A Bump In The Road

I have been struggling for the past few days. Since losing Alyssa I have struggled with depression and life in general. One reason I started selling online is so that when I need to sit down and cry, I can. I don't have to find a place to hide.

Some of this is just a daily struggle and some are things that come up during holidays, and other pending events. Today Brian is going to the cities (Mpls) to go to a news conference being held for Minnesota Dept. of Public Safety. He put up a memorial on their site and has put information in a pamphlet put out by them. He asked if I would like to come along but I said no thank you.
This is really part of how he copes.

This year will bring a whole new year of things we will miss out on. Her graduation from High School, and talk of college.As a parent we often think of milestones coming in the first few years of life. When Alyssa died I realized there a lot of milestone throughout life. Part of everyday is spent wondering and wishing.
The Star Tribune had a little news blurb here. Where you will see me responding to the people who feel that it is a waste of MN money.

I miss her laughter, I miss how she liked to be tease, I miss how she could make me laugh even when I was cranky.

I Love You and Miss You Alyssa.
http://minnesotacrashvictims.org

Wednesday Wildlife: Really Early Thanksgiving

Wild Turkey

On the way home we had to stop even thought there was no sign for turkey crossing. There were more on the side of the road. They were the smart ones.

Aliens Or Mind Control

Tin Foil And Antennas

Brian and I were driving around one day and came upon this home. He points it out as the tinfoil house.
I looked at him and said "Aliens?"
He shook his head and said "mind control."
You Decide

Driving Disaster Waiting To Happen

I hate to drive. I managed to go into the ditch in July. No Rain, No Snow. I'm still not quite sure how it happened. I forgot to add, No drinking. I called hubby and told him to call me a dumb ass and come get me out of the ditch. He did. I'm still mad at him. He was suppose to say it could happen to any one.

This is not the actual car

I will be working on live updates to let everyone know when I am on the road. You might want to take cover!

Wednesday Wildlife Fact or Fiction

When we first moved to the northern woods of Minnesota, I would sit on our deck and enjoy the warm summer days.

 As I enjoyed the beautiful views like the one above, I heard a noise, at first I thought it was my son in the house bouncing a super-ball. It would go thunk, thunk and slowly build up speed. I spent a lot of time pondering what the sound was and where it was coming from.
I asked my husband what the noise was and he told me, I didn't believe him. I had to look it up on the internet.
Here is the what was making my mysterious noise.

I hear them often in the spring and early summer. I have only seen them twice. 

On a different note isn't the voice on the video scary?  That's the voice I expect to hear on the other end of the phone line asking "are you alone?"

 

Temperature Wars

My husband gets tired of hearing the refrain "I'm cold." I usually wait until he goes to bed or isn't home to turn the furnace up to 76 degrees. Sometimes I forget to turn it back down and get caught in my crime against our electric bill. So Brian broke down and bought me an Eden Pure heater which I have on high and he keeps turning back down while telling me I don't need it on that high.
Is anyone else thinking what I said? "So let me get this straight, you bought me a heater that I can't use to keep me warm?"
Oh, look another power struggle. It must be me.

Almost Home

So I call my sister on her cell phone today to make sure they were safe. She was hundreds of miles away from me so, she was safe. She said it's suppose to be 70 degrees today. She reneged on her promise not to tell me the temp. when I was sitting in dreary and cold. 
She said she plans to let me know when she was out sunning herself.  I may have to stop taking her calls.

And The Winner Is....

I have one child left at home. He is 14 and struggles with ADHD and Asperger's syndrome. Sometimes we all struggle. I believe that maturity wise he is about 10 yrs old but, because he is a teenager, he believes he should be able to do what he wants, when he wants. (Don't all teenagers believe this?)  My standard responds is "I am 42 yrs old and still can't do what I want, when I want."
This responds isn't working. He's off doing what he wants so.... I told him that if he wants to make his own decision regardless of the rules then he has to take care of himself.

"Mom can you make me a waffle?" (Because putting an Eggo waffle in the toaster is a lot of work) is now met with " No, you are old enough to do what you want, you want a waffle, make a waffle"
We are going through this several times a day, with the occasional manipulation tactics thrown in.
"It doesn't feel like you love me" and "You're the mom, you're suppose to do this for me."

Which is met with counter manipulation tactics. "Well, do you love me when you don't listen and do what I've asked you not too." and "You're the son, so you're suppose to listen to me"

Right now it's a draw..

Texas

My sister is packing up her family today and moving. They are leaving Minnesota for Texas.  She wants me move there too! Let me tell you how tempting that is!

I hate winter!


-15 °F
(-26 °C)

Humidity:

82 %

Wind Speed:

W 6 MPH

Barometer:

30.17" (1026.5 mb)

Dewpoint:

-19 °F (-28 °C)

Wind Chill:

-29 °F (-34 °C)

Visibility:

10.00 mi.

More Local Wx:

3 Day Hi

Thrifty Finds

So I took a 2 day vacation, in a hotel, in a different city. I needed a break. I came to live in the woods for some peace and quiet but I brought all the noise with me.

And this one is the loudest of all.

 So on my trip I decided on some retail therapy. Just down the road from the hotel was a thrift store.
I could shop without any testosterone behind me saying "are you done yet?"
I found a few things I am going to try to slap on e-bay.

This is not all of it.  Now I have to clean the house, amazingly it didn't get done while I was gone.

Today's Philosophy

"There are only two things to worry about, either you are healthy or you are sick.
If you are healthy, then there is nothing to worry about.
But if you are sick there are only two things to worry about, either you will get well or you will die. 
If you get well, then there is nothing to worry about. 
But if you die there are only two things to worry about, either you will go to heaven or to hell.
If you go to heaven, then there is nothing to worry about. 
And if you to go hell, you'll be so darn busy shaking hands with your friends you won't have time to worry!"

Pinning My Hopes On The Ground Hog

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 According to Punxsutawney Phil spring is around the corner. My first thought was how accurate is good old Phil at predicting spring. Never mind that I don't believe meteorologist and apparently they have science behind them.
So I had to look it up.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punxsutawney_Phil
According to the StormFax Weather Almanac and records kept since 1887, Phil's predictions have been correct 39% of the time.
So I guess I have to go with plan B. Get the humidity in the house really high, set the thermostat to 80 degrees, and pretend we are somewhere tropical.
Brian's not on board yet! Something about the bills, blah, blah, blah.
I'll just keep sending him pictures like this until he sees the light.