Time sure flies!

Hello! I feel like I am apologizing all the time to you all. I am trying to be a good girl and update this regularly. Its been a crazy time around here. I got "Farmed" out to another organization this week and the hours there were nuts. Last weekend was a zoo. I decided that the best way to make friends in a new school.....er...I mean place is through their tummies. So I made cupcakes. I don't just mean a few, I went to wal-mart and bought several different types with frosting's to match. None of this chocolate or vanilla, no sir.....Lemon cake with Lemon Icing, Carrot cake with Cream Cheese frosting, & German Chocolate cake with pecan/coconut frosting. Yummmm. So I basically baked all day Sunday and watched some new DVD's I got from my favorite store! (BB). I just plain old forgot about writing the blog. Then on Monday I remembered but it was middle of the day, so I couldn't do it at work, then forgot when I got home. And then there was Tuesday. I went to work noticing that my neck was stiff and kind of achy, and I had a headache, so I took some Motrin for the headache and went to work, when the Motrin wore off (and the headache came back) I took more Motrin. I finally got home Tuesday night and stopped taking the Motrin to see what would happen....my temp shot up. With a temp of 103.5 I finally broke down and went back on the Motrin. Even with the Motrin in me my temp was 101 all night long. I felt awful. I called in sick to work on Wednesday (which couldn't have been worse timing). They described in detail what I had and what was going to happen next as many others have been afflicted with this awful virus. I was highly encouraged to go to the doctors due to many others having complications from this. So off I went to the new Doctors office down the street in our po-dunk town. I went there and I swear they thought I was either some wimp or some hypochondriac. All I got to see was the Nurse practitioner(all of 25 years old, mind you) who didn't sound to sure of what she was telling me. using words like "I think" and "well the usual aren't there so it must be...." were not all that encouraging. She said if it didn't change in a few days or if it got worse or moved somewhere else, let her know. Of course later that night, it settled into a sore throat (as my co-workers had warned me). Not just any....you know the ones where you seriously debate drooling all over yourself rather than inflict the pain of swallowing on yourself. (which, by the way, I did not do!). So the next morning I called in to work sick again (as nothing was better and the fever was still there) and went in for a strep test. Again, the crazy patient (that's me) was in. Strep test was negative. The advice I paid $200 for.....take ibuprofen and let it run its course. Thanks! So after another fun night or fevers, chills, throats, and aches, I still am not better today and am home trying to drink lots and eat (something). Which brings me to my next story for the week.

As I have said before, this town is quite small, right? We don't even have a grocery store. (NOTE: some of you may see where I am headed now). So when I found that in order to take 2 times the amount of Motrin I had been taking (as she told me to take more) I needed to have something in me (Milk or food). Now I wasn't prepared to be shut in for a week, nor was I planning on drinking so much (because food does not sound good at all). So on Thursday I finally ran out of Milk and knew I had to get more. So I had been told that the Gas station down the road has the "necessities" at a premium price of course. At this point I would have paid $5.00 for a gallon just so I don't have to drive 10 miles, park, walk another mile (its a wal-mart) and then go to the back of the store to get milk (I hate that, don't you ?). So into the gas station I go. With my luck still going strong , of course as I head that way (its only about 1 mile down the road) its just so happens that on this day the fire department is on the street collecting for the MDA telethon (the boot thing). And all of their equipment is parked in the gas station, which has traffic going every which way to get around it (and in some cases, avoiding the collection). I finally get into the station and park, walk in and head to the back (I think they take lessons from wal-mart), and realize that the only gallons they have are for 2% and whole. Ok, I am now a skim milk girl, so I can (on occasion) choke down 2% but not when I am not feeling well. I look in the milk case harder (hoping there might be one skim gallon hiding somewhere) behind are milk crates but I can't tell what kind is in them. So I ask the lady at the front if they have any gallons of skim in back, "no honey, we don't carry that in gallons". So I end up getting a quart (=1 big glass) for $1.80 which I didn't think was bad until I did the math.....$7.20 a gallon. Yikes. I just got one. That lasted all of one day. So today was the big adventure. I am still not feeling well, but am now out of Milk, dry cereal, and I've used all my Motrin for this as yet named virus. So I had to make the 10 mile trip to the next town over called Lacey. Its just down I-5 so it goes fast and its pretty. I managed to get myself out of bed, take a quick bath, and get ready. As I merge onto the Interstate I notice the traffic isn't moving. Yeah me....I'm stuck in a traffic jam with no way out having not eaten in days and no Motrin in me...I happy, how about you? What is normally about a 10 minute drive became a 20 minute drive because of an accident that happened hours earlier and the traffic is still backed up. Any way, I made it down and got my stuff (avoided wal-mart by going to Walgreen's), and headed back. Nice and easy. I am so happy I now have milk. Who would have thought something like milk would make me so happy!

Well, hopefully this will go away and I will live to have a better weekend (a holiday weekend no less). I hope all is well with everyone. Please drop me a line (post a comment) to let me know that someone is at least reading my ramblings. Hope you all have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend. Toodles for now!

Being "Farmed" out

Hi all! Well another week has passed and the weather here continues to amaze me (the weathermen too!). Most days this week were in the low 70's to high 60's. Whats been interesting is that they keep saying how its going to rain. Well, it really doesn't rain. It may "spit" (=a Midwest term I guess) a little during the day, but its how the day progresses that is funny. I wake up and its sunny and clear skies. I laugh at the "rainy day" mentioned on last nights weather forecast (which I had to stay up until 11pm for!), then get dressed and head to work. I get to work and within one hour or so the skies cloud over with the dark clouds and big white heavy clouds. Not much sun at all. This continues all day long, I get into my car to go home and on the way home...the Sun appears. Within 30 minutes the clouds are all gone and the sky is most clear! It did this for 2-3 days this week. It was weird. As for rain, its only spit here or there except for the one time it POURED rain for all of 5 minutes. Of course it just so happened to be the minutes that I was walking out to my car (Parked 3 blocks down the road because I can't parallel park) with my pizza box. As soon as I walk in my front door...poof the rain stops and the sky clears. I think someone was out to get me last night...but oh well. I may be sweet but not sweet enough to melt in the rain.

Anyway, about the title to this blog. I thought it was a fitting Midwestern title. I have been "Farmed"(i.e.loaned) to another program (in Child Services) for a few weeks. Its been interesting and I have learned a lot. I don't mind it, in fact when asked by my boss if I wanted to continue working there or do something different, I said I wouldn't mind staying there if they needed the help. So I am now on loan for the next 2 weeks (at least). Its stressful, but fun!

On to other parts of my life. Well, when mom was here we got some blackout material to make a shade (since they have so much darn light here...way too early in the morning!). We tried to use fabric tape (steam-a-seam) to hold it together (since I had not brought my sewing machine), but that didn't work. So I was left with trying to figure out what to do. I saw in the ads last weekend that Walgreen's had a sewing machine (small/compact) with a bonus handheld sewing machine for $19.99 (after rebate), so I drove all around town to find a walgreens and managed to get the last box they had. I spent my Friday night stitching my shades. Well, the sewing machine is not the heavy duty one I am used to so I only got 1 panel done (I have 2 panels to make for my long window in the bedroom), so I have one more to finish tonight so I can (hopefully) sleep in tomorrow. I also decided to raise my bed up, that way I can use under it for storage. Since I am quite tall (so I am told) I shouldn't have any problem trying to get into bed with it being higher. So I bought the risers for the bed and bought a bed skirt to hide the underside. Poor Fritz is going to have to jump 7 more inches to get up. I hope he can make it. STOP. Don't do that....don't feel sorry for him. Its good exercise for him. Hey, if he can't make it up he has his bed on the floor. Feel bad for me, if I cant make it up, I don't fit in his bed. (we've tried, right mom?).

Any way, I hope you all have a great week. I miss you. Its nice out here but I could use some of my good old friends and family here to talk with. Well, there is a family fair at the park just down the road a few blocks so I am off to see what its like (I hear they have BBQ there!). Take care and talk with y'all later.--Katie

Oops....I forgot! But I've got a great story for you!

Ok, so I'm not perfect, I'm sure many of you can attest to that! (I'll agree to it too!) I forgot I'm supposed to periodically update this little blog. I am so not used to this. I've never really followed blogs before, so this all new to me. So...I humbly apologize for not updating this sooner. There's been a lot going on here, so I really should have been writing. Well, better late than never!Work went well. I now have one week under my belt... only a 103 more to go! lol! Just kidding! I had fun. At first it was death by paper shredding and filing, but just when I was thinking to myself "what did I sign up for"...poof....a project was dropped right in my lap. Ok, so I had no idea what the project entailed, nor what it was about. But in the beginning I think I faked it pretty well, until I was able to figure it all out. The project that should have taken 1 day (less for more experienced people) has turned out to be a 3 day project (and it still is not finalized!). Well, in my defense it has been a lot of hurry up and wait (on others to get me the info). As everyone knows, I not the most patient person, so I did as much as I could so I wouldn't have to wait too much on others to get information. Also, I multi-tasked while I was waiting. I bet it was quite funny for the office staff to see. Since I have no computer or phone (nor do I know the phone numbers for the office or the people in the other offices I am calling), I would go and use my supervisors phone (as she was gone for my first week...that was fun!) in her office, then go back to my desk and add what was said to my notes, then go back to my supervisors office to go online and work on my classes I have to take. Then run back to my desk to get papers, back to her office to make follow-up calls, then computer and ...well, you get the drift...I looked like a rabbit that didn’t know which way to go. lol. go figure! I actually had fun and was forced to learn a lot in a short time.In other news, mom left. She went back home. It seemed to go pretty well (her leaving) but in true Katie fashion (the blonde in me I think), there was one problem. I dropped her off at the airport at 10pm, then I had to drive back(1 hour drive each way). We said our good-byes in the drop-off lane of the airport. It was short but sweet (and easier that way). After she went in, I sat down in the car and noticed that my cell phone wasn't attached to my waistband (as you all know I ALWAYS have it on me). So I check around the car (still in the drop-off lane) and don't see it. I look in the car, under the seat and all around....I can't find it. I decide it must be at home (as I had changed clothes just before we left). I started driving home and made it about 10 minutes away from the airport, then started worrying. I did see a phone clipped to mom's purse when she got out of the car, and I was holding her purse on my lap on the way to the airport (I was the passenger, by request). What if I had clipped mine on there absent-mindedly? (I could see me doing that, can't you?). "She'll call me" I thought....wait....I don’t have a phone. If she has my cell, I have no phone. I then had visions of going to my next door neighbor at 11pm at night asking to use his phone so I could call mom to tell her she'd have to send me the phone. In the meantime I would have no phone (I'm using my cell as my home phone). I thought, if I turn around now she could run it back out to me and still make it to her plane, but I have no way of finding her and I still don’t know if she has my phone. I made the decision to get off at the next exit that had a gas station and call her to see and ask. Luckily I was prepared for such a circumstance, and had kept a calling card in my purse. I felt quite proud of my planning (type A) skills. I got off at the next exit and followed the signs to the gas station (which of course was not right off the interstate). Of course the road I chose was under construction and the gas station was not easily accessible. When I pulled in I realized it was not in the best part of town and it was now 1030pm. Great! I quickly asked where the pay phone was, he said it was outside across the parking lot. I drove there and then started dialing the 800 number for the card. Guess what...it didn't work. Apparently it’s been too long since I had used it. Go figure. I then made the decision to call my cell phone collect, if no one answered (or the machine) then I figured it was at my house (or laying in the drop off lane smooshed), if mom answered it would be well worth the cost to have the phone sent before she left the area. Yeah, my luck, no answer...oh well hope it's at home. I worried the whole way home (and sped too..oops!) I walked in and there it was sitting on the counter in front of my face. Thank goodness for small favors. I think God was watching out for me on that one: one, so I didn't get hurt at that gas station, and two so my phone stayed with me and I wasn't connectionless. Could I have been more of a worry wart!? Oh well, safe and sound. This all happened Tuesday night. Needless to say I got home around 1115pm and couldn't fall asleep until after midnight. Then some new neighbors decided to drive to their new place (here) and arrive at 1230am. I see headlights on my window back up and then pull forward, then the car door opens and dad yells "Alright, we're here, lets go" the kids pile out (2-3 kids) and all I hear for the next 30-45 minutes are the kids yelling and playing while using their rollered "vehicles" (skates, skateboards, or scooters...not sure which) Dad was unpacking the car as evidence of the doors opening and closing, and bags/boxes being dropped and carried. yeah, I still managed to get up the next morning at 700am and make it into work on time (thanks to some kind neighbors who like to have full voice conversations while walking to their cars!).Needless to say Wednesday was a tiring day for me. I thought I might go work out after work, but after trying to find my gym bag after work, I just wasn’t in the mood. Thursday I did go work out and it was nice. The complex has a small workout area and no one was in it....having it all to myself was quite nice. I might just try that again. Of course the natural progression would be to work out the next day and start a pattern, except....its Friday...who in their right mind works out on a Friday? That's what I thought...I'll work on it again for Monday!Well, this weekend has gone pretty smoothly. We had a party at the complex pool. They had Famous Daves cater it and it was ok. Not a very big turn out but that’s ok. Met a nice lady (married with a 5 year old), had some good food, got out from the house. I had to clean the house and do laundry. So got that all done, then worked the rest of the day and night on unpacking the remaining boxes. I finally finished around 930pm and now I am here writing this. Its late.....it’s even later if I think of it in terms of what time it is back home. I think its time for bed. I can’t promise you I will write more often, but I will try my hardest to remember. Keep in mind...if you don’t see a post up here (with in a reasonable amount of time) give me a call and remind me. Maybe I just forgot, but then again maybe not. lol. Take care and have a wonderful week! I miss you all!

I'm Famous...well sort of!

Well, CNN.COM posted our photos along with a short comments, so check it out and see all of our fun filled trip! First night here was enjoyable. Air mattress that is going flat, dog who hates air mattress, new noises ....the best part.....cool weather....keeping windows open at night and I got cold. We (mom & I) woke up and took fritz for a long walk through the neighborhood. Saw (in my backyard) Mt. Rainier. How beautiful! I think I might like it here. My stuff comes tomorrow....lets hope its all in one piece and all there! Its getting old eating standing up or on the floor (with a dog drooling beside you!). Hope all is well, take care and be sure to check out the CNN site with my pictures on it! http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/30/ireport.west.fires/index.html?iref=newssearch


-Katie