We're in Tahoe, and it is COLD.

We're at the library......Joseph is doing his schoolwork, and I am playing on the computer;)
When we get back to the room (Horizon....with an awesome view of the lake) I am planning on making more of my ornaments for the Christmas SWAP.

The show last night was good....but a very small audience. The people there were loud though;) Tonight is closing night....I hope there is a good crowd. Joseph and I have to over early. JB told him to bring his guitar over so he can 'fix' it for him. Its something to do with customizing the fit...making the neck better and the strings. hell, I don't know what he's going to do;/ AllI know is I will bring a book along to read, lol.

Sunday was World Youth Day.

I spent it with about 400 kids from 5 different youth groups at a 'praise' rally at St Patricks High School. It was raucous, funny, powerful and touching. The theme of the rally was social justice.....something close to my heart. Each youth group had to do a skit. Our kids did really well, I thought. They showed a video....the "What's Going On" one with Bono, Christina Aguilera, and a bunch of other singers.....powerful. After that, they did a skit with a 'teacher' and 'students' who did 'reports' on different things that have happened....the Holocaust, the Civil Rights movement , and Columbine. At the end, they played another video, Michael Jackson's Heal the World. (I thought it ironic that they used a Michael Jackson song....perverted bastard) They were all on stage singing along with it, and everyone in the audience stood and sang along....holding hands.

There was a speaker by the name of Paul Flores. He was awesome! He connected so well with the kids, and spoke the truth, lol. He makes observations....observations that are dead on. He was also funny as hell;) I guess he is also going to speak at the L.A. convention in February. That should be very cool.

The singer they had was great too. During the first break, instead of going outside for a snack, Joseph and Derek both ended up talking to him (and he let them play his guitars) In fact, Joseph ended up going out and bringing his guitar from the car, and before the end of the next break, he was onstage with Trevor, singing;-)


Chris took Monday off. We went down to IKEA. I bought a great shelf for all the record albums. I knew I could find one at IKEA, lol. I also found a chair I want for the family room....but I didn't get it then. Chris will have to take the truck down and get it.

Today Joseph and I are going back up to Tahoe for the last 2 nights of the run there. At least the weather is cooperating this time! I am going to take my ornaments along and work on them tomorrow while Joseph is doing his school work. It will be a perfect time to do it:)

Going away in the middle of the week messes me up. Today feels like Monday. It was errand day.....I went to Target to pick up printer cartridges.......$80 later, I left. Its those dang dollar bins that get me every time;-)

I did 5 loads of laundry, cleaned and mopped both bathrooms, then went through magazines to thin them out.

The only reason I know it is Friday is that as soon as Chris gets home, we're off to Round Table for pizza and beer. He will be happy when he sees what I bought at Target (for a dollar, no less)....Night Of The Living Dead. The original.

He can watch it Sunday while Joseph and I are gone;)


Off to check the tv listings........is Monk on tonight?

Its JUST an online community....why am I hurt?

A private forum....sorry, but nonetheless, someone made me cry tonight :*( One person asked me if I had a good time in Tahoe and Oregon....and said they wished they got around as much as I do. I took it to mean ...travelled...but some one else said (jokingly) why don't you just call her a ho. I should have realized she was joking, but when someone says that.....damn. I keep wondering, does she mean it? Does she really think (even subconciously) I am a *ho*? Yeah, I do go a lot. I am damn lucky that I can. I know that. Chris makes good money....I homeschool Joseph and we can take off at the drop of a hat. Schoolbooks travel well, and he can do math anywhere;)

I am also very good friends with 5 men. I have posted about those men.....my friends. I have known them for almost 18 years...they are all part of my life. A platonic part of my life. I have been married for 30 years, and am faithful.
I happen to enjoy being friends with men. They aren't as catty and bitchy as women can be. They are real.

I am so fucking frustrated. I made the mistake of saying something (in response) about 'travelling being better than bitching about my life and my sick kids.' That was in regards to someone who does exactly that. All the time. Those person does nothing but complain about one of her kids having a cold, or a runny (or stuffy) nose, and how she has to take them to the doctor. What I want to do is slap her upside her head and tell her to STOP. But I don't. Well, one time I did try and gently tell her that maybe she was too much of worrier. That went over like a lead balloon though, so I have given up. I usually ignore her. We are just too different.

Anyway, I shouldn't have lashed out at her because someone hurt my feelings. That was wrong, and I am sorry I did it.


IMA HO, PT II

Might as well, lol......just wish I was having the fun such a title implied;-)

Tahoe was fun, but the drive up was hell.

We left Tuesday afternoon.....and had to drive up highway 80, as 50 was closed due to mudslides. It took 6 hours to get from my house to Truckee......a trip that normally takes 2 hours. Here in the valley, it was flooding and high winds, and in the mountains it was snow....and chains. By the time we got to Truckee.....it was almost dark. I drove along Highway 89....and there were no 'chain monkeys' to take the cables off the tires. Yes, I am a flatlander, and I have no freaking idea how to take them off.

We got to the 7-11 by Squaw Valley, and I pulled in the parkng lot to attempt to remove them. (It wasn't snowing then....) We got one partof each cable undone, but couldn't reach the other part. Luckily, a Good Samaritan came out and helped us unfasten one....but the other one got stuck and wrapped around the axle (do NOT ask me how that happened) I ended up having to call AAA to come and fix it. By the time AAA got there and unhooked it......it started to snow again.

We bravely decided to continue on our way to Tahoe....it was only a 45 minute to an hour drive.....I could still make it for the end of the show, and to sell merchandise. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had different ideas. The snow came down harder...and harder. I couldn't freaking SEE. I don't know how people drive at night in the snow:/

We decided to turn around and head back to Truckee for the night. What a freaking harrowing drive. I had Joseph roll down his wondow andhelp me navigate the road. I was terrified I would skid off the road onto either an embankement or the river. Luckily, the Holiday Inn had rooms when we got there. After a dinner of chips/candy bars and sodas from the hotel machines, first Joseph, than I took a hot bath to thaw out our wet feet and bodies. I called Chris to tell him we were in Truckee instead of Tahoe, and had to listen to him tell me 'I should have left earlier, I should have gone a different way, I should have....blah blah blah.' Not what I needed to hear. By the time we made it back to Truckee,I was shaking like a leaf.

We got up yesterday morning, and it was still snowing......but the road was plowed, and we headed off to Tahoe via Reno.

The show last night was lots of fun.....we spent some time with the guys at sound check....and everyone was worried because we hadn't shown up on Tuesday. Its nice to know someone cares.

It's Raining, It's Pouring......


And rain here means snow in the mountains. While I normally don't care, I do today. Joseph and I are driving up to Tahoe (again) for 2 shows, and to sell merchandise afterward (Casey can't be there for sales)

Hopefully there will be a break while we are driving up. I hate to chain up. I especially don't like paying the 'chain monkeys' to put them on, but since I don't know how to.......I have no choice.

Another fun tidbit.....Highway 50 is still closed because of mudslides (the fire last week+ rain= mudslides) so I have to drive up through Reno....which adds at least an hour to the trip.

*Sigh*

The things I do for those guys. I hope they appreciate it;-)

It has been a busy week!

I love Oregon in the fall. We spent last weekend there. The leaves in Lithia Park are all turning, and it is absolutely beautiful. We spent some time with Steve and Roberta, and basically just relaxed. ( I did do some shopping.....3 new pair of shoes among other things:-D )

Joseph played guitar with his Aunt Roberta. She was very impressed with his playing. So was I. I didn't realize just how good he is getting. They played "Pancho & Lefty"... a Willie Nelson song, and then she pulled out the music for "The Weight" by The Band. The kid did good;)

We came home on Monday, then on Tuesday Joseph and I left for Lake Tahoe. We got back yesterday. We stayed at Doc's Cottages.......they are small cottages built in the 1920's, with quite a history. Clark Gable stayed there. Joseph would do his schoolwork in the morning, then we would go out in the afternoon, either shopping, or to the lake looking for rocks. At night we went to see the boys play at Harrah's. It was a nice 4 days. JB gave Joseph some kind of guitar gadget. I have no idea just what it does. I admit I am hoplessly ignorant of much of the stuff that goes along with electric guitars.

We're heading back up on Tuesday for a couple of days. Casey has rehearsals, and she won't be there, so I am handling the merchandise sales alone.....well, with help from Joseph. He is quite the salesman, lol. I am so lucky. Chris doesn't mind at all. He is working long hours with the new project, so us being gone isn't hard on him. He basically comes home, eats and goes to bed. I do worry about him getting sick, but can't tell him anything:/

I am ready for an early bedtime tonight. Today was donut sales, rehearsal for the skit the kids are putting on next Sunday at the rally, youth group, then Mass. I was at the church from 7:30 this mornig until 6:30 tonight. Whew.

Tomorrow it is schoolwork for Joseph and cleaning for me. *Sigh*.......definitely a Monday.

Today was Mr. N's funeral. It was good to see Mike and Tom.....its been a long time. It is sad that there are family members we don't see unless there is a funeral:( Peggy didn't come out for the funeral though. I didn't think she would. If she couldn't be bothered to come out for her own father's funeral, why would she for her father in law:/ Poor Tom. It must be awful to get NO support from your spouse. Ever.

We went and had pizza for dinner, but waited til after the debate was over. Shrub was defensive again. He just doesn't. get. it.

VOTE KERRY

We're heading up to Oregon tomorrow for a couple of days to see SJ and maybe Auntie.

Have a good weekend everyone:)

Oh......the girl with the offensive sig took it off, so I have her off ignore now.

I got my Eucharistic Minister "training" today, such at it was. Karla told me a couple of things, then gave me a booklet to read. Poor thing, she wasn't feeling well, so she gave me an abbreviated version.

Tonight was the parent meeting at Jo's house. We talked about the budget and plans for both the rally this month and the LA trip, then we all just sat & talked. Florence gave us some good feedback....and told us what a difference we are making in the kids' lives. It was nice to hear.

Then I came home and watched Brady being voted off Survivor. Wahhhhh. The cute one is gone:/



After that I got on the forums...........I wish I hadn't.



=(

Right now, I am so disappointed in some people.....on so many levels:(

Have you ever put anyone in one of the forums on ignore because of his/her signature?

I never have, before today. I am pretty easy going about sigs, of any kind. The one today really offended me though. It is a picture of John Kerry as Osama Bin Laden. It says something like "Osama Bin Kerry....he'll terrorize your taxes" I am appalled that someone, even in a joking manner, equates a candidate with OBL. Maybe I am touchy about it, but it really pisses me off. I thought better of this person......even if she is a Bush supporter, LOL. After all, everyone has a right to be wrong;-)

I could ignore all sigs in that forum, but I really enjoy seeing what people have in their sigs. I didn't even mind when she had the Bush button.

Hopefully she won't keep it in long.....I don't like ignoring her.

Smile For the Camera

I took Joseph to have his school picture taken today. One thing about homeschooling.......if you want a picture, you have to go to a photographer, lol. No one comes here for it;)

It would be fine, too.....if all I got was one pose. Unfortunately, they take 7 or 8 different poses....and I have a hard time choosing, so I usually get 3 or 4 of the poses. Yes, I am a soft touch;)

Anyway, the photos will be back on October 19. I'll post one here so you can see my handsome young man;-)

A Sad Note

Tom N.'s dad passed away. The funeral is Friday. Joseph and I will attend and pay our respects. Chris is going to try and take off for a couple of hours so he can go too. Mr. N. was quite a character. Chris went on a motorcycle ride with him about 20 years ago.......Mr N. was 70 at the time. He was full of life and very funny. he will be missed.

Another day, another debate.

Tonight it was the candidates for VP. I think John Edwards won the debate handily, but that's just me. I really have a hard time even watching Cheney.....he gives me the willies. Seriously....he scares me....even more than Dubya does. I think he is an evil, evil man. *Shudder*


With the mess the forums have been the past couple of days, (damn Delphi) I actually got some stuff done around the house;) I got the closet in the den straightened out, and went through some of Joseph's old books. I gave some old unused workbooks and stuff to Florence for Helen to use.

I also rearranged the lawyers bookcase in the entry/dining room, and the table behind the sofa. I took the vintage school books off the table and put them on top of the bookcase where we can see them better, and I put all the pictures that were on the bookcase onto the sofa table. I feel like I am finally making some progress, lol.

After I finished that, I made a simple family tree as an example for the CCD kids, as I had them make one during class this afternoon. After they finished, I put them all up on the wall under a sign that read " An Arbor of Ancestors". Fr. Mike came in and spoke to the kids about the children's mass he is (finally) starting. I really wish we had a priest who connected with the kids and teenagers of the parish:-( Neither he nor Fr Paul do....at all. Neither one is comfortable around young people. The kids see it too, at least the teens do. They don't feel like they are part of the church. Sad. When the YG had donut sales Sunday from 8-12, Fr Mike didn't even walk over and say hello to the kids. He didn't even acknowledge them at all:(

The only comments some of the kids even get is someone bitching about how they dress. I don't like the really short, short skirts, or belly shirts either at church, but other than that, I don't see what the big deal is. The youth group has a dress code that says no micro minis or belly shirts, so the YG kids, at least don't wear them to church. The thing is, at least around here lots of people don't dress up for church anymore. When a 70 year old complains about the clothes the teens wear to Mass though, I would like to respectfully tell them to STFU. At least the kids are coming to church. Besides, the 5:50 Mass on Sunday evening is the youth Mass. If the little old ladies don't like it, there are lots of other Masses they can go to:/

I am such a slacker.


A blogging slacker, that is. I honestly do have good intentions.....then I get sidetracked. Must be old age;)

Let's see.....what have I been doing? It seems like I have been busy, but nothing is done. The house is still a mess, although I am s l o w l y going through stuff and cleaning out. I will get done sometime this year. I will, dammit. The garden is almost done for. We have a few tomatoes left, and some zucchini (still). I am thinking about putting in a crop of broccoli & maybe brussels sprouts along with some lettuce for the fall. We'll see.

*Sigh* Joseph is really over the moon. My baby boy has a huge, gigantic crush. Heidi is adorable and sweet....and 2 years older! Yikes. I can't believe he is even old enough to notice girls:( They hang out at youth group. I think every 8th grade boy has a crush on her though.

CCD classes are going well; we have been busy at youth group with different activities (planning a trip to L.A. in February) and NOW I have been asked to be a Eucharistic Minister at church.
As Karla told me...someone put my name in as "someone who might be interested". Could I say no? No:/ She is going to train me sometime this week, I guess. I will do it once a month at the youth Mass. I don't know when I will first do it though, as this month we are going to be spending a lot of time in Tahoe.

I thought I was going to be able to meet an online friend this past weekend, but it didn't work out. I am so disappointed. I was looking forward to the meeting. I was actually going to meet 2 people, but one lives faily close by, so we are going to meet soon anyway. Maybe the next time I fly to Seattle I will be able to meet the other one.

I have to go through my lesson plan for tomorrow's CCD class.....luckily I don't need to do that for Joseph. I did the week's lesson plan late last night.

I hope this was enough of an update......I will try and do better, I promise;-)