The Rain, it Doth Rain Every Day

Hershey Park had to close last week due to flooding.

Technically, it didn't rain Saturday or Sunday.  BUT, we have had rain every single stinking day this month.  I didn't think rain bothered me that much up until Friday.  I've had enough.  Too bad that the forecast is calling for still more rain this week.

Our creeks are flooded.  The rivers are high.  Basements are damp.  But surprisingly enough, Ellicott City has not flooded.  I was at a meeting in Catonsville late last week.  I stopped by the Catonsville Library to look around, and then I headed home through old Ellicott City.  I heard that the main road was reopened, and I was curious to have a look around.  As I drove down the hill towards the bridge, I looked to my left and saw a full - a very full - river.  With another thunderstorm looming, I was thinking that the river would flood again.  The river was so full, I was surprised that they were still letting traffic go across the bridge into town.  I found out later I was in the last of the cars that was allowed to cross the bridge before the county shut it down over fears that it would flood.

No, Ellicott City did not flood.  But our basement did.

Yeah- here's another part of the story.

Our basement flooded last weekend.  Husband and I went out and did what we could to alleviate the water coming into the basement, and then I went out and bought a dehumidifier.  After 24 hours of almost constant running, we discovered that the water wasn't actually collecting in the bucket.  It was running down the side of the dehumidifier and down onto the floor.  Husband decided to "fix" it by putting the dehumidifier in a large rubbermaid tote.  I walked down about an hour later to see the dehumidifier, sitting on two wooded boards in a rubber tote filled with about an inch of water.   Something's wrong with this picture.

Anyway, I took the dehumidifier back on Monday.  I'll get another one, but I don't think I'm going to be getting the same brand, and I'm not going back to THAT store!

The sky Friday evening on the way home.

One last story about the flooding.  I close on Monday nights.  It's dark when I come home.  I drive over a tiny little "crick" with a tiny little bridge on my way home.  Monday night, I was driving the CRV when I drove up to that tiny little "crick".  Because it was dark and pouring down rain, I couldn't tell that I had hit water - a LOT of water - until I drove into it.  I wasn't sure the car was going to make it through.  That tiny little crick had completely covered the road - and the water came up over the hubcaps on my CRV.  If it weren't for the 4 Wheel Drive and the higher clearance, I'm not certain that I wouldn't have been on the news.  You know, as fodder for the 24 hours news cycle with the headline that read "Idiot Librarian Receives Overdue Notice on Standing Water".

As I write this on Monday morning, the sky has clouded over and rain is in the forecast for yet another week.... 

Nobody Ever Told Me

I was searching for an old post about moving the last freezer out of the basement when I came across this one!  It was originally published in April of 2012.  Seriously, you can't make this stuff up!  Enjoy this blast from the past!

We visited another college campus this past weekend.  Beautiful campus, set in the mountains of the Mid-Atlantic.  It was a glorious spring day when we began our tour, so the tour guides were wearing their fleece jackets with the name of the school discreetely emroidered on the front.

As we began our tour, one of the admissions officers said to our tour guide "There she goes!  Girl on fire!"  and everyone laughed.

"Everyone is being so mean to me," she lamented.  "We are given these nice fleece jackets to wear as tour guides.  and we even get to keep them! I love my fleece, it's so nice and warm, I wear it all the time.

The other day, I got out of the shower and put my fleece on to warm up quick.  I got warm, but my jacket got wet.  I didn't want to go outside with a wet coat, so I popped it into the microwave for a minute to dry it off.

Nobody ever told me that fleece was flammable!  After like, 5 seconds in the microwave, my jacket burst into flames and melted into this weird little pool of something that I can't get off of the bottom of the microwave."

We all stared at her for a moment, stunned into silence.

"When I went to housing to report my destroyed university owned microwave, they were speechless.  They told me I was the only person ever to have set fire to a fleece jacket in my microwave."

One of the fathers in our group looked up and said in a very deep voice: "I certainly hope you're not the standard  representative of this school."

"Why does everyone keep asking me that question?"  She wondered aloud.

Why, indeed.  A fleece jacket in the microwave....

Stocking Up on Essentials

One of our grocery stores is going out of business.   I've been stopping by daily, picking up staples that won't go bad.  It's been an interesting study in human nature.

Husband and I have been picking up Oil, Quinoa, Beans, Rice, Gluten Free Flour, and Gluten Free Pasta.  Oh, and cat litter and cat toys.    Yeah, we live life on the edge, let me tell you.  Three grown children and these two Empty Nesters really know how to party!

But the most fascinating thing for me to see has been what has been snatched off the shelves.
1) Frozen Pizza
2) Chips
3) Sodas
4) Boxed Mixes - (hamburger helper, tuna helper, cake mixes, etc.)
5) Boxed Cereal
6) Ice Cream
7) Frozen Pizza
8) Toilet Paper

It's an interesting list, isn't it?

I stopped by yesterday after work to pick up another box of cat litter, some Grape Seed Oil, and a bottle of my favorite shampoo.  I used the self check out and looked over at the check out next to me, where a cashier was checking out somebody.  I have to admit, I stopped to watch.  What I was seeing was kind of like a train wreck.

She had eight carts full of stuff that she was checking out.  One was full of nothing but chicken.  (By the way, there are signs all over the meat case that the fresh meat is NOT on the 30% off that the rest of the store is on.)  One cart was full of ice cream.  One was full of frozen meals.  That's 3 carts so far.  There was a cart of Cereal.  A cart of lunch meat.  I saw a cart of paper products - toilet paper, paper plates, and napkins.  I didn't get a really good glance at the last carts of stuff.  I didn't want my fascination to be too obvious.  I heard her telling the cashier that she never had done anything like this before, but that "the deals were just too good to pass up".

The one thing that hit me as I was watching her check out her stuff was that if she had never done anything like this before, then did she have the freezer space to hold that much food?  If she doesn't, then what was she going to do with all of the ice cream and frozen dinners?

Anyway, husband and I are still picking up staples a couple of items at a time.  Since it is just the two of us at home we don't need to stock up on the types of things we would purchase if we still had kids living at home.  (Hello, weird grains we've always wanted to try!)

Have you ever had a grocery store near you go out of business?  What kinds of things do you pick up when the discounts are big?

A Little Vacation

The blog was silent for a couple of weeks.  Husband and I both got a few days off of work, so we were out enjoying life, friends, and family.

We spent a day out at the beach. 
We saw a couple of movies.
We went up to Pennsylvania to see our oldest child.
We went into Washington DC for July 4th.  (Are you ever really too old for fireworks?)
We had friends over for dinner a couple of times.
We went down to Annapolis.

AND.... we cleaned some big stuff out the house.


Not only did we get another couple of boxes out to Goodwill, we got the other very large freezer that our in-laws left here out of the basement.  That freezer was over 30 years old.  Let me tell you, when we finally emptied that freezer and unplugged it earlier this year, we had $30/month come off of our electric bill.  We got 9 pieces of furniture out of the basement.  Yes, you read that right - NINE.  We're talking about  3 dressers that people gave to us and my very sweet husband couldn't say "no" to.  3 sets of the small 2 drawer metal filing cabinets.  One desk that one of the kids brought home from school and then decided that he didn't want to take it with him when he moved out.  AND - two twin beds left the premises.  Many thanks to the Habitat ReStore for taking everything.  While they don't pick up from out in the boondocks where we live, they were happy to take everything from us once we got it there.

And last but not least - we donated the old van.  Cancelled the insurance.  Returned the plates. 

It was a fantastic, relaxing, and productive staycation!  Now it's back to work!

They're Made to Absorb

I originally published this post on July 7, 2016.  Enjoy this walk down memory lane!  

 Daughter worked the register for a full shift on Saturday. I met her in the parking lot with one of those wonderful cold drinks from Starbucks when she finished. A Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher.  She's always so thirsty when she gets off work, I knew it would be appreciated. 

While I was waiting for her to finish, I had been shopping for various necessities, soap, toothpaste, deodorant, Kotex pads. 

On our way home, daughter was reluctant to drink anything for fear that she'd spill, and the bright red liquid on my tan car seats would make a huge mess. 

"Don't worry, we're stopped at a light", was my rather stupid response. 

She drank a quick sip, went to put the cup back in the cup holder when tragedy struck! The lid popped off and the bright red liquid went everywhere. Undeterred, she started grabbing receipts to sop up liquid while I looked for a safe place to pull over. 

I pulled into a parking lot, and daughter was out of her seat before I had the car completely stopped. She reached into the bag in the back, pulled out the package of Kotex, unwrapped a single pad, pulled the sticky strip off the back and attached it to the palm of her hand. 

That was a genius move!  All of the liquid was quickly absorbed into the pad. You can't even tell there was a spill of bright red on upholstery!

I tell you, from now on I'm carrying a few extra pads in the glove compartment for the next time I spill something. I know it's going to happen. They really are designed to absorb!  (Quick thinking young lady!)

2018 Resolutions - July Update

I love keeping track of my resolutions on my blog!  It ensures that I actually keep my resolutions!
Who knew that keeping my resolutions would be as easy as announcing them publicly?

I've been working at it.  I don't know that I'll meet all of my resolutions, but it sure is fun to try!

1) Participate in the NoSpenduary Challenge
No Spenduary helped to pay for the unexpected trip to Australia.  I'm not currently in a "no spend" mode - but I am actively saving money to pay to replace the roof on the house this fall.

2) 40 bags in 40 days
Well, this didn't work out during Lent.  I'm still working on getting boxes and bags out of the house.  Husband has been on a mission trip the last week in June, so I've actually gotten a lot of stuff out of the house this month! 

10 bags/boxes at the end of May
  7   bags/boxes in June

 17    Total Boxes/Bags at the end of June.  Just 23 more to go!  I hope I get this done by the end of the year!

3) Get Away With my Husband - TWICE
        1) Australia
        2) Where next?

4) Get One Big Debt Paid Off This Year
Working on paying off the Civic

5) Finish Daughter's and Husband's Quilts
Once again, no progress on this.  I hope to pull out the sewing machine, suck it up, and finish husbands quilt this month.  No excuses.  Just do it!

6) Get Out to Visit Middle Child this Year
HOORAY!!!!  We spent a long weekend with him over Memorial Day!  The entire family! 
HOORAY!!!!  I'd like to think I'll get out to see him one more time this year.  Maybe we'll make it for Thanksgiving?  I'm not sure - daughter is still in college, and her school tends to run classes through Wednesday.  We've got time on this one.

7) Replace the Roof on the House this Fall
 Working on this one!  The dream is to have enough cash to not only replace the roof, but also the gutters, and maybe add a front porch.  That's do-able, right? 

8) Exercise Most Days During the Week.
I've done it!  I'm at 4 days a week now!  PLUS -  I am getting over there at 5:45 am now.  Holy cow! What a great start to my day!  (It's a really early start, but it's a start!)

9) Make some of my Christmas Gifts this Year
I need to get moving on this one.  What do I get kids who are grown and living on their own?  The boys are going to be a problem...  Maybe a sweater?  It's a lofty sounding goal....

10) Cut my Grocery Budget to $250/month
 Well, I've stopped keeping track. I'm giving up on this one.
I honestly don't have the time to keep track of everything I spend at the grocery store.  

11) Turn my yarn and fabric stash into something more... but what?
Graduation present for daughter's boyfriend.
Baby Blanket for a Co-Worker
Turned a spool of tulle and blingy sparkles into a Fascinator for the Royal Wedding.


I'm currently working on a shrug for myself with yarn that I purchased for that purpose 4 years ago.  It's a beautiful, sea green and blue yarn.  I've found a wonderful lacy vest pattern that I purchased online.


12) Take One Item Off my Bucket List
 I did it!  And it was a big one!  I went to Australia with my husband!

13) Have One Media Free Day per Week
Not been a problem.
 
14) Visit 12 Libraries I Have Never Been to Before

Laurel Public Library

Lawrence Public Library Truman Library and Museum
New South Wales Library
Central Rappahannock Regional Library Porter Branch

Laurel Public Library
Elkridge Public Library

I have a couple of professional goals I want to meet, too.  I'm not going to list them here, but they're in the back of my mind!


Professional Goals

1) PG #1

I had an article published! 

2) PG #2

Charm Kitty Cafe

Have you heard about Cat Cafe's? 

They are little cafe's with adoptable cats from the Humane Society.  The cafe doesn't really serve food (because of the cat hair).  They will have tea or coffee, and they might have cookies or muffins that you can order.   You can then imbibe while you bond with the kitties.  If you wish, you can adopt one of the kitties and give it a forever home.

Earlier this spring, daughter and I spent an afternoon with the cats at Charm Kitty Cafe.
We each had a cookie, and we sat and did some work while the kitties roamed around, climbed over our keyboards, ignored us, and looked very regal.  We played with the ones that let us, and we admired the ones who were too important to let us get near them!

One thing to note, though.  Almost every cat cafe that I know of - the seating is very limited, and reservations are required.   You will pay for your time in the cafe.  The money goes to support the cats.  The amount of time you get for your reservation varies by the cafe that you visit.

I took a few pictures of the residents of Charm Kitty Cafe while we were there.  I'm certain all of these little fluff balls have been adopted.  But I know they have new little fluff balls searching for their forever homes!

Greeter at the front desk.

This one really likes my purse!

A crate, bolted high on the wall - and a shy friend looking down.

Hiding under a bench.

If I didn't already have 2 cats at home, this one would have come home with me.

Moving from my purse onto my shawl.

And my phone....

He really liked my phone.  He didn't like pats, though.