Will another blizzard ever hit on January 26?

How many birthday blizzards does one girl get?? Aparently January 26 is a pretty popular day for blizzards. Apparently, I've been born on a blizzardable (Is that even a word?)day!



This is a story I hear year after year. Do you realize you were born on the same day as the Blizzard of 67? Yes, I've heard it so many times, seen so many pictures, and the news usually mentions it each year. Blizzard of 67.

The crazy thing is that if I had lived in Chicago I don't know where I would have been born. Home, car, taxi, hospital??? Looking at the highway and the impassible snow, I just don't know. Thankfully, I was born in Ohio. My mom talks about wearing short sleeves, the 60 degree temperatures, and walking outside without a coat the day I was born. What a crazy coincidence, isn't it? I live now in a town with the largest 1 day snowfall, 23 inches and only 4 were predicted.

Another funny blizzard bit of trivia is that on my 11th birthday, I was in a blizzard in Ohio. It had hurricane force winds and the lowest barometric pressure. I remember my dad, who worked for the City of Columbus, got called in to work because it was payday. Granted no one could get out to the banks, the stores, or into work to get their paychecks, but the city sent a huge snowplow to come pick him up and take him to work.



Here is an article about that blizzard in which 51 people died. Blizzard of 78 I remember I was going to have homemade pizza and wound up having it I think, but we were without electricity for a long time. Can sterno cook a pizza?

Each year, I still curiously watch the weather almost anxiously awaiting to hear the weather reporters forcast another blizzard for January 26. Until then, I'll continue to try to have just a normal birthday.

Happy Wednesday!

I've been finding some peace and tranquility in the car in the ride to and from school by listening to a CD that a friend gave me with a variety of Christian artists. I find it gives me a happy feeling. I try to listen and sing along each day. I don't know why, maybe my prayers, maybe the Lord is hearing my needs, but it seems like the past 2 days at work have been a little bit more productive. It is always a bit more productive when the behavior/discipline student doesn't need discipline.

Mr. B started his new school and seems to be going ok. I hope this is what he needs to be successful. I can only pray for good things for him. This is his consequence for issues, but I can only hope that this is his/my answered prayers to help him be successful.

Big D is coming home this weekend for my birthday celebration. I went out to see him at school last weekend and enjoyed spending just a couple hours with him and giving him my full attention. That doesn't happen much when they get older, especially living away at school.

I guess by the time I get around to posting again, I might be another year older. Age is a state of mind and body. Let me tell you that my body feels OLD.
I am looking forward to eating my favorite birthday cake....german chocolate cake! Wish I could have you celebrate with me an have a piece, but I'm kinda a cake hog on my birthday. I absolutely LOVE German Chocolate Cake!

Trudging through a cold and snowy week

This week was unbelievable. Last weekend we got another 4-6 inches of snow on top of what we received earlier. I've got about 12 inches of snow on the ground. Then we had a blizzard warning on Monday night into Tuesday. That was cancelled due to lack of blowing snow, then the bottom dropped out. We had wind chills of -30 to -40 for about 2 or 3 days. Many shcools cancelled due to the dangerously,cold weather, but not my school. My district had teacher in-service on Friday so we were all over at schools taking classes. I was not at my own school, I traveled between 2 different schools. That meant I didn't go back to my own school or my classroom, I went straight home Friday afternoon and enjoyed a sunshine filled afternoon. Cold but sunny helps a lot.

Yesterday, the weather warmed up a bit. If you call tens and teens warmer, yes it felt about 50 degrees warmer than the previous wind chills. It snowed another dusting and it's white, iciclely and cold out still. The dogs don't want to go out to go potty. Well, I should clarify that, my big dog, CJ loves going out and frolic in the snow. He is the snow dog, the one to put that snout into the snow and root around. The little princess (aka PITA) thinks she's too good to go out and poop in the snow. "I shall not poop in snow up to my butt." is her motto. We've had to pick up a pile from the rug in front of the door. She's truly a "female dog."

Getting through this week was different. Brian has been suspended and transfers to a new school next week. Difficult to accept, but with God's help, I'm starting to understand it's not a reflection upon me. He must accept and deal with his consequences for the choices he's made. Then this week was also finals week. He was allowed to take the finals, although suspended, but he got incredibly sick and was down with a high fever for several days. He's still recooperating, but should be back and ready to start school next Tuesday. We'll have to find a time to make up all those finals but he gets out of school earlier than the high school so we could work that in or maybe they'll just send them out to his new school.

The colleges (both NIU and COD) started this week. Don's going back for a few more classes, Doug's new semester started, and the class I'm teaching started also. I have more students this semester and a few are probably going to be a challenge.

I'm also dealing with an upcoming birthday. I've got a family situation I've been struggling with and trying to make a decision about. I've got more praying to do with this one. Still a bit torn as to what I need to do.

Yesterday was a fun day to end the week. Don's added another night into his work schedule for a couple weeks so that means nights alone without my honey and days alone while he sleeps. I took advantage of his sleep time and went to scrapbook at my girlfriend's house. She's back into having her once-a-month scrapbook day. We had good conversation, a delicious lunch and snacks, and I got much closer to having the cow album finished. I've got about 8 photos tops until I've got the pages done and then a little bit of outer decorations to add to the can. Yes, each page is 7x5 (landscape), contains a picture of a Chicago decorated cow, the cow's number, name and a few decorative elements. Marybeth has been keeping me on track about getting unfinished projects done. Not sure what I'll be moving on to next, maybe my Texas album from my visit to my friend Helen's house. I also have a couple puzzle pieces to finish for an altered puzzle, I'd love to put together a tag book made from tags my Tipster friends made me, some letter H's I want to continue to alter for a shelf I need to put up, and I still have my Oprah's Favorite Things memory album to finish. I've also got hundreds of photos I need to continue to edit and print from my Baltic cruise for the photo carousel I want to make. Lots and lots of projects to do and just never enough time or space to get them out to work on them.

I've also got the everyday, mundane list of chores and jobs to get done. Tomorrow is an extra day off to celebrate and remember Martin Luther King, then I wish I could sit and watch the inauguration on Tuesday. Also a haircut is on the calendar for tomorrow and maybe I can talk my friend into playing beauty shop and to color my hair. I need a little perk up for this upcoming birthday. Gosh, getting old is hard!

Take care, stay warm, say your prayers, and try to enjoy your week. I'm going to try to find something to be thankful for each day. Peace!

Betcha thought I wouldn't have another post so soon!

Fooled ya! I can't believe I'm actually still awake and able to post actually. Returning to school after 2 weeks of vacation is exhausting. Thankfully I think my students are still a bit lethargic and still getting back into the swing of school. It's a constant battle with the structure and discipline but it's best for this class. Today during reading, I sat and looked around while the students were reading a short part of our story. All the students were actually working, quietly, independently. I hate to say this and jinx myself, but this group works best in partners and individually.

I also mentioned before I think that I'm in a biggest loser contest at work. I just need to get back into my weight watcher mode of journaling and focusing on the water and fruits and veggies. There are 3 others on my team and it's nice to feel a bit supported. I have become a "hall" walker. I've set up a route to walk in the halls at school. Today I got 2 other competitors to walk with me. We walked for almost 3 minutes. I'm going to try to walk about 30 minutes 4 days a week. We have an hour meeting on Wednesdays each week so I think Wednesdays will not be a walking day. Now if I can only find that Wii Fit game too. I did come home and had a few Wii sports punching bag sessions.

Tonight I got to sit and watch the premier of the new season of Biggest Loser. I should be able to watch next week also, but then I start teaching again at the local college on Tuesday/Thursday evenings. When the teams weighed in the first time I sat there and almost broke into tears. I feel for each of them and know I need to do the same thing they are doing. When they weighed in after the first week, it was amazing to see them be so successful. What really brought me to tears was the fact that 9 teams had to send one of the teammates home. 9 teams lost their partner, friend, or family member. They have to be brought back by the remaining team member losing enough weight to remain at the campus. Each time I watch that show I'm so motivated, but I really, really need someone like Bob or Jillian to push me. I know that I need to have the motivation to do it myself and I can only do it when I'm ready. This time I'm making sure the BIG GUY is on my team. I am going to try to pray daily for the will power, motivation, and the ability to do this. I lost 30 pounds last year on weight watchers and have kept most of it off. I want to make it even more.

Well that's about all that's going on so far this week. We have plans with friends on Saturday night. I also need to get some things done to prepare for the college class. I also want to get everything graded for school and be ahead for when grades are due for report cards; which will be here sooner than we think.

Thanks for dropping by! I hope you're having a great week and are trying to keep your resolutions. Adios!

Happy New Year!

Welcome 2009! Glad you here. I can't say that 2008 was horrible, but there are parts I'm definately glad are over. I couldn't go around them, just had to barrel through them head first.

I've been having an enjoyable break. I really needed this break and unfortunately it's a long push until Spring break. We've not nasty state proficency tests to get through and I'm sure my class isn't yet prepared. I'm finding myself a bit more focused to get down to business.

Now for my one little word...I still haven't picked one. While thinking about it and praying about it something popped into my mind. I rearranged the order and it came out like this: Balance, Harmony, Restore, Serenity. Then this came to me. Balance and Harmony restore serenity. Hmmmmmmmm so does that mean my would should be balance? Still trying to decide, this will need some serious thought.

So did you make any resolutions? The only resolution I've ever made and kept was 2 years ago when I said I wouldn't drink soda any longer. I've done that for 2 years.

We are doing a biggest loser weight loss team game at work so I know I've got to get back into a healthier lifestyle again. I really need to balance work and home so I can schedule exercise time and hobby time. I know I can easily squeeze in a few minutes to knit each day. Now I have to find some exercise that I want to do and a place to do it without spending tons of money. I am seriously wanting Wii Fit so I can add some fun into my exercise time. I can also use the stairs at school, the track at the college, the halls at both schools, my mom's treadmill, or just bundle up and put on the Ipod and just go.

Hope you all have a healthy, happy, prosperous New Year!