Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Random Ramblings About Nothing Much

How do I explain why I've only written three posts in the last two months? I don't. Instead I give you a list of a bunch of junk that I didn't write about while I wasn't writing. Do with it what you wish. Just don't throw things at me. I'm delicate. Like a flower... a weedy little flower that just keeps coming back no matter how many times the lawn mower runs it over. Yeah, something like that..

Signs of Almost Spring:

Washington is not normal. In the last three days we have had bright sunny skies, torrential rain, hail, lightening, light snow, heavy snow, and fog. Often in the same hour. Despite the crazy weather I did find signs of spring when I went looking a little while ago. My yard is greening nicely as the moss creeps toward my front porch and on the back patio the algae is in bloom! I would take pictures but I don't want to make you all jealous.

My dogs are incapable of reproducing through normal means so they have conspired to create puppies out of their own shedding hair. Dust Bunnies are nothing! Despite daily vacuuming we are in danger of being over-run by litters of fur puppies. The weather simply makes things worse by being warm and sunny for three days, encouraging loose hairs to jump off the dogs in anticipation of summer, and then snowing for a week so that the dogs grow new fur to keep them warm.

Delaney's school has a yearly spring play. Traditionally it is an elaborate production with roles for a hundred kids plus at least one scene with teachers, principal, and occasionally the district superintendent. It's a spectacular show. This year, instead of using a purchased script the director and a few others actually wrote the show. Last week I joined two other Moms and the art teacher to turn pictures drawn by third graders into scenery for the show. We had a lot of fun painting rolling hills, squat hen houses, leaning skyscrapers, and a huge rainbow. I wish I could share pictures here but it's a SECRET. It's like Christmas morning and the theater is a big present in the hall closet. Parents aren't allowed in... and it's driving some of them insane! (and I do mean insane.. one of them had a fit yesterday when she was told she could not watch rehearsal) Opening night is Thursday!

Signs of the Apocalypse / Signs of Recovery:

It's hard not to shake in your boots when the stock for the company your livelihood depends on goes into a spiraling nosedive and loses half of it's value in the first two months of the year.. after losing two thirds of it's value in the last three months of the previous year... but the day that the closing price is 6.66 certainly feels like the end of the world. Of course, it's not. Although the rain, hail, snow, fog of the weekend didn't do much to relieve me... and the fur puppies were approaching the size of small horses... Oh! and the earthquake! Did I mention we had an earthquake too? It was just a tiny one. I'm sure there really isn't anything to worry about. However, if you hear that a volcano in Washington state has erupted without warning you might want to find your Bibles and start reading. Oh, and pray for my soul, because we are right in the path of the pyroclastic flow if Mt. Rainier blows.

Despite the moss, algae, dog hair, insane weather, and shadow of the volcano business, I really do love my home and my neighborhood. We live very close to the largest Army base in the country and a huge percentage of my neighbors are military. They are fantastic neighbors. However, when they are transferred they have to sell their houses and go, no matter how bad the economy is. Our neighborhood is large and the builders (three separate companies) are still building new homes. In January great big yellow AUCTION signs started appearing on the streets where the model homes are and the paper published an article about foreclosures in our neighborhood.. not on individual homes but on the builders lots and models. So I was feeling awfully bad for the four neighbors on my street trying to sell their houses in this mess. Then.. in the last two weeks the signs went away, the builders started three new houses, and all four of the houses on my street sold. I don't know if it is really a sign that things are getting better.. but I sure am glad that the bright yellow signs of despair have been taken down.

Signs of Change:

Bob left yesterday for his first business trip since the accident. It was hard for me to let him walk out the door and head for the airport but I am so glad that he is able to.

Ian called me on Saturday to ask for advice. He wasn't sure if he should pay $16 a week for health insurance through his new job. I'm so happy that he's going to have insurance and even happier that he has worked at a company long enough to qualify for it.

Signs that it's time to stop rambling:

It's 1:30 and I've got to vacuum and get dinner started before heading to the theater for a dress rehearsal. If you made it this far, thank you! You are a true and wonderful friend for still being around to read my ramblings even though I just abandoned you for a few months. I promise to be a better blogger in the future... at least as long as that volcano stays dormant!

19 comments:

Laura/CenterDownHome said...

Hey Gina! It was nice to read your blog! It looks beautiful, and it got my mind of off my pity-party here. I'm just feeling irritable and crabby. Also, I hear ya' about the dog hair! I'm vacuuming every friggin' day!

I feel myself drifting into Blog Hibernation mode myself. Maybe your return will give me the nudge I need! xoxo

Oh, yeah! Speaking of impending doom by earthquake, we're still moving to Hot Springs, AR, where scientists are forcasting large scale disaster! :D

Karen MEG said...

Good to see you back, Gina. It's tough to blog when real life gets in the way. Doesn't matter if it's just rambling, if it's from you, it's all good.

Your involvement in the school play sounds like so much fun; and I'm also glad to read that Bob is well enough to travel for work.

B2 C2 2009 said...

Oh Gina - I'm soooo happy you're back to blogging! Even though I've been very quiet myself, I've been checking your sites daily. I love your new layout - we all can use more chirping birds in our lives.

Spring and change (for the good) is in the air!

HF3K!

A:-)

Unknown said...

I NEED TO RANT SOME..
love your pretty blog
mona & the girls

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

You're back!

The only comfort about crashing stock prices is that we're all in the same boat. Every day that I'm not living in a tent city is a good one for us I figure.

Sending good juju for your husband and his work trip.

CarolinaMomOf5 said...

I love this background, Gina! ANd I loved that post! I haven't posted on my blog (or read any others) in a month, but I don't think I could come up with something as entertaining as you did. I'm glad you can see spring coming, glad Bob is able to work and travel, and glad that the school play is about to open! Sounds like it is going to be fantastic! I wish I could see it!

Welcome back!

Renee said...

Gina I love the new background.

Never worry about being around. I always love to hear your stories and I will be around to hear them.

I am so glad your husband was able to go, good for him.

I laughed about the insurance and I love that he called home to get your opinion.

Love Renee

Sarah Sullivan said...

Hi Gina - so glad you are back - I've missed your posts! Thank you for stopping in mine - huge hugs.
So glad to hear your DH is out and about again!
I can totally relate to the WA weather in Idaho - no warm stuff yet though.
The dog hair thing - LOL - I can make a new dog every week. She sheds like crazy!!!!
Yikes about you volcano location!!!! Hugs, Sarah

Renee said...

Gina I often cringe when I see some of the young millenium women trying to do it 50s style. They don't know what those poor women went through.

Love Renee

Sara Moriarty said...

Before I read any further, let me tell you how you posted three times in the last two months...

the cold from *h.e.double hockey sticks*

Sara Moriarty said...

I am so glad that your busband was able to go on a business trip. That is cause for celebration. Will you be able to indulge in any quiet, Gina time while he is away? Hope so.

Sending you love.

Bellezza said...

Ramblings are good. They let us catch a glimpse into one another's lives like a stream of consiousness. It is hard letting those we love go; I'm thinking of you in that, even if it isn't for long.

Leeann said...

Hey kiddo,

I've had this saved until I could get a good response in.

There was a lot of good news in your post! I am glad that Bob is getting better and wlll be able to resume more of his work duties/travel, although I know you will worry.

And the news about Ian was both ironic and fantastic! I truly hope things continue to go well with him.

I can totally see you doing the scenery and such for the play. You are good at stuff like that.

Your family is lucky to have you!

xo,
Leeann

Mary Alice said...

Uggg..being military we know the pain of home selling in spite of the market. Ouch. And being dog people I totally get the reproducing fur babies. I sweep up the fur doggies off the hardwood floor and amuse my children by naming the new fur dogs....."Oh this one's name is Barkie...he's big"

Jason, as himself said...

Good to hear from you again. I understand the ebb and flow of blog posting, so it's okay. I'll leave you on my reader anyway.

Glennis said...

Hi, Gina. I read your interview at Motherscribe. I was Interview Number 6. I really liked your interview. It's kinda scarey, being so honest. I will read your blog some more.

JCK said...

Look at all these comments. You are back!

Love your sense of humor through all of this.

I'm sure it did Bob good to take the business trip. Hope all went well.

Here's to better times in the coming year!!

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

Great interview--I am enjoying these so much. You really feel as though you're getting to know people so much better.

Karen MEG said...

Gina, I so loved reading your interview over at Motherscribe...you are so well-spoken, bright, grounded, such a great mom...and I wish I didnt live so many miles away from you as I think I would have a very treasured friend in you.

And it sounds like you have found the perfect partner in Bob. I am so glad.