hadn't used in a while. No idea what's on them. I will get to the photo shop eventually to see what's on my mystery rolls.
In the meantime, developed a few disposable cameras that I stash in cars, purses, bags etc. for when I want a camera RIGHT NOW. One had everything from snow out at the farm last winter...to last spring's class trip to the zoo (other kids cut out of photo, didn't seem right to post without permission)...Owen and Lauryn hanging out in the hot tub ("the warm pool" as lauryn calls it) on our impromptu vacation this summer...and some fun in the sprinkler outside the house.

Hmm. A few more disposables to develop... I wonder what beautiful memories and surprises I'll find next!

Way to go, Kansas!

Kansas has denied an air quality permit for an electric plant to build what would have been one of the largest coal-fired plants in the country. The $3.9 billion dollar plant, to be located in Holcomb, was harshly criticized by environmentalists (otherwise known as people who care about the world we're giving to our kids, and don't like dirty air.)
This isn't the end of the debate. Legal action, legislation, etc. will follow. A bunch of people are ticked off because of the "economic impact" it would have brought to western Kansas.
But I applaud the Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment and the governor for saying this leads straight into more eco-friendly power options. ( I mean seriously people, have you ever been in Kansas on a windy day? KANSAS has plenty of wind to power our state. And solar? C'mon people, Kansas has more sunny days per year than the "Sunshine state," Florida. ) WE CAN do this... even in a red state. Today's decision won't be final, but it was a GREAT first step towards the changes that this country needs to make.
Kansas, You Rock.
Unfortunately my comments are considered "radical." I know way too many people who think Global Warming is a hoax and wind energy is really just filling our countryside with large, loud eye sores. Well fine, say what you may. I've never been ashamed to call myself a granola tree-hugger. All I know is that I want to hand this earth over to my kids in the best possible shape I can. And if that means wind energy, solar energy, recycling, conserving, and just in general being a good steward to the earth, then call me whatever name you want. Guilty as charged.

Read the whole story in the Lawrence Journal World.
Another story from KSN the night before KDHE's decision.

Will blog again soon...

I meant to start this whole blog experience, so that I could keep everyone in the know. I seem to have fallen a bit off of the wagon.

It has been a busy, although not entirely eventful, few weeks. Everyday has seemed full, even if the amount of activities I am involved in, do not seem to add up to much. The laundry never seems done, the dishes never seem to get taken out of the dishwasher, I feel like I'm running around constantly getting someplace ten minutes late. And despite a few days off from work, I still feel like I haven't had much time to do anything, or really accomplish a major goal.

The weather may be a contributing factor. It is getting cooler, and for a few days it has been dreary. I forget how much I get used to the Kansas sun, until it spends a few days behind the clouds.

Maybe its just the time of the year -- knowing winter and the holidays are coming soon, I feel the need to collect and conquer like the squirrels -- everything must be in place, all the loose ends tied, time to settle in for a long-winter slumber.

Work is always a contributor to my mood. We're being sold again which means new insurance info, new papers to fill out, new policies to learn (or worry about, since we haven't been told what they are yet.) New worries to concern oneself with.... even if the worries are over the unknown.

Its not all gloom -- soccer is in full swing. We're enjoying Saturday morning games, and using
the opportunity to catch up with the grandparents, while sitting on the sidelines. We're knee deep in Halloween costumes (Owen decided on a Teenage Mutant Ninja turtle -- it has been quite easy to make. Lauryn was less decisive -- everything from Darth Vader to Harry Potter to a Princess. In the end she picked pink and purple spiderweb fabric and decided to be a witch.) It feels good to use my sewing machine again, have the satisfaction of a finished product that began with simple fabric and thread. Pictures and details will come eventually.

I got some more painting done in the living room -- working on the trim that I had failed to finish in the big remodel this spring. Still have a few hours of work left though. The trim around my decorative windows and bookshelves is pain-staking work, but thoroughly rewarding when done.

And we have another Indians game to look forward to tonight: Game 4 at home, Indians lead the series 2-1. For the first time in 12 years, could the Tribe be heading back to the World Series....

So ... time to get back to the laundry and making pumpkin muffins with Lauryn. She's working on creating her own miner's hat (a visor with a flashlight strapped to it) right now. Owen has returned to school, after a 4 day weekend and a week of half days due to PT conferences and in- services. He will settle back into a routine soon. So will we all.

Now Lauryn has another idea. "Can we play this game of Harry Potter UNO together, ma?" (she loves Snape and Hagrid, and used to call Draco Malfoy "Mouse-Boy." I'm sure it was always just a toddler's pronunciation -- but I always considered it accurate personality labeling. This kid is perceptive like her father, when it comes to things like that.)

So can we play UNO? "Of course Lauryn. Of course," I say as she runs up with bright eyes and a brighter smile, "Look, I found Hagrid, ma, HAGRID!"