We are back!

After being off for three days due to the storm over the weekend, we are back today..... It is like we never left. Two hours into the school day, the door has not stopped opening. I think we have many cases of post traumatic stress disorder. I feel for everyone in our community. This has not been easy for anyone. Hope it gets better with each passing day.

40 Bag Update

With a big storm this past weekend and a few unexpected days off, Nurse Nancy has taken full advantage..... This was the weekend I had planned to clean the basement. The weather had other plans and I spent part of the weekend cleaning water out of the basement. Once the first job was completed, I moved on to the second. The results:

10 more bags of garbage
One trip to Goodwill (with the back of the truck completely filled)
A bag of baby clothes for a friend (was JBM ever that small?)
.....and a dead end.

The rest of the "stuff" that needs to sorted and evaluated belongs to FlyBoy. I think I will be old, gray and crippled by the time he gets around to it....sigh.

KSC

If anyone asked JBM what we were doing for February break, his answer was "Going to Kennedy Space Center." So, of course, our trip would not have been complete without a visit to KSC. What a fun day.....included a briefing on the current mission, lunch with an astronaut and a tour of both my childhood and JBM's present space life. I do not think anyone can appreciate how primitive our space program was and how brave early astronauts were until you see up close what surrounded them in space. We also realized how far we have come and how far we have to go.
On a side note, JBM walked up to our tour guide at the first photo stop and told him that he planned to be the first astronaut to walk on Mars. He is about the right age...

The Disney Cure

I have blogged in the past about JBM's "need for speed." Well, Disney had the temporary cure for this...or maybe it made matters worse?! Here we are at the Tommorrowland Speedway. First he was happy to let me drive...but that did not last long. Do you think I can limit his teen driving years to an annual trip to Disney and a few passes around the track? I can dream can't I... :)

At one with Nature......

While waiting out our reservation for dinner at Epcot, we enjoyed the warm weather and the seating around a nearby fountain. Also enjoying the fountain was a mallard duck couple. What was most interesting to us was that they did not seem to be begging for food and were not the least bit concerned about the people around them. It was fun to watch....in addition, as we strolled through Epcot, Flyboy noticed a mature bald eagle flying above us. It could not have been more the 100 feet in the air. Too beautiful!

Test Track

Yesterday, I talked about Epcot Center and some of the fun things we did. Top of the list for JBM was Test Track. For those of you who have not had this experience, it is an exhibit sponsored by GM where the rider is taken through the experience of test driving a new car before it is sent to the showroom. The most exciting part of the ride is the speed component where the rider is taken up to 65 miles per hour before the brakes are abruptly applied. Based upon the photo above, I think it is safe to assume that JBM had a good time.

p.s. The arm in the photo belonged to me. Good time? Not so much but the ride was short and sweet so I survived.

Vacation Day 2 - Epcot Center

Our second day was the warmest day of the week and we jumped at the chance to wear shorts in February. It felt so good even though we did need jackets.
I had not been to Disney in over 22 years and JBM had never been there at all. I was not sure if I was more excited to be back or to have the experience with JBM.
So what had changed? New exhibits, new experiences and still all good things. Loved Test Track, Mission Space and Soarin' Although I have to admit I am a bit of a wimp when it comes to rides so the exhibits mentioned were the outside edge of my comfort realm and well worth it.
We dined in Germany. JBM's Oma was one of the best German ladies I ever met and a great cook. Flyboy and I really loved the Rouladen (beef dish) and both thought it tasted just like Oma's did. Have not had anything that good in 10 years!

Vacation Pics and Stories Part 1 - Daytona 500

Where to begin......our trip to FL was so wonderful and I do believe that JBM had the time of his life.
Day 1 - The Daytona 500
The day before we left, I had a casual conversation with a friend who within an hour called me with tickets to the race! Have I ever told you that JBM has this wonderful aura about him and nice things happen in his life? We live by the "do unto others" philosophy and it works!
Based upon the pictures shown (race in progress, JBM, and JBM with Ellen's hub)....I think a nice time was had by all (despite the pot hole delays)....and Dale almost won!
Ellen and I had a lovely day shopping and lunching like two proper ladies.....(please don't laugh too loud).
I am not sure why these pics show up the way they do and I do not seem to be able to move them around....guess I have more learning to do about blogging (SIGH).

Volunteer Work

I know that many of you have done more volunteer work in your lives than I have in mine. We do volunteer work for the satisfaction but do you also find it frustrating? For the past three years, I have been actively involved in the PTA. The first two years I was co-chair for the membership committee and this year I am co-chair on a committee to raise money for the library to help acquire more books.
The first two years were great! I had a partner who taught me the ropes and stepped back and let me learn. This was wonderful. She stepped back in when family issues pulled me away and we worked seemlessly together. This year is a whole different story. My partner should be in charge, she should be teaching me and she should be leading the process. NOT! I have essentially been stuck with everything....and am frustrated to the point that I have decided not to serve the second year.
Why do people volunteer when they are not prepared to fulfill a commitment?
Thanks for listenting....I feel better now.

13 Bags and Counting

Yes, I kow I promised vacation pictures and have yet to deliver....however, I thought a quick update on the 40 bags in 40 days was warranted. Last Friday, it snowed and we were home all day.....very nice. Spent it going through old financial papers, purging checkbooks from dead accounts and organizing some of my own stuff for a change. Resulted in three more bags to throw out or shred! My desk is a beautiful sight both inside and out. JBM has more stuff to shred (thrilling for him)! My boys are so proud of me....lets see how long it lasts (the clean desk I mean, not the pride). Happy Wednesday and I PROMISE vacation pics are coming soon!

Happy Birthday!

Today is my oldest brother's 60th birthday! Had a nice family dinner last night and good cake was enjoyed by all!

Happy Birthday Bro!