The New Water Cooler
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Charlie and I snow shoed up near the orchard. There was more powder snow so I was able to really see how my shoes worked. We probably were only out for 20 minutes or a little longer. I can feel it so I'm starting out with short bursts and building up to longer. Beautiful day here with the sun shining. Such a treat!
Jenny0 -
What a day. What a week. So glad to see the back end of it. TGIF!!!
Sounds like more snow coming - sigh.
Still - TGIF!0 -
Today I'm going to use the bundt pan I've had for 30 plus years for the first time I think. Maybe it was used in the late 80's, not sure. I am going to make a butterscotch cake. I love butterscotch so have high hopes it will be good if it comes out of the pan ok. I will give pieces to my siblings so we don't waste it or eat too much.
I saw the storm that is coming on the news. It may just miss us and hit southern MI. I would like it to hit here so we have a real storm.
Rory is coming to visit on 2/15 for two weeks. I'm so glad he is coming back. So far Jeff and Rory will have managed to visit us 3 times each since late August. I booked an airbnb in Roswell Georgia outside Atlanta for 5/7-5/15. We are planning to visit Jeff, Karah and Miles. He will probably be 4-7 weeks old by then. The place is dog friendly so Charlie is going too. I'm worried about the new strain of COVID and won't have had my vaccine, but we need to see these little ones and I'm tired of it all. Russ and I have decided to double mask when we are out and about and will continue to practice distancing and hand washing. This is getting old!
I hope you are having a relaxing weekend.
Jenny0 -
Saturday was nice and quiet and went so fast.
Your cake sounds delicious. I use my bundt occasionally when I make coffee cakes. When I little our birthday cakes were always those tunnel cakes - my sister's was always the tunnel of fudge and mine was always lemon.
I so agree that this whole thing is beyond old. I just saw an article about how covid survivors have increased chances of brain issues - ptsd, depression, and others. Of course. The gift just keeps giving. Although realistically those issues are very prevalent any way. But still. Sigh.
I am so glad you have a visit from Rory to look forward too and seeing one of those new babies. It must be so hurtful to your g-mama heart to not have cuddled up Halen yet.
The high school presented it's musical this weekend. Live stream only. While I think that is smart - I don't necessarily understand since all the sports allow spectators. Whatever. It's just more of the hit and miss things that make people confused.
Have a good Sunday!0 -
for some reason my pinterest feed is full of beef wellington recipes today. I have always been intrigued by it - have you ever made or eaten? It looks complicated, but might be fun for a special meal and I can see Caleb (budding foodie at the moment) getting a charge out of it.0
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Funny you mentioned Beef Wellington. I have not made it but have been watching Nancy Fuller on Farm House Rules cooking show and she made one. I think it is on Pinterest. She made it look so easy to make. I've never eaten it either.
We just portaled with Halen, Dave and Chantrelle. I feel teary because she is growing so fast and I haven't held her. The earliest we are going to see them if we don't fly out to AK is next November at Jeff and Karah's wedding. She will be 11 months old then. I told them that I'm considering flying out either early spring or summer. Dave would be out fishing so I wouldn't see him but at least I could see Chantrelle and Halen. I don't know what to do.
My sister Becky and I went snow shoeing today out in the orchard. This is my fourth day in a row. I'm sore! We were out for at least an hour and it was a nice sunny day in the high 20's. Charlie had a blast running and tracking whatever he smelled out there.
The cake was okay but not the best I've had. I love lemon and butterscotch as my go to flavors. Maybe I will try a lemon cake next. I do have a really good recipe for a very moist chocolate cake with coconut frosting. I haven't made it in years. It's best when it is 3 days old, very moist.
My sister told me my brother is sleeping about 17 hours per day. I don't know if it is solely the progression of cancer or the narcotics he is taking for pain relief. Probably both.
So many interesting rules with how schools, sports, communities open up. Just doesn't seem consistent to me.
Well enjoy your evening.
Jenny0 -
yeah - pinterest is full of the wellington recipes (for me) right now. Gordon Ramsey's seems to be the main one of the moment, but I'm sure if I searched it would give me four hundred others.
I don't blame you for wanting to get on a plane to see that baby sooner. Maybe things will be decent this summer. It's evolving all the time for sure.
I'm glad you finally got to to go snow-shoeing!
I am sweating off and on so much the last few days. Menopause? More COVID long haul symptoms? Bleck.0 -
I've been through menopause for several years but I still have hot flashes, mainly at night when sleeping, and the slightest activity (getting dressed) makes me sweat a lot. It drives me nuts! I often wonder if my body thermostat is shot or is it just my aging body. My ob/gyn told me 10% of women have hot flashes after menopause is over.
Russ is starting on removing shower and tub caulk and drilling out grout on shower floor in master bath today. It's pretty bad and probably hasn't been done since it was built. I have a chiropractor appointment and a hair cut this morning.
I went to the local bike shop yesterday to begin to learn about e-bikes. It was informative and I learned a lot. Tomorrow or Thursday I'm going to Traverse City to 4 different bike shops to ask questions and see their bike brands. I've decided I really want one if I can find one in my price range. Availability will be slim again this year due to COVID. Shops aren't receiving the inventory they have ordered for spring sales once again.
It's sunny again today! Unbelievable! It's so noticeable because we have over cast winters.
Well have a nice day. Are you going to make beef wellington?
Jenny0 -
I think at some point I want to make the wellington. Hopefully soon.
Good luck on getting more info or availability for the bike.
Today the weather was pretty great - 40 degrees. But another system moves in tonight. More snow coming and the bitter cold. Goody. Zach is planning on coming home, but if it ends up snowing a bunch that won't happen. Boo. Caleb is finally getting to take the ACT Saturday. This is only his first time since they have been canceled for so long. I know schools say they won't be looking at because of COVID- but I still want him to get it taken and try to get that decent score, because I believe it can help him for scholarships. He's not got all the sports to put on his 'resume' but hopefully the ACT will get him good looks. It got Zach his scholarship.
What another crazy week. More and more orders. The backlog is up to 32 million, just in the Behlen Country business unit - overall units over 80 million backlog. We have over 88 open positions. Un.real. Bernie is complaining because they need to hire 16. I told him, good luck. There are so many jobs in this town. BD has hundreds open, and pretty much any place open has jobs to fill.
I'm so tired. I haven't slept since Saturday - just keep waking up drenched in sweat and then by the time I cool off and settle back down I pop another sweat off. Yuck.
Hump day!0 -
I don't know if you eat spicy foods but they tend to increase hot flashes for me. So does wine... I've read that linen or bamboo sheets help keep you cool when sleeping. Drink lots of water/fluids.
Supposedly a storm is headed here tomorrow night but I don't know if we will see a lot of snow or get the edge of it. Hoping for a major storm.
I went to Traverse City and visited 3 bike stores. Sticker shock!!!!!! I test rode two bikes while there. The last store I went to the guy was so nice. He took my name and number to text me when a bike he ordered comes in and I can test ride it. The problem is he ordered last July and has no idea when it will arrive. He offered me a discount on another bike which was so nice, but I needed to think about what I wanted to do. Today I went back to our town bike shop and test rode two bikes. They were both from their rental supply, I just wanted to see what they felt like. I liked both. The new ones for one model won't arrive until May and they don't know how many they will get. I liked that bike! The other one is a 2018 model (Fuji). It retailed for 2700.00 but due to being used as a rental for two years they would sell to me for more than half off. It has upgrades on it and has been tuned up due to being party of their rentals. It has a nice upgraded comfortable seat and the battery and motor are high end. I would be able to transfer my bike rack and bags to this bike and not need to buy new. I put $100 down to hold it for a week. I"m going back tomorrow to ride one more time and am planning to buy it if I still like it. None of the shops know if they will get what they ordered or when they will arrive. Supply is even lower than last year. I didn't think I would find used so this was unexpected. Nice that it is local and they can service my bike if needed. Stay tuned...
I made waffles in my new waffle maker for dinner. They will get better with practice. I needed to cook them a few minutes longer so will do so next time.
Lots of animals must be crossing our yard while we sleep. Every day we see new tracks going across the circle in the driveway and close to the house. Deer for sure...
Hope you don't get hit too bad with weather. That's amazing your town has so many job openings. Wow!
Jenny0 -
I went back and test rode the used bike today. I rode it up and down hills in town. I didn't realize town was so hilly too! I bought it. They are giving it a once order and ordered me a key for the battery. I'll pick it up when that comes in. Now I can ride as soon as the trail is clear and get some good exercise.
We are expecting a storm to roll in tonight and tomorrow. Hope we get new snow. I want to snow shoe with fresh snow.
Did you get the storm?
Jenny0 -
We got the storm. It is still snowing but not blowing. Nice to have fresh snow and I love to watch it fall.
Of course my adventure to ride the bike and then take a walk with Russ and the dog caused me to have muscle pain in my calf and ankle. Why can't I do anything that is good for me without pain? I hope that bike helps me be active and get in shape without crippling me in the process.
Zooming with MN friends this morning. There was a recipe for a cherry smoothie in the newspaper so I'm going to use some of the fresh frozen cherries from summer to make one before Zooming.
TGIF!
Jenny0 -
Yeah - unemployment is under 3%.
Wow! You did a lot of looking and trying and researching on your bike. It sounds like you made really good progress especially considering the limited availability. That used one sounds pretty enticing. Good luck!
MMmmmm. Waffles. I love waffles. And french toast. And donuts. And, and, and. ;>)
We had two or three inches Thursday so another yucky day there. And the cold is moving in with two bands coming this weekend of one to four each day. Boo.
Zach did come home! I am so happy to see him. We'll worry about getting him back later. For now, I am just enjoying having him here.
Have a great night!0 -
Russ has spent the week pulling off old caulk and grout on our shower floor in the master bath. He then regrouted the floor and has recaulked around the base. Right now he is cleaning the door tracks and going to put up the doors again so we can use it. It isn't perfect but looks so much better and clean. Hopefully he is still motivated to caulk around both tubs. Over the years the caulk became brittle and yellowed. I'm guessing no one recaulked in many years. The owner's grown children did half-assed fixes with clear caulk to seal up cracks. Lazy... It didn't fix the cracks esthetically just sealed them off. Why not use white caulk and do it right?
Yesterday I went over to my sisters and changed the sheets on my brother's bed, dusted and vacuumed his room. She cleaned the bathroom. It gets pretty messy and dirty because he is sloppy, self catheterizes and just piles his mail every where. Ahead of time, I asked her to leave after we were done so I could talk to him about hospice, giving notice to terminate his lease on his house, selling his car, and paying for a large dumpster to get rid of all the stuff we have pulled out of his house. The talk went well so we are moving ahead with ordering a dumpster and finishing up this month. He wanted a couple of days to think about the car and said he was going to give notice to the landlords this week. Progress! We talked about other things too just to chat. I did ask him if hospice has given him a time line for the end and he said yes. He choked up and wouldn't tell me what they said to him or he couldn't remember. I think he does but can't say it. I talked to him about his breathy voice and asked if he is having trouble getting air at times. He said yes he does. His color is gray and his voice is breathy and weaker.
As I was driving out of my sister's road she was turning in. There was a car behind her so we couldn't linger. She rolled down her window and asked if we talked and how it went. I said yes and it went well. She made a funny face and drove on. I think my sister's are adjusting to the fact that I'm not afraid to bring up the hard subjects and talk to him and that it goes well. They don't have a good approach but can't see that. It bothers them that he snaps at them and gets angry. I have 30 years of training bringing up hard news to parents and all handle their grief differently. It took me a few years to learn that I had to say the hard stuff and the listener chooses how they respond. Grief plays a huge part in their response. Some take charge and say lets get this done and others get angry, cry and/or boot you out of the house. Either way, their choice. Same goes for my brother and how he responds to others.
Well it is still snowing here and we have a lot of beautiful snow. Too cold to snow shoe today but I'm hoping for tomorrow.
Enjoy your Sunday and time with Z.
Jenny0 -
It's good you have the experience and the emotional fortitude to have the hard talks. I know it would not be a good fit for me. Still, I'm sure it was emotional for you too. Take care of yourself.
Zach is already back at Wayne. Bernie decided last night that he should go back Saturday night before the next round of snow moved in. It was the right move, but I wasn't ready for him to leave, we were having such a nice visit. Ooofff - feeling rather emotional this weekend. Must be a hormonal weekend.
Caleb had to work late Friday night, get up early for the ACT Saturday, work late Saturday night and then works this afternoon. Poor guy. Rough weekend. He is exhausted and crabby. I have been trying to keep ahead of him and have food - did lasagna Friday (for both him and Zach) - got up early Saturday to do egg casserole, made a turkey breast Saturday but he wasn't interested.
More snow coming in and even colder temps. Bleh0 -
Cold here and windchill is in negative single digits. Sun is out but I haven't ventured out to see if snow shoeing is possible. I don't want Charlie or my face to freeze, nor do I want to get all the gear on and come in a few minutes later. It may be a working on the photo album day.
I told you a bought a waffle maker a few weeks age. This morning I tried one of the recipes in the little recipe book that comes with it. It was hashbrown waffles. Egg, green onion, sausage crumbles, milk, sharp cheddar cheese, salt and pepper. We had sour cream, Frank's hot sauce, and salsa as optional toppings. They were good and filling. I won't be eating until dinner whatever that may be. Fun little appliance!
I used the shower this morning. It looks 90% better than it did. I would love to retile the shower or at the minimum regrout all the tile but someday in the future.
We've had a lot of snow so Russ is snow blowing my brother's driveway. We are moving ahead with a dumptster next week if we can get one. Rory will be here so we will have some young muscle.
Too bad Z had to go back a day early but you would have worried if he was driving in bad weather too. I'm glad you got to see him. It sounds like C is pretty driven and has a busy life. Does he hang with friends or have a good friend he likes to do things with? I like small groups like 1-3 friends or less so you get to know one another. Book club and knitting are fun but the talks are a little loud with too many people.
Happy Monday!
Jenny0 -
Sooo cold. Today was 19 below, and it's going to worse for the next few days. This is an unusually long stretch for such cold.
I'm glad you are pleased with your shower.
Just plugging through and trying to keep everyone warm.
Poor Caleb has to work temperature Tuesday. Runza's winter special is always that on Tuesday's the price of a regular Runza is the temperature at 6 a.m. (you have to buy a fry and drink). But people go crazy for it - so tonight will surely be even more insane - free food. People go cuckoo for free. Even if they have to buy the sides all they see is free.
My dad had his first shot (moderna) last week and mom is scheduled for Friday I believe. I am actually pretty surprised that they are vaccinating (my mom particularly) - they can be pretty non-conforming. I.e. all the pandemic rules they didn't follow.
Warm thoughts0 -
It is still snowing and cold here too. Our cold is not as severe as you but the windchill is in the negative single digits but it is brisk.
I worked on Jeff's album for the whole afternoon the other day. I'm moving into sports, high school events such as homecoming, prom and graduation. Then it is done. I need to go to the pole barn to find another box of photos. I'll wait until it warms a little bit.
This morning I may make baked apple fritter donuts. I found a recipe on Pinterest and want to try them. They look really easy. One way to eat fruit, haha!
The dumpster has been ordered to be dropped off 2/17. We will have it until the 27th. I just want this house clean out to be over. I have no idea what we will be doing with the furniture no one wants or is too good to dump. I don't want to store in our pole barn because it becomes our problem and expense.
I have never been to Runza's. I've heard of it. I agree that people love free stuff or getting a great deal whether they need or really want it. People with shopping disease/hoarding can't resist a deal. Why spend money on stuff to be stored and not used or loved?
Well half way through your work week! Stay warm.
Jenny
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The baked fritters turned out good but not as decadent as the fried fritters at the bakery. Ill use the air fryer next time.
Jenny0 -
I did my book study discussion with my MN friend this morning. We are reading Caste by Isabella Wilkerson. Then I met my sisters at my brother's house to tag furniture for dumpster, Goodwill, or take. We went through paperwork we had separated a month ago to try to determine his assets in case he needs to go into nursing care. What a mess!
Now I'm baking Banana-Nut-Raisin Oatmeal Muffins from Eating Well. Here's the link they don't have flour and I added raisins with the nuts. They make a good breakfast muffin with coffee, juice or tea. Dense and filling.
https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/274166/baked-banana-nut-oatmeal-cups/
Enjoy if you make them. They are moist and dense but tasty.
Jenny
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The apple fritter treat sounds yummy. I LOVE a good apple fritter.
Oh, it is so freakin' cold. And it's supposed to be even worse Saturday, and worse Sunday and worse Monday. Holy mother.
We had a fire in the plant Thursday. The paintline had a fire in one of the ovens. It was pretty bad. They even evacuated the plant. Outside - in the below zero. Nasty. Fortunately they let them come in the cafeteria pretty quick. But it's a mess. We are looking at at least four days down in the paintline which affects all business units, but especially Behlen Country and we are already so behind. Sigh. People are working so hard, and we just can't get ahead. Heck working so hard our machines burst into flames! There's always something.
Poor Caleb is back at work. I wish we could all just hunker down this weekend - but I'll be spending most of worried about Caleb being out in this nastiness. My garage door broke today when I got home. Bernie is out there trying to fix it. It's snowing again too. And tiger and bears!
Maybe there is a place that can take the furniture.
And hey isn't Rory going to be there soon? YAY!!!
It's a mess of a day/week - but TGIF!!!0 -
Rory arrives tomorrow. I still need to clean the bathroom and make his bed, vacuum his room. I'll do that tomorrow. He won't arrive until late afternoon or early evening.
I made an organic veggie curry sauce and am taking a big container to my brother this morning. Russ and I will have it over rice for dinner tonight. I'm going to stop and pick up Naan Bread for both households.
It continues to snow with no end in sight. I think it is suppose to get more heavy sometime tonight. Temp is above zero but windchill is below. MN friends are miserable this past week or so with the extreme temps and windchill. I imagine it is the same where you are in NE. Northerners are tough!
Today is Karah's baby shower (Jeff's fiance). Since I couldn't go to GA for the shower, they are zooming me in for the gift opening this afternoon. I'm glad I can be apart of it. Before COVID, we wouldn't have thought to do this (not even sure Zoom existed then).
Well I must get bundled up to pick up the bread and deliver the food to my brother.
Have a great weekend! Stay warm and safe.
Jenny0 -
I love all the yummy cooking you are posting lately! I have never tried curry - not sure about it since I have such a bland palate I guess I call it. I don't even like black pepper.
I'm glad you can at least attend the shower via Zoom.
It sounds like it is plenty nasty up your way too. It's feeling like 2021 is trying make sure it's not going to be better. No!
Stay warm!0 -
Having a nice lazy Sunday. I can't believe Ash Wednesday is this week - I think right? Crazy. I am so disconnected from church. Went one time this summer and before that was probably March. It's probably safe enough to go back - but I am finding it hard to find the energy to go. I know the longer I don't go the harder it will be.
I got Zach's taxes done yesterday and I am harassing Caleb about where his w-2 is. I keep asking if they are mailed or if he has to go to his payroll site and download. His will be super simple, but I don't want to miss the free filing turbo tax has for the ez filers. I got started on mine as well. Exciting day. Taxes.
My garage door decided it was too cold and sprung some stuff. Bad deal. Bernie was out a few times trying to fix.
If we can muster through today and tomorrow the temps should start coming up after that. Thank goodness.
Watching Home Town re-runs again. I am turning into quite a fan girl.
Having a bit of panic and poor me again today - after doing my normal Sunday shower I had a big freak out about seeing way more scalp again and feeling another noticeable decrease in overall hair quantity. It's still just fading away. Sniff.
Ah well - stay cozy0 -
I love Hometown. I like the way they re-use the wood and other items from the houses and go to other locations to salvage. She has amazing design talent and use of color. I would like to visit that town on the way to the beach sometime.
Our garage door use to do that in MN when we had these cold snaps. Either it wouldn't open at all or something would break. Frustrating when you need to leave for work.
Rory should be here in 1-2 hours depending on if he hits snowy roads coming across MI from interstate 75. We are 1-1/2 hours from freeways so no easy way to get here. Two lane state roads can be slow with snow but probably not much traffic. He likes to cruise a little faster so takes the interstate and then crosses over on state roads to Traverse City. Can be slow either way.
Russ just put Hometown on so I'm watching it now.
I hope your hair begins to come in again by spring. It freaked me out when it happened to me too. My hair is back to normal now.
Russ visited my brother today to discuss selling Steve's car, the cost of the dumpster and changing his address with the USPS. He didn't get to complete the conversation because my oldest sister showed up and joined the conversation and Steve seems to have problems processing how bad his house was and selling his car. When my sisters join in and interrupt, nothing gets accomplished. Steve is easier to communicate with one to one. He doesn't see why we needed a dumpster. Russ told him there is a lot of garbage (old papers, etc.) and he doesn't get it. He offered to go with Russ to the house and see what he could do to help. He is in a wheel chair and there is no ramp to get in and there are stairs up and down. He also doesn't understand why the USPS makes you go online, pay $1 and change your address that way. It turns out he hasn't paid his bills since November, ran out of checks and didn't order them, and couldn't use his credit card to pay online due to past due payments. They are shut down. Obviously hasn't linked bill paying to his bank account. He didn't commit to selling the car (in our pole barn) because he wonders if he will be able to drive eventually. Is it the opiodes, denial that he is terminal and now in a wheel chair, or that he is living in the '70's instead of the 2000's? Wow!
Well back to Hometown...have a nice Monday.
Jenny0 -
OK, Rory is driving way too fast! He just arrived and it is just 6pm He lost an hour getting here but made it in 11 hours. My record when I was in my 20's was 10.5. I guess he is like his Mom when driving!
Jenny0 -
I'm guessing it is probably a mixture of all those things with your brother. Tough stuff.
Oy this cold snap. Are you having rolling blackouts done by the power company because of all the cold, snow, etc in the power district? We have been getting pleas to lower thermostats and such to ease the demand. There have been a few short blackouts to ease their issues. It's scary because of how cold it is, but I don't want them to have a significant issue. I heart electricity. Texas and OK are in rough shape. And that's saying something when we are having record low temps. Two days of no school - it was something like 26 below this morning - before the wind chill - so around 40 below. Scary cold. Sitting at the stop light I have been scared my car was going to die.
Yay for Rory getting home to you.
Enjoy your time.
Cold go away!0 -
Starting to warm up to teens, twenties and 30's by next week. Hope to snow shoe tomorrow if not in the single digits. It's great to have Rory here. He enjoys lazing around right now. Tomorrow the dumpster will arrive at Steve's and Rory and my niece's husband will go on Thursday to put the ratty furniture in it. Then the garbage will follow. 10 days and this will be over with the house.
Just reading and watching 24 on Amazon. Rory and I use to watch this show together when it first aired. We are watching again and it's funny to see the special effects, technology on the show, etc in the early 2000's compared to now.
Our power has been fine here. Our cold snap is not as severe as yours. Stay warm and be careful when outside.
Jenny0 -
I enjoyed 24 too. I didn't start watching it until it was almost over so I got to watch the first few seasons on dvds which was fun to not have to wait each week.
Ah, heat wave, it was 3 degrees this morning. Should be 34 by the weekend. Then the next mess, all the melting. Hopefully no flooding. But, there sure is a lot to melt.
My word, it is dire in Texas. I didn't realize they are basically an energy island until I did some reading today. They are not in the public power. Boy did their group let them down.
My nephews pipe froze yesterday. Poor guy, first house. Hopefully nothing bursts. It sounds like around here getting a plumber out is four plus weeks.
Temperature Tuesday was another insane fiasco yesterday. They told the kids working if they didn't park in the lot they could get two free meals - and most had to park two blocks away at the hotel. We drove him. The cars were lined up back to Hobby Lobby which is like probably the equivalent of five or six blocks - oh and on the highway. Nuts. Just nuts.0 -
It will be interesting to see how many politicians that are owned by the energy companies in Texas get re-elected when their term is up. I didn't know they were independent either. It's bad down there but my empathy gene hasn't kicked in yet. I know they aren't prepared for the extremes but they need to get in the game. For the last 6 years or more, the south has become colder in the winter with crazy weather. Torrential rains, unusually colder temperatures and some snow...wake up! We all must be very tough up here and very prepared.
The sun was out today and it was so bright and beautiful. The dumpster arrived at my brother's and tomorrow begins the filling of it. I went to my sister's today at noon to give him his mail. He was sleeping and she said he didn't feel well. This is more then norm these days. My other sister talked to a hospice nurse and her opinion is that he may only have a couple of months or slightly longer. If I was him I would want it to go quickly. It is very sad...
Why wouldn't C's work want kids to park in the lot?
Jenny0
