Flat and Loose

So, yeah, we had snow. It snowed a lot. Big, wet, gorgeous flakes that were so pretty to watch. We braved the blizzard to go to Jordan's end of year volleyball banquet last night. But, to the dismay of the little people in my house, it all melted as soon as it hit the streets. So, school's open. See also: Get up.

I took yesterday off to do errands and things and stuff. Looking back on it, I'm not real sure what I accomplished. Although, four gifts were purchased. So, yea me.

While I was out, a little light came on my dashboard. I was almost home, so I kept on driving, figuring if my engine was going to fall out, I'd rather it fall out in my driveway rather than half way to Target. The light was a little exclamation point with squiggly lines all around it. It was hard to take the exclamation point seriously since it had the squiggly lines surrounding it. So yeah, ignoresville.

Once I got to the safety of my garage, I pulled out the ol' manual book thing and discovered it was a "low tire alert". Humph.

I looked at all four tires. This is where it gets complicated. Because I can talk myself into believing two things: One, that tires are flat. And B, that I'm going to throw up. (Seriously, if you comment on here that you have been puking all night and then I read it, I will convince myself that I was exposed and within thirty minutes will be laying on the couch with a rag and a bucket.) So, yeah, not only did the tires look flat, I was practically watching them lose air as I stood there.

I called the Captain to see if he had some big air pumpy thing in the garage that he could fix the soon to be flat tire. He asked if one of the tires looked flat. That's when I wisely informed him that all four of my tires were flat as well as the four tires on his truck which was also parked in the garage. Yep, eight flat tires out there.

Throwing caution to the wind, I drove his truck for the remainder of the afternoon's running around. And, you never know what you may find when you get in the Captain's truck. And by "never know what you may find" I mean machete. Yes, a MACHETE. I carefully tucked said machete in the backseat and headed to the Hob to find some curly red and green things to tuck in my tree. Yes, the tree that still has no ornaments on it.

Anyhoo, no flat tires on the truck. No flat tires on my car. No need for said machete. And no curly red and green things at the Hob.

And the day's hits just keep coming because after the Captain got home, he informs me that yesterday morning when he was taking a shower, he noticed a small piece of grout coming out of the shower floor. So he picked it up. And it pulled another piece of grout out. So he pulled THAT up too. Then two pieces of tile came out of the floor. Apparently, my solution of not using the shower for a day and just gluing the tiles back to the floor and squirting some grouty stuff in there is not acceptable, because the Captain began informing me that the entire floor of the shower has to be pulled up and replaced. Something about water getting under the bottom of the shower and then the water pan overflows and then water goes through the wall into my closet. I don't really know all the details, because I blacked out after he said it would cost "a little under $1,000" to get it all fixed. So, Merry Christmas to me. I'm getting a new shower floor.

More on exciting goings on later. Including updates on whether I will find curly red and green things and if we will ever get the ornaments put on our tree. In the meantime, have a lovely day.

Winter Death 2011

Forecast for today: SNOW

When and how much?

WHEN AND HOW MUCH??

The forecast has been all over the place. And that makes me crazy.

I've heard everything from 1" to 7". That's quite a range there.

And Memphis is notorious for having a forecast of 2-4" and then getting nothing.

I've also seen 3" of "no accumulations expected".

It's madness.

I get all wigged out during days like this. Getting kids to school, getting to work, getting kids picked up from school once they cancel three hours later, getting home from work when the snow starts piling up even though we won't close our office and everybody will just keep working like nothing is happening. Blah blah blah. I can really work myself up about all this. Stupid. Why do I get this way? Makes me nuts. Stu. Pid.

Plus, Jordan has a PT appointment at 4:30 today. That coincides nicely with the timing of the blizzard.

And by blizzard I mean we should have 3" on the ground by then.

Yes, people, that's a blizzard if you live south of the Mason Dixon.

And no, we know nothing of your snow plow and snow blower ways.

Don't judge.

Speaking of Jordan, the tournament is out for her this weekend. Well, we will still be traveling. But she won't be playing. And that is just a big ol' blah. She's pretty down about it. But is still working hard and getting better every day. She's phasing out of the boot and just wearing a brace most of the time. And in case you were wondering, the brace doesn't fit well in the school uniform saddle oxford cause it gets all bunched up in the shoe and makes it FEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELS FUNNYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY and causes all kinds of teenage girl moody nuttiness when we are trying to get out the door for school. I love my life.

I'm outta' here.

And I'm wearing my polka dot snow boots to work.

So there.

Snow Day!

Hooray! Hooray!

We got snow!

I haven't been out to measure, but I'm guessing 5" perhaps.

Kids are out of school. And I'm staying home too.

The Captain has been duck hunting since Saturday. Hope he's not iced in somewhere.

Where are you? Do you have snow?

Happy Monday wherever you are.

The cold thing is the hot topic

I have made it through a whole week of working five full days. It's nearly killed me.

And now it's the weekend. Hallelujah. Finally. Amen.

And to top it off, they are forecasting Winter Death 2011 for us Sunday and Monday.

Humph. That could mean absolutely nothing. Or it could be pretty major.

It all depends on "how the low tracks".

Are you impressed with my weather-speak?

For those of you who don't know, I'm obsessed with weather.

And for those of you who don't know much about Memphis weather, this is how the whole snow thing works....

The mention of the word snow = Major stampede to the grocery store

One inch of snow = Schools close

Five or more inches of snow = City shuts down

Those of you who live in regularly snowed on cities, please don't laugh at us southern folk. We know not of your blizzardy, snow plow, snow blower ways.

So this weekend, I'll be watching the weather and tracking that low pressure system.

And watching the last few college football games.

Because the end of college football season is nigh.

And that brings a tear to my eye.

But the chance of a big ol' snow storm and a day or two out of school next week?

Me likey.

Life. It Rocks. And Rolls.

Yesterday I was at the dentist with Cooper where he was getting a very stubborn baby tooth pulled.

I got a call that a TV station was interested in covering a pitch I had made. Hooray!

They wanted to interview the physician about his upcoming medical mission trip to Haiti. Yippee!

In the next hour. Challenge.

That was about the time Cooper reappeared in the waiting room with his poor little swollen gauze-packed mouth and post-nitrous eyes.

As best I can remember, the convo went something like this....

"Hi Dr. A. ...Yes they want to do a story about your Haiti trip.....Keep the gauze in there please baby....They would send a crew in about an hour....I know it hurts. It will feel better soon....They are interested in how many of your partners are going there and what you'll be doing....Yes the Tooth Fairy will come tonight....I appreciate your doing this on such short notice.....No sweetie, that's not blood, it's just drool...."

Later Cooper tells me his heart was hurting and beating very fast. Great, my kid is having a heart attack from having a tooth pulled. (No worries there though people. I called the dentist back and got an explanation about that.)

Oh and go ahead and factor in some other stuff too...

Like a family situation involving my 96 year old great aunt who was suddenly hospitalized this week. Yes, Monday during the snow storm. Remember that? Where we got 6" of "no accumulations expected"? Yeah, that day. It involved 6 very smart, calm, handsome EMTs who can drive an ambulance through a sleet storm. It also involved my little great aunt who was trying to drink hot tea from her pulse oximeter and was also seeing kittens on the ceiling. That was an emotionally exhausting day. Plus, the ER is an incredibly nasty place. I later took (as Connie put it) a scalding "Silkwood Shower" and burned my clothes.

Jordan needs to dress up like a medieval character, a super hero and a nerdy school kid this week. Cooper is supposed to dress like a detective today.

I've been helping Connie do some brainstorming as she ramps up her own business. Very exciting stuff here people.

Then there's just the other stuff that I can't seem to get away from....Like feeding my family and washing their laundry. They have grown accustomed to food and clean clothes apparently. The nerve.

I just read where Captain Phil from Deadliest Catch died. Hate that.

And I'm totally missing my daddy these days.

But -- guess what?! The Olympics start this weekend and I'm. Totally. Psyched.

It appears the Tooth Fairy did make an appearance.

Both of my kids emptied their piggy banks (their own, unprompted decision) for the school Haiti fundraiser projects. *sniff*

And they are finally going back to school today.

So see....it's all good. It's life. And that's how it rolls. And think how boring this blog would be without all these exciting stories.

Peace out people. Thanks for hitting my blog today!

Monday Miscellany

Well whadya' know....today's original forecast of "snow flurries mixed with rain" has suddenly turned into a "Winter Storm Warning with accumulations over 3 inches". Schools are closed. There will be some very surprised people when they wake up this morning and look out the window. Hooray! Happy Monday to us!!

In other news...

Good Super Bowl last night. We only caught the second half cause of church and all. But it was exciting enough. Cooper was for the Colts up until that last game-sealing interception then he suddenly became a Saints fan.

This was a busy weekend which is also called "drive Jordan all over the city to various social and church activities."

Cooper used a roll of garbage bags draped around the furniture to make a wrestling ring in our den. He then later said it was a crime scene. Maybe it was a murder AT the wrestling match. At some point during the weekend, he asked why it was called a ring when it was shaped like a square. Hmmmm, good question kid.

Jordan finally learned how to swallow a pill. Small victories people, small victories.

When I asked Cooper yesterday how Bible class was he said he was pretty sure he has leprosy. Not real sure what to do with that. I'll go look in the medicine bucket for some sort of cream of something.

OK, that's about it for me.

I've already got Pioneer Woman's Italian Drip Beef in the crock pot people. It's gonna' be a good day.

Some Ice. Still Nice.

Well, we didn't get Iceapalooza 2010.

We didn't even get a foot of snow.

We did get about 3/4" of ice (After it sleeted All. Day. Long). With a tiny dusting of snow on top.

But it was enough to give us a nice, relaxed, very cozy, three-day weekend.

So no complaints.

And it was actually very, very pretty. See?

Yesterday the sun came out and was shining on the icy trees. Just gorgeous. I only got one little picture. But I'll share...

Oh - and on Saturday, Cooper and the other neighborhood boys cleaned off the neighbor's driveway.

Wasn't that sweet?

Guess what they did with all the ice?

Gives a whole new definition to being "iced in".

And finally congrats to the winners of the General Mill cereal coupons....

Doreen

Kearsie

Susan

Yea!! Ladies, be on the look out for an email from moi!

Precipitation. Anticipation.

It's cold. And hot.

We've got our eye to the sky.

Because tonight & tomorrow may be Ice, Ice Baby.

(If that made you start singing a little Vanilla Ice, please raise your hand...)

The Ice Storm cometh.

Maybe.

We have a tremendous track record of being "right on the line" which translates to being right on the stinking border of six inches of wintery stuff and three days of cold rain.

And the weather folk tease us with their sweet words full of promises. They look right in the camera and say sweet nothings like snow, sleet, freezing rain. And sometimes they even go so far as to say that word that is very, very committal ... ACCUMULATION.

And sometimes it happens.

And sometimes it doesn't....Which is also known as "Build me up buttercup..."

And so here we are in yet another "wait and see" situation today and tonight.

Which means I will wake up every thirty minutes and go look out the window.

Then if we DON'T get any ice or snow, I am disappointed and tired and a big pot of cranky the next day. Bah.

But pay attention because here is where it gets exciting people....

I sent Jim Cantore a weather question tweet the other day....

As you know, he is one of my Top Five Celebrity Crushes

Let's take a look at him again for good weather measure. Want to?

Hubba.

Wait - what was I saying?

Oh yes - the weather tweet....

Anyway, I sent him a weather question tweet asking if Memphis would see any of this alleged winter weather....

AND HE TWEETED ME BACK.

Yes he did.

I GOT A TWEET FROM JIM CANTORE.

{clapping hands with glee}

He said, "@angie128 models trending south with ice potential so yes."

Which I'm sure actually means, "Thank you for being my biggest fan. Let's go to dinner the next time I'm in town."

Or maybe not.

Regardless, my day was complete.

And today may, or may not, be my 40-something-th birthday.

So if Jim Cantore and my other favorite Weather Guy want to give me a big ol' icy snow storm for my birthday, which would lead to a lovely three-day weekend filled with soup, Wii games, a good book, and some college hoops, who am I to say no?

Ice Ice Baby.

Word to your mother.

Snow go

There is snow all around us.

But not here.

Don't get me wrong....there are some flurries.

And it's sticking to the grass.

But there is really none to speak of.

Apparently cold air is dryer than warm air, so it was "too cold to snow".

Which is completely ridiculous. Who ever heard such a thing?!

Yesterday morning it was 17 degrees here.

It was 29 in Anchorage, Alaska.

That just isn't right.



Now here's the funny part.

The snow did hit in some areas around us. Kind of the outskirts of the city.

My kids' school follows the county school closing announcement.

Those schools are closed.

So my kids have no school.

Even though there is no snow.

So they get a No Snow Snow Day.

Whatever works.

Whatever it takes

Tonight we will be pulling out all our "We Want Snow" rituals.

Remember them?

Things are looking favorable for some snow.

Let's see if we have the necessary elements....

Precipitation: Check. It's headed our way.

Cold Temps: Check. Temps in the -40's. OK, so not really in the -40's. It just FEELS like it's in the -40's. OK, maybe it really doesn't FEEEEL quite that cold. But it's really really cold. And I live in the south. And we're not supposed to have temperatures that end in "teen". Or that are single digits. It's just not right.

Our low one night this week is supposed to be 8. As in e-i-g-h-t. I also spell that b-r-r-r-r-r-r. Again, this is the South people. Not Michigan. Eight?!?

The Weather Guy even said this cold air is from Russia. RUSSIA! It's very cold in Russia. At least I think it is....Isn't that very northish-leftish of here? Don't they wear those big fat furry hats over there? (Connie...Do YOU know anything about big fat furry hats?!?!? wink wink)

Here's to a big fat stay-at-home snow day tomorrow.

And it seems pointless to return to school for just one little day on Friday.

So here's to not much melting and some additional accumulation.

Also known as "Another Four-Day Weekend"!!

Now, I'm off to get my crayons and spoons...And find Russia on the map.