I'm still around....

I've been missed. 

I've received several emails and comments recently hoping my family is well, and wondering where I've been.  I've just been busy, that's all.  Now that the kids are out of school for Winter break, I think I'll be spending more time on the computer.  But lately I just haven't felt like being online much.  I guess I just needed a little break from journaling.

There have been a lot of things going on at school with finals and such; I have been preparing for some out-of-town family, coming to visit; and we've all still been fighting colds and allergies.  We're still all getting used to Thomas' different work schedule, too.

Anyway, I'm here, and I'll be back soon, I think.  I haven't been keeping up with everyone's journals, and I want to check in with everyone, so I'll be stopping by.  I hope everyone is well out there and enjoying time with family.

Is it finally Thursday??

Our high temperature today has come and gone -- 33* at 6 a.m.  We're dropping now, and can expect "dangerously low temperatures", according to the weatherman on the local morning news.

I haven't been on the computer for two whole days.  I just haven't felt like it.  Eler Beth did not ever actually get sick with the head cold she had, but I seem to have had something else.  I spent Tuesday with no voice, a very sore throat, cough and fatigue.  I spent yesterday with a squeaky voice, sneezing, coughing, sore throat and more fatigue.  This morning I seem to have a nice, husky, sexy voice, still coughing, but not quite as tired.  (Well, it would be a sexy voice if I could get a whole sentence out without going into a coughing fit -- nothing sexy about that!) I'm sure I'll crawl back into bed here soon.

Actually I had trouble sleeping last night; probably because of all the sleeping I've been doing for the past two days.  I finally gave up trying and got up with Thomas at 3 a.m. and made breakfast for him.  I played a little on the computer and watched the early morning news.  Then I made oatmeal and bacon for the kids' breakfasts, and even baked a pan of sugar cookies to put in lunches; frozen, not homemade this time.

It is snowing outside a little.  I think we're actually going to get some accumulation today, the first for this year. 

I was very saddened to hear that James Kim didn't make it.  I'm glad they found his body, and I'm not surprised about his death, but I was hoping for a miracle.  The man did, in all liklihood, save his family's lives, because the helicopter pilot saw his tracks and the trail he left, following it back to the car where his wife and daughters were.  I found out yesterday that he had lived for a while in Louisville, KY and had gone to school at Ballard High, making the story a little more personal for people around here. 

I'm off to check the weather again, and help Eler Beth finish getting ready for school.  I'll probably be back a little later to do some more catching up.

Sunday

Eler Beth is feeling a lot better today.  Her throat is less sore, and she isn't as stuffy-headed.  I, on the other hand, have had a sore throat and a dry cough all day.  So I doctored myself up to at least relieve the symptoms, including a little whiskey, honey and lemon concoction.  I'm sure I'll be better by tomorrow. 

Did nothing special today.  I'll get back to writing tomorrow.  Everyone have a nice night and a good week!

Saturday

Well, yesterday was a decent enough day, I guess.  I didn't do anything I didn't have to do.  I actually managed to write over 2100 words of my work-in-progress.  (Remembered to turn on the word counter.) 

I may have actually done more, but Eler Beth is coming down with something, and about midday she suddenly decided that she really, really just needed some comfort from Mom.  She had a horribly sore throat, but her glands didn't seem to be swollen.  She had a stuffy head and was sneezing, but no fever.  One of her best friends had strep throat last week, but she doesn't seem to have her usual strep throat symptoms yet.  We'll see.  I doctored her up and made sure she was drinking enough; then we watched a movie and started reading Little Women together.  She's been wanting to read it, so we decided I'd read to her while she felt so bad. 

The weather here is still chilly, but not freezing.  I managed to get caught up on several more journals.  Pretty good Saturday, all in all.

Do You Have Inner Peace?

My sister Maxine had this read during a staff meeting recently, by the principal at the school where she teaches.  I really liked it and would like to spend some time on each one of them in depth throughout the month.

       Symptoms of Inner Peace

                     By Carolyn Kell 

1.       A tendency to think and act deliberately from a centeredness within, rather than from fears based on past experiences. 

2.      An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment. 

3.      A loss of interest in judging others. 

4.       A loss of interest in judging self.

5.      A loss of interest in conflict. 

6.      A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.

7.      A loss of ability to worry. 

8.       Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation. 

9.     Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature. 

10.     Frequent attacks of smiling through the heart! 

11.     Increasing susceptibility to kindness offered, and the uncontrollable urge to reciprocate. 

12.     An increasing tendency to allow things to unfold, rather than resisting and manipulating.

So, how about it?  Do you have any of these symptoms of inner peace?  I have to admit, there are a few that I would like to have more of!  I would like to write about each one of these, one at a time, as the month goes on, starting tomorrow.  I look forward to getting some input from you guys.

I'd like another day just like this one, please.

This has been a very nice day.  I think I'll try to have another one just like it tomorrow.  I don't think I have too much that has to be done, just a few errands to run.  Other than those, I'm not planning on going anywhere.  I hope that this first day of December will be a model for how the rest of the month will be, not necessarily the weather, mind you, but just the peaceful, contentedness of the day. 

I  made homemade biscuits from scratch tonight with dinner, and each of us had to have one buttered hot right out of the oven before we even sat down to eat.  They were scrumptious!

My goals for this month are fairly simple.  I want to get caught up on journals for one thing, and I want to spend some of every morning writing.  I really neglected that during the past two months.  We have had so many little dragging illnesses.  But during the week as soon as the kids are off to school, I plan to spend a good hour or two writing.  On the weekends I may have to get creative to make the time, but I'll try.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Mmmm...creamy milk chocolate.....

1:00 p.m.: 29 degrees outside with a windchill of 18.  Yesterday it was 74!

Paula quoted Sandra Boynten today, giving us the statistic that 14 out of every 10 women surveyed love chocolate.  In honor of that I just ate a 60-calorie Hershey's Milk Chocolate Stick.  Mmmmmmmmm.

I am now all caught up with Paula's entries, and am working my way through Guido's journal.  Guido, my man, you are one prolific journaler!

For your amusement, let me list some new drugs for women.  Coming soon to a pharmacy near you:

NEW DRUGS FOR WOMEN

DAMNITOL
Take 2 and the rest of the world can go to hell for up to 8 full hours.      

EMPTYNESTROGEN
Suppository that eliminates melancholy and loneliness by reminding you of how awful they were as teenagers and how you couldn't wait till they moved out!

ST. MOMMA'S WORT      
Plant extract that treats mom's depression by rendering preschoolers unconscious for up to two days.

PEPTOBIMBO
Liquid silicone drink for single women. Two full cups swallowed before an evening out increases breast size, decreases intelligence, and prevents conception.

DUMBEROL
When taken with Peptobimbo, can cause dangerously low IQ, resulting in enjoyment of country music and pickup trucks.

FLIPITOR
Increases life expectancy of commuters by controlling road rage and the urge to flip off other drivers.

MENICILLIN
Potent anti-boy-otic for older women. Increases resistance to such lethal lines as, "You make me want to be a better person. "

BUYAGRA
Injectable stimulant taken prior to shopping. Increases potency, duration, and credit limit of spending spree.      

JACKASSPIRIN
Relieves headache caused by a man who can't remember your birthday, anniversary, phone number, or to lift the toilet seat.

ANTI-TALKSIDENT
A spray carried in a purse or wallet to be used on anyone too eager to share their life stories with total strangers in elevators.

NAGAMENT
When administered to a boyfriend or husband, provides the same irritation level as nagging him, without opening your mouth.

Have a great day!

I Just Saw Mary Poppins Floating By....

At 6 a.m. it was 65F; right now, at 11:12 a.m., it is 32F, with winds gusting up to 30 m.p.h. and more.  We did not get all the rain we had been told to expect; just some scattered showers and a period of heavy rain late yesterday.  Right now our sprinkles of rain are turning to snow flurries.  I don't think we'll get anything like what the Midwest areas near us have gotten.  Right now I think this Ohio Valley is protecting us from all of that, but you never know -- everything could change tomorrow.

I'm in a happy place right now.  Literally.  I'm sitting in front of my computer in a fluffy robe, drinking a nice, hot cup of colombian coffee with French vanilla cream.  And I am hoping that I can get to all of the journals I love to read by the end of the day.  Possible?  I don't know.  If I haven't left a comment in your journal lately, please, please forgive me.  I just can't seem to get caught up.

  Today is the first day of a new month.  I'd like to take the first of every month, beginning this month, to send out a reminder to all you ladies, and you gentlemen with ladies in your lives -- if you haven't scheduled your yearly mammogram yet, do it today.  Set aside the first day of each month to give yourself a breast self-exam.  If this isn't a good time of the month for you, then take the first day of the month to mark a date on your calendar to do the exam.

Julie had her first dose of chemotherapy yesterday.  I need to call her this afternoon to see how she's feeling.  I hopefully will return later today.  I want to talk some more about this upcoming month.