Memorial Day Weekend

Hope everyone had a good Memorial Day weekend. Mine was very quiet so therefore I don't have much to report.

I went to the cemetery where my folks are buried on Friday afternoon. It was a beautiful day and up on the hill was very pretty! Lots of flowers and boxes on the graves. My parents certainly decided on a peaceful setting to leave their remains.

Did some exploring on my trip north. Noticed a sign for a bed & breakfast & bridle so stopped in and got some information. Basically all they gave me was a brochure with a website address on it, but I checked out the website and wouldn't mind spending a night or two at their place. The house overlooks the Mississippi and has a fantastic view! Dream on!

Took a quick tour of Paradise Valley (a camp ground) and also stopped off at Pike's Peak. I haven't been up there since high school (or shortly thereafter). I was wishing I had brought my camera along and took some pictures but guess the Mississippi will be there the next time through. It certainly was a beautiful view.

Stopped off at the boat for a hour or two. Actually won a little money for once.

Saturday, Sunday and Monday I basically spent at home. I got a lot of cleaning done and made a couple decisions about my living arrangements. I've decided to stay where I'm at for the time being. If the landlady is going to paint my place now . . . I haven't a clue. She's upping the rent so think she can also do the painting. I'd even be willing to do the painting but she'll have to provide the paint and pay me for the labor. I have a couple of friends that said they would help paint and my sister and daughter (I think) will also help. Actually we might have a good time doing it! I just hate the thought of moving all that furniture!!! Think maybe it's time for me to seriously look for another place on the ground floor. But I'm so particular as to where I live and what the place has. I definitely have to have a garage! I would also like a place with a washer/dryer or a hook-up for one. Best get the papers and start looking. Driving around town doesn't hurt either! Another adventure begins . . . .

I didn't realize how long I made this until I just checked back on it. Sorry about that. Hope I haven't bored you all to tears!

Talked to Barb on Saturday and she told me that Mandy's grandmother had a very serious operation last week. Mandy, I hope all is well with her. She's in my prayers.

Talk at all of you later . . . .

COLORADO!

Isn't it beautiful? I love mountains, lakes, waterfalls so it's a good thing I'm heading to Colorado for my vacation this year. This is Bear Lake located in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. That's Twin Sisters in the background. It's an absolutely beautiful area to visit. The colors are much brighter when you're there but you get the picture from this one! We spent some time at this lake when we were there in 2000. It was my first vacation . . . ever in my life and I enjoyed it tremendously!!! I took many pictures of mountains, lakes, waterfalls, wildlife, etc., and am hoping to take some of the same in July when we go out there, but also include a lot more pictures of people.

I spent today (Sunday) with my sister, my girlfriend, Marilyn and her friend Darlene doing some planning for our trip in July. If all goes well we plan on leaving on Friday, June 30 for our week's stay in Estes Park, Colorado. My sister has been back to this particular place many times so had lots of things to share with us about places to go and things to do.

One of the places we'll definitely go to is the Alpine Center, top of the mountain. This is a shot we took as we were going back down the mountain! Believe there are a lot of steps getting and going back down!! Had it not been for my daughter I doubt that I would have made it up there back in 2000 and doubt that I'll attempt to do it this time around. I know I definitely want to travel on the Falls River Road and stop at the Alpine Center but don't think this old body can make it to the top 'one more time!'

My daughter and her girlfriend will be at the cabin in Estes Park the first week in June. She promised to check out a couple of places that we've talked about going to. We'll get all the latest news from them when they get back. I'm really getting excited about going. I know we'll have a great time.

I looked at a different apartment this morning. One of the downstairs ones is coming open in July and I mentioned to Kathy (the gal who's moving out) that I might be interested. My landlady called Saturday night and asked me to look at it and make a decision before she puts up any sign for rent. It's basically like the one I'm in (much cleaner walls, etc.). The kitchen is smaller and you come into the apartment through the kitchen. The living room has a different set-up with a huge storage closet off of it. It doesn't have the coat closet in the kitchen like I have here and does not have a linen closet in the hallway. I have mini-blinds on all the windows here and would definitely like that again along with the vertical blinds on the patio door. The patio would be nice as it's shaded. I could actually grow flowers and probably get a firepit for the patio itself. It's something to think about. At least that's where I'm at right now. Rent is going up. If I move I'll have to paint the walls, and if I stay the walls and ceilings need to be done here. My landlady will provide the paint and we haven't talked about the labor costs yet. I'll let you all know when I make the decision.

I spent some of the weekend scrapbooking. I'm slowly but surely getting there with my children's pictures from birth to 5 years old. I keep thinking about all the possibilities of the Colorado trip. We talked about going into Denver, Colorado Springs and Black Hawk. The last time my sister was out they explored outside of the park and into Golden to the brewery. There's also a brewery in Estes Park that has great pizza to go with the beer! That's one place on the schedule we plan on going!! LIke I said -- I'm starting to get excited about it.

I have a grant due June 2nd. Definitely have to be working on that this week. We have a Poverty Simulation for the Western Dubuque teaching staff on Friday and a long weekend. Guess I better get that grant done this week, if possible. My monthly agency newsletter is due as is the employee one this week. I think I'll keep busy!! The agency newsletter is just about finished. I brought it home with me and worked on it over the weekend. Have some final touches to do and then it's ready to be printed. The fun begins after that when we put it together. We have a folding machine, but you fold each sheet separately and then have to compile the whole thing and get it on it's way! Glad I don't have to do the whole thing by myself!

Well, I have laundry to fold before I call it a day so best get at it. Hope you all had a good weekend. I'm looking forward to Memorial Day and the long weekend. Nothing special planned just some extra time to do things here at home.

Have a great one!

Rain, rain go away!

Rain, rain go away! Remember that one? It rained here all weekend. Not constantly, but enough to make it icky outside. It wasn't the best weekend in the world. From what the weatherman said on the news this morning it sounds like it will keep on until Friday. Maybe the sun will peek through once in a while each day!

I had a very quiet weekend. I lived through the community action commission being at work. Went in early on Friday and got my fruit trays, juices and bagels all set up before any of them got there. I had a lot of help cleaning up after everyone left. I'm still eating strawberries! I bought some for myself when I bought for the agency last week. They sure taste good!! Left work around noon on Friday and had a nice long weekend.

It was Mother's Day (not a very sunny one). Barbie sent me flowers at work. What a sweetie! Those came home with me on Friday. They are now sitting on top of my china hutch in the living room. Don't know how long they'll last but for right now they look pretty good yet! Both of my children were busy for the weekend, but both managed to call home and give some warm greetings. Thanks guys!

I did my usual scrapbooking. I actually got a lot done not only on my scrapbooking but a lot of cleaning too. Since Mandy has taught me how to upload my photos correctly I couldn't resist putting this one in with Jim, Mike and Nick. Boy, did you guys ever grow up!! But they sure were cute little buggers!!!

In my cleaning I also found a bunch of old pictures that were my Mom's. What a kick going through them. Some of them I already have but the majority of them were 'new' to me. A lot of my baby pictures. Share them at a later date!!

I guess I shouldn't complain about the rain when I see what's happening on the East Coast. I'll take my hilltops and the good old Mississippi River any day. All kinds of festivials begin this weekend in Dubuque. There's always something going on in this town if you just go out and look for it. Lots of food at all of them.

The clock says it's 7:15 a.m. and have to grab something for breakfast before I take off for work. Gotta put gas in the car this morning so should probably get going!

Have a good week!

Busy week

It's been a busy week here in Dubuque. And a rainy one! I know we need the rain but it can quit for a little bit. Hope the weekend is nice. Doesn't have to be in the 70's, just a nice warm weekend.

We have a board of directors meeting tomorrow night and the state commission of community action agencies is meeting at our place on Friday. We've been busy all week cleaning! Threw out some old furniture, got some new/used furniture, have been doing a lot of dusting, mopping, and just plain putting things away and straightening up.

The meeting will be from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Friday. My boss decided that for the break they have secheduled we should offer them food. Guess who's in charge of that??? You got it! ME! Decided to serve donut holes, bagels and cream cheese and a fruit tray (strawberries, melons, grapes, pineapple). Going to also have apple juice, orange juice and cranberry cocktail for drinks. I also have rounded up some plates, cups, napkins, silverware and the appropriate containers for all the food and drink. I'm going to make up the trays myself as it's much cheaper. That way I'll have some strawberries leftover to eat for myself!!! Always thinking, you know. I must remember to stop at Staples tomorrow morning and pick up name badge holders. We've been requested by the boss to wear our ID badges and a number of employees have commented that they broke their badge or have lost it. Tomorrow and Friday morning could be busy!! At the present time I plan on taking the afternoon off!!!

I don't have anything special planned for the weekend but the usual cleaning and I'm sure I'll take the time to do some scrapbooking! I'm working on the early years of my children right now. Wanna see a couple pictures of them? Aren't they the cutest kids you've ever seen? Barbie was a year and Jim was 7 months old.

These are two of my favorite pictures of the kids. A copy of Barb's hung at the photographer for quite some time. I think he was pleased with how it turned out too!

Need to thank Mandy again for the help in figuring out how to post my older pictures. I had to change them into a jpeg or they wouldn't scan. She's helped me so much with this little project. Thanks again Mandy!

I'm hoping my children are able to get home one of these weekends. Have a job for Barbie. My spare bedroom needs a change. She's already given me a new quilt and sheets for the bed, but now I need to get out and find some window toppers, a bedside table and another piece of furniture to hold my TV in here. And if she's really ambitious she can help me re-arrange the furniture that I already have in here. She'll read this and decide she's never coming home!!!

Enjoy your weekend!

Expensive Tuesday

Tuesday must not be my day! I can, however, report that it is an expensive day! This past Tuesday I had to go to traffic court. Let me explain . . . about a month and a half ago I passed a stopped school bus at a stop sign -- I thought the bus was stopping at the stop sign (that's what you do isn't it? stop at a stop sign). Well, it was, but it was also leaving a child off. It's a rotten corner and at an odd angle. Like I told the police officer that came to the door, I honestly didn't realize the lights were flashing until I had committed myself to making the turn. By that time I had cars coming toward me as well as a bunch behind me. The bus driver apparently got my license plate and turned it in. Having never gone to court before it was a new experience. The officer told me I should write down everything I had told him when he gave me the ticket and tell the judge the same. Well, lucky me, I was the first called (there was a group of us in the courtroom). I did tell the judge that, he agreed with me that it was a bad corner and then said the fine is $162.00!!!! Can you afford to pay the full amount today? That was my day in court. The officer told me he felt that I would get charged court costs only but the judge didn't see it that way. There ends my sad but true story of an expensive Tuesday!

To make matters worse my Wednesday wasn't wonderful either! I have no clue what I did but sometime within the morning hours at work I disabled my printer from my computer. No matter what we did we couldn't bring it back. I finally gave up and went home for lunch with a promise from Ron that Ken would be there later in the afternoon to take care of it. When I came back from lunch Ken was there. He tried a lot of things too, called Chuck to consult on a few things and finally gave me the verdict. The best thing to do was to take the hard drive with him, create ghost files, blow everything away on my hard drive and rebuild it. That's what he did! It works! I had Wednesday off and when I got back into the office this morning my machine was there and ready to work! I lost some of my favorite screensavers, etc., but they can be replaced so I'm back in business.

Maybe both days were a bit expensive . . . one cost me personally, the other cost the agency the time for the computer geek to fix my problem!!! Thanks Ken!!