More Cbus processing

I thought I was done processing...running has felt fun again...but obviously I'm not.  Lots of stuff just keeps coming up.  All the stupid little things that I didn't deal with in the middle of training, are coming up as wrinkles now.  I realize there was no balance ~ it was all training

These are the cards I got from my XC kids.  The first one was signed by everyone (I would have posted the picture of that, but for some reason it keeps loading upside down)  the second is from Lilly Awesome.  It came with a jar of pickles because "pickles save lives".  

I've also included the card I got from the team at the XC banquet.  It's really nice & I wanted to remember it.

But really what started this was listening to the Marathon Training Academy podcast episode, "What I've Learned from 50 Marathons".  I'm listening to Angie talk as I'm running on the treadmill for the first time in MONTHS...and she says: "The marathon reveals what is inside."  And I'm like...yep.

This is really personal for me. (and hard to put into words)  I want to prove to myself that I can do something really really hard.  And I'm scared by that.  Like way-down-deep scared.  Like that middle-schooler-totally-irrational-I'm-worthless feeling.

And that's where I need to start.  I am worthy.  And so are all the people around me.  There is a worth to all of us and it's bigger than just a BQ ~ or meeting a stupid goal you've set for yourself.  We're all worthy of love and respect and kindness.  

I'm sure that doesn't make sense...but it does to me.  And I see where I need to work.  

Purple Stride

Joined Anita & Bob & Mom Tucker for their yearly support of waging hope against pancreatic cancer.  Thinking of all that my friend, Janice, has gone through this year made the discomfort of my third race of the week seem like nothing.  We woke up Saturday morning to a downpour & a line of rain headed across Cleveland for what looked like two or more hours.  Lots of debate about what to do...I suggested we drive downtown & decide if we wanted to get out of the car or not.  It wasn't raining...so we got out of the car.  And it didn't rain at all the whole time we were there.  

We all wore our purple...and as you can see we all had smiles.  I wondered what I was thinking as Sunday was a half marathon, Wednesday a hilly 5k & another 5k on Saturday.  NUTS.

But it must work for me as I ran 22:48 { a full minute faster than I have been running this year}.  I have no explanation.  The route started up a hill, but the rest was pretty flat.  There was a downhill going behind Brown's Stadium, and an uphill on the other side {and the 5 guys in front of me walked at the end of that one! ~ Felt pretty amazing to run by them}.  My watch had it as 2.95 miles...but 22:48 makes me very happy.

The other thing that made me happy was the bloody mary bar at West End Tavern.  ~ where we went for lunch.  I made a life decision.  I will live in an old folks home that has a bloody mary bar every morning.  Wouldn't that be the life?

Healthy?

4 grams of protein!

It's like eating a grilled chicken breast.

Washer Drama

Back in October I noticed a piece of the rubber gasket in the front of my washer had ripped off.  OCTOBER.  Today, I got my new washer.  In between I got to know Amish Pete's laundromat & my husband bought a $100 washer at a thrift shop (see first picture).  I had the extended warranty ~ so Sears replaced my washer (see second picture).  But I'm not sure it was worth the drama!  I had to write a letter to Sears...which was the only thing that got results.  

December 23, 2014

To Whom it May Concern:

I am a very dissatisfied customer and feel you need to be aware of my situation in hopes you would desire your customers to be taken care of in a timelier manner.

In October my washing machine had a piece of the rubber gasket tear off.  I purchased the extended warranty, so I called the people at Master Protection.  They scheduled a time a week or two away for a repair man to come and fix it.  He showed up on the scheduled day, and quickly saw my washer had bigger problems.  He ordered the necessary parts and scheduled a new date, November 25, 2014.  I was not very happy with the wait of a few weeks to get this fixed, but it was under warranty and wouldn’t cost me anything to get it fixed, so I didn’t complain.  He came on November 25, and one of the parts shipped to me was damaged.  He had to reorder that part and realized that another part was also needed.  The new repair date? December 23, 2014.  I felt this was an unacceptable amount of time to get my washer fixed, but there was nothing I could do about it.

Today is December 23.  The repairman was scheduled to arrive between 8 and noon.  At 2:00 I called.  There was NO RECORD of a repair being scheduled for today.  I was told I had a repair on December 3 and it was completed.

There are a number of things wrong with this.  I DID NOT have a repair scheduled for December 3.  And if I did, I was NEVER made aware of it so I could be home.  The repairs are CERTAINLY  NOT complete as I still have parts all over my house.  This is an unacceptable way to do business.

I now have a repair scheduled for January 9, 2015.  From OCTOBER TO JANUARY.  If this were your washer at your house, would that be acceptable?

I am very concerned that it will not get fixed.  First, I don’t think I’ve received all the necessary parts that need replaced.  And secondly, my extended warranty expires in January.  It makes me think this is an attempt to spread out my repair in order for my warranty to expire and therefore, make me financially responsible for it. 

I would like to know what you can do to make this situation better. 

I heard from Sears within three hours of sending this email.  I had a service repair scheduled for December 26.  I ordered my new machine December 29.  I got it delivered today.  It's SAD that I had to resort to a harsh email to get good service.  I also discovered that the December 3 "completion" showed I was given a new washer that day.  Someone in the Sears network got a new washer & it wasn't me.  

On this new on I did not buy the extended warranty.  I really feel that the time I spent waiting and being annoyed is worth the price of a new washer.  

So I've started my washer fund...

And I've started my wash...in my new machine!! 

December

This is the Barton Family Runners...after our NERC interclub relay race.  It was held December 7 at The West Woods in Newbury.  I ran 8, Mike ran 5 and Jacob ran 3.  Overall we ran it in 2:24:03.  By it, I mean the roller coaster they call the trails at the West Woods.  I swear there wasn't a single bit of FLAT anywhere on the trails.  Honestly, I think I'm still recovering from it!  But while driving there, we saw this sign:

"Newbury, Home of the 1986 Class A state Wrestling Champs"  I think we know someone who was on that team.

Later that same afternoon, we celebrated our annual Mount Union Christmas.  Love these girls & am blessed to know them & have them in my life!

And here are my beautiful new Brooks.  Don't you love the pink?  I do!  Another pair of Glycerin 12.  They are the bestest shoe EVER.

Then there's the December Band Concert ~ With Jacob in the regular band and also in Jazz band.  He looks quite dashing & grown up!  On December 11 the band preformed at the Great Lakes Mall outside Macy's. He and Audrey had a duet & were amazing.  I have the video on my phone...it would b nice if I could upload it.

Yesterday we had a impromptu visit from The Amos Family as they traveled to grandma's house.  What a great time to see & catch up with my cousin!  I certainly hope my house can become a stopping point for the family as they travel across the states.

AND PATRICK IS HOME!  He got his feet wet, so to speak, at his co-op & is home now until spring semester starts.

Then ~ I saw this amazing parking job at Giant Eagle yesterday.  Certainly under the category of  "Things that make you go HUH?"

I think I'm pretty much done Christmas shopping.  I need to hit Walmart one last time & of course, Giant Eagle (again!)  But I think I'm ready.

Time to enjoy.

Weekend Fun

The high school football team made the playoffs this season ~ and even had home field for the first round.  We haven't seen Jacob march for a long time, so it was great that this one was at home.  We get to the game all bundled in our cold gear & a blanket to wrap in too ~ it was that cold.  We sit down and prepare to watch pre-game.  People are just wandering in & getting there seats...it's early yet, not a lot happening before the game starts...

Except the people in front of us.  Apparently they have been sitting in the bleachers for a while, maybe hours.  this was the mess BEFORE THE GAME EVEN STARTED.  They certainly had their money's worth in fun.  This just struck me as one of those things...I couldn't stop looking at the mess & wondering what kind of partying they were doing in the stands before I got there.  Because they were pretty tame fans while I was there.

The Saturday (after running our 13 miles in the cold & wind) we loaded up the car & drove south to Cincinnati.  This is our usie...it's really difficult to get a really tall kid and a really not so tall kid in one shot!

It was really good to see Patrick & Maggie.  Patrick took us to his new favorite BBQ place ~ Alabama-Q.  A little store-front with five tables (not so clean) and food served in Styrofoam to-go packages.  For $28 we all had a very good and filling meal.  Mike pointed out that it didn't even have a bathroom & we were probably glad for that!  I would eat their food again; I would just take it to another location to do so.

After breakfast with the kids, Mike & I went to Jungle Jim's.  I tried to get a selfie with one of the 'animals' out front. It was an interesting place ~ with even more interesting bathrooms.  In the middle of the store are two big port-a-potties... that enter into very nice bathrooms.  It's pretty freaky to open that door tho'.

At check out Mike thows these Cinnamon Twists on the belt ~ I can't believe he bought the Cinnamon ones ~ like he totally didn't read it & thought they were the Strawberry ones.  So I say, "Those are Cinnamon."  MIKE SAYS, "I know.  They're like breath mints, but candy." 

drained

The Fault in our Stars is an excellent movie.  Went to see it with two teacher friends...and there were moments that I thought I was going to SOB...tears just were flowing down my face.  As much as I hate to cry...it was such a great story.
It was made even worse by the fact that I knew what was coming, but of course, you have to read the book first.
The scene that really go me was when things turn a turn for Hazel.  The music took over the scene, but you can see her mouth "mom" and you see mom come slow motion, full of panic, fear and love up the stairs.  It just got me.  Great acting of a great story.

The World We Live In

Today was inservice day at school, so after our meeting we were "free" to work in our rooms {thank GOD, since I still can't seem to get ahead of my workload...feeling a little breathing room after today, but it was more catch-up than get-ahead}.
While we were working, the Fine Men-in-Blue were doing their own training.  Disturbing to the core of my being to have the reality of school violence brought into my day.  The announcement by Mr. Brady, "The police are doing a training today so you may hear loud noises that may sound similar to gunshots."  And then I hear laughter from the police in the cyber cafe {right outside my door}.  I peek out and they say, "It may sound similar to gunshots because it will be gunshots."
Sure enough, they are practicing many different scenarios of a live shooter in the building.  The sound of gunshots resounding through my place of employment.  A place where innocent children are every single day.  The fact that we need these men to know what they would do if...
There are no words to express that if.

And I come home to the news that there is one dead, a shooting victim,  on the campus of Purdue University.

Pray.

MLK day

One of my favorite quotes of all time:

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

is by Martin Luther King Junior.

Here it is at his memorial in Washington DC.

I'm just reminded that there is so much good we can do in the world ~ if only we would do it.  I know that in my life, it's all about me and my family and my job and my adventures.  What could I do to make this world a better place, if only I tried?  What does it look like to always be that light?  To be the love that drives out hate?

One man.  That's all Martin Luther King was, one man.  One man who was light and spread God's love into the world.  

That's a pretty deep thought for me ~ especially as I meant to write about last Sunday (Jan. 12) when I fell down twice in one day.  Embarrassing ~ and a little painful.

And I meant to write about the Aqua Zumba class and the Yoga class I've started taking on Saturdays and Sundays...instead of running & how this cross training has eliminated the pain in my hip & lower back.

See, I was just going to write about me.  That's where we all go, I do believe.  

Here's my challenge.  Be a light & spread some love.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Snow day! (#1)

I deep deep deep in my heart feel that in this age of technology, the weather people have become total alarmists.  I will never forget {because I'm typing it here} when channel 3 first got doppler radar.  They interrupted regularly scheduled programming to tell me it was RAINING ~ and to zoom in on the street in some town, not close to me, to show me how much it was raining {not a newsworthy amount}.

Now, the weather channel has started NAMING winter storms.  Seriously?  What's next?  Naming clouds?  Naming lighting bolts?  This is giving the wrong message.  I hate to remind the herd, because they should remember it for themselves, it snows in the winter.  It gets cold in the winter.  Every once in a while it will dip below zero.  It will not kill you because you are smart enough not to go out there to sunbathe. 

Which brings me to today's snow day.

The predictions for today began a week ago.  A WEEK ago they began predicting the coldest weather in 20 years...a WEEK ago the high for Tuesday was -5 with a low of -10.   The issued Winter Storm Warning was calling for 8 to 15 inches of snow.  Actual: we've got a dusting & it looks like {from the radar, that I'm smart enough to read} we'll get a little bit more.  They are now predicting 2 to 15 inches {way to cover all bases}

And it is cold.  So I'm dressed warmly.

And I don't think there is a school open today...all called off last night before 8:00 pm...when it was still raining.  Was it the right call?  Probably.  I can't imagine the roads are good out there with a layer of ice under the snow...but the attitudes & fears.  That's the most frightening part to me.  We are not stupid, people.

Catching Fire

I don't see many movies, but I made sure to see this one.  I waited too long to watch the first one and had to do it in my living room.  So, a year ago, we made a vow to go see this one in the theater, and I'm very happy I did.  I was a little hesitant when I saw it was almost 2 and a half hours long...really?  Who can sit that long?  And when it ended, quite abruptly, Anita and I looked at each other and said, "It can't be over; that wasn't 2 & 1/2 hours."  But it was.
I do have to say the movie is better than the book. {which I think was pretty poorly written in parts}

running truth

My good friend, Amy, handed me this essay the day after my marathon ~ and when I finally got around to reading it, I laughed 'til I cried.

She wasn't so sure that I'd think it funny ~ but she had an inkling...I don't think you can truly get it if you aren't runner ~ but he speaks the truth.  I am better than most of you. 

~ check out the link for the original post:

Michael Ian Black ~ I Do Run Run Run, I Do Run Run:

The fact that I run is a source of mild embarrassment to me. It’s not the kind of thing I go around telling people because there’s something a little showoffy about distance running, even if you are as unaccomplished and slow as me. Runners don’t normally go around telling people how far they ran that day because that would be gauche, but a runner knows to the tenth, or even hundredth, of a mile exactly the distance he traveled, and how long it took him to do so. He knows the fastest time he has ever run that same distance. He carries those records like totems. Because its accomplishments are most often achieved in solitude, a runner’s pride can sometimes get the best of him. Pass a runner in your car on a cold early morning and I pretty much guarantee that runner is thinking I am better than you. It’s a terrible thought to have, even though it is correct.

Runners routinely endure suffering for no reason other than to have done so. What other reason is there to run five or fifteen or twenty-six point two miles at a time? Fitness can be achieved at shorter distances. Weight loss can be accomplished with less pain. So why else do it? Why else commit oneself to long slogs through rain and sun? Running is an act of vanity, one that measures itself not by flatterers but by footsteps. After tens of thousands of those footsteps, and miles and miles endured, is it not natural to believe oneself to be at least a little bit better than those who chose to convey themselves through space in more comfortable environs? No runner would ever express that thought out loud, of course. Except for me, because I am kind of an asshole.

Running is a private activity done publicly, usually on roads and trails. A runner puts herself into the world, half-dressed, hair a mess, face red, sweat-soaked and unattractive. She does this in full view of all passersby, showing herself in a more vulnerable state than she would ever do in her workplace or among her friends. In that running space, within the confines of her run, she is free from having to look a certain way or dress a certain way except as it pertains to running, from having to talk at all, from having to engage with anyone she does not wish to engage with, from having to be anything other than a small machine transporting the body from point A to point B. It is simple and beautiful for being simple.

People sometimes equate running with spirituality or meditation. To be out there, alone, in private reverie, can invite the same sorts of wonder and self-discovery as religious contemplation. Suffering, too, is intimately tied to both endeavors. Religion loves its penitents to suffer. Oh boy, does religion love suffering; it is through suffering that we find forgiveness and grace. Never through ice cream. But runners aren’t seeking forgiveness, and the only grace they are searching for is economy of motion. Some runners, like myself, look for clarity in their running, moments of escape from self, as the repetition unbinds mind from thought and allows the body to take control for a little while. But those moments are fleeting and never produce anything like enlightenment. Usually, they just produce a bum knee or an upset stomach. Spirituality is spirituality and running is running. Yes, running can evoke spiritual feelings. But so can watching leaves fall from trees. So can anything.

I run because I run. Which isn’t the reason I started running. I started running because I thought maybe I would find enlightenment. I thought great suffering would produce great knowledge. No. It doesn’t. Or maybe I just haven’t suffered enough. After all, I am still a novice runner. As I write this, I have yet to run my first half marathon, which is coming up in a couple weeks. Yesterday I ran the furthest I have ever run, eleven and a half miles (11.55 to be exact in a time of 1:52:38) fighting a keen desire to poo the entire way. When I got done, I went straight to the toilet. As I sat there, I started to pass out and had to remove myself to the floor, my shorts around my ankles, where I muttered a feeble “help” to an empty house. I broke out in a fresh, cold sweat and after several minutes of lying on the floor, I righted myself, and finished my business on the toilet. It was a bad end to an otherwise good run.

In the shower later, I noticed my bloody nipples and chafed arm. Nipples chafe and bleed from rubbing against shirt fabric. The arm, I think, grew irritated from rubbing against my sleeve hole. Today the redness is crosshatched like a waffle fry and it hurts when I touch it. My nipples are already scabbed over and pain free. But my calves are sore and my stomach still feels a little dicey. Tomorrow I will run again because I run. And also because I am better than you. 

up & away

You would think it would get easier ~ but it doesn't.  Not really.  I drove my 15 year old {baby} to the airport today & he flew {by himself} to Orlando.

Why is that so difficult?  It does have quite a bit to do with my fear of flying...on some level I consider it a form of child abuse to subject my child to flight...but it's more than that.

When Jacob was 13 he flew alone for the first time to visit my parents in Colorado.  I walked him to the gate, sat with him until they called his flight, and just about had a heart attack when I watched him disappear down the jet way.

Last summer, age 14, the line at the ticket counter was really long ~ so I sent him through security himself.  Then, as I was walking back, I noticed the line was gone...so I got a gate pass and went to meet him.  I think he was as glad about that as I was.  But it proved to me he could handle it on his own.  So this summer I walked him to security, watched him go through & drove home {with a phone call & a few texts}.  He made it Orlando just fine, found his friend & will have an excellent week.  My seasoned traveler.  

But, how difficult it is for this mom to watch her baby walk away to a place I'm unable to rescue him if trouble arises.  I think that's really the issue.  Letting go.  Literally.  

IDK

I think I know what my student feel with they write IDK as an answer ~ {DRIVES ME UP THE WALL ~ which is what type of figurative language? IDK ~ actually I do, it's an idiom...}  HOWever, after our special education scheduling meeting, IDK how I feel about my job.
IDK how I feel about education.
IDK how I feel about the future.
I think there are many people making decision at the state level who have not set foot in a classroom.  I think there are lots of things I need to relearn about what is best for kids.  I think I am afraid I will struggle to do my job next year to the level it will need to be done.  We are going to have to be our A+++ game in order for our colleagues to think we are doing C work.  And that makes me scared.  We need buy-in, when I think there will be very little.
Here's my promise to myself:  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  That includes being the best teacher I can be...even if that teaching is not necessarily with students.  {which I will miss greatly}

IDK

Artsy

Today, me & a my dear friend, Anita {Bean Dog} went to the Cleveland Art Museum.  I had not been there since the reopening ~ and it is beautiful.  The Atrium is HUGE and beautiful and, according to the cutest little boy wearing khakis and a sweater vest, "The escalators are AMAZING.  And there's art over there."  We went on a highlights tour & saw birds.  It was interesting to see different parts of the gallery and hear a little history of some of the pieces of art.  We are so fortunate in Cleveland to have a quality art museum that is FREE to the public.  I loved to take the kids there to see the armor room after we'd spent the morning at the Natural History Museum {or Dinosaur Zoo, as Patrick used to call it}.  We shared a little lunch, toured and then wandered on our own.  Anita really likes the contemporary stuff.  I like some of it, but there are things I told Bean I'd make her for Christmas.  She didn't think that was very funny, but I did.

Then we went for ICE CREAM at Mitchell's.  I had peanut butter and chocolate covered pretzel yogurt {that was really ice cream} OH SO WORTH the calories.

Love spending time with my girl.

That's mine on the left & Bean's Caramel Sea Salt on the right.

Fatty Fatty 2 by 4

So, I'm really into this counting calories and losing weight...and I'm like over 1,400 calories UNDER my goal intake for the week...and I've lost 10 pounds...and I'm really motivated.  And today, when I exhaled and got on the scale, it told me I'd GAINED a pound.
{I am going to complain for a minute because no one really cares if I talk about it...so I can blog about it on my blog...that no one but me ever reads anyway.}  SERIOUSLY!?!  I GAINED a pound.  I've only had two "bad" days.  Last Friday when I drank two beers and Monday when I had a small piece of Patrick's birthday cake {oh that DQ Blizzard Cake!}  And I GAINED a pound.  My "good" days MORE than made up for the extra calories I took in those two days.  It's just not right.  If I were in charge of weight loss, people would get credit in the hips for good choices RIGHT AWAY.  I eat all this healthy stuff.  I even gave up MILK {I LOVE MILK}  I don't use salad dressing...go lemon & balsamic vinegar...I eat CARROTS for snack.  I hardly have bread anymore...and I MISS CHEESE.  SERIOUSLY.  Compared to how I was eating before this, I'm surprised I didn't weight 200 pounds.  AND since I DIDN'T weight 200 pounds...how can it be so difficult to LOSE the weight when I've totally cut out all the stuff I was eating?  Makes no sense.

Ok, done.  For now.

eighteen

Eighteen years ago Patrick was born.   I am the parent of an adult.  I've been almost dreading this day.  Not because of any tangible reason, just because it's the end of having this kid...and moving to having an adult for my kid.  Mike wrote in his card that while he will miss the kid, he looks forward to getting to know the man.
I couldn't be prouder than I am.

not nice

My husband delights is sliding on the ice & snow in the car.  He constantly hits the gas in parking lots and tries to do donuts.  Makes me absolutely NUTS.  I can't stand being out of control & the risk of hitting another car...a light pole...is just not worth it.  But he insists, "I know what I'm doing."  "We're not going to hit anything."  "Relax."  He does it just to watch me squirm.  {This is also the same man who waits until someone in the car takes a sip of a drink and hits the gas ~ not nice, right?}
Tonight, as we were hitting the town for our big date night of Wal-mart and Giant Eagle, he attempts to slide around the corner of our driveway...When ~ all of a sudden ~ we are headed (out of control) straight at the huge tree in our front yard.
The not nice part is that when I saw the tree & looked at the panic on his face while feeling the abrupt application of the brakes and I wasn't scared or panicked.  My first thought was, "Good, I'm glad he almost hit the tree.  Too bad we didn't, because then I could have said, 'told you so'."
And when I told that to Mike he laughed so hard he cried & he couldn't see where he was going driving down the road.
He will not learn.

Right & Wrong

RIGHT: babies straight from heaven
{I got to go see baby Matthew yesterday when he was not yet 24 hours old.  So amazingly beautiful to hold a newborn.  Mom & Dad & baby are all doing well ~ and I've never seen this before ~ that baby looks just like his father.}
WRONG: taking latex balloons into the maternity ward
{Who knew?  Chris calls the desk to be let in the ward & they tell her that we can bring in the mylar balloon, but not the latex ones.  So I yanked out the mylar one and left the others in the hall.  Now you know too.}
RIGHT: running outside!
{60 degrees on the 29th of January?!?  Not raining for the hour we ran!?!  God must be a fan of run club! ~ 5.5 in the books}
WRONG: going to bed hungry in America
{This really isn't as funny as I think it is, as there are, sadly, people who really do go to bed hungry in America...but ~ as the 20+ pounds I've gained over the past three years show ~ it's not been me.  Counting calories is hard.  I've lived under the delusion that if it's a 'health food' you should eat it.  Counting calories it totally contrary.  There are 244 calories in the glass of milk I drink with lunch.  Add that to the glass I drink at dinner & there's almost half of my daily allotted calories.  So I'm learning.  I'm sure there's a balance.  As Dodd said, it really doesn't matter what it is, the calories still need to be burned off.  So I'm trying.}
RIGHT: Dairy Queen Blizzards
{I won't eat one, but they can't be wrong.}
WRONG: MOUSE POOP ON MY DESK AT SCHOOL.
RIGHT: working hard at your job
{so I'm trying to}
WRONG: complaining about it constantly
{so I'm trying not to}

pseudo snow day

The temperature hovered around 8 degrees today.  We were supposed to have a teacher inservice day ~ I was looking forward to wearing my new bright blue with pink shoelaces Nike kicks ~ but it was cancelled.  And we found out last night around 9:00.  Those are the best snow days...don't even set the alarm.  I will whine momentarily...I have grades to report and progress reports to complete...And now I don't have the luxury of a whole day to do them...But I did get to watch a movie today.  One of my choice.  And I liked it.  Julie & Julia was really cute . it even brought tears to my eyes at times ~ it was sweet.
Julia Child was a lovely woman filled with laughter and light.  She had an amazing marriage "What if you hadn't fallen in love with me?"  She asks her doting husband.
Julie is me.  Except I don't cook...and no one reads my blog.  But there are moments, especially her weak ones, when I thought, "yep, that's me."   I should resolve, like Julie, to be more like Julia.
Mike is calling a snow day for tomorrow...so we'll see if the evening brings that phone call.  Gotta love that automated voice...Madison Local Schooled are c- l-o-s-d... (someone forgot the 'e' and the voice spelled the word.  Made me laugh)