Friday Fill-in, Saturday 9 and another post about why I hate winter!

#107 Here we go!


1. Enough with the __below zero temps, snow, ice,___.

2. __Blogging or reading?___ causes me to be conflicted.

3. I've been craving __Mint Dark Chocolate 3 Musketeers___.

4. __My son always___ makes me laugh.

5. I wish I could go to ___a warm place__ next week.

6. __My parents___ has been on my mind lately.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _taking a nap (I did)____, tomorrow my plans include _grocery shopping, laundry, and correcting papers_ and Sunday, I want to _finish Edgar Sawtelle_!









Saturday 9: The First Apartment brought to us by Crazy Sam


1. Where had you moved from?

Home!!

2. Describe your first apartment.

It was the basement apartment in a big complex just east of Michigan State's campus.

3. How old were you when you had your apartment?

19!!

4. Did you have roommates? If yes, tell us more.

Yes, I shared the apartment with a fellow classmate from college. Her name was Claudia. We always had a great time together and we both liked having a neat place so we got along really well. I hate to admit it but I've lost touch with her over the years. I wonder what she's doing?

5. What was your place of employment then?

I worked at a shoe store called The Wild Pair. I worked my way up from a sales kid, to assistant manager and then finally a manager. I thought it was a fun job, except for the shoe fetish freaks who would stroke the 4 inch heels while looking at me....YUCK!! We had all the dancers from Dejavu come in every week to get their heels and thigh-high boots!! and yes even the 3 ugly ones came in....and boy were they ugly!!!

6. How were you finances at the time?

I thought I was doing all right because I had $ in the bank, $ in my pocket, $ for the bar, and gas in my car!!

7. Tell us about a lover who spent a night there.

He was a Marine that I met through a friend.

8. Tell us about a band you listen to then. (You can cheat. Look it up.)

This one is easy, Duran Duran, MC Hammer---can't touch this! Tone Loc, oh my god, I'm really dating myself!!! I will stop right now!!

9. How long did you live there and why did you move from there?

about a year. She wanted to move back to the Detroit area and I didn't want to have to find a new roomie so I moved to Jackson and stayed in the basement of my grandparent's house.



So, this morning I get up around 6:45, stumble out to the kitchen to make my coffee. No problem. Then I go to use the bathroom and flush the toilet and the water quits running!! No shit!! please, I say, please don't let the water be frozen out in the pump house!! I waited for a minute, turned the faucet on again...nothing. So I get my hubby's coat and snow boots on, grab my gloves, hair dryer, and flashlight. With my trusty dog by my side we made ort way out to the pump house. I noticed that the light we have on in there wasn't real close to this particular pipe that likes to freeze so I plugged in my hair dryer and let it run for about 5 minutes. I left the pump house and made my way into the house. As I was walking in the deep snow somehow my feet got ahead of me and I tumbled into the snow, loosing my boot and sock as I feel face first . My naked foot sunk into the snow!! I started to laugh and grabbed my sock and boot and put it back on immediately because the temp was 7 with a wind chill about -30!!! Made my way back into the house and turned on the faucet....WATER!!! I sang gloriously....Yeah!! then I made my way back out to the pump house to turn off the dryer and bring it back inside. As I was trying to close the door I kicked it with my boot and smashed the framing on it!! Good job Staci!! Then I stumbled my way back into the house. Boy did my coffee taste good after spending that time out in the cold wilderness!! After that I made a crock pot of chili, took a shower, and got ready to go into town to get groceries. I left the house around 10:30 and not one lazy butt was out of bed at this time! So I run into town to get my groceries and as I am coming out of Meijer what greets me? Yes, you guessed it.....snow, pelts of freezing rain, and winds about 100 mph!! Can I get a break....somewhere?

This is why winter sucks!!

Blustery day in the Thumb

Can I just tell you one more time how much I hate WINTER!!!! Good lord, the wind has not stopped since last night and we got another 2-3 inches of snow. I had big plans today. I wanted to get the last of my Christmas gifts purchased and all of my food for the holiday week and weekend. But there was no way that my Jeep was getting out of our driveway!! There must be 3 feet of snow against the barn doors. The poor cat, Pistol, is locked inside the barn! Don't worry Marcus has shoveled her out twice today and she has plenty of food. But he could shovel all day and the snow builds right back up within minutes. My hubby should be getting out of work soon and I'm worried if he will be able to get down our road!! Good ol' Michigan is broke, so that means our plow trucks don't run like these use to. I'm sure we won't get plowed out until late afternoon tomorrow!! It doesn't help our cause that the wind will still be blowing up to 25 mph and we're suppose to get another 2-4 inches!! Did I add that the wind chill is to get down to around -25 below??????

WHY DO I LIVE HERE????????
I'm sure these horses are wondering the same thing!! I am going to try to get out tomorrow and take photos off all this glorious white stuff but it really depends on if the wind is still wild and out-of-control!!




Today I accomplished a few things. I did all of the laundry, baked some chocolate chip muffins, drank a lot of coffee, kept that woodstove stoked and hot!!! And I also finished another book. Here is my lame review!!


Faefever (Book 3) by Karen Marie Moning
4 out of 5 stars ****

This book kicked some serious butt!! I don't remember how I stumbled across this series, I think it may have been on Goodreads. But whatever the case I absolutely love them. I truly can picture the main character Mac trying to stay alive in Dublin and trying to out-wit Barrons. But there are times that if I was Mac I would've just jumped that man!! Whew!! love the friction/chemistry between the two. The author also blends humor that is quite enjoyable and yet believeable in her story. Here is one of my favorite parts from the book:

Waiting outside for me was a thermos of coffee, a bag of doughnuts, a set of car keys, and a note. I unscrewed the thermos top, sipped the coffee, and unfolded the note.

Ms. Lane,
I would prefer you join me in Scotland this evening, but if you insist on helping the
old witch, here are keys, as you requested. I moved it for you. It's the red one, parked
in front of the door. Call if you change your mind. I can send a plane as late as 4:00.

CJ

It took me a moment to figure out the initials. Constant Jackass. I smiled. "Apology accepted, Barrons, if it's the Ferrari."
It was.

If you enjoy series books, female lead characters, a little bit of fantasy, humor, and nice sprinkling of sex, then you just may enjoy this book!!

Well, I'm off to update my Goodreads and Scrapbook thread. Hope everyone stays warm tonight and many snowballs in your face to the ones that live in WARM climates!!!

Friday Fill-In and a winter storm!!!!

Fill in the lyrics...with the correct ones or ones of your own :-) Have fun with this, don't worry if you don't know 'em...just make up something silly or do a silly one and a serious one! The most important part is to have fun with it.



1. Said the night wind to the little lamb, _do you hear what I hear?____.

2. The first Noel, the angel did say, __Staci, I'm ashamed that you don't know the next word!!!___.

3. __Riding in a sleigh___, Over the hills and everywhere.

4. It came upon the midnight clear, _a big snowstorm that dumped 8 inches here in the thumb!!____.

5. __Drink good beer___, Let your heart be light.

6. And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing _even if it is way off key!!____.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _reading a little____, tomorrow my plans include _going to Detroit metro____ and Sunday, I want to __relax for the first time in 6 months!___!

That was pretty fun, as you can see I really don't know very many Christmas carols. Now if the music was playing I might be able to come up with some of the right words!! So this morning my phone rang at 5:15 a.m. saying those 4 glorious words that we come to love here in the thumb....

NO SCHOOL SNOW DAY!!!!!!!!!

I ran to the door to look out the window and saw nothing! Was this a prank? you know how sneaky superintendent's can be sometimes and this is a negotiation year....so I went back to bed to settle in for a few more winks of sleep. Before I knew it the stupid phone rang AGAIN!! This time it was 6:00!! Same message!!! Our school has an automated message system. I've figured out that the first call was to all staff, the second call was to all parents!! Yikes, I must have that changed when I get back to school because 2 phones calls will certainly interfere with my ability to sleep-in. Needless to say I was up at 6 a.m. and stayed up. I couldn't believe how much snow had fallen in the 45 minutes since I had first looked out!! This storm just blew in and dumped tons of snow across the lower part of Michigan. And of course my dear hubby decided that he wanted to get his oil changed!! Yes, he is a little crazy! So we ventured out into the wild white day and it was scary!! The plows had not been anywhere and it was 12:30!! He didn't care, he's a man and he's not afraid of no snow!! So 4-wheel drive locked in, gas pedal fully pushed down, and we plowed through that flimsy white stuff!!! 4 hours later we arrived back at home all safe and sound. Not sure if we'll be able to get out in the morning because of the wind blowing andthe snow drifting. This has me freaking out just a little....a LOT!! I am a total worrier so I'm suffering extreme anxiety right now. I'm worried that we won't be able to make it from our house to the black top road. I'm worried that the truck will get stuck and we won't make it to Detroit Metro on time. I'm worried that we won't get there in time for the flight and we'll have to eat a $261 plane ticket!! I'm just plain worried. My husband...he's snoring right now...that's how worried he is!! So wish us luck tomorrow!!

Winter sucks in Michigan

Can I reiterate enough how much I hate F*K&^$G Michigan in the winter time? Last night the wind was blowing so hard that Matt and I discovered new leaks in the house! Just great huh? Have I told you how much I hate old houses? Well, I do. So There! Needless to say it is cold and windy again today and I'm just getting fed up with keeping the damn woodstove going. Woodstoves are great for the wonderful heat they put out but they're a pain-in-the-ass to keep them stoked up and always going. Especially because I'm the one that seems to make sure to get up in the middle of the night to add a few pieces of wood. And I'm the one right now who is awake to realize that the f*&^ing thing is having a hard time getting it into gear!!! I'm cranky so please excuse the profanity. I also think I suffer from depression brought on by the lack of sun!! O.K. enough of the ranting....

I finished another book, it wasn't spectacular but it was a nice little trip down memory lane.


Wild Boy: My Life in Duran Duran by Andy Taylor
I give it 3 out of 5 stars ***

The writing was o.k. He really should've gotten some help with it but if he did it all on his own then I applaud his efforts. But he is not a writer!! I was really hoping that he would go into a LOT of detail about his life in DD but he seemed to gloss over stuff and repeat himself constantly. This I found very irritating! He also has the knack of making himself the savior in almost all of the situations he describes. I found that a little troublesome. I believe he snorted too much cocaine!! If you loved Duran Duran from the very beginning, like me, then I think you will enjoy this book. It has a lot of flaws but it was kind of nice to remember the good ol' days of The Cure, Spandau Ballet, INXS, Live Aid, and all the great music from the 80's.