Ordinary Life

 I realized a few years back that I suffer a little bit of seasonal affective disorder.  Every year it sneaks up on me and surprises me.  So a couple of weeks ago I realized it and decided to do something.  Usually when I realize I do make a change.  Push myself to get active.  This year I decided I needed to be with my heart and that precipitated the trip to Indiana.  

When I came in the summer we did extra stuff.  We went to the zoo and we did the county fair.  When I came in October we celebrated the little woman's birthday and had Halloween.  When I came in November we celebrated the little man's birthday and a second Thanksgiving.  The last time was Christmas and all the fun that entails.

This time we did not have anything really planned as a family.  David and Cassie have been out a couple of times sans children.  I babysat.  

We are just living an ordinary life.  Cooking, cleaning, kids to karate and school, shopping and visiting.  Nothing special.  Just life.  And it feels like home.  I have not disrupted the routine.  I have added to it by being helpful.  And it has allowed a wee break for the parents of four.  Cassie has taken kids to school without having to worry about getting the youngest ready to go.  And she has gotten to go to the gym in the morning a couple of days instead of the afternoon.  

Home Soon

 So I bought another expedia bargain fare to fly home.  Since my trip started late I decided to extend it.  Now I have a date.  So I contacted the rental car company.  They said it was fine to extend my reservation but not with the car that I have.  I have to return it when it is due and get another car.

I understand but it still annoyed me.  I do not want to return it Friday morning at 7 a.m.  So I decided to look at just returning it early and renting another car.  And that is what I did.  I have a new car to pick up after I deliver the current car.  And since I booked a new reservation, I found a cheaper car.  

Now to ask the little woman if she feels like riding along with me on Thursday to make the trade.  I bet she will.

Took Awhile

 I had a ticket to ride on Sunday.  David and I had a plan worked out for me to be in Indiana so I could babysit for them while they went out for Cassie's birthday.  We were being so sneaky.  David surprised himself by having it all worked out.  

And then the snow came.  And the planes were grounded.  With much time on the phone and the computer I had a new arrangement, and then that one fell through.  Alaska airline rescheduled me for Monday.  And then we had freezing rain.  And the planes were grounded.  With much time on the phone and the computer I did not have a new arrangement.  I was welcome to reschedule but would have to pay the fare difference which could amount to an additional $500.  Not my cup of tea.  So I cancelled and took the credit (and now I have to watch for part of it because only the credit part I had used showed up, not the difference I had to pay for that first flight).

Then Mike wanted to get ahold of me.  He knew I was going, not that it got cancelled and therefore told Cassie I was suppose to be there.  Oy.  At least the kids didn't get it figured out. By then I did have a new plan.  When I talked to Cassie I did not tell her the new plan so David and I were still able to surprise her.

I bought an Expedia bargain fare.  This gets you a flight that arrives the same the same day and has zero or one stop.  This one put me on an afternoon flight on United today.  I don't usually choose to fly to the Midwest later in the day.  But I was willing to do that to get here today.  And so here I am.  Available to babysit tomorrow.  

Contractors

 I'm not the only one who has problem with contractors.  Betty decided it was time to put a garage door opener on the old garage.  The door is a little heavy and she is getting a little older.  So she made many calls to get a bid.  She said many did not even return her call.  Yup, been there, done that.  

Two at least did.  And she choose the one to come out who had a friendly voice.  The other guy came across as rather grumpy.  Who wants to work with a grumpy contractor?  So the guy with the friendly voice got the job.  

The company she used was Ryder Garage Door.  She was pleased with the work.  It truly pays off to be friendly and return calls.  When you do, word of mouth spreads.  

Small world....the owner of this company has a connection with our family.  That wasn't why he got the job.  He got the job because he cared enough about doing business to return a call and make a bid.  Betty didn't know who he was until she made the appointment.  

Cows

 Jodi and I ventured up to the farm.  She wanted to check out the farm store.  I wanted to see how much Daisy, the calf, had grown.  

Jodi bought herself a frozen lasagna.  Should be wonderful.  

The cows were in a different part of the field.  We found them though.  Daisy is growing.  Jodi had never seen Scottish Highland cows before.  She was quite fascinated by their fur especially the fur that hangs down in front of their eyes.  

We waved at Mark on the way out.  Jodi saw him first and commented about him being the guy.  She hopes they continue on and go back to the Farmer's Market. Time will tell.  I know he offered up his land for farm rental.  

Peanut Butter Tales

 Every one has their little anal things.  Things that crank up the old OCD. One of mine is peanut butter. I like to be the first person who uses a new jar.  Jam never touches the peanut butter in the jar.  That means making a sandwich....peanut butter first. It's just me.

So I had a brand new jar of peanut butter.  It was sitting in the back of the curio cabinet that is being used for food storage.  I knew it was there.  The longer it stays unopened the better for me.  We are trying to keep an eye on carbs and I just love peanut butter and jam sandwiches.  I made it through the holidays and did not make the peanut blossom cookies I like.  

And then I just had to have a sandwich.  Get out my bread and go for the peanut butter.  As I am lifting the jar from the back I realize it doesn't weigh enough. As that is sinking into my brain I realize I can see where there has been scraping against the jar. Oy.  So half the jar is gone.  From top to bottom. Like someone takes a knife and sticks it all the way in and then brings out a big knife full of it.  The jar is old enough and been opened long enough that it has lost something.  Made a very disappointing sandwich.  

Now my rule is, if it is downstairs and in the mix it is to be shared.  So that it got used is not an issue.  But why, oh why, would someone open it and put it back behind all the other unopened food in that cabinet? And I assume it wasn't just one use, but it may have been.  Had I known it was opened earlier I would have made that sandwich at that time.  Guess I am letting that go and don't plan on buying anymore anytime soon.