Reflections by AquaLady

I just wanted you to know... I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

Thank you for a super weekend!!!

Mike said his good-byes to his brothers & then went to visit some friends. Matt was the second to leave...he said that he was heading over to Sara's first before driving back to his apt. Shortly after, Mark headed out the door. He had a much longer way to go...& needed to get back to work on finding a new housemate.

Jim & I settled back into our usual routine, he sat in the family room & I occupied the living room. I flipped channels & finally settled on a WVIA TV special on "Hurricane Agnes & the flood of '72". I was a freshman at Penn State Schuylkill Campus working in the library at the time when the secretary told my friend & me that we better head home. I had my ol' 1971 silver Chevy Vega. Some water had seeped onto the floor on the driver's side & already the roads were getting bad. I had to go through a pretty deep puddle on this one stretch of road but luckily I didn't stall out. I also had to drive my friend, Cathy, home through some back roads to her house in Shenandoah. Well, we made it ok & I was never so happy as to be finally home...safe & sound. I don't' think I realized how bad things really were until years later.

We all rushed to get ready for church this morning. Somebody turned the alarm setting on so all morning long it was 5:40 AM. Jim said that he kept waking up thinking he was having a very LONG dream...the time never seemed to change.

Now get this... JIM INSISTED THAT WE GO TO CHURCH AS A FAMILY. I had absolutely nothing to do with it! Then we all went out to eat.

Last night was family poker game night & I guess you could say that I made out the best, me, who doesn't know a full house from a flush. I'd just play the game & then they'd tell me to take my chips cause I won. Go figure... We all started out with $5.00 in the kitty but I left with $10 in pocket so I guess that's pretty good.

I made up my mind earlier that I wasn't going to plan to do too much on Saturday...just "go with the flow...!" I wasn't kidding & it's a good thing. The car fix-it project wasn't going too well. Thing was more complicated than they figured (best to buy American made cars...). Anyway, when they went to fix the thingie majingie on the VW, some part broke & Jim spent pretty much the entire afternoon going from VW dealer to VW dealer looking for a replacement.

In the meantime, Mark decided to make us lunch/dinner on the grill. But first, I had to go shopping for the food: ground beef, buns & tator tots!!! When I got back, Mark started making the burgers; the tator tots were in the oven & I was working on the salads. Finally it occurred to Mark that the grill wasn't working. Now, I know it worked on Thurs after Jim replaced the burner...so Mark figured that maybe we were out of fuel. Jim keeps a spare tank in the shed but uh...well, it was empty. So, I set out to get the tank filled. The RV center down the road from us (shortest distance) was closed so I had to drive a little further...to Wal-Mart. I traded in one of the old tanks for a full one & headed back home. Still no Jim but the tator tots were nice & crispy & in the interim, Mark made a batch of strawberry shortcake (from Jiffy mix). Matt was cutting up the strawberries when I left to get the tank filled.

Matt had to leave for his picnic with Sara so he didn't get to enjoy the feast & Jim wasn't home yet so the 3 of us, Mark, Mike & me, ate together. The burgers were delish!!! Mark made a couple different varieties & I wasn't sure which one I ate but it was tasty just the same. I don't know how it happened but I'm sure glad that my kids learned how to cook. What more can a Mother ask for...??? Thanks, Mark!!! Jim finally returned but found no part. So, they're doing something or other to the car, bonding mostly I guess & if I were to tell you this would never happen judging by the way those two characters used to interact...well, that's why I say, "Never give up hope...miracles happen everyday"!

The LIGHT ice cream is Weis brand, in case you're interested. Jim also bought a half-gallon of chocolate peanut butter but that's all gone. I knew that one wouldn't last. I didn't even get a taste.

I played around with the camera a little today & learned how to take close up pictures. Now I'm doing laundry. I started it this morning but ah, well...I sorta got sidetracked.

About Kara...well, apparently they like each other a lot & yes, the distance is a bit of a challenge...she's in Boston & Mark is in DC but I also look at it this way...If it's meant to be...it'll be.

Well, it's going to be a struggle to continue with this laundry business but I'll give it another go...

Saturday

It rained last night which was great for my plants. My morning started off a little late... Slept in & then realized, uh oh...I forget that today was recycling. Jim was off someplace & he had the truck but that wasn't the biggest problem. The problem was TRYING to get Mike awake. Finally happened...when Jim arrived. Isn't it amazing how quickly children respond when Dad comes on the scene? Anyway, it's off to the basement to catch up on the laundry. I'm not going to plan too much today being as its one of those 'just go with the flow' kind of days.

We had a really great time conversing with Mark last night sitting in our nicely cleaned, neat & tidy living room. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We were all (especially Sara) questioning him about you know who... Kara. Hi Kara!!! Nothing to get worried about. Honest!!!

Later Jim & Mark will do their auto repair work (no, I'm not getting involved in this one...) I don't do auto mechanics stuff...!!! Ha! Ha! Matt is going to a picnic with Sara.


My big reward for cleaning up the living room was going to be ice cream. YES!!! And I must say...it so sooooooooooooooo good! I had cherry vanilla LIGHT, well, 2 bowls full, actually. After all, 2 bowls of light equals one bowl of regular. RIGHT?

Stinky laundry, here I come...

Friday, continued...

I'm trying to keep busy today. Jim went into work super early this morning & called later in the day to tell me that he was heading to Harrisburg to find a part for Mark's car. Big fix-it project ahead for this weekend ! Matt & Mike slept in & I like it that way...so I could do my own thing which was digging trenches & edging one of the apple trees. I'm going to go at it slowly, one tree at a time. I also added some landscaping stones around the perimeter & when Mike got up I had him help me spread the mulch. Then I sent him on an errand to pay one of my bills. In some ways its nice that he can drive. Thanks, Mike!!!

I'm still working on the living room...one section at a time. Most of the stuff that was laying around was MY STUFF, of course...yes, Relay papers & stuff. The desk is overflowing again but it's a roll top so you know how that goes...just pull down the lid & outta sight, outta mind (for now, at least). The rest of the so-so important stuff & things I feel I really should sort went into a plastic storage container, which I so neatly covered up with a throw. Am I clever or what...???

Well, break time is over so its back to sweeping while everybody's out of the house. Muffin just hides..she hates the sweeper as much as I do. Later...

Jim & I are starting to think ahead…a scary though (definite signs of old age…) about what we want to do in fixing up this place. Are we staying here when he retires or moving on? I can’t see us LIVING WITH our kids but I would want to be someplace close by. So, for now, we’re just doing general upkeep. Then, we’ll see...

Friday

A person just can’t do it all. If I’m doing outside yard work, the inside suffers & when I’m inside doing inside work, the inside still suffers cause I’m probably doing other stuff. It’s a merry go round & you know how I feel about merry go-rounds?

So, I did what I do best, I decluttered the living room & moved the stuff someplace else (for the time being, I hope). It looks a lot better but now for the traditional “sorting through piles” trying to find the bills. Jim asked for the mail yesterday but I couldn’t find it. I told him there wasn’t anything good (which is probably true). Is there hope for me…??? One might wonder…

I jumped out of bed this morning cause I thought the cat knocked the screen out the window but it was a false alarm. She was just unusually noisy, trying to get settled in for a better view.

Matt’s home. I stayed up to greet him last night & we sat around & chit chatted. Mark is due to arrive sometime later in the day.

Well, I guess its time to get back to work. Tea break is over. Oh, by the way! I discovered this really great product - Chai Latte tea. It comes in a bag & you just add boiling (or microwaved) water. It's good to treat yourself to something nice once in a while.

You gotta check this out Matt’s recipe page. The salmon dish he made on Father’s Day was absolutely deelish…!!!

It's later & there were NO fireworks at the Dalius household. Go figure...!

It went something like this... We were having steak for supper & well, Jim was outback cooking on the grill. When I came outside he asked me how my day went but rather than tell him, I decided to show him so I took him around the side of the house & pointed to our beautifully 'manicured' lawn & perfect edging. He said that I did a great job! I said, "Thanks!" & then I spilled the beans. I told him that I bought an edger & again, he said, "GREAT!" And again, I said, "THANKS!" If there can be peace & serenity in the Dalius household over the purchase of an edger, then I ask you...why can't there be peace on earth??? Just do it...!

The week is flying by...& needless-to-say, I'm still behind in blogging & other things so here's my feeble attempt to catch up AND THEN I'll clean the living room! Really...!!!

Wednesday

Hey! I did it! I bought myself an edger. Jim's going to flip...!!! I'm almost certain of it but it's like this. I really don't go out spending a lot of money on myself so why not an edger??? What I like are tools & gadgets & so I bought myself a gift. Also, I think of it this way. Doing the edging outside by hand takes me forever & the very thought of it makes me crawl under a rock & hide...so, I bought myself this 'tool' to get the job done quickly. I even had to put some of it together but that was the easy part. I'm a little worn out, to say the least but I had fun.

Well, I'll let you know how the fireworks at the Dalius house go. Later...

It wasn't even on my list but somehow or other I ended up washing curtains & cleaning windows today. I think it all started with that ivy plant that I bought at the grocery store the other day. It was definitely an impulse buy...I saw it there & it sorta called out to me (or I called out to it). Well, whatever...I thought it was kinda nice & also figured it would look good hanging in the kitchen window. Now, I've tried ivy plants there before & well, needless-to-say, they didn't make it. Now, somewhere in this house is a macrame plant hanger that I made years & years ago & I had every intention of using it again, but ah, well. while at Wal-Mart, I happened to see some macrame plant hangers for sale & figured, ok...do I dare tear through the whole house trying to find the one dear to my heart or should I just spend the $3.00 & get the one on sale. I choose the lesser of 2 evils, bought the rope & came home today, all ready to hang the plant in the window. But well, uh, you know how it goes? I couldn't just do a simple thing like that so I decided its time to wash the curtains. But well, uh, you know how that goes...one thing leads into the next & yes...next thing I knew I was washing the windows & then I figured, well, while I'm washing these curtains, I might as well throw in another pair & so I removed the curtains from the side windows in the foyer & washed those windows too. Wait! There's more! Yes, I also cleaned the windows on the backdoor (no curtains, just windows).

Mike worked tonight from 4 - 7 PM & when Jim came home, he reminded me about the soccer meeting tonight. It's a good thing he remembered because I had definitely forgotten about it. The meeting wasn't too full but those that came offered their support. Jim is going to be in charge of taking pictures at the soccer games. They teased him that he'd be good at that because he walks around a lot anyway. I'm helping with the "Friends of the Mustangs" campaign, kind of like what I do with the Relay. Its collecting money from individuals to support the team & get their name in the soccer program. Our next meeting date is July 13th. We're going to kick off the season with 3 very different fundraisers - candles, peanuts & sandwiches. We hoped this would appeal to a variety of people. Some things sell better than others. Jim also signed up to help at the concession stand & at the Middleburg Carnival. We're going to have a Bull-Ride amusement. Looks like our fall calendar is already getting filled with activities.

I had a terrific burst of energy yesterday, more like an explosion, so I took advantage of every minute & pretty much finished up all my outdoor projects. Inside is still a disaster zone but let's not even go there...OK?! Yes, today I can barely move but it was worth it. I got all my flowers planted, dug out the shrubs that died & replanted new ones (I sent Matt & Sara out shopping for me...I told them to just pick up 2 Azalea bushes. Wanna hear something kinda scary? The name of the variety is Renee MICHELLE), did some mulching (still have 3 bags left to spread), planted 2 tomato plants in pots on the deck, bean plants & some basil (Matt & Sara also picked up a couple of plants, too. It doesn't seem like summer if I don't have some kind of vegetable growing). I also filled the other pots with dirt so now all that's left is to sow the seeds (Jim's project...he wants to grow some herbs on the deck. Uh oh...problem here! I can't find the seed packets that Jim bought a LONG time ago. I never should have cleaned off the counter months ago), stained the plywood that's going under the grill, finished staining the pressure treated wood that's going around the shed area, walked down to the local bookstore (to get Jim a Father's day present) AND rode my bike around the house once (Sara & Matt hauled it out of the house but didn't put it back so, well, it wasn't really on my agenda for the day but once I sat on it, I thought...oh, well, why not go for a little spin around the yard).

Needless-to-say, I'm taking today off. Jim got us a movie to watch last night, BIG FISH, but I fell asleep so I'm going to watch it later. Matt's making dinner for us today (just as soon as he gets awake). He went back to sleep after church. The recipe that he's making is one that Sara's Dad made. Sara's Dad used to work in a restaurant & both parents like to cook very different stuff. If it were up to me, we'd be having hot dogs on the grill.

Yesterday Jim left the truck home & Matt cleaned it out for him. He & Sara bought a Hawaiian hula dancer air freshener for it. We're still trying to convince Jim to quit smoking but still no success, so, until then, I guess we need to keep supplying him with air fresheners. Mike is outside now cleaning the car. It's full of peanut shells. Long story...leftovers from last weekend's soccer tournament.

I've been thinking some more about setting up the basement as an office area. I'm trying to visualize. Mark left a pretty nice size desk here in our basement & if I could just get to it, it might make for a good paper sorting area. I could easily move the computer down there too. It has possibilities. I can see it now, one whole wall with shelves & filing cabinets, everything in one place. Maybe at some point we could build a temporary wall separating the TV area form the office area from the laundry area. Right now everything is all one big open cluttered space. If I take a picture & post it, will you promise not to scream?

Our priest, Fr. Ted, gave a really nice homily today about fathers...needing to be men of faith & loving their families no matter what. Then near the end of Mass he asked wives or children to come up front to get little gifts he was giving out to the fathers...cross lapel pins with a little prayer card. How nice.

Well, coffee break is over, I guess. Yes, I'm back on caffeine. Have my stepometer on, too, so I better get stepping. I ended yesterday with 2541. I forgot to put it on this morning first thing so I probably won't come even close to that today. ENJOY THE DAY...all you Fathers out there!

PS: I wrote this entry earlier in the day but only got around to posting it now. I never did get to watch that movie but I do believe that Jim had a very nice Father's Day indeed. Mike bought him Oreo cookies & both boys bought him some shootin' game for the computer for which I say, TURN DOWN THE VOLUME! I bought him a book, "Keystone, a History of Pennsylvania", by Guy Graybill (a local author) & a gift certificate at Graybill's Old & Used Bookstore in Kreamer. Mark called from DC & the circle of love is complete. Jim gave himself a treat, an afternoon nap & later finished off the chocolate side of the vanilla/chocolate carton of ice cream. Guess who finished the vanilla...???

Yippie! I found the missing bill...!!! Well, actually, hurray for Mike! When he cleaned out the car he put a pile of papers & stuff on the desk. Only I didn't know that...& so, well, picture this...me going through my mountains of papers. I prayed, yes...& kept at it. I then get this thought to look on the desk but as always, I got side-tracked & decided to check my work email, something I would rather not do but with Michelle being out all week, I figured I'd better check in just in case there's something important coming up tomorrow. Anyway, there it was...the template for the Relay Newsletter that I'm going to be working on for July. This is going to be my Relay committee work. I'm kinda excited & kinda nervous because this is not my usually goofing around stuff. This is the real thing. Well, I got to playing around with it inserting pics & then finally remembered about looking for that bill. And sure enough, there it was..on the desk. And I even know why it was in the car in the first place, because I put it there with the hopes of sending it out but that was also when I was heading out the door for the Relay & my mind just went in another direction. I thought I had brought in all the Relay stuff from the car but I guess it wasn't in any of my boxes. If I didn't know me better, I'd say I'm a total idiot.

Speaking of idiots, I just have to tell you one more story. This happened Saturday when I was outside doing yardwork. Jim was outside too, changing the oil on the truck when one of the younger neighbors came up to him & asked him to sign a petition. Recently a 12-year old boy was injured when he drove his bike into the path of a car going from our development road, Cardiff Drive, onto a busy & often dangerous roadway, Freeburg Road. Well, anyway, the guy explained his proposal to Jim but I was around back & when he saw me, he asked me to sign it also. The guy explained it to me as such. He said he wanted to have the township supervisors approve putting up a sign for a blind intersection. Maybe I was a little tired, maybe a little distracted, maybe just a little loopy but whatever...I totally & innocently looked puzzled & asked the guy who was blind in the neighborhood. I looked over & saw the back of Jim's head. He was shaking it back & forth as if to say...oh, my! She can't be that dumb, can she...??? The guy was nice about it & then I came back to earth & realized what we were all talking about. I also think what led me to ask such a dumb question was the fact that lately I haven't been keeping up-to-date on what's been going on in the neighborhood but of course that had nothing to do with his petition.

Later on I kept remembering back to what I said & burst out laughing hysterically. If any of the neighbors heard me they probably thought I was a little nutty but I didn't care...it felt so good to laugh at myself.

I didn't make Matt's top Blogger List because he said I don't update enough so here goes. I'm going to backtrack a bit & do a "week in review".

Sunday: Feast of Corpus Christi

Our dear Fr. Ted gave a homily on the importance & value of Eucharistic Adoration at Mass. Since he came to St. Pius X, he has added Eucharistic adoration EVERY Mon & Tues from 7:30 AM - 7:30 PM. We continue to have exposition every 1st Sunday of the month for part of the afternoon. He told us that his goal is to have 24 hr Eucharistic Adoration 7 days a week. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!! I love this priest of ours!!!!!!!!!!!!! He is heaven sent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He said this will take time but for now, he's going to try to extend Exposition on Mon & Tues until 11:30 PM.

I cleaned up some of the Relay stuff that I left in a heap when I got home Saturday. I decorated the deck with our team banner. I just hated to put it away. Then Matt & Sara came home & after Sara left, Matt & I shot some hoops before he headed back to Penn State. Then I had a piece of cake to balance out the calorie loss. Hee! Hee! I didn't do much else...just trying to recoop for the rest of the week.

Mark called to ask about how the Relay went. He's coming home this Friday. Then Jim & Mike returned from the soccer tournament around 9 PM. Mike's team earned 1st place in their division. Way to go team!!!

Monday

I probably shouldn't complain but the library was so cold that my spit turned to ice! Well, maybe it wasn't exactly THAT cold, but I better bring a jacket or sweater from now on, just in case we have more of the same. Michelle is out for the week on job interviews so I get an extra 12 hours to cover till Jeff gets there. Summer session began today so Jeff comes in around 2 & closes up at 9 PM. I like working the morning shift better anyway. I learned a little more about computers today when the IT crew came to do their annual inventory. One of the kids (he's a senior this year) taught me about what things to install to make the computer a little safer. Cool! Michelle put me in charge of the upgrading the laptops. I ask her some stuff & then try to figure things out on my own. I even asked the IT guys to leave me a couple of their inventory sheets so I can make up my own check chart. I wish they hadn't gotten there so late, though. I would have liked to hang around longer but I had to get groceries & get home to take Mike to work. Then I headed to Wal-Mart to get a couple storage containers to put all my Relay stuff away. I have papers all over the place so I figure that now's the time to put it all in some kind of order for next year. OH, & I think I forgot to mention..I joined the Relay Committee. They're going to put me in charge of their newsletter. I'm excited...! This is something I like to do & now I'll have no excuse for not knowing what's going on & when the meetings are scheduled...because, ah, well, I'm going to have to write up all that stuff. I'm also going to remain as Team Captain for the troop but I recruited another co-captain so hopefully that will lessen the load.

I need to get outside & plant some flowers before they ALL die out but I think I'll hold off until it gets a degree or 2 cooler. So, instead, I'm heading to the basement next to do some laundry & clean up some stuff down there in the meantime.

Well, that's it for Monday. Nothing too exciting to report.

Tuesday

Fell asleep on the chair afterwork (didn't get home until about 3 PM or so), then made supper, then scout meeting, then the whole troop went to visit our fellow scouter who broke his leg when he drove into the path of a car & got hit. Then, 'started' some laundry, then watched some TV & finally in bed AND asleep BEFORE 11 pm. Mike was in the basement so I guess he got my clothes out of the dryer. Good boy Mike!

This morning I started another load (but I'll finish this one...Mike's heading to work now). No naps today...gotta keep movin'. Supper is in the oven...I'm making a marinated pork roast. Hey! It was on sale at the grocery store so I figured, why not...! Its hot here too & I really don't want to do anything but I guess I must. Well, ok...I'm going to change out of my work clothes into my other work clothes & hopefully get my fanny moving.

My neighbor has her house up for sale. I haven't had any caffeine since the Relay. I decided to give it up because of something I read about having more energy. Next I'm going to try to cut back on sugar...something my cousin Eva shared with me.

I haven't heard from Eva since she left for Hazelton for her granddaughter's birthday celebration. We didn't make any plans to meet. I guess its just too much to fit everything in on a short visit. I'll just wait until she returns home.

Wednesday

Hate to say it but the pork roast wasn't that great....just a so-so meal. I made a platter for Mike being as he's still at work until 7. Jim's fixing the neighbor's computer & I'm still TRYING to get moving. I may be one of those people who NEEDS her caffeine. I'm soooooooooooooo sleepy. I just had fruit today...oh, but I was sooooooooooo tempted by that candy bar at the checkout counter. I resisted, of course. I did manage to change into work clothes. The next step is to get out there & do something, anything. Well, I'll give it another try. Would somebody do me a favor & give me a BIG push?

Thursday

I headed up to bed around 8:30 last night but then I felt guilty so I folded a basket of clothes first & then finally shut out the light around 10:30. Where did those 2 hrs. go???

Mike went to work again so I'm here making supper. It's the least I can do to earn my keep. After that, who knows. Matt will be home tonight for the weekend. Maybe he can motivate me.

Ok...time to peel potatoes.

Friday

Kudos for the PUSH & SHOVE! I did it...! I did some work, finally! Kitchen got a good shining & then some mopping. Did a little laundry & even folded stuff AND put stuff away. I don't put Mike's clothes away though. I've tried to train the boys to do their own. I fold Mike's stuff & put it in a basket & the rest is up to him. Of course I insist I need my basket back right away but the clothes don't always find their way into drawers, unfortunately. Sometimes. I make a sign with an arrow pointing to his dresser for which he gets annoyed but hey, oh well. I usually make him bring his other clothes up from the basement (stuff that I put on hangers, sometimes). We have a rack down there that Jim bought when one of the stores around here was going out of business but we've all been known to dress ourselves in the privacy of our sump pump & dehumidifier. Another...oh well.

Today was quite unusual. Jim took the day off work to go get the parts to fix Mark's car but last night Mark called from Boston to say that he wasn't going to make it home this weekend afterall. That's a whole other story...

So, instead, we decided to go shed shopping together. We still haven't decided on what shed to buy but we're making some progress. This time we even got a price quote but we've run into a couple snags as to size & shape & purpose. I think we need to do a pre-inventory of what all is going into this new shed before we get it. That might help us determine what size we need & how much shelving we need. We don't have an attic or a garage so stuff is pretty much down our basement & in closets. My hope is that once we start going through stuff we'll (meaning ME) will come to the decision that I really don't' need it or want it anymore & will finally let go. Well, it's a thought, at least.

Jim took me out for lunch today, too. He fine-dined me at a most exclusion establishment, Mickey D's. I had the Adult Fun Meal...a California Cobb Salad with a fine bottle of purified water & my FREE gift was an actual, working "Go Active" stepometer. Since we left McDonald's, I've walked a total of 1576 steps. I'm on a new roll...to get rid of my rolls. Ha! Ha! But to make matters even worse, Jim goes into the Budget Bakery & comes out with 4 mini pies & 3 sticky buns. ARGH!!!!! How could he? Oh sooooooooo good!

So, I better get off my fanny & get walkin'. It's HOT here again & I still have tons to do, both inside & out. So, where are you going to PUSH me to next...?

Saturday

My burst of energy yesterday lasted almost until the last ray of light shown through the evening sunset. Well, to be more exact, it ended when my neighbor came over to talk. It was a much welcomed interruption, I must say, because I really could NOT have finished the annual planting of the flowers nor could I see that well as it was growing dimmer by the minute. So, we sat on the front porch & talked. What got us to that point, I must add, was the sounds of meowing coming through the front screen door. Barb still hadn't met Muffin & there she was, just looking to be fussed over. So, I reached inside & pulled her out & sat her on my lap. She actually sat so well-behaved as if to show off on what a well-trained cat she can be. Hah! We know better...!

Matt & Mike & Sara & a gang of kids were in our basement playing cards, Jim was piling up the newspapers. Even though we have recycling once a month, I still don't get rid of them because I feel that I NEED to read through them first, to catch up on the news. Well, that usually doesn't' happen so at some point I know we will have to part company. Another long story...let's not even go there!

Sara was the only girl there so she came upstairs to talk & played with Muffin. We have a very strange cat. Muffin stuck her head in a soda can box. All that was sticking out was her big butt. Then Sara would move her hand over one of the little holes on the front of the box & Muffin would fiercely, playfully stick her paw out & try to grab Sara. Then at some point she'd poke her nose through one of the holes as if to say "peek-a-boo". So you can just imagine what it must look like around here. Empty boxes everywhere, balls of string, rubber bands...just like the good ol' days of blocks & Legos & Tonka toys & Star Wars action figures.

About my stepometer...I ended the day Friday with 1860 steps. Today I'm going the full run. It's kind of a fun little gadget & remember I said it was FREE at Mickey D's (if you get the Adult Happy Meal). I consider it a worthwhile investment. As for my caffeine withdrawal through the week, well, I didn't experience any headaches like I used to get in the past, just sleepy but that could have been a blood sugar thing being as I'd eat when I came home from work & my system longed to shut down for a break. I'm not sugar free if that's of any concern but I think I am trying to consciously make an effort to cut back. I succumbed to the lure of fresh coffee brewing & have gone back to my usual morning cup. Last week when Jim was at the soccer tournament with Mike, he went shopping at a gourmet coffee shop & bought me a new flavor to try...chocolate peanut butter. I really can't taste the p.b. or chocolate. It just tastes like plain ol' coffee to me. Oh well...I guess I'm not much of coffee connoisseur. I just drink the stuff to stay awake!

I forgot to tell you about our trip to Lowes yesterday. On our shed-shopping venture, Jim & I stopped at Lowes for one of those little hand-held cultivators for digging around in the garden. Mine came apart. I asked Jim about soldering it back together but he suggested that we just get a new one for 3 bucks. Actually, I think he's right. Till we find the soldering kit & the solder & the tools & find a work area...yep! 3 bucks is a good bargain indeed. We walked around the store a bit looking at screen doors (we NEED a new one in the back) & at siding & I got sidetracked on a lot of other household gadgets but finally settled on buying a new mop. I would have still been there trying to decide which one to get if it hadn't been for Jim. So, we choose the "Quickie Home Pro Twist Mop with spot scrubber". I gave it to Mike when we came home. I don't think he was a bit impressed. OH well...

Jim & Mike are off at a soccer tournament today at Juniata H.S. No goofing off for me today. I'm feeling pretty alive & energetic again so already I was outside finishing up on planting my flowers. My Father's Day gift to Jim is going to be finishing the project. Now that's a gift, let me tell you...!!! I would also like to clean up inside a bit but yeh, let's not go overboard here. OK?!!!

My cousin Cathy shared some info on organization. I loved the part about clutter control but I don't think its in my vocabulary just yet. But maybe someday I'll get it together. I would love to have a central place for all my paperwork. I used to have the computer in our bedroom but then stuff would get all messed up & it wasn't comfortable sleeping. Now I have it in the living room & although it's handy, I need paper control here too. What I need is an office. Maybe once we get the shed & I start moving stuff our of the basement, I can relocate downstairs. There's only one problem with that idea though. That's where the boys hang out so if I want to do office work, well, then I'm sort of in the way. Another possibility would be to relocate to Matt's bedroom but with him coming home every weekend again I'm can't exactly do that either & besides, it is HIS room & I don't feel comfortable taking over his space. Life was so simple before computers... or was it??? Well, whatever...

Ok...back to planting. Later!

TOGETHER...We CAN make a difference! I don't know exactly where I picked up that saying but it seems to fit my life pretty well. Sometimes I get to feeling that I have to do things all by myself to get the job done but the older I'm getting (and wiser, perhaps, too) the more I realize that this is just not the case. This past weekend proved to me once again that coming together as a team is a valuable treasure.

With the help of scout leaders, scout members, friends & family, our boy scout troop was able to surpass last year's $$$ total PLUS we also earned a Team Spirit Award. How cool is that...?!!!

But in spite of all these good things, there is still one major point that needs to be addressed. Staying up all night at the Relay for the 3rd year in a row has finally gotten me to see things in a new light. I realize I just CAN'T continue this way & I'm absolutely going to have to seek more over-night coverage next year.

For one thing, I'm just not physically able to do it & secondly, it just makes more sense to ASK for help.

I guess I just used to be too much of a perfectionist (or whatever...) & figured that if I didn't do it myself it wouldn't get done the right way or something, an ALL or nothing way of thinking. Boy! What a dope I've been & what a waste of time, talents & yes, even treasures. I've put so much energy into living this way that no wonder I feel so wasted, tired & drained. What I've learned is that being a leader is not about doing it all by yourself. A good leader & team manager delegates the responsibility & coaches others to bring forth their best assets.

Well, at least that's the plan... Now, all I have to do is JUST DO IT!... TOGETHER, of course!!!