It's The Last Day of April

AND

• My nose is running
• My eyes are watery
• My throat is sore

Hopefully I'll feel better as the day progresses. Think I'll stay home today, that's fine since gas is $3.75/gallon!!!!

Took the pansies and potted flowers in last night and covered all the flower beds because there was a FREEZE WARNING!

I think I'm whining... Guess I'll get a move on and see what the day brings...

Getting Ready For The Annual Garage Sale

Saturday we cleaned out the garage and set up the tables. We also brought up the totes and boxes of stuff to sell.
Sunday I emptied out and cleaned a tackle box to use for the money box.

Yesterday I went with Renee and Sydney to the $$ Store and picked up some Tag Board to make signs. I also got a new sign to put up at the end of the driveway. I went online and created the Ad for the paper too.

Today Sarah is picking up some new $$$ amount stickers and some brackets to make shelves to put ALL my books on.

Tomorrow I have to put the $$ stickers on everything. AND I still have to arrange everything on the tables. OH yeah and I have to go to the bank and get some change.

Whew! Having a garage sale is allot of work.

More Sunny Daze

I've been spending a lot of time outside - beautiful warm and sunny weather. The pic of "little tree" is from yesterday, April 24th. The other pic is "Sasa" and Syd on the new mower. I found out that I will be getting paid for all the work I've been doing for my old job.

In the news: Wednesday at the S.C. Middle School a boy was found at the bottom of the pool in around 10 in the morning. There are many stories circulating about what happened. From a seizure to a fight in which he got knocked out to he was walking along the edge and no one saw him. He was rushed to the hosp. He is still alive but on vent. His name is Roberto if you want to pray for him or his family.

Yesterday a HUGE forest fire in Grayling, MI. I saw pictures on tv. It was approaching I-75...YIKES! It's way to early to be so dry. There is a ban on burning already.

Just For The Record

I walked for 20 minutes yesterday.
I rode my bike for 20 minutes today.

Just thought I'd set the record straight!
The pics are of:
1.) The new pansies I bought yesterday.
2.) The "little tree" out front. The only tree that we planted that has lived so far.

Today I went to my ex job and ended up staying for a 2 hour meeting. And got myself into a BIG mess. I had offered to keep up the mentor database. BIG mistake! Now I got suckered into making the year end report - which is already 5 days late. (Which I might add is not my fault, since I was laid off.) WHATEVER. That's what I get for being the "nice guy." All for FREE I might add....

Warm, Sunny Daze

Wow, it's been a while. I've been out and about enjoying the great weather we've had. Here's an update -

Wednesday - Went to Niki's softball game. She pitched a really good game. The Renee's showed up just in time for the last out!

Thursday - It was so nice out that no one wanted to go in and cook. We ended up going to get Chinese with the Renee's and we ate it out on the front lawn. Probably looked funny to people driving by!

Friday - I babysat Syd so Renee could go with Evan to the Butterfly house at MSU. We played sick kid, watched a little tv, went ouside and played volleyball. Katie brought us McDonald's for lunch. We went for a walk, played on the swing (Syd's favorite thing to do) For dinner I made some awesome Quesidallas.

Saturday - Sarah had to mow lawns all day. She broke a couple of mowers........
I shopped and cleaned the house because we were having people over for BBQ and cards later in the evening. It was a beautiful day and evening. No rain. The hotdogs and hamburgers were very yummy.

Today (Sunday) Went to Home Depot to look at new mowers. While I was there I picked up some Pansies because I read on my sister's blog that now is a good time for them. I got 2 baskets of purple/white for the front porch and got a basket of yellow for Renee. Then we came home and ate left over hotdogs for lunch. Hung around and played with my BFF Syd. Went to the Renee's for a yummy Turkey Burger BBQ. It clouded up and threatened to rain. But it never did. I think it went around us like it always does. We put Grub-ex stuff on the yard and now since it didnt' rain I think I will have to water the lawn tomorrow. Went for a walk after dinner to walk off the scrumptious cake I consumed. p.s. Thanks for the bbq Tom and Renee!

"No Clouds, No Precipitation"

That's what the weather dude just said. It's currently 58 degrees, but it looks and feels nicer than that! And it has been a bee-u-tif--ul day with more to come. 70 and sunny tomorrow. I think I'll go and hit a few golf balls. I'm thinking about joining up with my sister's (Jan) water drinking contest. 3 weeks. Get some $$ if you drink the most water. I figure, what have I got to lose.

A Day Is A Day

Got up did the usual. ( See Thursday, April 10) Took the cans and bottles back to Kroger so that we could get Subway for lunch. Sarah and I shared a Subway Melt - 5 bucks for a footlong. It was yummy. Then I went with her on an easy job in Owosso. Brandon took the day off today. We had to go in a house and take pictures and change one lock. I read my new book, 7th Heaven by James Patterson. I actually finished it about an hour ago. Got home went over to the Renee's. Woke Syd up from her nap so we could go outside. I pushed her in the swing a while and then we took a bike ride. Her bike was making a loud "snoring" noise so we came back home to see if Sasa could fix it. Of course she did, but Syd was done riding by then.
I made an awesome pot of spaghetti for dinner. Now I'm kind of bored so I'm writing this while watching the Wings in the playoffs. Tomorrow Brandon has the day off again so I have to go to work with Sarah again. I think I'm going to start reading The Winds of War, by Herman Wouk. It's about a zillion pages.

8:45 A.M and Beautiful Snowflakes

Are falling. Sweet! It's a glowing 32 degrees. Winter Wonderland. A regular blizzard, cool. High temp. around 40, wow! I'm thrilled, can't ya tell? Glad I did the grocery shopping yesterday! Guess I'll stay inside today and start a new book. Just finished "The Appeal" by John Grisham. The end was very disappointing. Tonight's dinner - Ham (turkey) for Katie and cheesy potatoes.

Rumor Has It

That a SONIC is coming to Flint! I am so excited I can hardly believe it!! On Miller Rd. where the old Bill Knapps used to be. Strawberry Limeade here I come. Renee told me today that she saw it on the news last night. Darn. Cause us and the Renee's were going to open one up. We just talked about it last weekend.

Well we had some wicked storms today. The siren went off twice. The second time I was in the bathtub!! Scary. We had light hail, and lots of rain. Most of the storms went around us.

Just A Day

Is there such a thing as an "average" day? Unfortunately sometimes. Got up, did my "unemployment" routine. Make coffee. Make and eat breakfast. Visit blogsites and bank accounts. Check "Myspace." Pay a few bills. Do Sarah's accounting. Take a shower. blah blah Went and got a massage and to the Chiro. --Now I can turn my head! Went to Niki's softball game - it was cold and raining so we cheered her on from the car. Lame I know. Some dedicated parents were out there with the big ole golf umbrellas. Brrrrrrrrrr! Oh yeah, went over to the TREE's and saw Elissa's new bedroom, very savvy and cool for a teenage girl! Syd was just waking up and wanted her Mommy and wouldn't even talk to me. That's how I feel too when I just wake up. Dad called and he is back from the great white north safely. Glad he called. And now I'm watching Survivor and waiting for the girls to get home with the PIZZA!!

I Know You Missed My Blog

Because you are all harassing me....... JK Well it has taken some time for me to get my self back together after my vaca. You know, laundry, shopping, cleaning, paying bills, etc.. And last night we went to the Piston's game. Very cool - They were celebrating the 50th year of the Pistons. (Lisa you are getting behind) So 30 of the top scorers were there. I saw John Sally, Bill Lambier, John or James Edwards, Vinnie Johnson, Joe Dumars, Isiah Thomas etc. just to name a few. Got a souvenir hat signed by the Edwards guy. Also got special passes to go to the press conf. after the game, exciting stuff!
The pictures on my blog took place on my second to last day in S.C. That is my sister Jan sleeping on the picnic table at the beach. That is after she already took a nap right on the beach a few minutes earlier! It was hot & windy and really pretty there. We went to the state park. She told me it is where they filmed the Vietnam scene from Forest Gump, cool huh? We went to Beufort and shopped, ate and then went to the beach. Lunch was very exciting. We stopped at a BBQ joint. While we were finishing up our delicious bbq, smoke started pouring out from the side porch where they were heating the coals. Apparently the coals started on fire. The flames were almost up to the ceiling. The waitress went out with a water bottle and shot the flames out. We hurried out of the smokey joint! For dinner we went to an awesome seafood place. We had an hour wait! But it was pretty, we sat out by the water and I took the picture of the shrimp boat. We pigged out on shrimp, flounder, crab, scallops salad and baked potato. No room for dessert! We got home at about midnight. Fell flat out asleep. I was tired from driving - I had to drive - Jan said her glasses were not too good for night driving. We really had a good time in the south! The people are really nice and friendly.

The Red Door and More

It's been beautiful and fun couple of days in S.C. Yesterday we went to my sister's shop, "The Red Door" and messed around. I mostly sat on the front porch in a rocking chair and sipped my tea, pronounced "teaay." I actually rang up a few customers and even gave the change back right! Then when we were finishing up dinner (Calif. Pizza Kitchen pizza, Jan said let's go we're going somewhere for a surprise. Marlene was all in a panic and thought we were going to a southern bible study! We actually went on a private carriage ride around historic Camden. It was awesome! Warm and just the right time of evening. The sun was setting and with all the flowers, bushes etc. blooming it was smellyicious! Our horse Shadow knew the way and clipp-clopped along at a nice pace. 1/2 way through the ride we stopped at a billionaire's mansion because my sister ( I won't mention which one) had to pee. So they went right up to the house to use the bathroom. Quit funny.

Today we bombed around Camden. Had lunch at a little place then went to a bunch of shops - antique and second hand shops. Oh well. BUT, then we found a cousin to the Beal's Outlets like they have in FL. and Marlene and I had a ball. Tonight Jan and I went out for dinner at the "Ole South" a restaurant where people died of food poisoning a few years back!! Long story. We were brave enough to try it. Good ole southern food, everything fried in "fatback." Except the peach cobbler - yummy. Let's see what tomorrow brings!

South Carolina At Last

We arrived officially at 2:10 a.m. After:
flight 3708 delayed
flight 3708 changed from 1:38 p.m. to 1:55 pm.
flight 3708 changed from 1:55 p.m. to 4:20 p.m.
Flight 3708 cancelled
New Flight: 3710 9:30 p.m.
Received $26 food voucher, ate at Chili's Too
Don picked us up at 2:00 p.m. went home to wait
Arrived back at the airport at 8:00 p.m. for 9:30 flight
Moved from gate C2 to C36
Moved from gate C36 to C23
Flight 3710 delayed until 9:45 p.m.
Flight 3710 delayed until 10:15
Flight 3710 delayed until 10:45 (mechanical issues)
Flight 3710 delayed until 11:30 (waiting for crew change)
Flight 3710 delayed until 1:15 a.m. (same)
Flight 3710 back until 11:15 p.m.
Yea! Here comes the crew!
Boarded plane at 11:30 p.m.
Roar! Started the engines (with the door still open!)
Wait, here comes 2 late people...
Ok, we are ready but just waiting for ground crew...
Whew, flight attendant closed the door - manually - got showered with rain upon slamming of door.
Ok, 12:30 a.m. taxied out to Lenawee County for 1/2 hour. I'm sure it was busy at that time of night
Stopped at McDonalds for the late people, got back on runway.....
12:35 a.m. In the air hooray! Free drinks for all your troubles, but the snacks cost $2.00
Anyway, final descent into Columbia S.C. 2:00 a.m.
2:15 a.m. Taxied around the city of Columbia
2:25 a.m. Plane brakes working just fine - came to a COMPLETE stop out in the middle of the airstrip.
Flight attendant flung the door open - no ground crew in sight.
2:30 a.m. Flight attendant makes an announcement:
"Sorry folks we have no Jetway, we will be deplaning right here. Hmmmmm. Get off plane. Look to left, look to right. Hmmmmm there is a guy 200 yards over there- must be place to go.
2:35 a.m. climb steps from bowels of the airport to the main level. Don't have to get our luggage from thingy cause Jan saw it sitting up by "lost luggage" area.
3:30 a.m. Pull into sister's house in Lugoff after driving through dense fog.
3:35 a.m. Head hits pillow - fast asleep!