We had an interesting night last night. A skunk sprayed outside the house and the smell wafted all through the vents of the house. It was the WORST smell I have ever smelt. We opened the windows at the other end of the house, sprayed the house down with odo-ban, burned incense for about 3 hours, and swung a vinegar soaked rag over head while walking through the house. The smell is gone this morning but that is something I do not want to relive anytime soon. The smell made my eyes burn!

So far, all of my friends are accounted for. I drove to Athens today. There was a tree down and I ended up in a ditch. The main road to Athens was blocked because of water. I went to work orientation. It wasn't what I expected but was very helpful. I have an appointment next Monday at the Nurses Training center. I'll talk to them about becoming a Certifed Nurses Aide. Hopefully I'll be in class from June 3rd until the end of June. It's better than the two months for the other one.

We'll be building a storm shelter this year. The tornadoes seem to be getting worst each year. On the way home today I hit a lot of water. At one point, it felt like I hit something. The water was quite deep there but hitting water that is shin deep going 55 MPH and it will slow you down! We walked down to the creek today once the rain stopped. The creek is flooded so much that the grass in the meadow is floating on the rocks below it. It was a bazaar feeling to say the least. The one lane bridge near here is completely under water now and one tree in behind the house was twisted off about half way up. The animals seemed clingy today. I think we should be able to sleep tonight without anyone being the watch-out.

Tomorrow is the homeschool groups first meet. I am very excited! I can't wait to see if Kelly shows up.

Wow, I really got behind on blogging. I just noticed that it's been a few weeks. Guess I'll start with the new homeschool group I started. We meet at my church on Weds from 11am-2pm(ish). We're an inclusive group. We welcome anyone or any faith and any style of homeschooling. I can't wait until Wed.

Tomorrow I am going to the career center for orientation. I would like to study to be a CNA, the maybe find something else to do when my hubby has a job. I hope it doesn't cost too much.

We are doing an adlib study of tornadoes from all of the severe weather. Tonight is my night to sit up and watch the radar. Fun.

Quick note to all. No we're not blown away. We're fine. The tornado that hit was in the south part of our county. I'll be on later to update my blog.

Tuesday we drove about 2 1/2 hours to the Wildflower walk. It's an annual get together of homeschoolers. We had a lot of fun and I didn't even over-do it. It was a wonderful walk through the woods identifying wildflowers. Then we hung out at the museum center where the young, enthusiastic man explained about weapons of the past and hunting and basically a lot of neat things about the area. I was very impressed! We all learned something from that! I am planning on taking about $10 for books the next time we go, probably sometime in the summer.

After that we had a picnic lunch in the park. The kids played and us mom's chit chatted. It was VERY nice! Then I went to L*'s house and the kids played while I looked through her impressive collection of books. I bought "Sing, Read, and Write" for my youngest and they both played with it today. I had a great visit! We got home about 10:30pm and I crawled right into bed. I was too tired to even email poor L* to let her know I made it. Hubby emailed her though and then let me sleep in until 10 the next morning. That was a nice surprise!

Sunday was a nice day. We drove over an hour to a friends house for an Easter dinner and egg hunt. The kids had fun! They each recieved a nice "bubble net" and a bottle of bubbles. We still have plastic egg halves all over the house. I am tossing them as I go along.

I am starting to declutter the house. I am in the process of making a huge box for the thriftshop, one for making paper, and one for pieces of toys and puzzles that are missing pieces. I also need to clean the pantry and find out how much food we really have. I do NOT believe the kids when they say "there is nothing to eat" anymore. I opened the pantry door and was assaulted by an array of pasta. Hence, the food inventory. I am also going to sort the toys and clothes. I can "do" the clean part, never a problem there... It's the organized. I tend to get overzealous LOL. I have my timer ready to use each time I start organizing. You'd be amazed at what you can do in 15 minutes!

I went on a shopping spree today! Yep, me and $20 ripped apart Wal-mart. I actually had a lot of fun though. I started out with not a plan, a cart, yes... a plan... not really. I grabbed a cart and headed for the school supplies. Do you know they have folding rulers now? I thick I measured every book on the shelf, my arm hairs, the hooks... I was drawing attention so I quit somewhere around the erasers. I also pressed the button on all the alphabet books. They were these cute little books with buttons. I pressed 'z' on the first one and it said "Z. what begins with Z?" Then palyed the entire alphabet song tune. So of course, being juvenile, I pressed all the Z buttons and ran from the isle giggling. The uppity lady wasn't amused but that is okay. I had fun.

I picked up cat food... I forgot, we needed that. Then I went to the sewing/ fabric section. I learned a lot there from the nice lady working the section and then she left me to my own idea's. I browsed all the pattern books. There are a few patterns that I want to buy for myself, a couple that I would love to make the boys, and some very cute frogs that I want to make the boys for the frogs thematic unit study. But I stuck with one pattern that I am going to use to make an outfit for myself. It was $10. Then I bought a self-healing cutting mat, a seam ripper, and elastic for the boys shorts. I was asked where to find things and what different prices were. Tell me honestly, do you think a woman in shorts, a tanktop, and sandals sitting at the pattern section browsing through the books... do you REALLY think that lady works at Wal-Mart? Well, I really should. I knew where the stuff was (except the speaker cover material) and even some of the prices. I swayer, I should really get a job there. I did great today!

Then I ran back to school supplies and found graph paper for oldest son to practice math. After that, I went grocery shopping. I bought snacks and bread and frozen veggies. Spaghetti squash is on sale for .77 a pound. I bought two and a few more foods we really didn't NEED but since I am still having trouble cooking some days, I figured I would grab them.


$122 later I was finished. Hey, I know how to stick to a budget! There is a 20 in that number *grins*

I had a nice drive over the cherohola skyway. I always enjoy that beautiful drive home. When I did get home I unloaded the car and gave the boys their treat. I really felt a lot better. A nice 45 minute drive each way, a couple hours of wandering in circles, and impeding traffic by going slow for once, is the best way for me to relax. I don't really enjoy shopping but if I have a plan... I can wander, price compare and set off every noise maker in a store. Sometimes I just have to make things fun since life isn't always ready to had over fun and joy in a gift wrapped box.

V has long since left. She only stayed a week. I have been working on getting the house spring cleaned. I am also the "earth day" person for the woldflower walk. I am nervous. I haven't idea of what to do. I think I'll have the kids make "litter bugs" from egg cartons. That sounds easy enough. I have to get the tires rotated and balanced. I might have a free sewing machine soon. If that doesn't work out, I am running to Wal-mart! I have a few designs of clothes I can make. I also have a few quilts that I would like to make. I am also trying to figure out if I can even fix mine.

I bought 4 theme units from schoolexpress.com ($2 each) and we're working on dinosaurs right now. I just reviewed grades. A's as usual. And I even printed out "report cards". I don't see what they find so great about report cards but, if they want them, I'll print them. I still need to find a rain gauge.

They found a catapillar nest yesterday. They are still fascinated with it. Right now they outside learning as much as they can about the catapillar nest and what they eat.

Yesterday V went to the doctor and was sent to the emergency room instead. They didn't have enough doctors. Always the efficient way to get health care, the emergency room wait was nearly 4 hours. They saw her, doped her up and sent her home. Love Tenn Care! She came back early this morning much easier to deal with and worried sick about her health. She is sleeping now and will probably remain sleeping for some time. She needs it so I am just going to let her.

Yesterday hubby went for a job. He was gone for quite a bit. The boys were excellent while he was gone. Once home, they self destructed. It was like they could hold it in no longer. We occupied our time by watching TV, sharing sherbet and reheated food, and trying to teach them how to knit. Just think... Thursday, my life will be much easier as I will be going to the doctor, getting a "new to us" washer and dryer, and then I can clean this tornado path when I get home. It will hopefully get easier from then on.

Hubby got a lead on a job. Hopefully this means his unemployment is coming to an end? We can hope. V and Terry got back. We had a nice dinner. V has a lump on her back or something and is complaining she can't feel her legs well. This again. Yea. Hopefully they fix it this time instead of drugging her to the eyeballs and ignoring it like they did with me until they figured out that everything had to come out anyway. Hubby was trying to explain disability to V and she kept trying to interrupt and repeat everything she had said before. Hubby told her to let him finish. She sat and cried over that and then got offended that he wouldn't let her interrupt like she does everyone else. She had a pity party outside for a few minutes. Once she realized we weren't going to go drag her inside and beg her not to stand in the cold... she came in even more upset. So now hubby is trying to make her see how a 35 year old is SUPPOSED to act. One week of this and I will be completely drained emotionally. I am looking into camping out until they leave.

Just over one week after my hysterectomy. I feel fine. I am not tired and I haven't had too many hot flashes since I am taking black cohosh AND I can walk again. Finally, no wheelchair!

I have been watching TLC and home-improvement shows. I am planning on re-organizing my room when I am completely healed and have the go-ahead from my doctor. I have enough material to make a quilt and matching pillows and matching "junk hiding curtains" for the shelves. I am also planning on adding material to the bottom shelf. I'll have to leave the oak desk for homeschooling needs but I plan on organizing all the computers into one area.

I am still working on a daily list for the boys. It is harder to write down than I expected. I think that will be an art project this week instead. All I need is to find the project board.

HOLY SHNOT! I was sitting here thinking about the wonderful show I wantched last night about the ice age and how we are severly overdo for one. Looked out the window and I couldn't believe it! SNOW! In East Tennessee, in late March! COOL! This transplant is happy! Although, it didn't stick and it is on and off again but it is snow nonetheless.

I've spent most of the day on the couch in pain, post oreo's and milk. I've been watching TLC and I can't wait until I can get up again and start moving around. V and Terry came back today. Hubby is making a nice turkey dinner for their arrival. They've run to Ten Mile to look at an RV. I still waiting for them to come back... and waiting for more snow! Ice age? I'M OVER HERE!!!

Yesterday Trish and Bob stopped by with food from the church for my recovery *THANKS ALL*. My directions weren't that great and they ended up 8 miles away (not hard to do out here). I'm glad to know that NOBODY knows me out here. No one could give directions to our house. I guess I have become somewhat of a hermit. V and Terry are coming back today. I still need to make a list for V so she knows what the kids do each day.

I was stupid yesterday and ate oreo's and milk (allergic to both... stupid me) and was up all night with horrible stomache pain and sick! I'll never do that again! Hubby and youngest are going to the store for the rest of the stuff for dinner. At this rate, we'll be eating around 7. I am off to doze some more. Then I need to make a spanish lesson plan. Any ideas anyone?

Ah, life in the fast lane... okay, this isn't the fast lane at all. It's more like stalled on the shoulder of life. But that's okay. I am planning out my website AGAIN as it crashed TWICE. I am redesigning it. I think I'll add a few more sections than my original plan. I am keeping the main idea for a help page and a few articles. Homeschooling being my biggest plan for it; along with parenting and recipes and yes! I will keep a blog on it. (or maybe just link to here). I'll be working on it all week! How fun. And since I am on bedrest, I will have plenty of time... as soon as I check e-mails again.

We went to the homeschooling group in Chattanooga yesterday. I think I way overdid it. One week after major surgery is NOT the time to take over an hour trip. We stopped at Lee's donuts so we would have something to bring. We stayed until 4 PM and then fought rush hour traffic up I-75 to get home. The construction is bad and some of the ramps don't so much merge as end abruptly in the path of oncoming traffic. When we got home, I was quite content to prop my feet up on the coffee table and just relax. The pain pills no longer work so I stopped taking them Monday night. Now I am at the mercy of my own doing and today was nice wake-up call for me to stay put and behave rather than to make day trips to the city. I doubt we will go to the skating rink tomorrow. Basketball team or not, I don't see me sitting through it.

I slept okay last night. Hubby wouldn't quit snoring so I slept in my chair in the livingroom. The kids woke me up by playing on the couch (I can think of worse ways to be woken) and then went to wake hubby. I dozed off for another few minutes. I've been up now for a bit. I have checked e-mails and my website hasn't come back yet so I assume it is gone for good. I'll start a new one today.

Hubby and the kids are cleaning the house today. Trish from the caring committee is bringing food from people in the church. I'm still chilling out in my jammies and can't do much. I am sick of sherbet and eggs so this will be a nice change. I am slowly getting back to my diet and I am feeling better for it too. No more dizzies and weak shakes.

Donna called this morning *waves to Donna* and let me vent for awhile. It was much needed. I am going to be relaxing most of the day. Reading books, watching TV, writing in my blog... bedrest is making me antsy, but I made a promise to stay put so I don't hurt myself and end up in the hospital again. I am thinking of working on a few ideas for homeschooling since it is getting warm enough to go outside. We already have a nice collection of empty birds nests on the mantel. I was thinking of having a study of the animals in this area and maybe one of all the plants. I'd like to find out if any are edible. I also need to find the tent. It is getting close to the season where we can camp out in the meadow for awhile and spend a few weeks roughing it. I am looking forward to that too.

But for now, it is all just plans as I am stuck inside sitting on bedrest for another week. The next two weeks will be LIGHT duty so I will be able to at least get up and move more. On a positive note... my weight hasn't changed! I have to have something exciting to look forward to.

This is addictive!

I had better get myself to bed. It is 1:05 AM here. I still have a lot of resting to do tomorrow and you how much sleep you need to get rest! LOL I'll play more tomorrow.

Stick around! You might get to know me!

In the Beginning there was a Bored Blogger.

This is interesting. A journal online. I guess we have all gone beyond privacy, eh? Better than reality TV.... now it's reality internet. How fun! I am on bed-rest b/c I am recovering from a hysterectomy, bilateral saphing oopherectomy, and all that fun stuff. Basically, I have been cut hip bone to hip bone, scooped out like a melon, had my abdominal wall scraped and then they sewed me back together. Fun! The lady from our UU church is bringing meals tomorrow. I'll let everyone else fret now :) I get to sit around playing on the internet. How cool is that!