GOALS 2011!

On the last day of 2010, I decided to sit down and write down my goals for the coming year. For the coming year, I am hoping that there will be some good things happening for Stephen and I. We will be celebrating our 6th Anniversary. I have two work trips planned (and hopefully my last two work trips). I am hoping to make progress with DORS. But... I need to set some new goals that I can keep working towards.

Goal #1: Lose weight - Although this was also a goal from last year, I lost 20 lbs. last year. I need to lose a little more weight to make those three clicks at Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey in October. I also need to do this for my own health. After Sandy's death this year, my health is becoming my number one priority. She died too soon and it was more than avoidable.

Goal #2: Enroll in ASL classes - With my hearing bottoming out faster than I can keep up, the recommendation of one of the technology gurus working with DORS was to enroll in ASL.

Goal #3: Blog more - Since I've been working for Dan and Company, I write all the time. But, I have neglected blogging. This is the kind of writing that I enjoy doing. So, my goal is to write more.

I'll post more goals tomorrow! :)

I know it has been awhile...

For the first time in months, I have discovered a few moments to sit down and write on my blog. I've finished all my work for the day and just get to sit back and enjoy the day. I did want to post two photos. The first is a photo of Snowmagedon mailbox. The second is the same mailbox this summer. Jane says the transformation is cool. I don't see it. But, it is a neat comparison.

Our Crew! Squirrel Hunting

CapTel

This week, I finally finished my evaluation for assisted technology. It was recommended that DORS purchase a CapTel phone for my use. For those of you who don't know anything about CapTel, it is a phone that provides captions for phone calls. My hearing is getting dramatically worse and that was one of a few recommendations that they made to make my life a little easier. I look forward to finding out if I qualify. If I don't, I can still qualify for a free phone through a program set up for progressive hearing loss patients.

Boooooooooomer!

Just when I had given up on seeing Boomer on his back listening to music, I came into the bedroom today to find his using my pjs as a bed and listening to music that Ty cat obviously turned on for him. These cats are so spoiled.

Go To Sleep, Little Ty

The sleeping kitten is our third cat, Ty. Ty has mastered turning my alarm clock on... well turning the Nature Sounds mode on. He turns the sounds on, goes onto the bed, flips onto his back, and THEN... Sleeps. The green plaid things are Stephen's Sleep Pants. The purple is my nightgown.

OMG! ANTS!

Saw our mailperson come towards our door today. When J. went out to greet her, she stated J. HAD to come see our mailbox. We had hundreds of ants all over the box. And the mail-lady stated, in the last stops, EIGHT of us had these ants (out of 12). J. immediately came in and got me. The photos don't show it clearly, but we had ants, ant eggs, ant feces, and the like all over the box. J. immediate grabbed the hose and WHOOOSH. Goodbye floating ants.

And That's Something To Think About!

Jane and I were on the Light Rail from Glen Burnie to Baltimore today. I had a job that took me into town. I always like going into Baltimore because it usually means getting a chance to walk through Inner Harbor. Today was no different. The only change from the norm was that I encountered a couple of things that were different from the norm.

When we got down to Light Street, there was a group of protesters. They were protesting unfair wages and benefits from a local construction company. They were protesting in front of a 10 ft. tall inflatable skunk. Now, with this interesting visual, you would think they could come up with a witty sign for the skunk like, "Doesn't that stink?" No such luck. They seemed to think that placing a picket sign in his hands that said "Fair pay for a fair day of work." What a waste of a giant inflatable skunk! Then again, where do you get a giant inflatable skunk? I cannot imagine he was easy to find.



The next thing that was odd was that we ran into a second protest less than 50 ft. away. This time they were women with peace stickers. Jane took one of their stickers. I did not. Because of this, I was labeled as a "Sellout to the man". Ummm... I didn't want a sticker. Didn't say that peace isn't a good thing. When is attacking someone who doesn't want a sticker and accusing them of being a sellout "peaceful"? So, my thought in connection with this is... if you are promoting yourself as being peace loving, isn't it kinda hateful and not peaceful to attack those who do not accept your stickers?

Third... I want to state that I think everyone should go to see How to Train Your Dragon. It is a really cute movie.

My goal for the next couple days is to get out with a camera and get some new photos. I've been busy with work and going to the gym. I promise I will be better about posting new things.

Aftermath - Saturday

As of this morning at 11:54 am, this is what the house still looks like. You can see that the driveway is pretty clean (as is Jane's black car - whereas mine is still snow covered). No path has been attempted to try and get to the front door. This is because the snow is as hard as concrete and no one uses their front door in West Laurel anyway. So, 4 to 5 ft. snow wall surrounds the driveway on all sides.
This is the mailbox. The postman is actually pleased with this solution because at least he can get up to the box.
This is really a photo just for my mom. She asked how road clearing was going. This, mom, is snowcrete. It is an icy, hard, frozen mass that snow plows don't/won't scoop. It is going to be there until it melts because we won't be seeing any more snow plows (that is until the next storm on Tuesday or the proposed biggie next weekend).
This is the shot down the other way from our driveway. As you can see, there is barely a one car width path plowed to get a car through. And heaven help you if you get out of that path. You can't see anything coming at intersections. It is probably best not to be on the roads still. However, so far, we have managed to need to go out three times in the last two days and I have "an appointment" tomorrow at 11 - so we'll go out again.
This is a close up shot of the neighbor's house to our right. This is a rather large icicle that starts at their roof, goes down, at some point bent towards the fence about 4 to 6 inches from the original icicle, is running frozen down the front of the fence AND straight down from the original icicle. I love this!!!
Here is a better "far away" shot of the icicle. Try to ignore the white blotch in the middle of the photo. The camera is getting foggy at this point and I was ready to come in.

And, last but not least, a sad note. The Laurel "unofficial" Christmas Tree had major damage. The official post says that the tree lost 2/3rds of its branches. Regardless of its fate, it is a treasured Laurel icon and its previous grand dame status will be missed.

The Clean Up

Big O' Snow Ball. Stephen found this chunk in front of his car. He went to shovel and couldn't lift the shovel. This is what was stopping him. Snowcrete!

Yet Another Snow Posting - Yes, I know... Stop with the photos already!

No hopes of getting to the front door ANYTIME soon!
Even if we could reach the door, those icicles would keep me away! I do like the Williamsburg Blue door color, though. Jane made an excellent choice when I refinished the door last winter.
Where the street go? Where the street at?
7 INCHES at the carport where drifting is blowing the snow down.
10 INCHES! Non-drifted section of the driveway. Guess what? Still snowing a pretty clip. I bet we get another 2 inches before it is done.

Uhhh OH! And Three Very Nice Bird Photos!

Dripping from the window molding in the kitchen. Dripping at the rate of a drip a second. Darn ice dam.

Early Afternoon Photos - Wednesday

The trees and the power lines are starting to get full and droop.
One killer icicle! Too bad I actually had to go outside to get a photo of it. Gusts of wind knocked me into the brick to my right and I got cut on the brick.
Jane pointed out to me that you know you have a serious wind when the icicles start to bend to the side.
Cars still have snow!
SNOW! Gotta love it!

Jane's Request... Post My Photo!!!

Even kittens love watching snow!

9:08 am - It has started AGAIN.

The news crew is now saying our heaviest snow is about to start. When I look out the window, the snow is blowing heavily. Stephen suggested I take his photo with him standing behind our drift next to the mailbox. You can't even see the box any more. Stephen is 6 ft. 1/4 inch tall. Once again, car shot and icicles.

Interlude - Ode to a backyard tree

I hope I shall never see
A tree quite as loaded with snow as thee.
You bend and tear under thou weight.
Hope that breakage is not in your fate.