Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Because I'm already down.  I seriously feel like I can't win right now.  Apologies and a warning before I begin...this is going to be nothing but wallowing in self-pity.  I warned you. 

We are finally getting back on our feet after a lengthy period of unemployment.  Or we were starting to get back on our feet.  First it was our heater, which the installer forgot to register which almost made for a VERY costly repair.  Fortunately it was only $140 that we couldn't afford and not $500 that we couldn't afford.  My vacuum needs a new belt.  Again.  That one is not a big deal- just a few bucks.  It's just a pain because the belts are getting increasingly harder to find.  Next...my basement backs up.  It's bad.  Really bad.  This isn't the first time and I'm just so scared that the cost for this venture is going to be way beyond what we can handle.  But we don't have any other options.  Jason did try to fix it with the snake, and he had no luck whatsoever.  We can't live with it like this- it's not safe or sanitary or convenient.  Right before it happened I put all of our dirty laundry down there.  Crap.  Literally.  Our dishwasher has been broken for a few weeks.  I can't even begin to explain how much time I've spent doing dishes.  I want clean dishes but it's the kids' chore so I have them do the first round, then I rewash them once all the grime is off them in clean, soapy water.  It's probably doubling my water bill too.  I hate dishes.  I hate not having a dish washer.  I could easily do two loads of dishes every day (dishwasher loads, not sink loads).  Then my dog wants to make sure we don't forget that she can be trouble too, so she has been working hard to thoroughly saturate our carpet.  Should I just be glad it isn't the wood floors right now?  Or should I just hope (with all my being) that it isn't a UTI? 

That's just the big stuff.  Then there's the not being able to focus on anything ever which leads to nothing ever getting done, my desperate need for new contacts (I really love the headaches, glasses- really, but I'd like this relationship to be over), constantly picking up after my lazy family (getting them to help is like pulling teeth, and ensuring it happens takes 3 times longer than just doing it myself).  And I have so many errands to run.  Ugh.  

Okay, I'm done.  Thanks for listening.             

Thinking Warm Thoughts

Kiwanis Lake

 It's about zero degrees here in PA and with wind chills making it feel in the negatives and my heater working as hard as it can to push out 60 degree air, I am trying to think warm thoughts.  What better way to stay warm than looking at Summer photos while drinking coffee and buried under the warmest blanket in the house?  We stayed super busy this Summer, hiking, reading, swimming and with lots of family.  When I remember to bring my camera I make sure to get a lot of photos.  I remembered it a few time!  These are also good reminders that we didn't waste our vacation sitting on our butts playing video games all day.  
Our local library, in conjunction with some other organizations, offers a fabulous program every year that combines a Summer reading program with exposure to letterboxing, physical fitness and all of the local and state parks in York County.  We had so much fun finding new places at familiar parks, hiking our usual hangouts, seeing nature and getting healthy.

Trying out the equipment at Kiwanis Lake

Success!  We found the letterbox!

We can handle this!  Hiking at Rocky Ridge.

With soaring temperatures, we made sure to bring lots of water and fruit on our hike.

Hiking in 100-degree weather- no sweat!  Or maybe just a little...

 

 

We didn't spend our entire summer sweltering in the heat.  We spent plenty of time being silly, swimming and hanging out with family.  

Looking better than mom in her shades.

 

 

 

 

 

Watch me dive!

Visiting with family.

How are you staying warm today?  I am keeping my fingers crossed that we don't lose power since our (pretty new) furnace is struggling to keep us in air-conditioning level temps. and it will get insanely cold fast.  Our van's battery couldn't keep up with the cold, essentially stranding us and we made the dumb mistake of switching from a landline to a just-as-costly internet line through the cable company so if we lose power we lose phone too!  No cell phones in this house!  I'm guessing wi-fi doesn't work if your power is out.  I'm thinking of all of you suffering through the Polar Vortex. 

We Have a Winner!

Check to see if you are the winner of the $15 Starbucks gift card from the Holidays with Starbucks #sharejoy giveaway.  If you are the winner I will email you and if I don't hear anything by Saturday, January 11, 2014 I'll choose a new winner.