Update

Nothing terribly exciting happening in Dubuque. I use my blog as a log when I do pictures, etc., so that I remember what I do. Some times it actually works!!

We had snow yesteraday afternoon and last night. Woke up to about 3 inches, maybe a little more. The majority of it is gone already, but you can still find it on the north sides of the buildings. I noticed I still have some on my deck.

I've been dreaming about what to do with my deck. I also am thinking about looking for a different place. I've done some looking, but first floor apartments are hard to find. At least in the neighborhoods I want to live in. Something will come up. If I stay, I'd like to get one of those small tables with a couple of chairs for the deck. I found a darling waterfall that I could put in one corner and some great looking lights to put around the deck. It could happen!! My biggest problem is that my deck has a west front and is very hot until 8:30 or so in the evenings. I guess I can have some late suppers out there!! MMMMmmmmm -- have to think more about that.

I talked to Jim tonight. Mandy is at 37 weeks so we could have a baby any time now. I'm so excited about becoming a grandmother. I should probably figure out how to get to the hospital just in case Barb is out of town. I want to go down and see the whole family after the birth. Of course we have to take pictures of this historic event. I already have tons of stickers and paper for little Baby C.

My family is trying to figure out how to get together for Easter. Jim & Mandy definitely can't travel and my sister and her family might have some problems traveling to Des Moines. Jim said they would definitley understand and he already knows that I'll be down there as soon as he calls and lets us know Baby C is on the way!! I'm sure we'll figure something out.

Tomorrow it's back to work. I seem to keep busy. I sit here at home somethings wondering what I'm going to do the next day -- I get to work and there's all kinds of things happening that I have to take care of. Wished I was as important as that sounds!!!

Time to go. Everyone have a great week!!

One More Time . . .

I've been trying all week to get some pictures on here of Mandy's shower and haven't had much luck. Finally today it worked. I have no clue what I was doing wrong, but apparently I figured it out!!

Jim called tonight and asked if I'd checked out their blog lately. Told him no, but I just came from there and you really need to check it out. They have pictures of the Baby "C's" room on it. It's delightful. Can't wait to see it!

We had a shower in Dubuque for Mandy and Baby C on Saturday, March 7th. It wasn't the nicest day of the month (it rained) but we certainly had a nice group of people. The Hy-Vee out in Asbury has a beautiful community room that you can use for occasions such as showers. Jim wanted to take the big flat-panel TV with him, but we didn't think that was a good idea. We provided the menu and the guest list and Hy-Vee did the rest. Easy way to do a shower.

Barb provided the games (she's good at that stuff). The name the baby animal game was fun. I didn't know half of them. Glad I got to cheat before we got there!

Got pictures of the mother-to-be and the daddy and of course, the hostesses. I think Barb deserves most of the credit for this one. I just looked up addresses and provided some odds and ends. It was fun.

Jackson was there and provided some of the entertainment. He's such a live wire. It was fun watching him run around and play with the balloons, etc. Just think, a year from now I can watch my granddaughter run around and play!

I haven't been feeling real well lately. Had my semi-annual check-up and all those numbers came out great. Don't know if I have a touch of flu or there's something else going on. Guess I'll just take it a day at a time. Can't do much more than that anyway. I'm just tired of whining about it and frustrated with the whole thing!! Maybe spring weather will help. I sure loved those days when we could have our windows open and let some nice fresh air in.

Weather doesn't sound too wonderful for this weekend. Rain and/or snow. Was hoping we were done with the snow part, but . . . . we live in Iowa so we will take what we get!!

My girlfriend from Monona bought a condo here in Dubuque and has been down the last couple of weekends. She stayed here one weekend and I took the tour. She doesn't take possession until April but I did get to see the outside and the area that she'll be living in. We had a good time. We only got lost for about half an hour. I swear we went by these two girls that were playing volleyball (practicing) at least 4 times. They probably wondered about us too. Last Saturday she was down again. She's been looking for a job and found one. She'll be office manager for a business one of her nephew's has. I'm looking forward to her being back here in Dubuque.

I'm working on another wedding album of Jim & Mandy's wedding. I made one for them (of course), Jackie (Mandy's mom), Harry, and Barb and thought maybe Bob would like one too. I'm getting good at this one. He may not get it until after this grandchild is born, but he'll get one. I think it took me almost 2 years to get Beth & Karsten's done. Glee keeps telling me my hobby has become an obsession -- she might be right. I certainly enjoy it.

Have lots of meetings coming up at work. Some are in Dubuque and some out of town. At least I won't have to worry about weather. Or at least I don't think so.

Since I just finished my supper of ham and eggs I probably should go and do some dishes. Basketball games on TV tonight. I listen more than I watch these days anyway!!

Take care.

It's March!

Is it March that comes in like a Lion and out like a Lamb? Or the other way around? I do know that it's cold in Dubuque. But there is hope because by the end of the week we're supposed to have higher temperatures and rain. I'd rather rain than snow.

This weekend is Mandy's baby shower. We've just about got everything decided as to what we're having and doing. It should be a lot of fun. I talked to Mandy yesterday and she's feeling very pregnant but willing to travel this weekend. Plans are for them to come in on Friday night and leave shortly after the shower is complete. Pray for a safe trip for all.

Barb and I went together and bought them a baby crib. It's one of those that can be used as a bed later. They picked out what they wanted and we watched ads, etc. for a good price on one. Finally it came on sale at Target. That same weekend Jim called and said they had found a different one that they liked better. It was discontinued but would match some of the furniture they already had. They had called around Des Moines and found that there was only one left and it was in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. Wonderful! This was Super Bowl Sunday. They told Jim they would hold it for 24-hours and he asked me to get it. Like I have a truck or a car that it would fit in!! I scrambled all morning trying to get a hold of friends that do have a truck or SUV, etc. Finally I called the local Wal-Mart and got the number of the Dodgeville Wal-Mart and called them. After much conversation they said they would hold the bed if we definitely wanted it. Since it's one-of-kind and discontinued, it couldn't be returned. Jim & Mandy definitely wanted that bed so . . . the manager I talked to said she would hold it until we got there. More telephone calls. Finally Barbie called her Dad and asked him if he would have time on Monday to go and get it. He probably could have gone that Sunday, but he and Linda, like a lot of other people, were having a Super Bowl party and couldn't get there and back in time. End of story: Harry went up to Dodgeville and picked up the bed. Barbie found a good price on a mattress. Harry had a class to go to in Ames so spent the following weekend with the kids and took the bed to Jim & Mandy's. He even helped put it together for them. I'm very anxious to see what this bed looks like. I'm also very thankful that Harry was willing to go and get it. Of course on Monday morning there were all kinds of people I thought of, but we had made the arrangements so left them be. The next gift the kids ask for has to be easier to purchase and bring home!!! It was an adventure and life is full of these little trips!

I've been doing more scrapbooking again. I kinda quit for a while. I couldn't come up with anything I was happy with so just quit. But I'm back and so are the creative juices! I've just finished a book for Beth all about Jackson. Even got some Christmas pictures in there. He's such a cute little guy. It was so most fun working on that book! Want to do one for his grandmother too yet. I'm now working on another wedding album for Bob (Mandy's dad). He'll be a grandpa before he gets the wedding album but he will have one. One of these days I need to do one for myself. None of them are the same and I keep finding different ways to use all the pictures that the kids had taken at their wedding. Keeps me busy and out of trouble!

Work has been very busy lately. We had fiscal monitors in last week. My counterpart on the State level came with them. His name is Greg and I love working with him. He's very easy-going and understanding. When I don't understand something I either email him or call and he explains everything in detail so that I get my reports, etc. in correctly. I had a nice visit with him on both days that they were here. Our agency has received word that we will be receiving a large amount of stimulus money for our CSBG grant. That's my baby. I write that grant. Everybody has their wish list and we're compiling them and decided what we're going to spend our money on. If we don't use it, it will go back to the State so we might as well get some of the equipment that we've wanted for so long. I know we're updating our computer system, looking into laptops for our outreach people, cell phones for the same. Maybe we'll finally be in the 21st century!! We're still working on our Head Start program problems. We've gotten through one bunch of monitors and more will be coming in April. It sure makes life exciting.

I had my 6-month appointment with my doctor last Friday. My numbers are all pretty good. Didn't loose any weight. That's a bummer. Just have to work harder and eat better. I have a very bad habit of not eating supper and when I do get hungry I just snack. Have to re-train myself again. Or at least eat healthy snacks.

I took the day off today to take care of some personal items. Everything seems to be going okay. Back to work tomorrow. There's always something that needs to be done when you can't go during the weekend, etc.

Sounds like I'm going to Colorado in June. Glee called and said they have a date. I told her I'd think about it, but by the time the conversation was finished I had kinda decided I'd go. Barbie changed jobs so doesn't have a lot of vacation time so won't be going with us this year. My girlfriend Marilyn, is moving in June and hoping to have a job to come to when she gets here. She doubts that she'll have enough time. Glee said there's plenty going so not to worry about that. I love the Rocky Mountain National Park and all it's beauty. I just wished I was able to handle the thin air better and my legs would function better. I can still enjoy the beauty of the park. Hikes around Bear Lake, Sprague Lake and Lily Lake are easy and there's a couple other short hikes that I can do. It's just a beautiful part of the world.

I'll keep you posted. If there's anyone out there that wants to be kept posted!!

Talk to you soon.