Gram's Place

I found these buzz words and thought some of them FOR SURE apply to the business world, some more than others.... Blamestorming: Sitting around in a group discussing why a deadline was missed or a project failed, and who was responsible. Why is it that we have to have a blame before we can move on? Body Nazis: Hard-core exercise and weight-lifting fanatics who look down on anyone who doesn't work out obsessively. Yeah, this is definately NOT me, but I do know a few. Seagull Manager: A manager who flies in, makes a lot of noise, and then leaves. Mostly, I should just leave my comments to myself. You know who you are. :) Cube Farm: An office filled with cubicles. We don't have cubicles but I thought this was funny. Idea Hamsters: People who always seem to have their idea generators running. And the opposite would be the idea sloth? Mouse Potato: The online, wired generation's answer to the couch potato. I know my kids are becoming these for sure! Prairie Dogging : Whe...

We have made the decision to get a new girl! Apparently four aren't enough. So, this fall (August) we will have one more 16 year old living with us. She is from Germany. Her name is Julia and we are very excited to have her! A few weeks ago, we were approached by an organization and told that we were recommended by a family that we have known for years to have a foreign exchange student. Our first reaction was that we didn't think we should because we are building a house and currently live in a TINY house. We were sure we wouldn't have room in our current home, and we don't know when our new home will be done! But instead of immediately saying no to them, we agreed to pray.... We prayed about it, we discussed it with our family, and our girls were begging to do it. We were still somewhat reluctant. So, we gave it some more time and met with the agency. To make a long story longer, we looked at several of the girls that were applicants and found several that we ...

I have a few confessions to make today. I thought I'd share. 1. I confess that I hide candy bars in a secret place from my family. I know you are reading my blog. You will NEVER Find them!! Trust me.. NEVER. 2. I confess that I don't know what a podcast is. My hubby keeps talking about it and I have no clue. 3. I confess I don't always listen. I pretend to and I nod and comment even saying thing like "you're kidding? that's so funny." But, I have no idea what you just said. 4. I confess that I have an addiction to pens. I love them, I have a real problem with them, and I daily resist the urge to get more.

My Space Thought it might be interesting to see where it all happens. Oooooh.. you know, cuz “IT” is so important, so engaging, so absorbing, so fascinating, so…. Irrelevant. When I’m at work, which is basically from 9am – 3pm Mon-Fri, this is it. (Note: I’m not IN the photo, because, uh… I’m taking it!) Note: The candle burning is lemon chiffon - very yummy. The coffee cup is filled with the daily favorite - Cinnabon Flavored with vanilla carmel creamer! Wow... I didn't realize there were that many wires under there! Okay... this is the view out my wi ndow. Pretty blah today! I’d actually like to see your space too. Blog about it. Post a photo!

I subscribe to Money Magazine. I love to read it and glean advice and information, though I seldom heed the advice. I really ought to... Anyway, found an interesting article on blogs about money in the last edition. It was great. I checked out the blogs and they are all very interesting. You should read the article here . If you don't care too much about reading it, then you should AT THE VERY LEAST check out this blog . It IS STRANGELY ADDICTING...

There are so many things on my heart today… I wish I had more time in the day to just sit and think and talk to God about the things that are weighing me down.  Instead of examining them with God, I start to speak to Him and then the busyness of the moment pressures me to move on with the tasks at hand.  So I find myself often offering up abbreviated 30 second prayers.  Although I intend them to be a simple flash, a wink to Him, I wonder if He considers me hasty or sharp instead? Can God do for me what He did for the Israelites when they were fighting their enemies?  Cause the sun to stand still, for the day to be delayed? My day might not be as imperative to an entire nation doing God’s work. But what would it be like to have such a holy day with the Creator of the Universe?  Just me and God. I just wonder what it would be like…

1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18 and find line 4. "Men also long for adventure "2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can, what do you find? My husbands survey to complete on "Waterfowl hunting" in this state. 3. What is the last thing you watched on TV? The High School Musical rerun! 4. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear? A pencil rustling as Abbers studies her history behind me. 5. When did you last step outside? What were you doing? Went to INSTE. 6. Before you started this survey, what did you look at? Charlotte's Blog - she was new to my site! I copied this from her! :) 7. What are you wearing? Jeans and a HOT HOT HOT sweater. 8. Did you dream last night? Doubt it. 9. When did you last laugh? at Joe in INSTE 10. What is on the walls of the room you are in? paint 11. Seen anything weird lately? not really 12. What do you think of this quiz? long 13. What is the last film you saw? can't remember. wow - that's ...

We are back! We did some shopping, we did some talking... Two days... one night... 7.25 hours of shopping... 72 attempts at trying on the right dress... one perfect amazing dress... too expensive... one almost perfect still amazing and more affordable dress. Great conversation... life discussions... 6 women... 6 mentors. and Prom, here she comes!

17 years and two weeks ago, I held in my arms a beautiful baby girl. Just over 7 lbs. It was March 3, 1989. We lived a few miles away in a nearby city, and had driven to Shawn's parents house when I thought I was in labor due to an impending snow storm. It snowed all right! Piles and Piles of Snow. We snuck away sometime early in the morning, to go to the hospital. That was when we met her. She was beautiful.... I remember being completely amazed that I could have a second daughter that looked so different from my first. I remember how quiet she was. How content. Her personality began to show itself to us from the first moment. Long fingers, beautiful skin, perfect in every way. Sweet little Lindsey. Over the years she has been known by many names-- "Linjitzu" --- "Jitz" ---"Lindso". Always a good sport to accept whatever nickname we chose for the moment. Whatever was easiest or most fun to say at the time. Tonight, she and I are leaving ...

Olny srmat poelpe can. I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? Yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

5 days ago.... 64 degress and sunny! Today??? A WINTER STORM WARNING IN IS EFFECT FROM 6 AM CST THIS MORNING UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON. MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWS ARE EXPECTED TO QUICKLY DEVELOP THIS MORNING AND LAST INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS BEFORE DIMINISHING TO FLURIES OR LIGHT SNOW BY 300 PM. A BRIEF MIXTURE OF SLEET MAY ALSO OCCUR AT ONSET. THE SIGNIFICANT SNOW WILL NOT LAST FOR AN EXTENDED DURATION...BUT WILL BE HEAVY WHEN IT DOES FALL WITH VISIBILITIES UNDER A MILE AND SNOWFALL RATES OF AN INCH PER HOUR OR GREATER. TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS WILL GENERALLY BE FROM FIVE TO SIX INCHES...BUT ISOLATED SPOTS MAY REACH SEVEN INCHES. IN ADDITION...INCREASING NORTH WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS WILL PRODUCING BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW THROUGH THE DAYLIGHT HOURS. THIS MAY KEEP VISIBILITIES REDUCED TO A MILE OR LESS IN THE AFTERNOON DESPITE THE SNOW BEGINNING TO TAPER OFF. A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW... SLEET... AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. S...

I admit that the tax thing has a hold on me right now. So, I decided it was time to get a plan. As of today, it is one month - 31 days - until t-day. But, because I'm a working mom, and at work, my fiscal year ends March 31, I decided I'd better not tackle TWO tax deadlines at once. So, my new plan is to have my own done before March 31. Filed at least. Hopefully paid too. But, let's take one thing at a time. I may need the extra two weeks to pay. So, there you have it. My new deadline. I feel better already. Something about just having a plan makes life so much easier. I know, it's a simple thing. But, then, I have a simple mind. If I could see into my future, I'm afraid how boring it might be. not really . I often dream of those days when I can have a plan every. single. day. and stick to it. You know, get up in the morning, start the coffee, put two slices of toast in the toaster, read my Bible, butter the toast, make an egg, eat, pour the coffee int...

Today is Shera's birthday! I was thinking about you this morning, Shera. I was 16 years old when I met your brother. You were 6. I pictured sweet little Em right now at the age of 7 and I can't believe that I knew you when you were that young! It seems nearly impossible. I remember babysitting you when your folks would go on trips. I remember helping you (uh... you helping me is more like it) with your piano lessons. --- by the way, I still know how to play the Swan song! Thanks! Was that the year I attempted to help your mom make that piano cake for your birthday? My cake baking skills were so unrefined back then! I remember the times we went to the movie together, watching cartoons (Go SMURFS!) together... I remember your junior high variety show. I loved watching you grow from hating the smell of my perfume and makeup to teaching ME about perfume and makeup. And watching you go through the "clothing" stages I now see my kids go through... you know, the b...

I had a conversation with my accountant yesterday. It went sort of like this... Me: "hey! how's it going?" She: "Great. How about you?" Me: "good. Are you pulling your hair out this tax season?" She: "It's getting a little better, after the 15th of March, it's way better" I was thinking... oh, I get it. There are only a few people in this world who wait until the month between March 15 and April 15 to get their taxes done. That would be me. Me: "Yeah I really need to get mine done" She: "hey, anytime" Me: "So, how will you feel if I drop them off to you on April 14th?" You know, just testing the waters... to, uh.... see how dedicated she is to me. She: "I'd get it done for ya... no problem! For YOU, I'd get it done" So, now I sit here, early in the morning, with nothing to do for an hour. I bet I could get it done. I could just shock the heck out of her and take it all in today, n...

Here is what google says Tina needs: (Why is this so fun? It’s so stupid!) Tina needs a slower pace Tina needs to see this Tina needs a response Tina needs a lesson in blogger ethics Tina needs to make a choice Tina needs us.

March 12 : I have officially got 34 days to get my taxes done. For me, it's as simple as gathering all the "stuff" and hauling it to the accountant. How lame is that! I don't actually even have to DO them myself! Every year, I have great intentions of getting it all together and depositing it to the accountant no later than February 1st. every. single. year. It never happens. Why??? Here are my reasons: 1. I secretly am afraid that I might OWE and I don't want to know about it quite yet. 2. I'm busy. 3. I'm absent minded 4. I fall into the bad habits of "do the urgent first" and ignore the rest of the papers on my desk. 5. The kindergarten papers are burying my taxes 6. I don't want to do it! So, my goal this week is (guess?)...

Haleigh made it to Chicago in 5 1/2 hours. Whew! She didn't get lost, she had good directions.... oh, and she had a mom to talk to all the way there. :) Yes, I admit, I called her as soon as I finished my last post. I just wanted to check in... but .... she wanted me to keep talking. She was bored out of her mind and needed someone to talk to. So... I talked to her. But, believe me... it was BORING! :) I'd rather be bored with her on the phone than have her fall asleep at the wheel. So, I let Lindsey talk to her for a while, then Shawn for a while. She had called Hannah twice, Megan once... she was cracking me up. She was in great spirits and having a wonderful time... even though it was boring. Spring Break here we come! I know windy Chicago isn't the ideal spring break location, in a dorm room downtown Chicago. BUT... it's what this midwestern budget could handle. And here --- it's supposed to be 64 degrees outside today! Spring is on the way!!! Enjo...

Holding my breath until midnight tonight... Haleigh is off to Chicago to visit Hannah. Six hours of driving all by herself, to a new and uncharted road! I don't think I would have done that when I was 19! Heck! I wouldn't do that when I was 35! I'm proud of her for going, and hope she has a SUPER GREAT TIME! Of course, the mom in me is praying without ceasing... that she will not get lost, that she won't make a wrong turn, that she won't get a speeding ticket, that she won't break down, run out of gas, run into bad weather, have any kind of accident at all, stop and get gas or food and then get back on the interstate going in the wrong direction.... and I keep thinking of all the horrible things that could happen, then I tell myself that if I've thought of it, then it won't happen. So, I proceed to think of more! Before she left I had one of those moments of taking a deep breath and pausing in my own little corner so I didn't lock the car door a...

Like the laundry family , we've had a couple ailin offspring in our house for a few days. The snuggling and hugging and loving is so sweet. Abbs had it first, cough, sore throat, fever... and then it spread to her roommate, Em.... same symptoms.... only worse... higher fever, worse cough, sore throat. I'm hoping it will just now stop there and not spread to anyone else. I had taken the day off today from work. Was thinkin I'd take the kids to school, then go with my sister to Waterloo, out for coffee, shopping, out for lunch.... have a good ole' sister time. Didn't happen. As a matter of fact, we haven't seen much of each other at all. The last few scheduled nights out, she's been sick, now my kids are sick. Before we know it, our two weeks will be over and it will have been spent on sickness and being grounded to the house. ......sigh..... Em is so cute when she's not feeling well. I asked her if she wanted some chicken noodle soup. She perked...

What's your favorite food? "Macaroni... wait... foot size hot dogs" But, we've never had foot sized hot dogs. "Yeah we have -- at school" What's your favorite treat? "licorice" --- eating it now. What's your favorite color? "red pink white blue and green" Why so many? "because I do" What's your favorite thing to do? "practice hand standing" --- doing it now What's your favorite day of the week? "Wednesday because I get to share that day" What's your favorite tv show? " That's so Raven" What's your favorite website? www.paperdollheaven.com What is a record? "record? i don't know" What is a cd? "well, it is um a little thing that you put in a cd player and it plays when you push play" What is a tape recorder? "About the same thing as cd player but it plays tapes" What is a mouse? "A mouse? An animal that has big ears and a cute litt...

I'm not much of a breakfast eater during the work week. It's usually all I can do to get myself and the kids ready and off to work and school on time. Shawn helps with the breakfast dept for the kids. But, truthfully, I'm not much of an "egg" person. It all stems from a time when I was little and I had a very vivid imagination (bet you could have never guessed that). One time my mom had made me eggs - over easy - and they were a little too underdone. I imagined she was an alien who took over my mom and was trying to poison me. I just couldn't eat them. It took a long time to be able to eat eggs. I can eat them now, as an adult. I sometimes even like them, but often, just can't do it at all.... So, since that is what Shawn usually makes in the AM, I don't usually eat. Then, I get hungry at about - oh 10am at work! every. single. day. You would think I'd just eat breakfast. So --- I said all that to say this: I ate a salisbury steak banquet tv...

My sister is coming for a visit today! I haven't seen her for over two years. She lives in Washington, and both of our lives are busy and filled. So, we don't take the time to visit each other. The last time we saw each other was at a wedding in Arizona (my half-sister's) two years ago in April ---- or was that three years ago???? omg I can't remember. At any rate, it's been too long! I'm hoping to get the chance to take a day or two off work and do some fun stuff. I'm not really sure what that means around here.... uh... Wal-mart? I had been looking at going to a tea room or something (not really my thing normally, but hey, she might like it), do a little mall shopping, etc... It'll just be fun to hang out and drink coffee together! Tammy and I used to be really close. We are 4 years apart and we played all the time when we were little.... then, of course, when we were a little older, we fought like crazy. She got married when she was 17 so she...

palliate - 1. to make (an offense or crime) seem less serious; extenuate. 2. To make less severe or intense; mitigate. synonyms of palliate: extenuate, gloss, gloze, whitewash - Bliggity says he is making a work of art, but in reality he is attempting to palliate his lack of producing a prize for the contest I won.