Ding Dong

the old green van is dead...blew 3 cylinders. in car talk = real bad.

Thank God, for our friend Kiki since he is lending us one of his cars until the IRS check comes and I can get a new used something (any ideas?). I was planning to do this anyway, but not for about another month, but the ole green lady kicked the bucket. She did me good, real good, only cost me 1800.00, 9 years ago. May she rest in peace!!

and the joy continues

So around noon yesterday, we loaded up the van and headed north to the waterpark 45 minutes away.

about, maybe 15 minutes into the ride, I could hear the engine making rattling sounds and knew immediately we were in trouble.

about 20 minutes in, the van stalled at the side of the freeway....and so we waited at least 30 plus minutes for a police car and then another 20 plus minutes for the tow truck.

Me?, well I am fuming because if you remember I just had my van in last Monday, for this same problem, paid over 150.00 to have it supposedly fixed and now we are stalled in less than 30 degree weather with 3 children along a freeway. Mix in the excitement that had been in the air in anticipation for the waterpark and you can imagine the mood. A bad week coupled with a really bad day.

Well the van was finally towed, $130.00 later to the Monday's mechanic shop, I am po'd, they give me loaner for a few days (empty of gas of course) since there was no mechanic at the shop anymore. I make sure they record the tow bill that I tell them I expect to be paid since again I remind them of the fact that supposedly I had this problem fixed last Monday. The tow man, the police officer and the mechanic shop guy all said the same thing. Take the loaner and go to the waterpark. I decided to go with their advice. We ended up having a great time, stayed late, had supper and are now at peace today. But we didn't make it to church again since we slept late.

And naturally in keeping with yesterday's luck, I did bring my camera, but when I locked up my purse in the locker, I left my camera inside the purse, inside the locker and I was just too irritated to retrieve it. So unlike me, but par for the course this week, we have no pictures to capture yesterday's memorable moments.

and school begins tomorrow, and the weather is predicted to be in the 45 degree range and we still have that matter of a van not working that needs to be fixed and naturally paid for....so here's hoping for much better weeks to come...

POSPOLLY running!!

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that my running this week has been GREAT!!!

I have been running 4 minute negative split intervals with 2 min rest between (to prevent my plantar fasciitis from becoming fatigued, which would set me waaaayyyy back) for 45 minutes...My feet feel great, I feel great, and I have had the best running that I have had in 3 years, so with all the anti-pollyanna going around in my head this week, the running was the Big POSPOLLY!! I will take it too.

Now I need to slowly reduce my rest time to 1 minute and then hopefully no rest with my feet being able to handle it....must always have goals!!!

Kiki teaching Mim and Tuki guitar

as you can see it takes alot of patience.

while making lasagna for supper.

Where is Ve? Well she isn't all that interested in focusing long enough to learn the chords, but she and I sure like to watch and listen.

















This was probably the most enjoyable day of the spring break this year.

The break started out with me waking a week ago Friday with a swollen face, acute allergic reaction to something.

Saturday morning it was worse and twice the size. I took myself to urgent care, and they put me on meds that I have been on this entire week.

Sunday, I couldn't start the car- didn't go to church

Monday, took the car in, cost over 150.00 dollars, and waited for over an hour to be told no allergy shot this week due to my Friday's problem

Tuesday, ice and snow-stuck inside, after Y workout, evening, rousing game of dominoes with friend M.

Wednesday, snow day for all of Wisconsin that had school this week, since their spring break was last week during the 45 degree weather

Thursday, yesterday...a nice day with Kiki after we shoveled our car out from being stuck

Today, lunch with old neighbor A, and Y workout

Saturday, the plan is to go to an indoor water park for the girls..

Sunday, get ready for school again

not my best week off especially following the last few weeks of school, but I think our summer plans are shaping up and for that I am starting to feeling like there is hope again.

winter all over again

and today it is winter wonderland all over again...argh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

it is hard on the psyche.

so we texturized and colored hair.

and painted nails, all girly stuff..it helped a little, but the attitudes were still not the best.

Today Ve goes wheel-less

that is training wheel-less..........

Spring is in the air and

as you can see the house critters are interested in the outside critters, specifically the chippies.

Ahhhhhh

it is truly spring!!!!!

The snow is melting, sun is shining, saw 3 robins and the chippies have come out of hiding!!!!

and we have off next week for spring break.

Two more

Submitted two more grant proposals today,

one for $500.00

one for $5000.00

will find out the results sometime in early June

wish me luck!!

Bizare and scary

since no one really is talking about it, like this isn't a concern. Sometimes life sails along for a while with absolutely no changes and then all of a sudden it turns on a dime. Lately my life is spinning, and no stopping it is in sight.

Here’s a list from the last few weeks; have you heard of other events we should add to it:

• Mar 13 – Millions of dead sardines found floating in California harbor
• Jan 17—Hundreds of dead seals washed ashore in Labrador, possible overpopulation
• Jan 14—200 cows found dead in Wisconsin, allegedly caused by a virus
• Jan 14—100 dead carp found in U.K. pond, unknown causes
• Jan 14—730 African grey parrots died during flight, blamed on carbon monoxide
• Jan 13—300 grackles dead on highway in Alabama, blamed on blunt force trauma
• Jan 11—Thousands of gizzard shad fish washed up near Chicago, blamed on cold weather
• Jan 10—Countless fish dead in U.K. brook, unknown causes
• Jan 08—100 starlings found dead on highway in California, allegedly all hit by a truck
• Jan 08—Dozens of dead starlings turn up in Romania, blamed on “drunkenness”
• Jan 07—More than 1,000 dead turtle doves found in Italy, unknown causes
• Jan 06—40,000+ dead Devil crabs washed ashore in the U.K., unknown causes
• Jan 05—Hundreds of dead birds fall to ground in Kentucky, unknown causes
• Jan 05—Hundreds of dead birds found on highway in Texas, unknown causes
• Jan 05—Hundreds of dead snapper washed up on New Zealand beaches, unknown causes
• Jan 05—Up to 100 jackdaw birds dead in Sweden, unknown causes
• Jan 04—Several dead manatees found on Florida coast, unknown causes
• Jan 04—Thousands of dead fish washed up on creek bank in Florida, unknown causes
• Jan 04—Hundreds of dead fish found on St. Clair River in Canada, unknown causes
• Jan 04—Hundreds of blackbirds dead in Louisiana, from internal injuries and blood clots
• Jan 03— Thousands of dead octopuses washed ashore on Portugal beach, unknown causes
• Jan 03—Two million dead fish washed up in Chesapeake Bay, MD, blamed on cold water
• Jan 03—100 tons of dead fish washed ashore in Brazil, unknown causes
• Jan 03—100,000+ dead drum fish found in Arkansas river, unknown causes
• Dec 31—5,000+ birds dead in Arkansas, massive trauma and blood clots
• Dec 29—Canada’s Goldstream River mysteriously flowed neon green for several hours
• Dec 28—70 bats found dead in Tucson, AZ, unknown causes
• Dec 27—Scores of dead fish washed ashore in a lake in Haiti, unknown causes
• Dec 23—Hundreds of dead starfish, jellyfish washed ashore in SC, blamed on cold water
• Dec 23—Ten tons of mostly dead fish found in fishing net in New Zealand, unknown causes
• Dec 22—100+ dead pelicans drop in North Carolina, unknown causes
• Dec 18—Thousands of dead fish turned up in bay in Philippines, unknown causes
• Dec 17—Dead fish washed ashore at lake beach in Indiana, blamed on winter storms
• Dec 15—Thousands of dead fish washed ashore on Florida beach, blamed on cold weather
• Dec 13—Thousands of dead barramundi fish washed up in Australia, unknown causes

Weekend of Firsts

On Saturday our local Movie Theater had a $2.00 matinee showing Cats & Dogs 2. This was a big deal since Ve and Mim had never been to a Movie Theater before and the last time Tuki was there was when she was 2 1/2, and I had to leave early because she was frightened of the big screen and started crying inconsolably. Yesterday was a big success, Tuki was still a little scared and a little restless, but with two big tubs of popcorn (free refills), she along with her two sisters loved the movie and theater. They will have matinees every 2 weeks until the end of April, so I imagine we may be attending often. The hens are laying at least 20+ eggs daily now and I have been selling them for $2.00/dozen, so we are using this egg money for our movie adventures. It works out all around.

The other first was me forgetting to turn our clocks one hour ahead last night. Mim even mentioned it and we discussed the reason behind, and yet I still forgot. So, when did I remember? Well of course, on the way to church this morning. I had the quick remembrance en route and soon realized that we were arriving at church one hour later than we normally do. Mim and I heard about 10 minutes of the sermon, and we had to walk into the ongoing service knowing that everyone knew the reason for our tardiness.... it was funny and sad all wrapped in one. I have NEVER forgot to switch my clocks before, and yet here I was forgetting....age, business, worry, I may never know, but I made sure to switch them as soon as we arrived home so we can start our week out on time..

And....the snow is melting today, and the week is predicted to be in the 40's everyday...now that is a true blessing and maybe not a first first, but a good first to 2011 spring arrival.

Four

years to the date that I began this blog. Last year I stated that I have rejected the pressure of Facebook, so this year I must confess that I have caved to creating an account, BUT I have no idea as to how to use the darn thing. I have always thought I am a little tech savvy, especially for my age bracket, but I have been stumped by Facebook. I love my blog because it has recorded the lives of my daughters, Tuki since she was 15 months old, and Mim and Ve since before homecoming. Today, I nearly forgot my blog anniversary date with all the yucky hoopla occurring in our state, but it was jarred back into my memory late in the day. So Happy Anniversary Call of the Phoebe! , a friend and a place to hang my thoughts and store my memories in good times and bad.

Scott Walker

sucks! just saying................and I am not really a political person but this man is a dictator and I don't like dictators. I'm not sure what all will happen, but I am praying for God's will in this whole ordeal, and yes whatever it may be, yet I still feel Scott Walker sucks!!

Did I

mention that it is snowing today, yah, predicted 3 - 6 inches....

At the race

http://pointbockrunphotos.shutterfly.com/1005#982

Kiki is in the Packers hat an I am in the Brown hat. Look at our waists and you will see Tuki and Ve

http://pointbockrunphotos.shutterfly.com/853and Mim in gray long sleeve t-shirt

Mim runs 5 miles in 47:52

Mim runs 5 miles in 47:52, shaving 4 minutes off from last years time......Good job Mim



Kiki, Ve, Tuki and I walked it and we had a good time too.

Done

Finally submitted the 12 section grant proposal today.....hopefully we will receive the good news by May 1st, and not the bad news by June 1st. The grant is large,10,000. So, now I sit and wait.............

and did I mention...it is officially MARCH, so no matter what our @#@#$@# of a Governor proposes, I am going to revel in the thought that we will be warming up SOON!!

and my nephew ran a 13:10:22- 5K (5000m or 3.1 miles) last night in Australia...GOOD For him!!!!!, we are always so proud.