Taking out the Trash!

Well - she moved out - I should be sad - and I am, some what - but what she left behind could fill her second bedroom in her new apartment! I shared with her that she needed to take it all and her response was she didn't want it just throw it away. I laughed at this and promptly responded "Not My Job"! I think I'll snap a picture of it just for prosperity! Don stepped in and said he wanted it cleared up this weekend as a birthday present to him - Yeah for Dads is all I've got to say!

Empty Nest

The day has come - our middle daughter who would never let me out of her sight when she was younger - is moving into her first apartment. Nothing like the first apartment I had - where a card table served as my kitchen/dining room set, an old wooden spool that electrical wire came on was my end table in the sparsely furnished living room, nope she is furnishing her apartment with IKEA and style! At 23 she has deveoped such a modern style of her own and I'm very proud of the young woman she has become!

For almost a year she has been slowing collecting 'things' for the day she moved out. Dishes, kitchenware, complete bathroom acessories - the kid has style!

All this is great - right? Sure it is - but over the past 23 years this middle daughter and I have gotten very close - our morning rituals of getting ready for work at the same time - fighting for (or I mean sharing) the mirror to apply make-up, hogging the hot water for the shower - and the conversations.

I am a morning person - up at 5:00 and on my way - I do my best thinking then. And I need to talk about things but my dear husband is a grunter in the morning - you know the type - honey what do you think about (insert topic here) - and his response is usually gutteral tones and looks that just state "you know I'm not awake - why are are asking me now"! But my dear daughter is a talker and shares things in the morning too - it sure will be quiet - or maybe I should say it will be weird having one sided conversations!

I'll be that crazy woman talking to herself again - - - oh well - - - at least I'll get answers that way!

Warranty, Schmarranty

Why is it when you do purchase the extended 5 year warranty, it doesn't cover the parts that are broken?

We have a Duet Washer & Dryer we purchased 4 years and 5 months ago - the Dryer died - it isn't the first time - the first time was 7 months ago - the warranty covered that problem - a simple fuse. But this problem - well its electronic - and the $179.00 we plunked down for the 5 year extended warranty on top of the way to much we paid for the W & D doesn't cover electronic. Go figure.

So - the repairman tells me - it will take 3 days to get the part in (why don't they keep those dang parts on their truck?) - this was yesterday and my dryer has been dead since last Thursday. And when you get the part check it out to make sure UPS didn't damage it then call us and schedule us to come out - which will probably be about a 2-3 day turnaround. You have got to be kidding me right?!?!?!?!

So maybe - if I'm lucky and the Dryer Gods are smiling down upon me my dryer - and an additional $300.00 for momentum - I might have my dryer fixed by the second Tuesday of next week!

How true you don't know what you've got til its gone!!!!

Ch Ch Ch Changes

Growing up is an option - growing older is not - it just happens. And when the world around you changes more than the life at home you start to wonder where you are and where you need to be. I know - I'm being philosphical - so unlike me (snort)!

You spend your life as a parent watching your children grow up and hope that you have raised them to be responsible young adults -

Emily (who will be 24 this August) has married, made me a grandmother and is living her adult life - ok - only about 10 miles from home - (thank goodness) but once in a while she still needs me. She is an independent wonderful young woman with great ideals and goals for her life.

Stacy (who will be 23 in September) is planning her breakaway! Still living at home but not for long! She has an awesome job, has always been a saver, almost owns her car which she is paying for by herself - along with her insurance, phone, etc - you get the idea. She is a typical middle child - a beautiful young woman who always tries to see the best in everyone and fix things that need mending.

And then there is Tricia - she will be a Junior in college this fall. She landed an awesome internship this summer - working on her minor - communication/public relations and this will give her the income she needs to be more self sufficient - THANK GOD! But - I just hate those buts - she just doesn't get 'it'! She is 20 - on the deans list every quarter - has been offered a full ride for her masters at University of Wisconsin Madison - but - she can't find her way to understand everyday life needs looking at. Do those instructions come with a college dipoloma?

I know what you are thinking - Respect is taught - and we've instilled it - she just hasn't grasped the concept! So I'm back to saying things like My House, My Rules, have respect for our lives too - and my favorite "The towels cannot walk down the stairs by themselves and jump in the washing machine"!

But - come this fall - we will be empty nesters! Dang I'm old -

"Everything must change
Nothing stays the same
Everyone will change
No one, no one stays the same

The young become the old
And mysteries do unfold
For that's the way of time
No one, and nothing goes unchanged"

Getting Creative

I've been watching all the sneek pics and great layouts that are being prepared for CHA and it has triggered my mojo - finally!!!!!! I plan on playing this weekend after the grocery and cleaning and - well - you get the idea!

Last weekend I had to work on Saturday morning, but not at the office! We went to Mohican State Park for a presentation and this is the beautiful sunset we sat and watched Friday evening - then Don and I ventured up to Holmes County to a B & B for Saturday night - it was so relaxing! The food was yummy - the country side was just beautiful!



Have a great weekend all -

Hey Grams

Well - it has been a very long time since I blogged! Life, work and being a grams has kept me busy and forgetful but I'm back - for today anyway!

Spring has finally hit Casstown!