Note to self: put up more photos!

Allow me for a moment to rage at AT&T.

We're trying to save some money. As a result, we're looking at changing our phone service from unlimited long distance to local only while using our cell phones for the long distance. If the DSL price doesn't change (we're in a bundle right now), we'll keep it. If not, we'll switch to a netbook from our wireless carrier.

It sounds so simple, right? We're basically trying to find out:

1) How much does it cost to just have locak?
2)  What will it do to our DSL price?

Oooo no. AT&T just had to make it complicated. When you call, they rattle off so much information that it's hard to comprehend. They tell you to go to the website. Too bad the website isn't much more of a help and doesn't tell us ANYTHING - are these prices just for new customers? What does it do to a bundle price?

BLAH!

I'm in the mood for spending some time in the kitchen this weekend! On tap we have:

1) Roasted chicken fryers

2) Chicken pot pie

3) Sweet potato caserolle

4) Mashed potatoes

5) Rolls (homemade!)

6) Enchiladas

7) Chocolate-covered pretzels

8) Chocolate chip cookies

9) Sugar cookies

10) Chicken and dumpling soup

Wow. I didn't realize how much it's going to be! I am already fearing the state of my kitchen!

Been busy here. No computer at home is making it difficult to get anything done here, but that's okay. We're thinking of getting a NetBook, which should be interesting!

Well, we went on our biannual trip to our farm in Nebraska. And...it...SNOWED.

29 degrees.
4 inches of snow.
Too wet to harvest the corn.
Too cold to even get out of the car.

Oh. My. GOSH!

Needless to say, the weekend went by far too quickly and now I'm already counting down the hours until the next weekend.

What the heck happened to fall?!

Ignore the dark circles under the eyes. They indiciate wisdom. Right?

My son just played hide-and-go seek with our sleeping cat. He sounds shocked that he won!

Two consignment sales down, one to go:

- Kids Closet: Success, though not as wonderful as last year. Prices and selections were just not as great as I expected. Must be trend this year. In the end, I have 99.9 percent of my kids' wardrobes in hand without a worry.

- Just Between Friends: Epic Fail, I don't care if you paid $400 for that Pottery Barn crib set. Putting it out for $120 without being half-off on the last day means no one is going to buy it. Too many items prices far too high ($30 for a used Jacket. really?) and the entire thing was a jumbled mess. Kids Closet had twice as much room and three times as much stuff, but they at least organized it for easy access. JBF put ALL of the costumes together, meaning you had to hunt for a size (not always mentioned on the cosigner tag) and really had to struggle to find anything.

I am the definition of overwhelmed.

Do I look calm? I sure as heck don't feel clam!

The whole mess with the basement and pool were enough...until my husband came down with mono. We had a few weeks of quite when the flu hit me hard. Of course, it had to be the week before the consignment sale and my daughter's birthday party!

AH! TOTAL. FRUSTRATION. 

I'm going to try to come back here more often. I need a break like that.  

Oy! Been busy around here - I'm starting to wonder who the heck we ticked off this year. First the pool cover came off its tracks. Then the pool pump went out. Then the pool filter ended up being a different filter than we thought. Then the pool filter pressure gauge broke. Then our water problem in our basement. came back. Then we had a dirty flood in the basement thanks to the old owners putting years of potato peelings, egg shells and pasta down the drain. OY! Oh well. Things are better now at least. I have to say, I'm in the middle of an internal debate. We've asked a basement repair team from the area to check out our basement and see what they can do. They've canceled four times. We're done with them now. It's inconvenient to having to reschedule each time. So...on one hand I would love to review them. They aren't reliable. However, I have nothing to say about their actual service. They could be great. I doubt it, but who knows. Oh the drama! I'll find something else to review I think. I'll find something, I'm sure.

So, I received this email requesting to write the Windex review.

And the sad part? I really, really want to! I Do! I want to get the thing out, put it together and go to town.

Sadly, however, I can't. Why not, you ask?

More snow this weekend. :-(
Seventy degree weather tomorrow, which is perfect for cleaning. If only we weren't going otu of town.

So sad.

I am actually feeling a pang of anxiety in using this thing. Of course, it's going to in the upper 30s all next week and rainy. I just know it! That's just my luck.

:-(

On the other side of things, I'm happy to report that the consignment sale went off well and I think I made about $30!! :-)

I'm so excited! I was one of 200 (I think?) to be selected to try the Windex Outdoor All-In-One Window Cleaner, and I'm excited! I can't wait to use it!

Of course, it comes on the week I have a serious cold and don't really have the strength to do much of anything.

Of course, it comes only two days before we are scheduled for a major snowstorm (though it could miss us!).

Grrr. I want to try this out nooooooooooooooow!

/rant

Well, March is nearly over. It's pretty hard to believe that it's nearly over too. Next Monday is a consignment sale, and I'm pretty excited for that. My husband loves sports, and I love consignment sales. Actually only one - Kid's Closet Connections. It's MY March Maddness. It's when I load up on kid clothes for the season at amazing prices - like $2 for a pair of shoes.

I'm not a competitive person, but I am for this. I get into the sale with my laundry basket (empty to act as a homemade cart) and go to town. This year both kids will need to be loaded up. In September I purchased more than $600 (estimated) worth of clothes for $150. Wow. Awesome.

Note to self: don't get sick. Again. I can't shop clearly while sick.

On a side note, I've noticed that all but a few words have been de-hickified. There's nothing wrong with speaking with a country accent, but after living in the city for nearly 4 years now, it's all but worn off. The most-pronounced word? Sale. Sale and Sell are pronounced the same - like sail. It's annoying as any, but I can't change it. I'm working on it though!

On an additional side note, always wear your seatbelt. I don't care if you're sleeping or uncomfortable. Wear the seatbelt! We buried a dear friend last week because she was sleeping in the back seat of a car and unfortunately wasn't wearing a seatbelt when they got into an accident. No one else was hurt, but she paid the ultimate price. Take heed - you aren't immune to it.

Today I received news that landed with a punch to the gut.

 My kid sister's best friend, a second "adopted" sister to me, passed over the weekend in an auto accident. She was in the back seat sleeping when it happened, and from what I hear it was fairly instant.

 People like that aren't supposed to die at 22. I don't know how to react really other than just pure shock. She's in a better place, no doubt, but that doesn't really offer much explanation for her grieving family.

 If you're of the prayer variety, this is when we need your prayers for the McCart family.

Well, KU lost and is out of the Big 12 Championship. My husband tells me that it's not good, but they will still be going to the Big Dance at least. No trophy this year, sadly.

I'm thinking of rooting for Baylor. Anyone but Mizzou, K-State or Carolina! I reserve the right to change my mind!

In other news, I have some serious hiccups. It's unfortunate, really. I'm already distracted from working and this makes it even more difficult to work!

It's Tuesday today, the nothing day of the week. Monday is always the fresh start, and by Wednesday you can always make it. Thursday is meant for finishing up those annoying tasks, and Friday is...well...Friday!

But Tuesday? It's the middle child of the week. The goal is to just make it to Wednesday, which is pretty sad.  

It's unfortunate that we don't make more of a fanfare for Tuesday. Then again, what would it be? I recall in grade school that Tuesday was Cootie Day. That's right - you avoided the opposite gender like the plague. Ah, the days before puberty...

My point? Today is Tuesday and I have the Tuesday blahs. Motivation to work? Eh, not really. Ready for the weekend? Sure, but it's soooo fffffaaaaarrrrr   aaaawwwwaaaaaaaaaay!  

I think in light of this Blah day, I shall bake some brownies tonight. Okay - I'll admit it. I'm as hormonal as all-get-out and am seriously in the mood for some brownies. Yes! I will tuck the kids in at 7:45, make some delicious and fatty caramel brownies, cut some sharp cheddar and enjoy the evening!

So there you go. My day in a nutshell. I'm hormonal, craving brownies and think that Tuesday is a sad day of the week.

I know, this is just SO inspirational! ;-)

Oh and for those keeping track - it did snow 3 inches on Saturday. We're in for more 70 degree weather tomorrow, but it was nice to see the white stuff for a change.

Well, it looks like it's going to snow this weekend. Bummer. I really hate snow. I mean, really hate it. It's not that it's cold or wet - I think it's quite beautiful. However, one winter I ended up becoming very intimiate with a bridge after hitting some black ice. After that experience, unless I'm at home with my loved ones, I hate snow.

 I know that I live in Kansas, which should mean that I am used to it. In fact, I am. Growing up in Wichita, I can remember many a snow and ice storm shutting down the city. My dad worked call at the local ER and OR - trust me, I know!

 However, last year really pushed me to the edge. It snowed. Constantly. We would get 2-3 snow systems a week, which became quite dull. No one can drive in the snow. If it rains, people freak out and worry about tornadoes.It could be a blizzard and those same people would be tailgaiting. Go figure.

This year, we've had 8 inches of snow. That's about a third of our average. We've had so many nice 60-70 degree days, that you can understand my frustration at the fact that this weekend I'm stuck in the house with two toddlers. Our daughter, nearly 18 months, hates the snow and won't go out in it; she also is teething and incredibly clingy. Our son, the three year old, loves the snow and can't get enough of it. You can imagine my joy at the thought of getting 3 inches of snow.

 Now, I should say, I know that it is NOT a lot of snow. Like I said, snow isn't some strange event here. We get everything from ice to snow to tornadoes to weak hurricanes (the last one dumped 9 inches of rain!). It is just enough to ruin my plans though!

So there it is, my rant for the weekend. I'm still recovering from staying up finishing up those silly cakeballs (which went on to win the best dessert for the company chili cook-off, which was amazing since it wasn't even a category!). Because I was me and put off actually making them, I was up until 11:30/12:00 making those things and up again at 6:00 to make cornbread.

Oh well. It was worth it.