Snow... and More Snow!

From January 2008
It started snowing this morning about the time I was getting ready for work. As I was leaving work around 5pm it looked like it had stopped for the first time since this morning. Of course, it was just a short break. It's still snowing as I write this, having stopped off and on over the past couple of hours.

It really is beautiful (We had some great big fluffy flakes fall today!), so I once again snapped a photo of my tree and shrubs in the front yard to show just how much we have piling up. I wouldn't mind staying home and being a couch potato tomorrow... calling it an official snow day. I may not be too far off, since I do work for a school and they do declare snow days every once in a while. However, even when the kids aren't required to come, we are if at all possible. How lame is that?!

A Re-Run Blog From Last Summer: "It's DAMN Hot!"

From July 2007
Today it was forcasted to get up to 107 degrees. I'm not sure what it actually reached, but it certainly felt like it. And it's been this way for most of the week. It's almost like dejavu, as I recall a blog that I wrote last summer:

"It's Damn HOT! I don't know if it's that I'm getting older by the minute or if for some reason I'm going through a stage of intolerance, but the heat this summer is really making me grumpy! I know that talking about the weather really isn't all that interesting, but this 100+ degree stuff is a drag. So please excuse my whining. I can't wait for the cool crisp air of autumn- my favorite season. (It doesn't help that the stupid swamp cooler that came with this house I bought is worthless as far as adequately cooling things down.) Alright, enough negative talk.... I will strive for more positive words tomorrow." - July 18, 2006

There's not much difference in my attitude, although I do seem to be handling the heat a little bit better than last year (thank goodness, since I was quite crabby!)

Here Comes The Sun... Sigh

From June 2007
Summer is certainly well on its way. And dangit! It's getting HOT already. It's forecasted to be in the high 90's, possibly even 100 degrees this weekend. For anyone who has read my blog entries from last summer, you'll know I am not fond of heat. I'd rather it was extra cold, than extra hot. And we had a hot summer last year, so I was hoping for one that wasn't so extreme this year. Sigh.... guess I better prep the swamp cooler for some major usage.

CHRISTMAS VACATION

FROM DECEMBER 2006
One of my favorite things about working in a school setting is that I get all the basic school vacations off of work. For the past week or so I have been on what my employment calls "winter break" (in an attempt to make it sound politically correct). To me, it's just a good ol' Christmas Vacation. And boy has it gone by quickly!!

My original plans for part of my vacation time went down hill the first day I was off of work. I was scheduled to fly out of our closest airport and go to Denver to visit my brother and his family for Christmas. But due to all that snow in Denver, my flight as well as many, many others were cancelled. It was amazing to watch the news and see all of the people stuck in the Denver airport, unable to fly out. I was actually a bit grateful I wasn't able to go -- mostly because I was still at home and not stuck out there somewhere. But I had also been battling a cold and right around the same day I was scheduled to fly, my cold turned into bronchitis. Man, I was down for about 4 days with a fever, chills, aches, and a terrible cough. (Still have the cough and probably will for a while.) Not the most enjoyable way to spend a vacation. Although, I can't say that I didn't mind the excuse to just lay around for a few days.

I had an enjoyable Christmas regardless. I'm not so sure that my family that I spent the day with appreciated me being sick around them, so I tried to not get too close. That's pretty hard when there's a cute little great nephew toddling around.

I've also been able to do a little bit of the traditional Christmas baking -- too bad I wasn't able to actually do it before Christmas! Oh well, no one would have wanted germy cookies anyway. I enjoy the actual baking part the most. Although the eating part can be good too.

And now here we face a New Year. Sigh... that's a whole other entry to save for later. But along with that new year, I have to go back to work. Yuck!! I really could get used to being unemployed. But that's a bit impossible since I need money to survive. Hmmm... maybe 2007 will bring me some luck and I'll win the lottery (I would have to actually buy a ticket for the luck to work). Or maybe I'll find a "sugar daddy"!

Anywhoo... Happy New Year to everyone! I'll talk about some of my resolutions soon.

I FOUND MY DREAM HANDYMAN, MINUS THE "DREAM"

FROM THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2006
Home repair #1, part 2
Yes, it's true... I finally got my swamp cooler fixed. I no longer have to suffer (as much anyway) in the heat. It's still not as good at cooling things down as an AC, but it's so much better than before. Too bad that the handy man didn't fit the description of the hunky man in tight jeans and t-shirt that is so often portrayed in the movies though! It was just a regular ol' guy... someone I know from work who was willing to help out. I am greatly appreciative! (and it only cost me $10)
I also found someone to remove the huge limb and branches that fell into my back yard Sunday evening when we had a hard windstorm. That cost a bit more, but it was cleaned up quickly. Yay!!

And speaking of heat... we are in the 6th or 7th day in a row of triple digit temps. Alright already... I'm ready for something a bit cooler. Fortunately, we are supposed to get that in just a couple of days. It's amazing how much I enjoy temps in the 90's after spending days in the 100+ temps.

ANOTHER HOT DAY IN JULY

FROM SATURDAY, JULY 22, 2006
It has been around 105-107 degrees the past couple of days! It's not too uncommon for us to have hot days like this every so often, but not for so many days in a row. While at home, I just keep a fan blowing on me no matter where I am or what I'm doing. And I've given up on any kind of hairstyle... just put it up! I'm also starting to give up on those brown spots in the lawn. It's a losing battle.

I've had a very nice weekend so far though. It's nice to be away from the office, even if it is cooler there. I shampood all my carpets last night when I got home from work. Who knows where that energy came from. It wasn't the most exciting way to spend a Friday night (I know I could think of much more enjoyable ways to spend it). BUT, it still is nice to be able to walk on cleaner carpets. I also went a bit "Febreeze" happy today after they had dried. My cats keep sniffing around, trying to figure out what happened to all the old doggy smells that have been here since I moved in. BLECH!