Much Rambling About Nothing

Many days I say to myself "I need to make an entry in my journal." Then I get a free minute to do so and can't come up with anything to write about. So this will probably be another mish-mash of whatever comes to mind in the next few minutes.

Update on the prissy princess: She still doesn't like to put her hands down in the grass, but mud is ok. Dog poop is even better! Kevin was supposed to have gone around the backyard and picked up all the dog poop from the winter before we went out there to play. I spent 20 minutes following Alison around and pointing out the piles he missed after he had supposedly cleaned it all up. He finally got most of it and then the dog decided it was time to make another deposit. All was well until Alison headed toward Kevin while he was cleaning it up. In his attempt to keep her back until he was done, he ended up tripping her and she fell right into the poop......and could have cared less. She threw a major hissy fit when I took her in to wash her hands.

Kevin's dad started chemo and radiation last week. He talked to him Friday night and things were going all right. He's driving himself to Richmond for his appointments (and hour away), but does have his father-in-law at least riding along with him. I don't forsee that lasting much past this week --his driving himself, I mean-- but I could be wrong. We're finalizing plans to travel down to see him next month, after Easter. We're coordinating it with Kevin's brother, Todd. Todd has all of the things from his apartment stored in the sheds at "the other house" --he had to give up his apartment and move in with his ex-inlaws when his unemployment ran out and he still couldn't find another job-- and they are trying to sell that house, so he needs to get his stuff into a storage unit. He was supposed to do it the weekend after we all found out about the cancer, so obviously that didn't happen. Dad still won't be able to help move anything, but they figure between Kevin, Todd, and their other brother, Jason, they ought to be able to handle it.

I'm working on Easter baskets for Alison and our neice and nephews. Last year I bought baskets and put stuff in them. I've decided I can't afford to buy new baskets every year, so I'm making the baskets this year. I made a box out of posterboard and am making a woven covering with untwisted paper ribbon. I think they'll look pretty nice and I've only spent about $6 to make four baskets. I'm keeping up the idea of not filling the baskets with a lot of candy. Last year they got apple chips, banana chips, yogurt covered pretzels and a book. This year, they're getting yogurt covered pretzels, yogurt covered rasins, and some cookies --because I got a recipes for some really cute ones. I may try to do apple or banana chips again, too. They were a big hit with the kids and the parents appreciated not getting more candy. If I can find nice, inexpensive books, they'll get them, too.

Month one of ttc was a bust. We knew it would be, so it wasn't much of a shock. The thing I hate about ttc is that if you're serious about it, you have a very small window of opportunity, and therefore need to be ready to take advantage of it whether you're in the mood or not. Interestingly enough, I think that's the part my husband likes the best. He absolutely knows he's going to get lucky at least twice during that time.

On the positive side, I have officially lost 19 pounds. I have only 11 more pounds to go to reach my first goal. And I have 6 weeks to do it in. The problem I have now is I need to come up with a dress to wear for Easter. The dress I wore last year is waaayyy to big now -- it was a little big last year. I have another dress that I could wear, but it's like 6 years old and I was thinking that perhaps I want something a little more current. But I like the dress and I'm so excited that it actually fits again. Besides, I hate having to take Alison with me when I go clothes shopping, and by the time Kevin is home and we're done with dinner the last thing I want to do is go clothes shopping. Maybe I'll find time to get a new dress before my friend Nancy's wedding.