Not Much Today

Today's high temperature was: 8 degrees

Sunny all day

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I looked out my bathroom window, when I first got up this

morning, 9:30, and saw this big hole in the snow.

That, my friends, is where a bunny rabbit has jumped into.

Then I looked up and could see where he came from--all

the holes showing where he had jumped into for a moment. 

I looked to my right and saw where he had rested--his

"sign" very apparent.

Either he is staying here at night, next to the house for

warmth, or he is the one who dug his way under

the house and caused the pipe to freeze.

I'd like to go out and place a carrot there, he must be very

hungry, but then again, I don't want him to take up residence

under my house.  

Maybe tomorrow, I will walk out there and see if there is

any sign he can still get under the house or, if he

just sleeps here at night.  If he just sleeps here, then a treat I will leave him.

...and that is all I did today.  

I did open up my front door--twice.  Once to throw the dirty kitty litter bag into the garbage can and secondly, to run out and get a package from the mail lady.  It was the on-sale, cheap baby quilts I had ordered from Herrschners--10.00 a piece and cute as can be (normally priced at 29.99)..

When I came back in the computer room, late this afternoon, I realized that I could not access my Internet AND my phone was dead.  I called Comcast central and talked to George (real name probably Raja) and he had me fixed up in no time.  He said that I need a new modem (free) because they only last about two years (mine will be two in March), so I will get that taken care of, whenever I can get through the snow drifts over to the Comcast store.  It's only about 5 miles north of here.

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This next picture is for Bella--something to help her with her Bushwhacked dreams!!

The Weather. What Else?

Today's high temperature was: 10 degrees

Sunny, snowy

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I go to bed at night and this is what my car looks like.

I wake up in the morning and this is what my car looks like.

Yes--I like winter--always have.  I am snug and warm inside my wee home.  I have six inch exterior walls that are filled with blown-in insulation--as is the roof.  I have double pane windows with the gas in between the panes so they are warm.  When the sunlight streams into my front windows, it gets really warm in my computer room.  I feel better in the cold-dry weather--I can't really tolerate hot and humid.

I love to watch the snow fall and I am not adverse to getting out, cleaning off my car and driving wherever I have to go.

...BUT...

Even I am getting a bit tired of this winter!!!!!  We had no January thaw--which just isn't fair!  The North Pole air is riding south on the jet stream again this week--and that jet stream is dipping way down into Northern Florida.  We are expected minus 30 degree temperatures--of course, that is the wind chill, but still.....it is going to be really frigid REAL temperatures.

Earlier in the month I was saying, "Oh quit complaining.  We had winter's like this when we were kids!"  but I see now, I was wrong.  We are setting low temperature records and record snow fall and it makes me wonder......why?  Global warming causes climate changes.  Harsher winters and hotter summers.   Yes--I do believe in Global Warming--I however believe, it is a normal geological cycle that the earth goes through and I am not going to go out and buy an electric car, so my carbon footprint will be smaller.

So, I expect this July and August, we here in the north are going to see quite a few 100 degree days and drought conditions and that Dear Friends, is far worse for the land and crops then 50 inches of snow and -35 degree nights.

My furnace is coming on about every 12 minutes tonight.  I thought I saw a 100 dollar bill fly out the chimney flue!!  GEEZ!!!

Now, I am worrying about my southern friends as I see an ice storm is expected down south and snow way up to the Outer Banks.  You guys be careful because I know, you don't have a clue how to drive a car on ice--or snow for that matter.  
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I was sitting here today, pondering while petting the cat on my lap and it occurred to me:  wouldn't it be fun if I took Catechism and membership classes at Jennifer's church?  Can you imagine the look on her face when her pastor mentioned, "Isn't it wonderful?  Your Mom is going to join our church!  She couldn't very well ban me from attending her church now, could she? 

No--I'm not going to do that!!  I don't even like her church, but it cracked me up and made me laugh to think about it.  Yes--I can have evil, vengeful thoughts at times--like those words you thought about saying--when someone was putting you down or in your face.  The "after the fact" words?  I don't act on the thoughts, so I guess it's okay?  

Karen called me on her way home from teaching today.  She is back in Grad school--going for her Master's, as is her oldest daughter, Helene.  She also told me that her second daughter, Susanna, who lives in Oregon and works for New Balance shoes, won a half-marathon last weekend.  Susanna and her hubs are going to run in the Boston Marathon this April.  Madeleine (youngest) will be dancing in the Peter Pan ballet the end of March.  Marcus (her third) is strutting around because U of M beat us Spartans Saturday night--he is the ONLY one in the family who attended U of M, and we threaten him and tease him all the time.  Now, it's his turn.

 Stephen, (her fourth) who goes to Michigan State turned 20 last week and has yet to thank me for his birthday card and $$.  Karen said, "I'm sorry, Mom.  I brought him up better than that!"  Which she did.  Her kids ALWAYS sent thank you cards.  I told her I'd get on Face Book and shame him a bit.  She said, "Go for it!"  I won't, but I will message him privately to see if he got the card.  Karen was in D.C. last week for the Pro-Life March--she said it was so cold, but they walked it all. So, I got all caught up on her life and the kids.  Her hubs is in D.C. this week.  He works for some secret government something and has to go to the "home" office occasionally.  Even Karen doesn't know exactly what he does.
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Hey--I found the on-line forms for Pammie and me to make our revocable trusts.  

Well--wind chill factor of -35 tonight.  My water faucets will be on the trickle, cabinet doors under the sinks open--and we shall see what tomorrow brings!!  

The Weekend

I barely had my eyes open Saturday morning when the phone rang--it was Dar.

I looked out the window and noticed snow was falling--giant, soft, pretty flakes--I wondered if she was scared of it.

Dar says, "I hate to bother you.  Were you awake?"

"Yes--barely."

"I wondered if you could help me."

"Sure--what's up?"

"Can  you go on-line and see if I am scheduled to work today?"

"Huh?"

"Can you go on-line, on the Meijer website thingie and see if my name is on there to work today."

"If I go on the Meijer website, all it is going to tell me is what is on sale."

"No.  After you get there, you have to go into the employee section."

So I went on the Meijer website.  "Wow!  They've got Diet Pepsi--ten for ten and the eleventh one is free."

"Yes...I know, but I need for you to see if I am scheduled to work today."

"Why don't you know that.  Didn't you work yesterday?  Didn't you look at your schedule?"

"Yes.  But...I forgot."

"Well...I can't get into the employee section.  You need a user ID, a password...and I can't access it."

"I will tell you how!"

"Okay.  What do I do?"

"You type in FMS, then when the employee section comes up, you type in my name and stuff."

"Is your new computer broken?"

'OH MY GOD!  WHAT'S HAPPENING OUTSIDE?"

I look outside, the wind has come up, it is blowing and we are in a heavy snow band which is causing a white-out.

"I CAN HARDLY SEE YOUR HOUSE! IT SOUNDS LIKE A TORNADO!"

"We are just having a lot of snow right now, the wind is blowing hard, but it's okay.  It will calm down in a minute."

"I hate Michigan winters!!"

"You've lived here all your life."

"I know, but...I've never been this old and it scares me.  What if I get trapped?"

"We aren't going to get trapped!  Okay--what do you want me to do on this Meijer website?"

"Okay.  Never mind.  I'm so upset, I can't remember my user ID or password right now.  I am going to have to run up to the store and check."

"Can't you just call the office and have someone tell you your schedule?"

"No!  I have to see for myself.  They might not tell me the right thing.  Besides....I have to drive my car in and out of my driveway to keep a path open...just in case."

"Well, it's only going to snow a couple inches...we aren't going to get snowed in."

"Oh...I can't shovel.  I've got to get out there and back out and in to pack down a path!"

"Okay.  Are you going to be all right?"

"Yes.  I will just drive on up to the store."

"Well, be careful, the road might be slippery and it is hard to drive in this white-out.  Why don't you wait a half hour and see if the snow lets up."

"No!  I gotta do it now.  Bye!"

I watched as she came flying out of her house and jumped into her car.  She didn't clean off the windows or anything.  Just jumped in and took off.

Less than ten minutes later...I looked out.

The snow had stopped, the sun was shining and it was a lovely 25 degree day.  She should have waited just a bit.

That poor woman!!!

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Sunday morning.

7 degrees and snowing again--

3 inches expected

No milk in the refrigerator.

Half a jug of Diet Pepsi.

No Jimmy Dean croissant for breakfast.

Half a can of cat food.

I need to go to the store.

coming down hard out there.....

...But it's going to get worse--right?

Out to start up the car.

Brush snow off the car.

Damn!  It's cold!

Off I go in the blizzard.  My car the only one out of the park apparently, as there are no other tracks.

Get on the main road--wow--stay in right lane--creep along at 30 miles an hour

Blowing so hard it is difficult to see.

Windshield wipers want to freeze up.

Made it up to the Midway grocery store.

When I bust through the door, the clerk looks up at me in surprise.

Got supplies--no one else in the store.

I say to the clerk, "Only a fool would be out in this kind of weather!"

She nods in agreement.

Back home--thank you, God for protecting this fool.

Ten minutes after I got home.  Snow has stopped.

I have no business denigrating Dar.  End result--I am just as weird/foolish/impulsive as Dar!!!!!

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I watched The Waltons marathon on INSP.  I love the older stories, when the Walton kids were all little.  

The snow continued on and off all day and is ramping up again tonight.

This coming week--colder than last week--the Polar Vortex riding south on the jet stream that is dipping down into the southern states.  Snow of 6 inches predicted at the Outer Banks--EGAD!!!

It's A Cold Day In Hell

Hell froze over!

a small town south/west of here

Today's high temperature was: 9

Windy and bitter

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I found out the greatest thing!!!  Balisha had lost my blog address.  She sent me an e-mail requesting it and I sent it back to her.  Her statement was, "You are hard to find!"  Which just reinforces the comfort I have in knowing all my searching and removing my blog address from search engines has worked!  Now--no distant cousin or family members can find it.  This pleases me :-)
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Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Miley Cyrus, Justin Beiber--they all started out as such lovely young innocent singers and movie stars--what happened?  Too much--too soon?  If Justin gets in more trouble, they are saying they may deport him back to Canada!

I have a friend that takes beautiful photos.  Well--she is Pammie's friend and Pammie's age, but I feel like she is one of my own kids and I am so proud of her.  She started less then a year ago, but she sure has the God-given talent, that comes from an artist"s eye, to see wonderful content.  She has just set up a website and I wanted to promote and post her link here.  Go in and look around.  Click on the different albums and then, click on "show all". Thanks.
http://rebeccasrjgphotography.zenfolio.com/p704408882

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I bit my fingernails most of my life.  Not down to the quick, but more of a hook one side and tear it off to the other.  (I also use to bit my toenails--but that is another story.)  About 25 years ago, I started using the glue on nails.  I didn't leave them long, just above the end of my finger a bit and polished them a nice, soft mauve.  My long fingers looked nice with long nails and the glued ones stayed on for quite a few weeks.  Then, one time I noticed that the glued on nails were starting to cause the real nail underneath to sort of become deformed.  I quit using them and noticed that I didn't bite my fingernails anymore and...man, my own nails took off and grew like crazy.  I let them become quite long and was quite vain about them--using hand gestures more when I talked--that sort of thing.

The other day I noticed that the index finger on my left hand as developed an arthritis bump and the end of my finger is becoming bent off to the side.  OHMYGOSH!!!  I've developed my Daddy's arthritic hands!!!

Can you see that index finger--getting crooked and bumpy?

So--I trimmed all my finger nails back!!

I was enthralled with my left hand because, as you can see,

my right hand is not too attractive with 1/4 of my index finger gone!

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Well--I have to rant!  I posted on Face Book about a young woman friend of mine who can't get health insurance.  Well, the young woman is my Pammie!!  We talked about it last Sunday.

She isn't in bad health, does not have a pre-existing condition, she hasn't any outstanding medical bills and she is not pregnant, so even though she is poor, she can't get Medicaid.  She called to see about getting set up with ObamaCare.  She can't get the subsidy because she doesn't qualify for Medicaid.  She was told that she should go to the doctor, get a lot of tests done and then--when she received the bills that she cannot pay, Medicaid will pay them for her.  Pam's reasoning is, why would she want to rack up a whole lot of medical bills, knowing she can't pay them, in hopes that she MIGHT get on Medicaid.  What if they turned her down or wouldn't pay all the bills.  So she told the lady, she just wanted some low cost health insurance.

She would HAVE TO HAVE maternity coverage--even though she is 55 and through menopause!  When she and the lady finally got it all settled, on what she needed--the cost was way more then Pammie can pay.  There is one good thing, Pammie will not have to pay the tax penalty for not being insured because--SHE IS SO POOR SHE DOESN'T MAKE ENOUGH TO FILE INCOME TAXES!!!!!

You all know by now, that I have NO love for that man who lounges around the White House, but I thought perhaps his health care plan might help Pammie.  It does not!!  It is the most convoluted law I have ever witnessed.  My other kids health insurance policies all went up--at least 1/3 AND their deductibles also--from $1,200 to $2,500.  THIS IS RIDICULOUS PEOPLE!!!

So, tonight I heard on the news that it's a good thing Pammie can't get on Medicaid BECAUSE,. you may be poor enough for it, BUT if you have any assets--like a house, 

which is not included when you sign up for Welfare, WHEN YOU DIE--under ObamaCare, the government will MAKE your heirs sell the house (even if it has been Willed to them) to pay for what Medicaid paid for your medical care.

Pardon my French, but this is FRIGGING UNBELIEVABLE!!!

...and Pammie voted for him twice!!!  She ought to get some help just for being one of his constituents and her error in judgment!!!

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I got an early morning call from my sister, Susan.  She and her hubs were shopping in Howell and they were coming to visit and bring me lunch.  What did I want?  "Two soft tacos please."

I told you that I was having a difficulty trying to figure out where to hang my new cross stitch.  I told Susie, she got up, took down the crocheted piece our great grandmother had done and said, "It needs to go here."...and the amazing thing is--I had the crochet piece hung on two hooks AND my long, narrow cross stitch frame hangers, just happened to fall in the same spots, so the piece hangs there perfectly.  

My sister, like our Mother, has a talent for decorating, and making little vignettes--a talent I have never possessed and will never, so of course, the picture looks great there.  I had thought to put it above the star, but it looks so much better under the star.

Perfect for all to see when they enter the front door

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I love this blog community we are joined in.  I think of most of you everyday.  When I hear the west side of our state is being hit with a huge amount of lake effect snow--I think of Jean and wonder if she is doing all right.  When I heard of the cold spell down in Florida, I worried about Sally, running around in 30 degree temperatures in her flip flops.  

When I heard of the shooting at Purdue University, my heart jumped and I started praying for Melissa's safety.  A blizzard hitting Cape Cod--oh my gosh, is Marcia going to be all right.  Icy roads in the Detroit area--are Jeanette and Debbie going to be able to get to work without getting in an accident. Is Deb's new greenhouse going to collapse! Heavy snowfall in Pennsylvania--I think of Judy Frey and my friend at Muse and Amuse.  

Snow and cold with icy roads in Texas?  How is Karen going to manage--Texans don't know how to drive in that kind of weather!  Then of course, there's Ernestine--living in the woods, way back from the road.  Is there anyone who checks on her and Cali to make sure they are okay?  Joanie--way up in Winnipeg--they have more snow then we do.  She'll be okay though--she has Gord and a 4-wheel drive vehicle.  

Judy C.--oh, she's okay.  They are wintering in Florida.  Pat and Cathy--they should be okay.  Their hubby's aren't too healthy lately, but they will be okay, at least they have husband's to share all of this with.  Jody--she has kids that check on her, she'll be taken care of and Bella--Dear Bella, living on the Cul-De-Sac--neighbors nice and close.  

What about Marla?  They got so much snow in Indiana.  She has to get to work and...she has two big dogs that have to be walked. Lisa too--living in the same area--she has to get to work and she can't if her daughter's school is closed.

When someone in my blog family is going in for tests, or their hubby has surgery--they are immediately at the top of my prayer list.  When someone has a new grand babe, I cry tears of happiness.  I find it amazing that you all feel closer to me and I know more about you than friends I have known since Kindergarten.  

We do get involved in each others lives--don't we?  How wonderful it is.  We are spread all over the map and yet--we are very close.  I just don't know what I would do without my friends in the blog world!!!

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Well ladies--tonight we are getting snow and fierce winds.  I have my front storm door tied with a stout string that comes through the door jamb and ties around my inner front door handle.  I had the wind catch that storm door once and slammed it back against the porch railing, where it smashed to bits.  I can't afford to go through that again.  Faucets will be on the trickle tonight, with cabinet doors under the sinks opened.  More snow on Sunday and then even colder temperatures next week.

I don't mind hibernating, as you all know--I enjoy being closed up inside in the winter, but...this is beginning to wear a bit even on me!!  

I will see you on Monday.  Love to all---Jude

A Bitterly Cold Thursday

Today's high temperature was: 14 degrees

Bright Sunshine

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This alert was in my e-mail:

Weather Alert for Livingston County, MI
! Wind Chill Watch !
Issued at: 3:29 am EST on January 23, 2014, expires at: 12:00 PM EST on January
24, 2014

...Wind chill watch in effect from this evening through Friday
morning...
The National Weather Service in Detroit/Pontiac has issued a wind
chill watch...which is in effect from this evening through Friday
morning.
Hazardous weather...
 * wind chill values will fall to -25 to -30 tonight through
  Friday morning.
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I looked up the Old Farmer's Almanac and it said, for this area, this week was "mild and rainy".  Really?  It also said we are to have a hot, drier then usual summer.
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Last evening, Pearl called me and our conversation went kind of like this:

"You get your pipes thawed?"

"Yep.  The kid got under there and got me all fixed up.  He looked around and said my heat tape and insulation is just fine.  Some varmint dug a hole between the skirting and the ground and it let in cold air that froze up a small section of pipe where it comes up from the ground."

"Well...good.  You better fix that hole this spring."

"I sure will."

"Do you need anything?  Are you all right."

"Yep. I'm great.  I even got my garbage can hauled out to the street."

"Why did you do that?"

"Ah--tomorrow is Thursday.  We have garbage pick-up on Thursday morning."

" They won't be coming tomorrow---we had a holiday this week..they will be coming on Friday."

"We didn't have a holiday--like Christmas or Easter or Fourth of July...it was like a Federal holiday where we didn't get mail and some banks were closed."

"I don't care...it was a holiday.  You better get out there and haul your garbage can back up to the porch."

"Naw--everyone else has their cans out--except you guys...I think I'll leave it there, just in case."

"You're all weird!"  and she hung up.
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This morning, Merle went for a walk and on his way by, he brought up my (empty) garbage can and mail.

"What are you doing out on such a frigid day?" I asked.

"Needed to get some air."

"Did you get your garbage can out this morning?"

"Nope.  I wanted to, but Pearl said they weren't coming today.  So now...I got a full garbage can and a week to wait."

"Oh.  Sorry."

"She is one stubborn woman...once she gets her mind set on somethin'.  You just can't talk any sense into her."

"Eh Yup," I said.

78 years old.  Been married nearly 60 years and still arguing over who is right!  Kind of glad I live alone!
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So--this is what I did today.  I did poke my nose outside once, to throw the bag of dirty cat litter out into the garbage can.


My smaller humidifier broke, so I got this bigger one. Holds 4 quarts--I filled it up and got it going.
Trying for at least 30% humidity in here.

 Then I got on FB and played these games:  Words With Friends, Papa Pear Saga and Candy Crush

Then I had a small roast beef sandwich for lunch and these for desert.  I have to have my fruit and...you can't tell me that covered in DARK chocolate, isn't good for me.  Just think of all the antioxidants!!!

Then I watched my soap and at 2:00, I put this together.

 The note on the back explains the history of the picture

It was suppose to go here, over the back door, but...the frame is about an inch too wide and would hang over the frame of the door. I just don't know--where should it go?

in place of this cross stitch of the Outer Banks?

or over the star?

I can't decide.  No one may want it when I die, but I know, no one will have the guts to throw it away, LOL

 So then, I sat down in my chair and did this,

While I watched this:

Little Laura (Melissa Gilbert) now lives just 3 miles away

in Howell, Mi.

and I watched The Walton's:

Then I made this for supper:

and watched this:

and of course, this:

and Big Bang Theory:

and pretty soon, I will do this.....

leaving cabinet doors open and water on a trickle

and soon after that, I will join this guy:

and sleep for nine hours.

 and...we shall see what tomorrow brings.

I hear--1-2 inches of snow and 2-4 on Sunday......and the beat goes on!

I Am Coming Into a Transit Time Period

Today's high temperature was: 7

Partly Sunny

Snowing tonight.  Going to be -15 degrees

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Minus 13 degrees when I woke up this morning to frozen water pipes!!  I have a heat tape on my exterior pipes--never have had a problem.  I did not open cabinet doors to let the warm air in.  I did not turn faucets on to let water trickle.  All the things I used to do in cold weather in my farmhouse--I have never done here, because--I THOUGHT THE HEAT TAPE WAS SUFFICIENT!!!  Apparently not!

Turned furnace up to 78 degrees, opened all cabinets by water pipes, turned on water taps. Called a plumber. Shoveled a big bucket of snow and brought into the house to melt so I could have something to flush.
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While I waited for the plumber--I did this:

Buddy climbed up into the rocker, Maggie climbed up with me

and I x-stitched and watched TV,

while they napped.

Working on the little brown bunny

Watching the birds outside

Got the bunny done

I love the basket weave on the cradle

Pipes did not thaw out so I knew, the problem was under the trailer.  Plumber finally arrived at 3:00, a nice young man, crawled under that crawl space like he knew what he was going.  Checked and the heat tape is fine.  However, because of the heaving and shifting of the cement pad this place sits on, it had opened up a small crack in the skirting and that is right where the pipe froze--about 6 inches of pipe.  He got out a propane heater and stuck it in there and we waited to see what would happen.  Nothing!

30 minutes later, I had water!!  Where the pipe comes up from the ground, has a ceramic bowl around it.  Apparently, snow had gotten into it, melted and then froze.  Usually the crock is dry, but because of the  teeny, tiny space between the skirting and the cement (from the trailer shifting), the snow got in there.  Next spring I will be sure dig out that area, put in much more soil and rocks and a 2x4 to keep it solid!!!

I asked him how it happened, why it happened and what could I do to keep it from happening again--this is how I have learned ALL my household maintenance thingies--so now--I know one more, :-) He also shoveled a lot of snow up around the skirting for extra insulation.

Plumbers around here charge $200 an hour, but this guy does a lot of jobs in this park, so it cost me $160--$80 an hour.  GEEZ!!! still a lot!   AND keep the faucets trickling a bit on these horrible, frigid nights to keep the water flowing--so the H2O molecules can't stick together and freeze.

It actually was a nice experience, as I have had with all repair and service people in this area.  They come from smallish towns and schools.  He is one of 14 children, has a twin brother, and is marrying his high school sweetheart in March.  "We found a nice little house, just around the corner up here.  We never would have known it was for sale, but one day, it was as if God sent us on a ride, because we never have gone on that road before, and we saw it. (big grin)  We want four children and I am going to be a great Dad."...and I'll bet he will.
================================  

OMG!!!  I am going to win the Publisher's Clearing House contest!!!  One Million a year for life!

How do I know this?  I filled out one of those free on-line horoscope thingies and this morning I received an e-mail from the astrologer who did my report and she said" I am shocked at the transit period you are coming into.  Within the next three months,  you will receive a huge financial windfall!!!

Read on for your full report!"  and of course, I could have my whole report for.......money, of course,  She wants money.  Apparently she did not read the section where I said I needed financial help?

Just my luck, my "windfall" would be the big Maple tree, onto my house, smashing it to smithereens--which then, I could claim house insurance--I have good house insurance!

I will wait and if I win PCH, I will send her money for my full report, LOL.
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Well--what will tomorrow bring?