New News!

What a beautiful day we have today! Wonder how long this will last?? The feel of fall is definitely in the air -- football weather. I really miss Friday night football. Even the cold evenings -- I just plain miss football! Course I can remember a couple of nights when I sat in the rain that turned into snow and walking home was an adventure. First you had to get down the hill from the football field in Epworth!

It's been a while since I wrote. I haven't done anything that was real thrilling so didn't have anything to write. Well tonight I have some news. It may not be what anyone is looking for but it's news to me.

Barbie was here over the weekend and one of the first things she said to me was -- when are you getting something done with your hair??? Well, tonight was the night. Glee has been after me to not get it permed and wear it a little shorter than I have been. Sooooooooooo, I went to Sarah tonight and this is what I ended up with. What do you think?

I take awful pictures when someone else takes them but even worse when I try doing it myself, but it gives you the idea of what I had done. We've talked about putting highlights in but will see how this all works on within the next couple of weeks. Think it's going to be much easier to take care of, but probably need cutting more often!!

We celebrated Barb's birthday this weekend. I bought her some presents and put them all away in a gift bag for her to open when she got here. She seemed pleased. Told her we could take them back and exchange if she wanted. She didn't take me up on it so . . . guess they were okay.

We did some furniture shopping on Sunday. I've been wanting to change my spare bedroom/craft room for some time and Sunday was it. We stopped at Shopko and found a futon that looks great in my new 'den.' I'm not sure how Barb got it drug up the stairs but she did it. That gal is strong!!! Thanks so much Barbie!!! It took a little doing but we got the old bed taken apart and the new piece put together. But not before we had to take one part apart again as we put it together upside down. Duh!!! Actually Barbie did the majority of the putting together. I can't thank her enough. What a great birthday present. She promised me that she wouldn't even get me a card!!! Now we have a place for her to sleep when she comes and a place (other than on an air bed on the living floor) for Jim & Mandy to sleep. And the room looks much bigger. I still have scads of scrapbooking stuff sitting around, but that'll come. A little more arranging. Come check it out anytime!!

Barbie was hard at it in these two pictures and finally took some time out for a beer and a short rest. She left me to put things away as she had to get back to the big city. I really do appreciate all that you did for me for the weekend Bob!! Love you!

So I have some things to put on my Christmas list. Like regular size sheets, and colored pillows for my new futon! Family alert -- I'm already looking for Christmas lists from all of you!!!

Work has been a bear lately. I'm having some trouble getting some of our jobs filled. I think I have 5 open right now. Plus we now have a union in our Head Start program for the classroom personnel, so that makes a difference on how I open those positions. I'm not against unions, I just don't think they belong in a Head Start classroom. But guess we'll learn to live with it.

End of the year is quickly coming for me. Our fiscal year is October 1 through September 30th so I'll have all kind of final reports that will be due October 31. All part of the job, but it's all the little things that come inbetween!!!

I better get something to eat as I'm hungry and Knight Rider (new edition) is on tonight. Have to check that one out.

You all take care out there.

Labor Day Weekend

So where did summer go? I can't believe that summer is almost gone and fall and all the activities that go along with it are almost here.

Hope everyone had a good weekend. I didn't do much but it was nice not to have to go to the office on Monday and be able to sleep in a bit.

Jim & Mandy came late Saturday night. They were on their way to Chicago and a mini-vacation and thought an overnight was better for their health than driving straight through. It was a very short visit, but I was glad that I could see them for the short amount of time that I did. They went to see the Cubs play on Sunday and were going to be bums for the other two days planned. Hope they had a good time!! Cubs, unfortunately, didn't win the day they were there.

We had hot and muggy weather and now the hurricane is bringing us some rain. Actually we need the moisture. I hear all my friends that have gardens and lawns that things are starting to get extremely dry! More hurricanes to worry about on their way. When Barbie lived in the Charleston area I went out to visit during hurricane season. First thing I noticed when I got there was candles and water placed by the doors. Her answer was hurricane season!!! Nothing happened while I was there (thank goodness) but it's always something the east coast worries about this time of year. I so want to go back to Charleston one of these days. I enjoyed the time I spent there. It's an old city but lots of things happening and lots of things to see. Especially when you're from Iowa!!!

We're getting busy at work. Head Start classes have started and all the fun of enrolling kids and assigning them to classrooms, etc. It's been hectic and probably won't settle down much until the end of the month. But that's life!! Fuel season will soon be upon us and that's always fun. We get really busy in October/November and then December is here and we participate in the Santa's Helper project and that keeps us hopping!

I noticed Christmas things are out already. When I was a kid they at least waited until after Halloween!! I was at Hobby Lobby the other day (aren't I always) and they have all their trees up and all kinds of beautiful ornaments out. Of course I had to check them out, but family, you'll be happy to know that I didn't buy anything . . . . yet!!!

When you're a crafter you have to pick up things for the seasons when they're out or when the season finally does arrive there's nothing left to finish your project. My scrapbooking is coming along nicely. I've gotten to the reception part of Jim and Mandy's wedding. I've been organizing my pictures of their wedding within my photo program on my computer. I finally got smart and divided everything up so I can find the photos I want for my pages. I have processional, before service, service, etc. When you get to the reception part you have sub-groups -- like garter throwing, bouquet toss, dollar dance, etc. It's fun!!! I've promised a wedding book to the gal that does my hair. We're going to decide if she wants me to put the pictures in for her or just do up the book with the embellishments and she do her own journaling. Keeps me out of trouble, but not out of the craft stores!!

My sister and I went to a big craft fair in Ankeny last fall and are planning on it again this year. Barbie will try and get early-bird tickets so we can have breakfast before we go shopping. It's pretty neat really. With the early-bird ticket you also get to shop the first hour with only the early-bird people shopping with you!! I have a list already! This year my niece Beth is coming with us. The show is November 1 so Jackson will be doing his trick or treating a night early. He's actually too little yet to remember much of it, but there's always pictures!!! He's going out as Tigger! He should make a darling Tigger!! Daddy said he'd be babysitter for the weekend. It would have been nice to have Jackson with us but carrying a baby around at craft fairs is heavy work so guess we'll just enjoy his company at a later date. I'm looking forward to spending some time with my daughter, sister and niece. I'm hoping Mandy (my daughter-in-law) will also be able to join us for the shopping!!

I have Christmas lists started. You never know when you might run across something someone wants. From everything I've heard this winter is suppose to be worse than last year. I don't know if Dubuque can handle much more snow than we had last year. We have over 75 inches of the white stuff. Guess we'll take what we get and handle it as well as we can!!

I should probably get back to work. It's actually cold in here today. You just can't keep some people happy no matter what you do!!!

Hope all is well with everyone. Take care.