I will rent something tomorrow - I should do it today - but stupid me will give him yet another chance
I'm sure he will enjoy picking me up from work, taking Zach for his contact training session (which I scheduled for the time when I'm off early on Monday's and the last available before break is over) and waiting the hour until that is done and then hauling him home - he'll lost at least two hours

This morning it was -26C with the wind chill. That's -14.5F. It was COLD!!!! I wore several layers into work. About the only part of my skin that was exposed to the air was my forehead as my hat didn't come down that far!

Jenny - Hope your headache goes away. I LOVE Clementines! I'm eating my second one of the day right now.

Shirley - Hope things go well for your cousin.

It's a few degrees warmer today, but not much! It's still frigid out. I"m ready to pack my bags and move to some place warmer! I've decided that since my sinuses are acting up, and the Clariton clears it up better then Benadryl, it must be my allergies acting up. Since I can't figure out what the allergies are reacting to I figured it was the cold. The means I need to move some place warmer! (Either that or since the people I rent from had a real tree, it's possible the smell got through to the basement where I am, and I am reacting to that. Though the tree has been gone for a week now)

It's supposed to snow a little today, about 5cm. (2in) Hasn't started yet. It will be the first snow the actually really stays. It snowed on Sunday but that turned to rain and it's basically gone.

Well my sanity/lunch break is almost over so I need to get back at it.

Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler!! (Let the Good Times Roll!!) We are officially in Mardi Gras Season. WooHoo! 40 days of parades, King Cake, balls, royalty, and over the top fun.

The Artic Blast has reached Louisiana! I know I have absolutely no room to talk about how cold it is with the wind chill after reading y'alls temps, but this southern girl does not like it!! The kids have a "warm winter free dress day" tomorrow because of the cold. Our girls have only skirts in the normal dress code so I'm glad they are using some sense. Ang, you may find it very comfortable here.

Pearl and I have been going on two mile walks this week. My pace is MUCH slower than my norm and Pearl isn't too happy about it. I've had to do a little more tugging than I'd like. Hopefully in a few weeks we'll start running again. Feels good to be outside though (well up until tonight).

Yay on the mechanic, Marla! So are you renting in the meantime? Good luck to Zach. We had our second loss tonight. The first was last night and deserved it. Tonight we stayed ahead until the last quarter and lost by 1. It was a heartbreaker. I just recently got fitted for contacts for the first time. I don't know that I'll get the hang of putting them in/taking them out. I can't tell if I'm putting them in inside out or not. How do kids manage???

Shirley, I hope your back gets to feeling better. This reminds me, what did your husband learn from his tests weeks back? (I'm sure you posted it while I was out of pocket)

How does it look for tomorrow, Jenny. Will there be school or no school? I always have enjoyed the unscheduled days off -- as long as I continued to get paid. The rash is lingering. I guess it will take a while to clear because of the location. It is constantly covered so I'm sure the body heat isn't helping. I'm not going as crazy because of it so it's improved.

Ang, those temperatures would keep in hibernation, I do believe! I've always been curious, how do you protect your eyes in such extreme cold?

Besides walking, cleaning out the fridge, a quick trip to the pharmacy, and a basketball game, I've laid around all day and ready for bed! It is going to be so hard to go back to work full time. I went in for a few hours yesterday and decided, nope! Not ready for it. I had planned to work 2 half days this week, 3 next, and then return full force the following. I just may take my full 6 weeks.

At any rate, I'm going to find me some flannel pj's and catch some zzz's.

I missed a few days, wow! We did end up having school called of on Wednesday due to wind chill being at 25-30 below zero. It was suppose to be colder but didn't happen. I bet the school district was bummed they called it off. We enjoyed a day off. My friend/coworker called and we went and saw the movie The Imitation Game. It was good.
I relaxed the rest of the day.

David texted today and they are already done crabbing and the boat is put away until spring fishing season. He will be home the end of next week. Hopefully he stays a little longer before heading to Maine to be with Chantrelle, his girl friend.

Finally went and looked at new mattresses that we need badly for our guest room and Rory's room. We will order tomorrow and have delivered next week.

Shirley- nice that Dave is going to retire in March. You will have more flexibility for travel and save your energy for being grandparents

Marla- Is Zach 9th grade now? In our public high school they focus on making students accountable and responsible for their grades and communicating when they need help with course work. The only time you hear if your child is missing assignments or failing is at conferences, report cards, or if your child tells you. We could go online to check and check grades though.

L- glad you are able to get out walking and are feeling better in time for Mardi Gras. You've worked so hard these past months. Enjoy some time to rejuvenate and become stronger.

Ang- You're a lot younger than me but already thinking about living somewhere warmer? LOL, I'm constantly thinking about being a snowbird and wintering in the south.

Our new vacuum arrived (Shark Rotator) so I will have to clean tomorrow and see if I like it. If not, we can send back. It's a 45-60 day return if not satisfied. Can't remember exact number.

Have a nice night!
Jenny

Marla - I was a teacher for 3 years. I would always tell the parents between report cards if their child's grades were going down. Now grant it I taught 1st grade and test packets went home weekly, but even if I taught higher grades, would still let them know!

Jenny - I lived in Florida for 7 years. (Four years in college in Pensacola and 3 years teaching in Miami). It's this time of year I miss it the most and want to go back! It's been over 9 1/2 years since I moved back and I don't think I've 100% re-adjusted to the cold again!

I did it! I got to them gym this morning and ran on the treadmill! It felt so good! By the time I got home it was so late to eat the I decided to do a brunch. It was very yummy!

Well it's Saturday so it's my typical day to do any cleaning, do my laundry and do some shopping. I probably should spread it out more over the week, but I just seem to be to lazy at night when I get home from work! Laundry though has to be on Saturday, as that's the day my landlords leave the washer and dryer available for me. For some reason I seem to have more laundry then normal this weekend! Maybe those workouts during the week caused it! I ended up needing to do 3 loads, when I can normally do it all in 2. Yes, I toss all my clothes together and count it was one load. (Towels are separate) I wash it all on cold and everything always comes out fine. I got into the habit when I had to pay to do laundry and just have never really separated colors!

Well off to get that cleaning done!

Just paid bills, ugh! Hate that job. I need to get a couple more set up on auto pay.

We are going to a mid day dinner and a show with friends from church today. We saw the show many years ago and it was so funny. It's back in Minneapolis so 9 of us are going. It's called Triple Expresso. Have you heard of it. I know they do this comedy/music show in other parts of the country.

Ang- Did you like living in Florida? I couldn't live there year round but it's nice to visit in colder months. We've had to go in summer for Disney and for a basket ball tournament. It was miserable humidity. Good for you getting to the gym and getting your run in. I have a laundry room and have gotten lazy about separating lights and darks. They all come out fine most of the time

L- Yes the countdown is now. We have rented a one bedroom condo in Panama City Beach, Florida. It's 60 miles east of Destin. It may be pretty cold by southern standards but we just need to get out of here, frigid temps. Even 30's would be a heat wave to us. I don't care if I swim. I just want to see the Gulf from my balcony, see the sunsets over the water, walk the beach and enjoy milder temps than here. Any time sitting in a chair on the sand outside would be a bonus. I would do that if it's in the 50's! I totally get it with your mom. My mom was the same way when she didn't have dementia. I grew up with a lot of criticism from her and little positive acknowledgment for my accomplishments or just for who I was. The comments were always about my weight, appearance, clothes, hair and who I dated or married. Never got approval. She did come to my college graduations for my bachelor and master degrees. People say she was proud but she never told me that. It's just who she was and she showed love in other ways. With kids the worry never ends. When they are self-sufficient adults you still worry but know that they make their own choices. You just pray for their safety...

Shirley- You always have fun things planned. It's nice you and Dave have friends that are couples that like to do fun things.

Well now that bills are paid, I need to shower and get ready to leave for the restaurant. We are going to a BBQ place near the theater. I'm planning to order BBQ chicken or brisket.

Marla- I hope you get answers about Zach's grades and can set up some kind of system for better communication with the school if he's struggling. Stay warm!

Jenny

hey all - L - that really stinks that shopping with your mom degraded into a body image buster. I don't understand that. I spent so much time being upset with how I looked because of what kids at school said that I don't know how I would have done it if my mom did the same thing. You seem to have a healthy outlook and great relationship with your kids so be super proud of that. But I think our parents will just always push our buttons no matter what the age - for mine it is showing up at my house unannounced and acting crushed if we aren't there waiting and my mom always 'rubbing it in' when the kids don't work as hard as they could. I seriously don't know how people live with their family later in life without losing it. I fear the day will come - and I fear for my mental health.

Jenny - have to say am pretty jelly about all your cold days - the temps here were pretty matchy on bitterness - but alas no days at home -

and for points of clarification on Zach because I do enjoy and like your input - he is in 8th grade at a parochial school so I do expect better than average communication, his grade was an A first quarter (which frankly to me screams RED FLAG - what is happening that could be contributing - behaviour, social, etc) they do have online grade book but she did not update the Spanish grades from the point of midquarters until the grades came home - I checked every week until Christmas and it had remained the C it was since there were no new grades posted. Again, I totally put the culpability in Zach's court - it's his 'job' - but I guarantee you his other two teachers (there are three that teach the various courses the 6 through 8 graders take) would have given me a heads up - because it is severely out of the norm - deeeeeppp breatttttthhh - yep - still fussy about it -

so did pretty well this weekend - ate decent and exercised twice. Weakly - but did it. Sad that I didn't have a loss this morning - usually after a good weekend with exercise I would at least have a tenth or two - must persist!