So the other day my friend Stacy pointed out that my last blog entry was a bit of a downer. So, here's a more uplifting entry! Spent part of the week at the University of Iowa! We took my nephews with us and visited my old college campus! Actually my sister graduated from U of I too. We walked by my old dorm - tried to get in but they were painting and doing some remodeling so we couldn't get in. Tried to go in to the bookstore at the student union, but it was all re-arranged as it was orientation week for incoming freshman. We drove by my old sorority house and essentially just got re-acquainted with the campus, at least that's what I did. My nephews were slightly bored but they humored their Aunt. So we were eating dinner at the Brown Bottle (really good Italian food) and I looked over and there was a sign scrawled on the side of a building across the little pedestrian mall area and I thought, yea, it really is. Aside from the speed bumps life throws at you, life really is good, you just need to step back once in a while and appreciate it. Try not to get so caught up in the fact that the neighbor's yard looks better than yours, or that you never get as many projects done around the house that you had planned, just enjoy what's in front of you and be thankful for the small victories, and for the family you have around you.
(Stacy, is this one better?)

Ever have just one of those days? If you are human and alive, you sure have. Well, I can honestly say we've had one of those months and I'm hoping we are on the back end of it! It all started when I was trying to check email one morning before work. Usually I'd have left by this time but we've been carpooling to save some money and I was waiting for my husband to finish up his routine. Well, the computer just hung up at the boot up phase. The little dial just kept spinning around and around and around. I asked what could be wrong, which I assumed it was just something I did that was simple to fix - NOT! After trying to do repairs and all the tricks he knew, my husband came and said that he feared all was lost. I think he expected me to freak, but I had already sort of figured that part out. Well, he managed to pull everything off the computer (after a couple major purchases) and then wiped it all out and tried it again, and it still didn't work. So, expense #1 - new iMac. (cha ching) Then we had a really hot day and the a/c just wasn't working. Called two furnace people and one could come out before the other and told me that it was rather hopeless. First of all the whole thing was frozen up, which was going to take two days to thaw, and second, gee the whole furnace has issues and it's "dangerous" and minimally we were talking between $3000 for the a/c and $6000 if we did both. They would need us to make an appointment with their "comfort specialist" - like the furnace is in hospice or something! Seriously, a "comfort specialist"? So, we called our friend whose boyfriend is in the trades, who knows a furnace/ac guy. He came out two days later (meanwhile it's getting warmer and warmer in the house, but if you just sat there and didn't do anything it was ok) and said it wasn't dangerous and he got the a/c working and yes, the units should be replaced. So, he's making us a deal. (cha ching #2) Then, just before we left on vacation, our favorite coffee pot died, and the lawnmower needed repairs (not just the riding one but the push one), and the cat knocked the little flat screen in the bedroom over and cracked the screen. At this point things on the expense side of things seem to be slowing down. BUT...wait...
How about the emotional side of life? Could that be tranquil and without drama? Of course not! So let's see, I had to see a new doc for my migraines who is starting me on a new treatment plan of a different combo of meds and she told me that the subsequent six weeks would essentially suck. She's right. Headache every day. Seriously, every day! This is on top of the fact that my boss has been out of commission for the last seven weeks - due to back surgery. So, she's ready come back and her husband is having some serious health issues, and her mother gets sick, so that's an emotional roller-coaster. You don't really want to see those you care about suffer.
And, this people, is the short version of the story. Give me a mango colada and we'll talk some more. Till then, be safe, and save your money!