Snowmobiles on ice...

From
the Willie 103 website this morning.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2008 LAKE
TIPPECANOE - Two Indiana State Troopers pulleda woman from the icy waters of
Tippecanoe Lake last night. Authorities sayaround 7:30 they got a call that a
snowmobile had gone through the ice near theTippy Dance Hall. The woman was
rescued nearly 25 minutes later. There's no wordon her condition.

I have been watching snowmobiles out on the lake for the past week or so and thinking its just a matter of time.... I took pictures of the snowmobile tracks out on the lake directly in front of my mother's home on Tippy, less than a tenth of a mile from the dance hall where the accident occured.

The Exam

So last night I went to Fort Wayne and took my exam on Basic Appraisal Principles. I left there brain dead. I honestly did not know if I had passed or failed. I was stressed... I got an email from the Appraisal Institute this morning around 9 stating that I had passed. Whew.

So tonight I have started my next class....Basic Appraisal Procedures. Second step towards getting my trainee license so that I can become a Certified General Appraiser.

TV Shopping

Yesterday I went to Fort Wayne to do some tv shopping. I have been researching, asking questions and looking online, yesterday was the day I needed to see the differences up close and personal.

I even put a lot of thought into the fact that I was going shopping and planning on making a fairly large purchase that would be around our home for many years to come. One of the first steps in my thought process was to look like a serious buyer. I took the time to do my hair and makeup and dress nice. I wanted to look as if I had the money to spend. Ok - mission accomplished.

I started out at Best Buy, was quite overwhelmed and ready to walk out when I was asked if I had been helped, I said no and the gentleman got another gentleman over to help me right away. He was very nice and professional and honestly quite helpful. I told him I was just beginning this process and had more stops to make.

I went to Wal-Mart and Meijer just so I would have them on the list for the sake of argument. Then I went to Circuit City and really didn't find much help there. I decided to take a break and ventured out around DuPont to find exactly where I would be taking my exam on Tuesday evening, I didn't want to be any more nervous and upset than I already am come Tuesday!

So then I thought I would stop in at Stucky's. Big. Mistake. The gentleman greeted me and offered to help me. I decided to play down what I already knew to see if he would back up what I have already learned. Halfway thru he suggest that I let my husband help make this decision. I informed him that I was not married. But that didn't stop him. He asked if I had a boyfriend or friend that could help me with this decision. WOW.

I informed him that I was quite capable of making this decision and that actually he had just helped me make a huge decision. I told him I was now certain that I would not be buying a television, or any other appliance from that store, EVER. And I walked out.

When I told my mom this story, her response was that as long as we don't vote Hillary in as president, men will never change and will always think all women are stupid..... (Hmmmm, interesting point mom, not one I am even going to discuss with you, but interesting...)

When I told my sister, she is going to go in on the pretense of buying a big azz flat screen and take it down to the last minute of finalizing the deal and then saying, oh, wait a minute, this is the store my sister told me about, the store where men think women are stupid and unable to make such an important decision by theirself, and walk out. We are evil like that - lol

I do realize I have made this into a bigger deal than it needs to be, but I just want to be comfortable with the decision that I make.

30 Hours Done, 45 To Go

I have complete my first course, Appraisal Principles. A 30 hour course and now I have scheduled my exam. Next Tuesday night I am going over to Fort Wayne to take my test. I hope I pass. I am a nervous wreck.

After that I have another course in place and ready to start, Appraisal Procedures. Thats another 30 hours then I have another 15 hour course. If I pass all of those then I will be able to get my Appraiser Trainee License! Its coming, slowly but surely.

Finally

I figured out what I am a winner at!!!! It doesn't make me happy to be a winner at this, as a matter of fact, it hurts like hell. Change a few words in it and its my story...

RASCAL FLATTS LYRICS

"Winner At A Losing Game"

Baby, look here at me Have you ever seen me this way

I've been fumblin' for words

Through the tears and the hurt and thePain

I'm gonna lay it all out

On the line tonight

And I think that it's time

To tell this uphill fight goodbye

[CHORUS]

Have ever had to love someone

That just don't feel the same

Tryin' to make somebody care for you

The way I doIs like tryin' to catch the rain

And if love is really forever

I'm a winner at a losin' game

I know that baby, you triedTo find me somewhere inside of you

But you know you can't lie

Girl, you can't hide the truth

Sometimes two heartsJust can't dance to the same beat

So I'll pack up my things

And I'll take what remains of me

[Repeat Chorus]

I know that I'll never be the man that you need or love

Yeah, baby it's killin' me to stand here and seeI'm not what you've been dreamin' of

[Repeat Chorus]

Oh, oh, if love is really foreverI'm a winner at a losin' game

Ooo, I'm tired of losing

A trip into heck.....

I took off work a half hour early today and went home and got the kittens. They are getting declawed and fixed tomorrow. I could have taken them in to the vet tomorrow morning, but they weren't allowed to eat or drink after 6 tonight and I had no clue how I would be able to keep them out of food and water overnight. They are tricky ones I tell you!

So anyhow, I got home and Mikey was hiding. It was snowing hard and the roads were bad. I finally got on the road and had less than 20 minutes to make it into Warsaw. On a good day - no problem - on a snowy day....that's pushing it.

I didn't get the pet carrier all the way shut - the kittens escaped into the vehicle and were all over the place while i was trying to drive on bad roads. I had to call my daughter and have her call the vet's office and tell them I was on my way but might be a couple of minutes late. Mikey lays down on the dash in front of me.....I push him off. My daughter calls back and can't find the number.....Maggie crawls under the driver's seat from the back and jumps into my lap.....

I turn the corner in front of my ex who is coming to get the boys and slide and fishtail towards him.......can you imagine if I would have hit him?

Its getting close to 4:30 and I am pretty sure I am going to be closer to 10 minutes late and am thinking the vet's office is going to close....

My daughter calls back, just before I have a heart attack because of the stress level and informs me the vet doesn't close until 5.

I get there and the gal in there informs me that she always tells people that on the phone so that she can always get off work at 5......

Overwhelmed

I have been in the process of redoing my living room. I bought a new sectional sofa. I painted. And now I want to add a new tv over the fireplace to open the room up even more. I have been shopping and asking questions and I am more confused than ever. I want to stay in a 750 to 1000 budget on this purchase and want a 40" or 42" screen. Simple enough. Right? I suppose it is. I am just so overwhelmed and afraid of making the wrong buying decision that I am pretty much paralyzed at this point. I found a really great deal online at Circuit City and was so afraid to make the decision the deal is gone now. Sigh.

The biggest thing I am finding is once you get the tv, you have to buy the mount which can be another 150 and then you have to get speakers which you know what kind of price ranges you can get into there.

What's really sad is that I made the decision to buy the new sectional sofa that I bought on the thought of adding a flat screen tv over the fireplace in order to arrange the room the way I want and I am now so afraid of this decision I have almost talked myself out of this decision. I have a very good friend who I have relied on his ideas and support many times over, but life paths have changed and he has no time for me so I guess.....I am on my own on this or on hold on this or just sign me totally confused. Sigh.

OMG the Flooding

I cannot believe the way its flooding around here. Its the first I've really seen what I might encounter with my home. Fortunately, my house is at the top of a small hill in my neighborhood. Apparently my pond is the first pond in a "chain" of ponds also. Believe it or not, the water level has not changed in my pond. I think a lot of water drains into it but just flows right on to the next pond and the next one and then next one clear on down to the lake. I am fortunate. No water in my basement.

I do however have one pesky roof leak that is getting worse. It leaked twice the first two winters here and now this winter I have had four times of it leaking. So......the handyman neighbor came down last night to see what I was talking about while it was in action, it leaks in an interior wall wouldn't you know. Nothing we can really do until the snow melts off the roof and we get a somewhat decent day.

I feel very bad for the people who's homes are flooding. Its a horrible helpless feeling. I remember when my ex changed the locks on the doors at my other house and wouldn't let the kids and I get the rest of our personal belongings. At the time I said it was no worse than if we had experienced a flood or a fire, but it was heartwrenching all the same. To lose so many "pieces of our lives" but yet we were fortunate that we were ok and had a place to call home. I can only imagine what so many people folks are going through now with these flood waters.

A day in court....

Yesterday was my day in court. I filed paperwork for a provisional modification and support increase. We were scheduled to appear before the judge at 9:30. We got lots of snow yesterday and school was cancelled. It was rather treacherous on the drive in to Warsaw to the Justice Building, but I was there early as instructed by my attorney so we could meet in advance.

My attorney acknowledged my arrival, told me to have a seat in the waiting area and she would come and get me in a few. A little later she poked her head out and asked if my ex husband was there....no he wasn't. His attorney came out looking for him, asked me if I had seen him and I said no, he said, "you've got to be kidding me." and disappeared.

He kept coming out and looking for him as our court time came and went....my attorney didn't even bother to come out and meet with me......

They called my ex. He didn't answer.

At 11, my attorney came out and said she and my ex's attorney had met with the judge and he said he was willing to give us a hearing date for this that it is definitely in order to review the arrangements and he will see us March 17.

So, I waste two hours......and my ex doesn't even get a slap on the hand? He didn't show up because he is behind in support.......

Six More Weeks of WINTER

Today is groundhog day. And it appears as if we are going to see six more weeks of winter. Well of course we are, we always do, Spring doesn't arrive until March......anyhow...

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. - Brace yourself for more wintry weather. Punxsutawney Phil
saw his shadow Saturday, leading the groundhog to forecast six more weeks of
winter.

Phil is pictured above looking like "why do you people do this every year? hehehe

The rodent was pulled from his stump by members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog
Club Inner Circle, top-hat- and tuxedo-wearing businessmen who carry out the
tradition.
Each Feb. 2, thousands of people descend on Punxsutawney, a town
of about 6,100 people some 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, to celebrate what
had essentially been a German superstition.
The tradition is that if a
hibernating animal sees a shadow on Feb. 2 — the Christian holiday of Candlemas
— winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow is seen, legend says spring
will come early.

Guess I get six more weeks of snuggling in front of the fireplace! (If only I had a special someone to snuggle with!) Read the whole groundhog story here.