Winter Solstice

 The days are going to get a little longer now.  

Saturday night, my family attended the Winter Solstice Event at the Ernie Miller Nature Park.  We went last year and it was super cute and decided to attend again.  They only allowed 30 people per session and it's a nice sized park.  There was night trail hiking (my advice: don't turn your flashlight on, it totally ruins your night vision and others night vision and makes it more difficult to navigate and see the stars), moon viewing, star gazing, storytelling and wish making.  My niece wished for a poodle.  She told me as soon as she stepped through the wishing tree. 

Tonight, we got to view The Great Conjunction!  The last one was in 1632, when telescopes were in their infancy and Galileo (he made his first telescope 14 years before) was alive.  I drove somewhere to see it because I knew I wouldn't be able to see it from my home.

It made my little nerd heart happy.

You can see two separate planets!  This was right at 6 pm.  Did you get to see it?

Today was Peyton's last in person day before Winter Break.  We gave all his teachers Thank You cards with a Target gift card inside.  I know High School teachers normally do not get recognized as much as lower great teachers.  They all deserve a little something this year. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Monday!  

Happy Friday!

 Happy Friday friends!  I have a lot of blog reading to catch up!

School is nearing it's end for the year. Only three days left for the kiddos then it is winter break!  Since most of their stuff is online, they can work on missing assignments and everything to get caught up during break.  Let's just say...Peyton is a bit behind in English.  Alli's online teacher is actually getting online a few times during break to open tests and quizzes for kiddos.  She's getting paid for it, don't worry. :)  The principal asked her to do it and who doesn't like extra money.  

I found someone to order Girl Scout cookies from.  My daughter is no longer involved in GS and my niece isn't either.  But, I have an order in.  Shipping a few boxes to Tanner.  Hope he enjoys.

My new job.  I love it.  I love the company, the coworkers, the work!  It's all new and exciting.  My first month and I already had two PTO days to take.  I did them on the 23rd and 30th.  That way I would get two five day weekends in a row.  I received a super nice sherpa blanket and am awaiting a package from UPS with goodies from our employee engagement committee.  This is so different coming from a government setting to a corporate one.  I know 2020 has been the pits for some, but I call this new job a bright light.  

Here are a few pics from the past week or so.  :) 

A fun secret santa exchange!

Hims a love bug 

KC Wine Co Winter Lights

We went on a Thursday night and there was only one other car though!

Go see lights during the week!

Loves the heating blanket.

Work buddy!

Currently (12)

 

It's the first Wednesday of the month and that means it is "currently" time.  Hop on over to In Residence to link up and participate!

Baking

Chocolate Swirl Pumpkin Pie

Brie Bites

Chex Mix

Up next on the baking front: Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls, Fudge, Sugared Pecans and maybe one more thing.

Decorating

My tree has been up for a few weeks, but I turned the lights on yesterday.  December 1st.

My fireplace is also decorated.

The porch will be done this week sometime.

Gifting

Violett's birthday was last weekend and we gifted her some Koala Calico Critters.

Hoping

For a smooth December, some sort of peace in this time, for everyone to be happy and healthy.

Sending

I did three Bookstagram swaps.

I've done quite a few RAOK swaps.

I am going to send Tanner his package overseas soon, the box

I have doesn't fit all his stuff from people.

Weekend to a short week!

 I start my new employment today!  What?  I am so excited.  I have a meeting with HR to virtually do my ID process,  First Day Orientation online and a meeting with my new manager.  I don't have my computer yet.  HR said it's on it's way.  I can do all the things listed above on my own computer, so it works out just fine.  Nice, easy first week!  I think I made the right choice on starting this week.

It's been a busy morning already.  I met with Alli's remote teacher.  She is on target with most of her classes.  She can use the holiday break to get caught up in one of the them, but the other one she is sitting on a test that has to be supervised.  She will have to wait until next week.  I met with Peyton's geography teacher.  Peyton is doing a good job, has attended all the virtual meetings and his teacher said he can still do the project he is missing.  I know Peyton had started on it, just not sure where he is at with it.  I am going to have him turn it in this week.  I had already warned the kids if they have missing work, they would be doing it over Thanksgiving Break.  Thank goodness, neither of them have a lot missing.  

This weekend I decorated the front room.  I've also been going through things.  I found a couple of boxes with DVDs.  Probably around 100 of them.  Maybe more.  Half of them are missing.  That means they are floating around this house somewhere.  I will donate a majority of them.  A few I am keeping because they are classics or favorites and can be passed down.

Here is Kibben in the tree before I can even get the lights on it.  He hasn't gotten up in it since I put the ornaments on.  I let him have his fun for a few minutes.  :)

I went shopping on Sunday.  Aldi's has a bunch of fancy cheeses for not fancy prices.  I am making a charcuterie board for Thanksgiving.  I bought a bunch of meats, cheeses and crackers.  We are not having Thanksgiving on Thursday.  Our family needed to postpone until Sunday.  My niece was exposed to COVID 19 and quarantine ends for them on Saturday.  So far negative tests and no symptoms.  Whew!  On Thursday, my mom, the kids and myself are going to my grandpas apartment and having a small dinner.  Chicken, scalloped potatoes, rolls and a cake.  My grandpa is making the cake.  He has been wanting to bake one for a while.

I picked up a few things for him at the store and brought them out to him on Sunday.  We are keeping him out of the stores as much as we can with the rising cases.  Gotta keep him safe.  :)   My mom shopped for him yesterday, but he had forgotten a few things.  We watched a little TV and I told him about Big Sky, I figured he would like that.  He plans on watching it on Tuesday when the episode airs. 

I did some online shopping and worked on gift lists and what I need to purchase.  I need a few more ideas for my teenage boy.  He will probably end up with some money for shoes.  It will make him happy though.  

Peyton attempted his permit test on Friday. He missed it by two questions.  He will have to try again.  It took Alli a few times to pass also.  Some of those signs are ones that you do not see often.

Here are some pictures of Peyton.  He loves those doggos and they were helping me sort socks....kinda.

We can't forget a picture of Freddie, sunning himself on the bench.

I'm just going to watch my First Day video and wait for my computer to arrive.  It should be around 10 am!  Keep your fingers crossed!

Fall List Revisited

 Happy Monday!  I am giving a small recap on my Fall List, mostly to hold me accountable!  The orange is what I have completed and the black is not accomplished yet.  One I won't be able to do, but the other ones I should be able to get finished.

• Visit the Pumpkin Patch  -- I am counting the pumpkin patch at HD for this one! 
• Get Lost in a Corn Maze  -- we didn't get to do this before they closed!  (We had a doggo emergency come up when we were supposed to go!)
• Decorate pumpkins or use them to decorate things.  -- yep!
• Get a huge mum plant for the front porch  -- yes!
• Make some apple cider and bake an apple pie
• Make some chili!  (Multiple times probably!)  -- yes!!
• Make a bonfire and have s'mores!
• Visit a haunted house/maze!  -- yes!  The Zombie Bus and terror trail!
• Make a pumpkin bread or muffins  -- yep!  Pumpkin Choc Chip Muffins
• Take a few hikes!  The weather is perfect for it.  -- Does the Spooky Trail count?  I'm counting it!!
• Visit a zoo.  The animals love the cooler weather!  -  We are doing this on November 28th for my nieces birthday!  We are going to the Zoo Lights in Topeka.  I've already purchased tickets, so I am going to cross this one off!!
• Volunteer somewhere.  -- yes!  I donated Blood and ran the blood drive in terms of volunteers from my organization.
• Go on a paranormal tour!  -- yes!  Belvoir Winery

Happy Friday!

 Was November 10th really my last post?  It doesn't seem like that long ago.  

Today was my last day with the State of Missouri.  I am sad, but then again, I am not.  I said my goodbyes.  Forwarded any emails I needed to to my personal email (phone numbers, addresses, etc.. of coworkers).  Worked all day, doing the same amount of work I would normally do.  If we were actually in the office, we would be having a going away party for me and I would receive a signed card from my teammates.  I'm not going to lie, I'm a little sad not to be receiving that.  I would be something I could look back on in the future.

I thought I was going to have more to say, but it has all slipped my mind.

Happy Friday, everyone! 

Weekending....

 Where did Monday go?  I sat down to write this post yesterday and it never came to be.  This weekend wasn't bad.  Peyton and Alli spent it at their dads.  His birthday was on Sunday and they went to spend time with him.

On Saturday morning, I saw my white squirrel buddy while letting the dogs out.  He stays either in my yard or the neighbors yard.  He knows where it's safe from the streets.   Both of the cats escaped.  I had to hunt them down for about 30 minutes before I convinced them that the house is best place to be.  I need to invest in brightly colored collars for them and tags if they decide to run off again.  

After our little romp outside, I went inside to enjoy some caffeine and the People magazine.  Draco wanted to help me read.  The puzzle this week was a little harder than normal or I just didn't know the pop culture people they were referencing.    

I watched "The Impossible" on Netflix.  I can't imagine the nightmare that family went through.  Absolutely terrifying.  I remember reading/hearing stories about families in the tsunami at the time it happened.  I started watching the Amanda Knox documentary when the news came in that Biden/Harris are going to be the next President/Vice President.  I cried tears of relief and joy.  I didn't realize how weighing this election had been.  It's a first step, but it's a first step towards progress.

I know people don't want to talk politics on their blogs, but this is my record keeping of life and this is a pretty big moment in it.

Alli had come home to get some clean work clothes and take a shower and asked if we could have Taco Bell.  I agreed.  I was in such a good mood.

The rest of the day I spent cleaning around the house and perusing Pinterest in search of home ideas and recipes.  I watched a couple episodes of ER and read some books.  I finished the Humans by Matt Haig, I highly recommend it.

On Sunday, I went to lunch with my Grandpa and my mom.  He kept mentioning Chipotle to my mom and me, so we went there.  He loved it.  We made a quick run by Walmart, he needed to pick up a few things and my mom did also.  

After we dropped him at this apartment, we went back to my moms house to sort through pictures and watch the Chiefs game.  They won, barely.  But barely is still a win!  We heard of Alex Trebeks passing during the game.  So sad.

We went and did a little bit of holiday shopping.  I got a few thing for people as did my mother.  We had a quick dinner than I headed home.  Peyton ate my left over Chipotle.  It was a not very exciting Sunday night, just preparing for Monday.

I received my onboarding paper work for my new job and filled that all out.

Monday, I turned in my resignation letter.  Once I get the acceptance back from HR, I will email inquiring about how I get my vacation paid out.  I have 99.33 hours owed to me.  Not too shabby, it's a whole another pay check plus some.  I scheduled Peyton's parent/teacher conference with his home room teacher.  I checked Peyton's grade and one of the projects he did in Geography was turned into extra credit and he received 90 extra points for the class.  That's bananas.  It makes me think that not a lot of kids turned it in.  I helped Peyton with it.  It wasn't hard, just took a little time to do.   I know school is struggle this year and I know my kids get irritated with me and keeping on them all the time.  I helped Peyton with his math project too.  It's like I sorta get to take a Freshman year of high school all over again.  He's doing very well in Auto Services, which I am grateful for.  I know nothing about auto services, but I'm learning.  He had videos that he watched in the same room with me.  His teacher is very nice also and I've had email convos with him.  He works as an actual mechanic also and had something dropped on his head that caused a brain bleed.  He is doing better now, but still needs a little bit of therapy for his speech. During that whole time though, he was caught up with grading and giving feedback to the kids.

Off to work now.  

Oh!  And it's Kibben's third gotcha day!  Both my cats are three years old!  Freddie is younger than Kibben, but so much bigger than him.   

Happy Friday!

 

True story!  While we knew that it would take longer to count the votes this year, it's so hard to wait.  But patients is what we must have.  As I write this, states are very close to their final tallies.  Whew!

I've had trouble concentrating on work this week on top of the computer issues.  But I've still done more work than others, so I am good.  

The kids are out of school today.  Thank goodness.  Peyton's been up since 730 doing things outside.  Why doesn't he get up this easy for school!?! :)

Thursday night was our Board of Directors search meeting for KCRW.  We got all the interview questions categorized and put in order of importance.  The next steps will be to put out the application.  Once an application is received, the list of questions will go out to applicants so they can prepare.  It's only fair since some of our possible applicants have access to the documents and are part of the search committee.  We want everyone on a level playing field during the interviews.

It's not my bed, it's the cats bed.  

Things I want to do this weekend:

• read
• yardwork 
• meet my grandpa and mom for lunch
• catch up on my writing (I have some daily things and letters to write)
• catch up on blog reading

Also, I almost did a perfect budget for this pay period!  I am so proud of myself.  I have been trying to do that all year.  

Today was supposed to be our first in Disneyland.  I hope to replan for maybe late next year.  It looks like Japan might be pushed back a year also.  I am okay with that.  I rather go when it's fully open and the sites aren't closed.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!  

Thursday

 Whew!  The computer troubles have been plaguing me at work this week!  Wednesday morning, I had to get someone in the office to do a complete shut down of my remote computer because I kept getting error messages.  That is all fixed now.  Simply a restart fixed it.  

I was dragging all day long from it though.  

Day 2 of online virtual attending classes was complete.  It's actually going pretty well.  The community group though...there are a lot of parents that just don't know what's going on.  One parents went directly to the community group when a teacher didn't show up to an online meeting.  My first steps would have been to email the teacher....maybe something happened.  They could have been called away on an emergency or they could have gotten sick.  I wouldn't have gone straight to the community group b*tching about it.  Then, a lot of other parents started in, then parents started defending and suggested that maybe she call the teacher or school before starting in online.  Peyton has three more assignments to turn in before the quarter.  One of them is doing a video and he's very reluctant to do it, but by not doing it, it's making his a B instead of an A.

Alli is all caught up except in one class.  Even though she's not caught up, she has a high B.  I want her to get ahead for the Thanksgiving break coming up soon.

Peyton and I got our COVID tests back...

and we haven't been exposed or in contact with anyone that was positive.  We just did the test to get in back in school, but it doesn't even matter now.  It's all good.  I understand the precautions.

I had a thought while watching the election returns on Tuesday night.  The governorship for Missouri was up for re-election.  In early returns, Nicole Galloway was in the lead.  I was so hopeful to have a new boss next year and a female that dons blue would be icing on the cake.  In the end, she did not get it and Mike Parsons will again be the governor.  I was saddened by this.

Then I get a call yesterday afternoon.  Actually the same time Peyton's COVID results came back.  It was from the company that I had interviewed with a while back and I was 1 of 6 that made it to the final interview.  I got the job offer.  More pay, yearly bonuses and yearly pay raises.  There is also the opportunity for growth.  I have signed the job offer and submitted for my background screening.  I'm not worried about that since I have worked for the government for the last eight years and they love to run background checks on us.  I have talked to my manager at the State to get guidance on how to submit the resignation and how to cash out my vacation (96 hours) and sick time (437) hours.  I am so excited about this.  I have been looking for opportunities within the state and in the private sector and came up dry for the longest time.  I guess sometimes the fortune teller knows a bit. ;)

I got Chinese to celebrate.

I hope everyone's week is going as well as it can be!

I will do a whole post on the books I received and the book exchanges.

Day 4 of 30 Days of Thankful

 Today, I am thankful for new opportunities coming my way! 

Oh, and for two negative COVID tests. (even though I knew they were going to be!)

Currently (11)

 

It's time for my favorite link up of the month.  Currently....hosted by Anne In Residence.  Click on the link to join in.  This is the only link up I've done with consistency this year.  We've made it to the 11th hour, we just need to keep on moving forward.

appreciating:  Fall.  I love fall so much.  The sites, the smells, the things to do. (limited this year, of course)  I love the cooler mornings and warm afternoons.  I enjoy the news shows that are finally airing on TV.  

ordering:  Books, books and books!  I also ordered a few Christmas presents.

perfecting:  Working from home and schooling from home at the same time.  We are doing all right here.  

planning:  My room remodel, total kitchen and bathroom overhaul.  

wearing: Mostly black leggings.  Thankful that I have a millon pairs of them.  Big, cozy sweaters and sweatshirts and long sleeved Ts.  I wear these incrediably comfy, fuzzy slippers at home all day and they keep my toes toasty.  

Day 3 of 30 Days of Thankful

I am about to head to bed as I write this.  I am still hopeful for this country.

I am thankful that I was able to vote.  This was an important election all around.  My county didn't start counting until later in the night.  I am proud that my county is overwhelming blue.

I am thankful that Sharice Davids will continue to hold her seat in the House of Representatives.  

Monday was being Monday

 I try hard not to characterize days as being a certain way, but dang, this Monday was a Monday.  Everything was all well in the morning.  Got Peyton up and off to school, picked up Alli's lunch, Alli got signed on to her school and completed two tests straight away.

Then....I get a call from the school....Peyton coughed and he said his stomach hurt.  I had to go pick him up and if he wanted to return to school, he had to have a negative COVID19 test.  So off to the health department we go.  We get there right after 9 am and the line is so long.  We are there about an hour and 15 minutes total.  It reminded me of all the dystopian movies where everyone is separated into lines, standing 10 feet apart in a large warehouse type building.  The COVID test was the saliva one, so no up the nose this time.  Alli was upset that her brother did not have to endure the torture of having something shoved up into his brain.

After we left the health department, Peyton was starved and we stopped by McDonalds.  We ordered our food.  After getting the drink, we were told to pull around.  Well, they gave our food to the wrong person and had to go have it completely remade.  Peyton said everything today was taking forever.  But he got hot and fresh food.  

Tanner called during this time.  He's going to send me some gifts for my grandpa and my mom.  My mom was complaining that he never gets anything for anyone, so I asked him to get her a few things and send to me and I will wrap them up.  He said a Bazaar has just reopened and he can get some cool stuff there.

I missed a half day of work.  I signed back in, gave my manager an update.  Read through my emails.  Someone I had taken a class with in March had passed away.  So sad.  I don't know the circumstances.  I signed up for a training class for next week.  My manager said it's a really good one and she is glad I want to take it.  I did not get through all my work since I had missed half a day, I will have to put the pedal to the metal this morning and knock those out.

Then, the email came!  I let out a scream of frustration.  Peyton is now going to virtual learning only until after Thanksgiving break.  All the high schoolers are.  There have been 24 positive cases in the high school, with those positives, they have quarantined 130 students and 30 teachers.  So, they are shutting the entire school down.  Thank goodness this week is a make up week for all classes.

After work, I helped Peyton get caught up on his Geography class.  I swear, I feel like we get caught up and then the next day, he's so many assignments behind.  Peyton only has a project left to do in that class.  He will have to work on that tonight.

I was supposed to have a meeting at 530 with someone.  Online, of course.  I sent her a message a few hours before our scheduled meeting time to see what forum we wanted to use.  I never heard from her before our meeting.  In fact, she sent me a message at 830 pm and she wants to reschedule.  I haven't answered her yet.  I will sometime this morning.  I'm not sure when I want to reschedule though.

I spent the evening helping Alli with her English, History and Lifetime Fitness class.  She has a few tests to take this morning.  Her history class is in my favorite part of American History.  The muckrackers and women suffragettes.  How I wish I was taking history sometimes!

I got a crazy amount of packages.  The first one to arrive was the one for USPS.  The dog was outside when she pulled up and I let him in and went out to the truck and got it from her.  She was a substitute mail driver.  I had asked her why she was working so late and she said she's just helping out today.  She was so kind.  She confirmed the address with me and I told her she had the right place.  It was my Crazy Cat Lady box.  The cats love this box because there are an abundance of cat toys filled with cat nip in them.

Next the UPS guy showed up with two packages.  The dogs were going crazy and I couldn't figure out why and went to the door and he was standing there.  He waved, I waved back, he headed back up the easement to his truck.

It was so dark at this point, I felt like the deliveries were really late, but it was only around 6 pm.  

Then the Amazon driver comes!  I didn't even hear this one.  Peyton comes in with three more packages after he was done skateboarding.  

They were books and bookish things.  I took Instagram pics but they didn't save.  

I made hamburgers for dinner and we just had chips as our side.  I didn't feel like pulling out the air fryer to make fries.  We will have to have them with something else.  

I didn't watch TV at all yesterday.  

I am feeling anxious for today.  I am glad I don't have to go anywhere and do anything.  I will probably steer clear of Facebook.  Instagram should be okay.  We will see.  

Happy Election Day!  May the odds be ever in our favor. 

Day 2 of 30 Days of Thankful

 The Day 2 prompt was about hobbies.

Before the pandemic, I would say my only hobby was roller derby.  As some of you know, roller derby might not be a hobby after the pandemic.  It brought me joy at some point, but has slipped away when the drama came rushing in.  Can we bring derby back to the good old days?

I have been doing a lot of reading, postcarding and writing.  Those would be considered my hobbies now, as well as, watching TV.  :)

With reading, I've been doing a lot on Instagram.  I've joined two book swaps for the upcoming two months, I've sent lots of RAOK books and actually received one myself.  That was exciting.  I am thankful that there are hobbies I can do and participate in, even during this pandemic.

Election Eve

 I am fearful of this week.  I am fearful of any outcome we could have.  I know the results won't be conclusive until after Election Day.  I think it might be worse than the Bush/Gore fiasco on counting votes.  

I voted early.  I voted early because I don't want to leave my house on Election Day.  I voted early to avoid the mess at the polls.  I know my polling place is usually not busy at all.  The last Presidential election or any election there have always been more poll workers than voters.  One year, during a primary, I voted at the end of the day and I was only 121st voter that day.  I know it's not going to be like that this year.

I did a lot of errands this weekend.  I got a ton of food, stocked up on items we needed and prepared for what is to come.  (I didn't over purchase, just bought for two weeks instead of one)  Why am I so doomsday?  ugh.  I don't like that.

Aside from preparing for this week, it was Halloween!  

Alli worked and had a busy night.  I went with the dogs to visit her and get 50 cent corndogs.  As I was pulling up, she was helping the car next to me.  They gave her a fake $50 and she was like "oh, I need to get change for you" and next thing I know, the general manager is out there taking a picture of the license plate, car and driver and asking him for another form of payment.  Alli had not given them their food yet.  They ended up not having another form of payment and drove off.  The dogs did not appreciate the people next to us and I think they wanted to bite them for doing that to Alli.  I mean, I do know they probably didn't know what was going on, but they sensed Alli's distress.  How cute is she though?

Every night when I go down to my bedroom, this is how I find the cats.  I'm not sure what they are seeking in that vent and I'm not sure I want to know.

Peyton had a little bonfire in the backyard and I bought candy in case of trick or treaters.  I was only kidding myself. We haven't had a trick or treater the entire six years that I have lived here.  The whole hidden house thing.   Peyton and his friends were the only trick or treaters.

I tried to get a picture of the full moon through the trees..

On Sunday, I woke up at 4:30.  Thank you, day light savings.  Haha.  I did force myself to stay in bed for a while though.  At 8, last night though, I got ready for bed, thinking it was 10.  It was such a long day.  :)  I did get the front room, hallway, dining room and kitchen cleaned up and four loads of laundry done.  I also set up bill pay for the entire month so I don't need to worry about them.

I'm going to leave you off with a picture of one of my best dogs, Buster.  

How was your weekend?  How are you preparing for this week?