DDA Chapter 24

[tinknme]

Good morning

 

[PNO4TE]

I'm home! What a long, exhausting weekend, but we really had a good time. I work with a squad of great guys and gals. My quote of the day, when I would have people complaining about trees/wires down, roads impassable, no electricity or heat, etc., was "just be glad you don't live in Haiti."

I must say, Elin, we didn't get nearly as much snow down here as up north. What was the official total for Fburg? I was trudging through some stuff above my knees!

Official totals vary! The best I heard actually came out of the Richmond Times-Dispatch - 23.5 inches. The snow was over my knees here. I know we didn't get the 30+ inches that Northern VA got, but we got plenty!

Oh, and we are suppoed to get 5-10 inches more tomorrow.

I was happy to hear that all the firefighters in the station near your neck of the woods got out of the collapsed roof debacle without injuries up there!

 

[PNO4TE]

I liked the Punxatawney Palomalu one.

We found that one last week on the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club website. It is hilarious!

Other than that we didn't like the commercials much at all.

 

[PNO4TE]

Good morning, DDA!

 

[Tammi67]

Official totals vary! The best I heard actually came out of the Richmond Times-Dispatch - 23.5 inches. The snow was over my knees here. I know we didn't get the 30+ inches that Northern VA got, but we got plenty!

To me this snowfall looks like less than the Dec. one. Maybe there had been a lot of melting before I got home. But as I got off 95 and was driving home I was looking at all the piles and thinking it didn't seem like that much.

 

[Tammi67]

Good morning.

It was nice to sleep in my own bed last night. I didn't make it to the end of the SB, but was happy to see that the Saints won. I was pulling for them. Drew Brees is cute.

 

[Glynis]

Good morning. I hope that those of you with lots of snow are taking it easy today!

It has been quite a weekend around here! I had to watch my nieces and nephews from Hades Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and that really took it out of me. I am happy to report that nothing of mine got broken, however, 2 nephews got in a major fight and the younger one ended up with a huge welt on his back from a stick that his brother broke over his back! It was quite a fight! Luckily, we told the parents, and they weren't inclined to blame us!

On Saturday night, Alan got called in to cover a story, and asked me to go with him. The story was heartwrenching! A 12 year old girl is slowly dying. The doctors don't know why. There's no diagnosis for her condition, but she's slowly wasting away, and her muscles have all atrophied. At 12 years old, she now weighs 26 pounds. Anyway, Make a Wish was granting her a wish on Saturday night. She loved watching BYU football, and her dream was to meet some of the players. Make a Wish created a race in her honor (she used to love running with her dad). Because she couldn't walk, they had a stroller for her that she could recline in, and be pushed by her father. When she got to the stadium (indoor), she was met by 10 of the BYU football players who surrounded her stroller on the track, and as the race began, they ran along her. There were about 1000 people there to watch, run with her, and cheer her on. A D.J. from a local radio station was there, with music playing and broadcasting the whole event on the station. This little girl was so happy. You could see it in her eyes, as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

The race lasted one mile, and before she started her last lap, she was taken into the basketball court with her father where she met her hero, Max Hall, the quarterback of the team. He spoke with her for about 10 minutes, while the rest of the runners cleared the track, and then he pushed her the last lap and brought her across the finish line. At the end of the race, Max picked her up in his arms, and carried her to the winner's podium, where she was given a gold medal. You could see her eyes just shining! There wasn't a dry eye in the house. Then, her parents were given medals, as well, for all they have done to help Tiffany. Max then carried her to a chair where he sat cradling her in his arms, while they showed a video message from her brother. He is 19 years old and serving a mission for his church in the Philippines. He told her how proud he was of her, and how much he loved her, and how he knew the Lord was going to be holding her in His arms until brother and sister could be reunited. I was a weeping mess at this point, and I wasn't the only one. It was something else to see these big burly football guys unashamedly bawling.

After the video message, a party was thrown with her 2 favorite foods; pizza and Cheetos. All her loved ones were able to party with Tiffany. It was an exceptional night. Emotionally, it put me through the wringer. I told Alan, I have no right to complain over my petty problems. When I see things like that it really puts my life in perspective!

Yesterday, we got to spend some time with our extended family as we held a party to welcome 2 new baby girls into our family. These girls are first cousins and were born exactly 5 weeks apart. It was so wonderful to see them, and see the whole family. What a wonderful day!

All in all, it was a good weekend! Oh, and the Saints won, which made me even more happy!

 

[Glynis]

I can't believe I forgot the totally happiest thing that happened to me this weekend!

Alan and I have been planning on a cruise with some friends of ours to celebrate our 20th anniversaries. Well, our friends had to cancel on us, because they are in the middle of adopting a girl baby from China, and have to keep their time frame open. So, Alan told me to start thinking of something else we'd like to do.

I told him that I'd love to surprise the kids with a trip to DL. They don't think we're going back until summer of 2011, so it would be a total surprise. I told him about the Give a Day, Get a Day campaign going on, and showed him the website. He agreed that with that ticket, plus the discounted tickets he can get through his work, we should be able to swing it! So, we are all going to do the Project Linus project (without telling the kids why we're doing it, just stressing service to others), and this spring, after school is out, we'll put the kids in the car and go. To totally confuse them, we'll start in northern CA and drive through the Redwood forest, through San Francisco, and then cross over to Anaheim. We're going to tell them that we're visiting places that Alan used to live, and show them around those places. They'll be so surprised when we pull up to Disneyland! We're also going to spend a day in San Diego, either at Sea World, or the Zoo. Haven't decided that, yet.

So, stay tuned for a ticker in the near future!!!!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Good morning, DDA!

POURING rain here. Blah. Better than snow, I guess!

Glynis, Have fun planning!!

I didn't watch any of the Super Bowl, didn't watch any of the commercials, didn't care.

 

[bethbuchall]

Hello, DDA!

I have never watched a football game before, but we did watch the Superbowl last night. Dh usually watches it off and on for the commercials, and Laura was rooting on the Saints because of her chemistry class game. She was so excited that they won. Miles said that it was fun, too. They all claim that I can't say I watched the game, because I was reading the whole time, but I think I saw the important moments.

Glynis, how exciting that you are going to surprise the kids with the DL trip. It sounds like a lot of fun. The story of that little girl had me teary. I can't even imagine what her parents are going through.

We might actually get some snow this week. I certainly don't envy those of you who have had the big storms, because I know that they caused a lot of damage and trouble (and deaths). We usually get a couple of storms a year that dump at least a foot of snow, though, and we've had practically nothing this year. Since I have nothing to do on Wednesday and our roads are cleared up quickly, I hope that we get a good snowfall. I'm guessing that we'll end up with less than 6", though. The kids may get a snow day anyway, since we have a bunch to burn.

 

[my3princes]

I liked the E-Trade babies. Milkaholic Lindsay.... I laughed my hiney off.

Chris loved the baby ones too

Not sure what to ask for, good thoughts maybe?

The past couple of nights a car has gone past pretty fast, but shinning a spotlight. Of course I'm worried, dh thinks it could be neighborhood watch, I don't know if we have neighborhood watch. Have not heard about the police looking for someone, so hoping it is neighborhood watch.

Why don't you give the police a call, if they aren't looking for someone then they should be checking out the fast car with a spotlight. It sounds very strange to me.

Good morning. I hope that those of you with lots of snow are taking it easy today!

It has been quite a weekend around here! I had to watch my nieces and nephews from Hades Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and that really took it out of me. I am happy to report that nothing of mine got broken, however, 2 nephews got in a major fight and the younger one ended up with a huge welt on his back from a stick that his brother broke over his back! It was quite a fight! Luckily, we told the parents, and they weren't inclined to blame us!

On Saturday night, Alan got called in to cover a story, and asked me to go with him. The story was heartwrenching! A 12 year old girl is slowly dying. The doctors don't know why. There's no diagnosis for her condition, but she's slowly wasting away, and her muscles have all atrophied. At 12 years old, she now weighs 26 pounds. Anyway, Make a Wish was granting her a wish on Saturday night. She loved watching BYU football, and her dream was to meet some of the players. Make a Wish created a race in her honor (she used to love running with her dad). Because she couldn't walk, they had a stroller for her that she could recline in, and be pushed by her father. When she got to the stadium (indoor), she was met by 10 of the BYU football players who surrounded her stroller on the track, and as the race began, they ran along her. There were about 1000 people there to watch, run with her, and cheer her on. A D.J. from a local radio station was there, with music playing and broadcasting the whole event on the station. This little girl was so happy. You could see it in her eyes, as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

The race lasted one mile, and before she started her last lap, she was taken into the basketball court with her father where she met her hero, Max Hall, the quarterback of the team. He spoke with her for about 10 minutes, while the rest of the runners cleared the track, and then he pushed her the last lap and brought her across the finish line. At the end of the race, Max picked her up in his arms, and carried her to the winner's podium, where she was given a gold medal. You could see her eyes just shining! There wasn't a dry eye in the house. Then, her parents were given medals, as well, for all they have done to help Tiffany. Max then carried her to a chair where he sat cradling her in his arms, while they showed a video message from her brother. He is 19 years old and serving a mission for his church in the Philippines. He told her how proud he was of her, and how much he loved her, and how he knew the Lord was going to be holding her in His arms until brother and sister could be reunited. I was a weeping mess at this point, and I wasn't the only one. It was something else to see these big burly football guys unashamedly bawling.

After the video message, a party was thrown with her 2 favorite foods; pizza and Cheetos. All her loved ones were able to party with Tiffany. It was an exceptional night. Emotionally, it put me through the wringer. I told Alan, I have no right to complain over my petty problems. When I see things like that it really puts my life in perspective!

Yesterday, we got to spend some time with our extended family as we held a party to welcome 2 new baby girls into our family. These girls are first cousins and were born exactly 5 weeks apart. It was so wonderful to see them, and see the whole family. What a wonderful day!

All in all, it was a good weekend! Oh, and the Saints won, which made me even more happy!

Wow, I was bawling just reading. It reminded me of the 14 year old girl that was dying of leukemia 2 doors down from Hunter's room. No matter what we go through someone is always going through something worse. That perspective has kept us all out of the late winter blues that we usually get.

I can't believe I forgot the totally happiest thing that happened to me this weekend!

Alan and I have been planning on a cruise with some friends of ours to celebrate our 20th anniversaries. Well, our friends had to cancel on us, because they are in the middle of adopting a girl baby from China, and have to keep their time frame open. So, Alan told me to start thinking of something else we'd like to do.

I told him that I'd love to surprise the kids with a trip to DL. They don't think we're going back until summer of 2011, so it would be a total surprise. I told him about the Give a Day, Get a Day campaign going on, and showed him the website. He agreed that with that ticket, plus the discounted tickets he can get through his work, we should be able to swing it! So, we are all going to do the Project Linus project (without telling the kids why we're doing it, just stressing service to others), and this spring, after school is out, we'll put the kids in the car and go. To totally confuse them, we'll start in northern CA and drive through the Redwood forest, through San Francisco, and then cross over to Anaheim. We're going to tell them that we're visiting places that Alan used to live, and show them around those places. They'll be so surprised when we pull up to Disneyland! We're also going to spend a day in San Diego, either at Sea World, or the Zoo. Haven't decided that, yet.

So, stay tuned for a ticker in the near future!!!!

Very sneaky and exciting

 

[bethbuchall]

Why don't you give the police a call, if they aren't looking for someone then they should be checking out the fast car with a spotlight. It sounds very strange to me.

I forgot to say this, too.

 

[my3princes]

The weather forecast has snow showers for us on Wednesday and Thursday. No accumulation predictions yet. I don't suspect it will be much of anything.

 

[bethbuchall]

The weather forecast has snow showers for us on Wednesday and Thursday. No accumulation predictions yet. I don't suspect it will be much of anything.

We have a winter storm watch in effect for Tuesday into Wednesday. It won't mean anything at all until it's upgraded to a warning, and I haven't heard any mention of snowfall totals. My guess is that it will completely miss our area. Maybe I'll be eating my words on Wednesday.

 

[tmfranlk]

Good morning, DDA!

Tammi - Glad you survived your weekend and made it home to your own bed.

Heidi - That does sound wierd. I would mention it to your security people and/or the police, just in case.

Glynis - Thanks for making me cry too! What a sweet story, though. Yeah for your trip! Sounds like a perfect plan.

We're getting the later week storms headed everyone else's way, right now. Actually, it seems to have stopped temporarily. Probably onyl a half inch to an inch right now, but the heavy part is supposed to be this evening and overnight with a 4-6" total. Guess we'll see how that plays out for schools.

 

[babytrees]

hello all!! Nobody left me the phone today so it's me and the computer as none of my books are nearby either

Glynis-what a wonderful story and going to DL? oh so much fun!!
Tammi-glad you are home and safe
Heidi-give all of us some peace of mind and call the police and find about speeding, spotlight car.


We enjoyed the game last night...actually more than most of the commercials...I've seen a few people that agree with us....that most of the commercials missed the mark.

It is snowing here today....but we will get maybe 3 inches....our winter has been wonky!!

 

[mommykds]

We were invited to a Super Bowl party last night..nice to meet some more neighbors. The kids knew each other from school so they were all playing. Yay for the Saints...I do not follow football but I was rooting for the Saints & New Orleans.
My younger 2 went to school in black & yellow with Mardi Gras beads on. They put their clothes together last night. I felt bad, they were all up late but got up pretty well this morning. They should fall asleep quickly tonight.

 

[Pooh67_68]

Thanks all, John and I will be discussing it tonight when he gets home.

 

[tinker1bell]

Hi everyone,

What a way to start my week. I nearly kill myself getting to work only to be "Let Go" because of budget cuts. so to work at 9am home by 11:30am. I am so shocked I cannot even think. My co-worker Awilda couldn't even speak!! I did post on Facebook that I was let go, but I will not go into much detail there.

This came out of left field because I really thought my job was secure with all of the things I do. I even asked the director who was gonna do it because she sure can't think Awilda is going to do that plus all of her work. It is very time consuming and very exact. Her words were, "we will spread it out over other people. That will be interesting since no one likes doing my job. Their comments are you are doing just fine. You keep doing it just like you do it now. I dealt with so many parents about their accounts and do a weekly electronic fund transfer and I just cannot wait to see who screws things up. I hope they lose a few parents because of this that is how mad I am right now.

Of course Stephanie is just devastated by this she can't even speak.

 

[KMH1]

Terry, I saw your FB post.

I can only imagine the plethora of emotions that are swirling through your head right now. You have my prayers and a big hug from Cincinnati!