How Long is my Commute?

I have no idea how long to allow for my commute lately.  Tuesday morning, it was icy so I left at 6:30, since I have to be at work by 8:30.  I was late.

Last night, it dumped 17' of snow on us.  OK, it was more like 8", but whatever.  I set the alarm for 4:30 and planned to leave at 5:30.  Kevin cleared my car off and I hit the road at 5:20.  I pulled into the parking lot at work at 6:40.  Are you kidding me?  That's only 20 minutes longer than usual.

Here I am, at work, ridiculously early.  Oh well.  Better than late, I suppose.  There's a chance of a bit more Friday, and some accumulation on Sunday.  This is the most winter-like winter we've had in a while.  What happened to global warming?

I'm SO Mad at my Mother!

I can't take it anymore.  I can't hold it in.  She's just gone too far this time.

I had a REALLY rough day and needed to blog about it.  I needed this, and she didn't even take my feelings into consideration.

What did she do?  Oh, how could you even ASK me such a question.  She's just beyond help this time.  I mean, how DARE she?

As I came to my blog, I didn't know what all I'd say, but I was certain that the title would be *sigh*.

Dangit, Mom!  That was MY title!

*sigh*

Most Depressing Day of the Year

I read that today is the most depressing day of the year.  I know that January is always the hardest for us, and this year is proving the same.  We have to buy propane this week and my $6 car problem turned out to be a $140 problem.  Surprise!

It's like this every January.  That helps, in a warped sort of way.  Knowing that it's "normal" for things to feel like they're falling apart keeps us from feeling like they won't get back together.  They will.  It's just miserably cold and the days are short and the money is, too.

As long as we recognize this and keep chuggin' along, it'll be fine.  The days are getting longer and the cold can't last forever.  Right?  It'll be warm again one day, right?  When I'm having a rough time, though, trying to keep my spirits up, I spend a Sunday like this:

Yup.  That'll raise your spirits!

Technology Today

I am amazed.  I don't have a huge house, but my wireless router is at the other end of it.  I am at THIS end of it.  I can go into my room, shut the door, crawl under my electric blanket, and surf the internet.  It amazes me.

The door is shut.  There are two walls and a bunch of people between me and the router.  There is furniture, TV and sound system signals, cell phone calls going on...all between me and the router.  Yet, I can surf the internet, annoy people with my games (You DO know how to hide the games, right?) and check on my friends and family.

Don't laugh too hard that it amazes me.  I still don't understand how an old-style, wired telephone works.  I talk into this end, and someone across the country (or in another country) can hear me in real time, and I can hear them, too.  I don't get it.

I can plug a tiny little ear piece into my ear and place my phone above the sun visor of the car, and talk to my friend Brooke all the way home from work.  I don't have to take my eyes off the road.  I don't have to worry about holding the phone to my ear.  I just talk, and she answers.  It's so cool.

I have a dish shaped thing on my roof.  It points SSW, and it fills my house with TV, movies, music, and almost any entertainment I could ask for.  How does something THAT far away in space offer me an escape after a long day's work?  I don't get it.

For that matter, how do I put my debit card (just a rectangle piece of plastic) into a gas pump and have the gas pump tell me that there is, indeed, enough money in my account to put gas into my car.  I don't have to go inside and talk to anyone, or freeze and slide on the slushy, post-freeze parking lot to offer some form of payment.  I insert my debit card, pump some fuel into my tank, and get on my way.

Do NOT get me started on instant messaging!

I am amazed and thankful.  Shout Out to all of my out-of-state friends.  I haven't paid long-distance charges for a phone call in YEARS!  The cell phone minutes, instant messaging, email, message boards, and facebook as taken care of THAT.

I'm happy.  Amazed and happy.

No New Pets

My phone rang as I was driving home from work.  Thank goodness for bluetooth.  I answered...

Monica: "You know Bubba's friend Danielle, who goes to KU?"
Me: "Yes?" (only barely remembering the name...)
Monica: "So, she has a hedgehog that she's looking for a good home for."
Me: "No. We're not getting a hedgehog."
Monica: "But he's cute and I'll do EVERYTHING to take care of him."
Me:  "We're not getting a hedgehog."
Monica:  "He's nocturnal, so I won't have to do ANYTHING during the day!"
Me: "No, We're not getting a hedgehog."
Monica: "But, Mooommm!  He is SO cute!"
Me:  "Ask your Dad.  I am driving and I gotta go."
Monica:  "OK, thanks Mom!"

LOL.  I'm evil.  Still, I'll sleep fine tonight.  Hedgehog free. Kevin's new (later) shift may work against him.  BWAAHAAHAAHAAA

Winter Wonderland - Bah!

The roads are finally mostly clear.  Of course, I had to start taking an alternate route to work, since the George Brett Bridge is being redone.  This really messes with my mojo.  I guess I should have spent part of the last 7 1/2 years checking out alternate routes, but I didn't.  For you local folks, 50 (350) hwy is the logical route to take, but there is ALWAYS a wreck and a backup that way, so no thank you.

But I got here, and the new route won't be too bad.  I think our temps will actually make it up to 30 by Saturday, so if the sun shines, the roads will finish clearing off.  I know that everyone is sick of hearing about weather, but it is SO miserably cold.  Wind chills around -20º this morning.  That is just stupid cold.

I hate cold.  I'd rather be sweating in the middle of August than cold in January.  I get cold and can NOT get warm again.  I love my electric blanket, but I don't think it would be wise to bring it to work.  It would be nice, but customers may look at me funny, trailing my power cord around with me everywhere I go.  Makes me giggle to picture it.

Anyway, if it has to be miserably cold, at least it's pretty.  The snow makes everything look so clean.  It's bright and cheery.  When it melts, everything will be brown and dead looking again.  I wouldn't mind if the snow stayed on the ground for a while.

I had a laugh out loud moment on the way home, yesterday.  I got in the car and headed out, snaking my way through Raytown, looking for my new route.  My windshield was filthy, so I hit the sprayer.  The spray came out and arched over the hood ahead of me!  What the heck?  I pulled over into a parking lot and saw that there was ice over the nozzle, deflecting the spray in the wrong direction.  I hit the ice patch and removed it and all was well.  Still, the moment that it happened, my jaw dropped and then I started laughing.

OK, that's my check in.  My commute is almost down to a normal time now.  No more 2 hour drives.  Oh, and a word to the wise:  If you are going to be stuck in your car for 2 hours in traffic on bad roads, do NOT drink a huge mug of coffee followed by a Diet Coke.  Bad.Plan.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho

It's back to work for me tomorrow.  It's been a great four days off, in spite of the coughing.  I still don't feel bad, and the cough is getting less frequent.  Only thing that "hurts" is my diaphragm from coughing.  LOL We were totally lazy today, and ended the day with some junk food.  Left over chili on fried tortilla's.  Yum.

Kevin and Tim changed the oil in Tim's car yesterday.  It's ready to roll, now.  He can start looking for a job in nearby towns.  Monica spent the night last night, and will again tonight, at Brett's house.  She's enjoying extra time with Kameron.  The Chiefs game was disappointing, but the Colts/Titans game was exciting to the end.

Now, we'll watch some Undercover Boss and my Sunday night shows on ABC.  Back to normal tomorrow.  No more paid days off until May.  *sigh*  The first weekend in February will be my annual trip to South Carolina for a convention.  It's the only one I'm going to this year, so far.  Something may get added later, but for now, just the one.

I hope you all have a wonderful week!