Movie Reviews

I love going to the movies. I don't know why because I usually can't sit still that long. And I don't watch TV - except for Good Morning America - but only on the days I work and never in the summer. Oh, and I like the weather channel.

Anyways......this week I went to two movies!

The first movie I saw was "Bride Wars". I know it got terrible reviews and everything but I must have really low standards because I liked it and besides I was in the mood for fluff that day and this movie totally fit the bill! Plus - the matinee was only 4 bucks! And the ending was sweet. So that is my endorsement for "Bride Wars".

Then on Saturday we went to see Gran Torino. Which I wouldn't have picked but a friend recommended it. And - I knew that Tom would go with me to see it so it's kind of like he thinks he picked the movie and so next time it's my turn again to pick the movie. See how that works?? Brilliant!

So...about "Gran Torino".....it was also a good movie. It was filmed in and around Detroit so that was interesting. The story was about the Hmong people who'd moved into this neighborhood where Clint Eastwood was about the last white person still living there and his at first hostile/reluctant realtionship with the family next door that develops into a sort of friendship with them. Go see it - I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Next week "New in Town" comes out. Give me a call if you want to go with me to see it! I don't think it's Tom's kind of movie:~)

WAITING.........

It has been an interesting week to say the least!

My grandson Luke, who is 6, has been sick now for 10 days. He has been to the ER about 3 times and the pediatrician about 5 times and to the Infectious Disease clinic once and scheduled back there Monday. No one can figure out what is wrong with him. His diagnosis went from strep, to scarlet fever, to mono, to who knows??? So far all three types of hepatitis have been ruled out, but he has viral hepatitis. He tested negative for both types of viruses that cause mono. Yet he is still very ill. With a locked knee, fever, rash, blurry vision......
Yesterday we took him back to UM ER so yet another set of Drs. could look at him. We waited in the ER holding area for about 2 1/2 hours. I think we'd still be waiting if my patience hadn't run out. I really don't even remember what I said to the clerk at that point - maybe it was the look on my face or my stink eye - but suddenly Luke was called back. (I did notice that the psych intake area was right around the corner.) They called his case "interesting" - I think that is Dr. code for "we don't have a clue".

I am not good at waiting. I want to know what is wrong and I want to know yesterday! I want to see his sassy face again!!!

The Weekend

Well here it was another weekend of snow! I LOVE snow but why is it lately that every good snow day is wasted on the weekend??!! At least we started the weekend with that snow (cold) day on Friday.

So we finally took the last of Christmas down and packed all the stuff away. The corner where the tree was looks kinda bare. But you know it was way past time to de-Christmas when the ornaments on the tree were dusty. I thought we were surely the last ones to put our Christmas stuff away until Saturday night.......

We went over to some friend's house for a White Elephant/Dirty Santa Party (you know, where you get rid of all your junk by giving it to unsuspecting friends!) and their house was completely and totally still decorated for Christmas! It was amazing - there was the tree blazing forth in all it's glory while all the snowmen were lined up on the hearth and the entire Nativity sat on the mantel and the candles were flickering. The snow was falling - it was Christmas all over again. Anyways we had a nice time. "Accidentally" left my "gift" there - it was a box of decorations for all seasons......there was a 4th of July mug, an Easter basket, a St. Patrick's towel, a snowman......now all of those things are hiding around their house. They'll be sooo surprised! Tom's gift was a doormat that said "Well butter my buns and call me a biscuit" Seriously! You know we didn't leave that behind! I'm not sure whether to put that at our front door or the back!

Sunday night we had dinner with some other friends and then played a rousing game of Scattergories. Never played that one before.....it was the Junior version.......just my speed! Best thing was I didn't have to get up early for work today because I have the day off for MLK day!

What a Week!

Our students have been extra squirrelly lately. I think the answer came Saturday night when I looked out the window to see the biggest full moon you can imagine. It was like daylight in the yard...my trees were casting shadows. Awesome! On top of all the new snow...beautiful!

Then there was Sunday......

I really hate when this happens...

My mom had a Dr. appointment Monday morning in Ann Arbor. She had her first visit there in November and I took the day off and went with her and my dad. It was a great visit - she was evaluated by a geriatric specialist and we were very encouraged. Anyway, today was just a re-eval. No big deal, so I decided that I wouldn't go this time.

Besides, we were expecting a possible "situation" at work. And I had made a big point of assuring our principal that we could handle things in the classroom without extra assistance. Ha!

So I guess I shouldn't have been surprised when I came down with a nasty stomach bug Sunday night. I let everyone down that day.

The rest of the week was pretty uneventful....went back to work.....still feeling crappy. Woke up Wednesday night sick again! AUGH! Took another day off (I hate missing work....weird!). Then this morning - without any warning - the phone rang announcing that school was closed!!!!YAY!! I'd been hoping for a snow day ALL week. Plus I felt better so that was a bonus. Went to breakfast with some of my kids and grand babies, went shopping, mixed up some cookies to bake tomorrow, etc......

Now I am sitting here looking at the lovely beautiful glorious snow and hoping for a bunch more tomorrow!!!

Here is a new pic of Nick & Maggie - see any family resemblance??

The Week in Review

What a week! Thank goodness it is Friday is all I can say!

• First of all it was back to work after 17 days off for Christmas break! And if that wasn't bad enough, our classroom foster grandma (& friend) wasn't in all week due to an "administrative snafu". Mmmmmhmmmm!

This is Shirley our foster grandma who will be back Monday morning as the result of a barrage of complaints about her being gone all week!

• Then, just as I predicted, Cadi, my yellow lab, got mad when I took Murphy for a car ride instead of her and so she chewed up her brand new toy!!! It didn't quite provide "hours of chewing fun" like it said on the package. It was more like minutes. AUGH!! I guess she showed me huh?

• Yesterday Olivia came over - it has been a while since we've seen her - too long - since she still had Christmas presents here to open! Yikes! Anyways she is always fun to have over. And as you can see our Christmas tree is still up.
  
• At least we started bowling again today (with school) and that makes the day go faster! Plus it's Friday and the best part - it is SNOWING!!!! YAY!! It's going to be a great weekend!

Murphy, Cadi & Me

Here are my dogs Murphy & Cadi. Murph is a 10 year old mixed breed and Cadi is a 6 year old AKC Lab. They are both wonderful dogs. Murph came from Last Chance Rescue and Cadi came from a breeder.

Today we went to the movies and saw "Marley & Me". It was a cute movie - any dog lover would enjoy it. I don't want to say too much and spoil it if you haven't seen it yet. (But if you do see it notice that the dog training lady is Kathleen Turner. I did not recognize her right away but I knew the voice.)

Here's the thing -- Marley had every bad dog habit you could think of!
For example - drinking out of the toilet. Seriously my dogs would never do this. Gross! And how about this one - chewing up the sofa?? Oh wait.....never mind that one. Or jumping out the car window? Well at least the car wasn't moving when my dog jumped! My dogs wouldn't eat a whole bag of dog food (that's why we keep it in a big tub in the closet!) But last week Cadi did take an open can of dog food off the counter and eat the contents before she completely crushed it and punctured it with her teeth. It was a big can. At least she cleaned up her mess when she was done! She does jump like Marley when she's excited. I don't know how they get so much air! And gas.....P.U....let's just leave it at that! I guess Cadi flunked obedience school too. Truly - she was not promoted to the next level! In spite of all this she is a wonderful, loyal companion and family member. She just took an extra long time to grow up :~)

After the show we stopped at the pet store and got them some new toys. These toys are advertised as "indestructible". We'll see.

Happy New Year!!

Well we have officially made it through the holidays! YAY!! Here is Cadi realxing this morning in the living room. As you can see my tree is still up. Probably will be for another week or so. But since I didn't even decorate it until Dec. 22 I'd at least like to enjoy it for a while.

This is Selah this afternoon all worn out from a week of parties!

Here she is a little later enjoying a cup of coffee!! Thats my girl!!!

Here is the rest of the gang acting silly at dinner tonight.

And that is about all for today! Tomorrow I will post my New Years resolutions. Maybe.