Well! An exciting weekend in Saltillo... or at least an exciting Friday night/Saturday morning. The remnants of Hurricane Ivan came and sat over Pennsylvania, sending small streams over their banks and into our basements. At least in this part of PA they are just SMALL streams! Harrisburg is getting flooded this (Sunday) morning as it is along the Susquehanna River. (Good thoughts to everyone there!)
The basement had four feet in it. The furnace was completely underwater, but my neighbors the plumbing and heating repair guys knew what to do to get it working again once the fire company had me pumped out. Fred was also able to install a new sump pump for me. The old one tried valiantly, but twelve hours of submersion with no rests did it in. I forgot to haul the dehumidifier up the stairs, so it needs replaced as well. After 1986 there was nothing else of value down there, just a muddy mess of old plastic jugs and paper bags that the cats had knocked onto the floor.
Marion has been home from school for three days with an attack of cystitis. I was a little upset to find that she felt well enough on Friday to clean my admittedly in need of it kitchen. I think if she felt that well, she should have come to school. Oh, well. I'll be more insistent next time.
At one point early Saturday morning, I did get worried and move some things up stairs... the important things... all the bags of yarn and WIPs I had in the living room! Most everything else could have been replaced, but the water stayed in the basement where damage was minimal.
Sunday, September 19, 2004
Thursday, September 09, 2004
More Kitty Pictures. Bigger Now!
Bubba and Sissy sharing the chair cushion. It is quite normal for them to sleep close to each other. This is one reason why Jim wanted to find them a home where they could stay together.
Aren't the babies cute?
Jim with Sissy (mackerel tabby female) and Bubba (tuxedo male)
These are the "big kitties" when they were little kitties.
Wow.
Once again, long time no blog!
When last I wrote, I was taking an undeserved break from cleaning my house in preparation to welcome a young lady from France for the year. Things got off on the wrong foot... she arrived a day before I was expecting her! (I'm still really, really sure that if I had been told she was arriving on Friday the 13th, I would have remembered!!!) The house was very messy, it's a very small town... village, really... and she's from VERY near Paris, so things were a little tense.
I "think" we're doing better now. We are interested in many of the same things. I have tidied up a great deal and am learning to do vegetarian foods, while she has resigned herself to the fact that unless she goes home, she will be in a rural area of Pennsylvania for the next nine months. I'm planning lots of trips to big cities!
School started for teachers on Thursday, August 26, and for students the following Monday, so we already have almost two weeks in. Teaching in a high school/middle school combination rather than a junior/senior high school is still "interesting". We're supposed to think of ourselves as two entirely different entities which just happen to share the same building. Much is still "flexible" but improving.
While visiting my mother over Labor Day, we attempted to contact the man who gave me Bubba and Sissy so he could see them. I got them last November when they were about three months old... needless to say, they've grown and changed!
OKC: I'm working on some preemie burial items to send to the listmom of AC4C. All are white, a burial bunting and a crocheted round blanket. I'd like to work on some hats and slippers for Ship Support as well, hoping that hurricanes will soon decide to go somewhere to play OTHER than in Florida where Ellen Harpin-Sattler lives. In between, there's always another pumpkin hat from the never ending ball of orange yarn!
Once again, long time no blog!
When last I wrote, I was taking an undeserved break from cleaning my house in preparation to welcome a young lady from France for the year. Things got off on the wrong foot... she arrived a day before I was expecting her! (I'm still really, really sure that if I had been told she was arriving on Friday the 13th, I would have remembered!!!) The house was very messy, it's a very small town... village, really... and she's from VERY near Paris, so things were a little tense.
I "think" we're doing better now. We are interested in many of the same things. I have tidied up a great deal and am learning to do vegetarian foods, while she has resigned herself to the fact that unless she goes home, she will be in a rural area of Pennsylvania for the next nine months. I'm planning lots of trips to big cities!
School started for teachers on Thursday, August 26, and for students the following Monday, so we already have almost two weeks in. Teaching in a high school/middle school combination rather than a junior/senior high school is still "interesting". We're supposed to think of ourselves as two entirely different entities which just happen to share the same building. Much is still "flexible" but improving.
While visiting my mother over Labor Day, we attempted to contact the man who gave me Bubba and Sissy so he could see them. I got them last November when they were about three months old... needless to say, they've grown and changed!
OKC: I'm working on some preemie burial items to send to the listmom of AC4C. All are white, a burial bunting and a crocheted round blanket. I'd like to work on some hats and slippers for Ship Support as well, hoping that hurricanes will soon decide to go somewhere to play OTHER than in Florida where Ellen Harpin-Sattler lives. In between, there's always another pumpkin hat from the never ending ball of orange yarn!
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
Well, here I am avoiding necessary housework again.
We will be implementing classroll.com during the upcoming school year at Southern Huntingdon. Monday, August 16, is a training for those of us who want to be trainers for the rest of the faculty. Marion will have just arrived late Saturday, so I think she may still be recovering from her jet lag that day. As to whether I can attend the first general training session the next day, that depends on how she feels about being left alone this early! Maybe she'll want to take part in field hockey?
Cats are no good for inspiring one to clean. As I type, Sissy is on another chair curled up and snoozing, and Bubba is sacked out in the original kitty tunnel. I have no clue at all where he was sleeping last night. He disappeared about 9 p.m. and I didn't see him again until shortly before my alarm went off! I say "original" because the other one I ordered four months ago finally came. It's "y" shaped with a hole in the middle under a pompom on a spring. Of course, Bubba HAD to be the first one it it... through all four openings, including the one it the top! He just couldn't stand seeing Sissy in there and dove through the top after her. Unfortunately but hilariously, his back end is a little wider than his front end, so he kind of got stuck. Ethan and I both about rolled on the floor!
On the knitting front, I am finally done with the lace panel at the bottom of the Faroese shawl and am plugging away on the boring garter stitch rest of it. I worry that I may get it mostly done and then decide that I can't stand it, knowing there are mistakes in the lace. Frog pond! My WeatherBug just chirped to warn me again about the storms coming through tonight. Goody. Thunder, lightning, heavy downpours, possible hail, potential for flooding through tomorrow morning. Must be a cold front coming through. After it passes, we will suddenly drop into the 50's overnight Thursday! Saturday looks like it will be a glorious day for the KnitOut at The Mannings! I hope Barbara from DRU can make it!
We will be implementing classroll.com during the upcoming school year at Southern Huntingdon. Monday, August 16, is a training for those of us who want to be trainers for the rest of the faculty. Marion will have just arrived late Saturday, so I think she may still be recovering from her jet lag that day. As to whether I can attend the first general training session the next day, that depends on how she feels about being left alone this early! Maybe she'll want to take part in field hockey?
Cats are no good for inspiring one to clean. As I type, Sissy is on another chair curled up and snoozing, and Bubba is sacked out in the original kitty tunnel. I have no clue at all where he was sleeping last night. He disappeared about 9 p.m. and I didn't see him again until shortly before my alarm went off! I say "original" because the other one I ordered four months ago finally came. It's "y" shaped with a hole in the middle under a pompom on a spring. Of course, Bubba HAD to be the first one it it... through all four openings, including the one it the top! He just couldn't stand seeing Sissy in there and dove through the top after her. Unfortunately but hilariously, his back end is a little wider than his front end, so he kind of got stuck. Ethan and I both about rolled on the floor!
On the knitting front, I am finally done with the lace panel at the bottom of the Faroese shawl and am plugging away on the boring garter stitch rest of it. I worry that I may get it mostly done and then decide that I can't stand it, knowing there are mistakes in the lace. Frog pond! My WeatherBug just chirped to warn me again about the storms coming through tonight. Goody. Thunder, lightning, heavy downpours, possible hail, potential for flooding through tomorrow morning. Must be a cold front coming through. After it passes, we will suddenly drop into the 50's overnight Thursday! Saturday looks like it will be a glorious day for the KnitOut at The Mannings! I hope Barbara from DRU can make it!
Saturday, July 31, 2004
Wow, two entries in one month!
School starts in about three weeks for teachers, four for students. We will have in a full week before Labor Day. I'm hosting a French exchange student this year and know already that there will be a German exchange student in one of my French classes.
Cats do NOT like vacuum cleaners! I'm rearranging the furniture in the bedrooms and haven't seen either furball since I fired up the Eureka about two hours ago. (This is a break... it's really hot and humid today.)
On the knitting front, I think I've finally got the Faroese shawl going properly. About fifteen more rows and I'm back to plain old garter stitch with decreases, nothing fancy! On my next break, I think I'll work on something to donate to one of the AC4C charities.
I hear a dust bunny calling my name.
School starts in about three weeks for teachers, four for students. We will have in a full week before Labor Day. I'm hosting a French exchange student this year and know already that there will be a German exchange student in one of my French classes.
Cats do NOT like vacuum cleaners! I'm rearranging the furniture in the bedrooms and haven't seen either furball since I fired up the Eureka about two hours ago. (This is a break... it's really hot and humid today.)
On the knitting front, I think I've finally got the Faroese shawl going properly. About fifteen more rows and I'm back to plain old garter stitch with decreases, nothing fancy! On my next break, I think I'll work on something to donate to one of the AC4C charities.
I hear a dust bunny calling my name.
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Geez.
Long time no blog.
Let's see.... the school year ended without incident. The yearbook got done and should be ready for delivery the first day of school. I took two classes for continuing ed this summer: a weeklong workshop at Penn State on Shakespeare (very interesting, ways to incorporate video and music into a lesson) and a writing workshop at the IU (also interesting, now to apply what I learned!)
Fanny returned to Germany the end of June. I miss her and can't wait until next summer when I go to visit. I've got to find some way to brush up my poor German so her parents and I don't have to rely totally on Fanny or Nicole to translate for us!
The cats are now going through the giddy teenage phase of their development. They'll be a year old soon, so I think that's about the equivalent. Sleeping all day, especially on my bed or in the sun, then running around like idiots chasing each other. Okay when I'm up, but not appreciated at three in the morning! If Bubba didn't have fur, he'd be covered with bruises from banging into doorways and furniture when he can't take a corner as fast as Sissy.
Knitting/crocheting: working on socks to donate to AC4C. I should also be doing more on the sleeveless top that's part of the knitalong we're doing on DRU. Instead, I'm finding the squares for the sampler afghan intriguing and attention holding.
Anything to avoid housework!
Long time no blog.
Let's see.... the school year ended without incident. The yearbook got done and should be ready for delivery the first day of school. I took two classes for continuing ed this summer: a weeklong workshop at Penn State on Shakespeare (very interesting, ways to incorporate video and music into a lesson) and a writing workshop at the IU (also interesting, now to apply what I learned!)
Fanny returned to Germany the end of June. I miss her and can't wait until next summer when I go to visit. I've got to find some way to brush up my poor German so her parents and I don't have to rely totally on Fanny or Nicole to translate for us!
The cats are now going through the giddy teenage phase of their development. They'll be a year old soon, so I think that's about the equivalent. Sleeping all day, especially on my bed or in the sun, then running around like idiots chasing each other. Okay when I'm up, but not appreciated at three in the morning! If Bubba didn't have fur, he'd be covered with bruises from banging into doorways and furniture when he can't take a corner as fast as Sissy.
Knitting/crocheting: working on socks to donate to AC4C. I should also be doing more on the sleeveless top that's part of the knitalong we're doing on DRU. Instead, I'm finding the squares for the sampler afghan intriguing and attention holding.
Anything to avoid housework!
Thursday, April 01, 2004
Rain.
I'm new to blogs, but have been inspired by the ones I've seen.
I stayed home from school (work, I'm a teacher) today since I woke up feeling "icky" and had things that were screaming to be done here at home.
I haven't done them yet, but the cats and I have enjoyed sleeping in, and I did get some knitting done!
There, now you know why I picked the name for this blog!
I'm new to blogs, but have been inspired by the ones I've seen.
I stayed home from school (work, I'm a teacher) today since I woke up feeling "icky" and had things that were screaming to be done here at home.
I haven't done them yet, but the cats and I have enjoyed sleeping in, and I did get some knitting done!
There, now you know why I picked the name for this blog!
Anniversary.
Last Friday was my parents' fiftieth wedding anniversary. Or rather, it should have been. March 26, 2003, Dad went into the hospital for leg pain. He never walked out. We got him home to die exactly one month later, April 26, and he managed to hold on for one more week until he got to say goodbye to everyone in the family and his very large group of friends. He died on May 3, with Ethan holding one hand and me the other. Each day for the next month will be another "first anniversary" of something from that horrible time.
A year ago today, I had a nice chat with him. We thought he was getting better. We didn't know that something was horribly wrong and that he was being poisoned by an infection. In one way, it was nice that we all got to say goodbye to him, that I got to tell him that he was the best dad a girl could ask for... he never got to say thank you to his dad, but five weeks is a long time for someone to be in pain.
And we still have the "woulda, coulda, shoulda's" to deal with. We should have been more aggressive in getting him moved to a different hospital. We should have taken him to a bigger hospital to begin with, not stayed at the local hospital where they "did their best" that just wasn't good enough. Would he still be alive today if we had? It's not a question we want to think about, but it's a question we can't help but ask.
Mom's holding up fairly well. She wasn't dependent on Dad for her social life, not the way some of her friends were on their husbands. On the other hand, she misses him greatly. May 3 is going to be very difficult.
Last Friday was my parents' fiftieth wedding anniversary. Or rather, it should have been. March 26, 2003, Dad went into the hospital for leg pain. He never walked out. We got him home to die exactly one month later, April 26, and he managed to hold on for one more week until he got to say goodbye to everyone in the family and his very large group of friends. He died on May 3, with Ethan holding one hand and me the other. Each day for the next month will be another "first anniversary" of something from that horrible time.
A year ago today, I had a nice chat with him. We thought he was getting better. We didn't know that something was horribly wrong and that he was being poisoned by an infection. In one way, it was nice that we all got to say goodbye to him, that I got to tell him that he was the best dad a girl could ask for... he never got to say thank you to his dad, but five weeks is a long time for someone to be in pain.
And we still have the "woulda, coulda, shoulda's" to deal with. We should have been more aggressive in getting him moved to a different hospital. We should have taken him to a bigger hospital to begin with, not stayed at the local hospital where they "did their best" that just wasn't good enough. Would he still be alive today if we had? It's not a question we want to think about, but it's a question we can't help but ask.
Mom's holding up fairly well. She wasn't dependent on Dad for her social life, not the way some of her friends were on their husbands. On the other hand, she misses him greatly. May 3 is going to be very difficult.