Saturday, January 28, 2012

Weekly Preview and Review

Monday night I got together with a couple girlfriends and we had dinner and conversation, then watched a DVD together. That was nice! Then last night, I got to go see One for the Money with a bunch of my book club ladies. Then we went to The Blind Fish, a restaurant I've never been to. I had Monterey Chicken and angel hair pasta. Ate only half and had the rest mixed up and stir-fried for dinner tonight. Mmmmmm!

Got my blue minivan all registered and running ok, then Friday night, it stalled on me while I was waiting for David to get done with Robotics. Couldn't get it going again. One of his club mentors tried to jumpstart it and nothing.... It's still parked over at the high school. Bob worked on it today for a couple hours in the wind and snow and couldn't get it going.

The Safari (brown) van is also non-operational at present, so this leaves me without a car at all. And Bob's car needs a battery because it chose THIS week to start being wonky about starting. So, tomorrow we need to go get a new battery and I guess I get to drive him to work and pick him up until I have a running car again. But, hey, it's not the end of the world, right?

I rearranged some of the display items on top of the bookshelves and the piano. I've been collecting different size deep blue glass vases and bottles. I put them all on top of the hutch. Most of them have flowers in them. Finally I dug out some clear plastic frames and put the Regency Ball photos in them and set them out on top of the tall bookcase.

I think David is going to teach some computer classes to elementary age kids. He's been requested! That will help with his expenses!


1/22 Sunday
- Church, Improv (D)
Monday - Work 4, Karate, Robotics (D)
Tuesday - Work 4, Robotics (D), Mich History (S,E,J)
Wednesday - Work 4, Church, Art Class (J,S)
Thursday - Work 4,  Wordsmith class, Karate, Robotics (D)
Friday - WORK 4, Robotics (D), Co-op
Saturday - Robotics (D)
Sunday - Church

This coming week is a nice calm one, at least as weeks go during robotics build season! LOL We have all our normal activities, but nothing unusual except co-op. I also don't have any weekend plans, which means I can get some projects done! You should see my To-Do List!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Weekly Review and Preview

Well, let's see. I got the minivan registered, so I am driving that again since the Safari needs some work. It's here now instead of parked at my friend's house. So hopefully Bob can do some work on it.

Tuesday night was very slippery so David and I headed out to robotics but turned around.

Saturday David went to Defense and Tactics class and then a Kendo Sword Seminar at karate. After those, he spent 6 hours at robotics. Long day!

Book Club was great once again - with 12 ladies attending. We always seem to have 10-12 ladies, but they are different ladies every month with just a few that always attend. Persuasion by Jane Austen is one of my favorite books now!

I'm almost done with the Daniel Fast and I've done very well keeping to it. I had a couple times where it was more loving to break the fast than to follow it, so I did. I really hadn't wanted to make big announcements about it, but that's just about impossible when doing something like that for three weeks and continuing to live a regular life at the same time. I have only two more days! I am going out to eat on Wednesday and am DEFINITELY having coffee and Diet Coke! :-D

1/22 Sunday - Church
Monday - Work 4, Karate, Robotics (D), Girls' Night?
Tuesday - Work 4, Robotics (D), Mich History (S,E,J)
Wednesday - Work 4, Church, Lunch out!
Thursday - Work 4,  Wordsmith class, Karate, Robotics (D)
Friday - WORK 4, Robotics (D), Movie Night? (L)
Saturday - Robotics (D)
Sunday - Church, Improv (D)

Bob is working at the homeless shelter every day this week. He works the 3:30-8:00am shift. This is a traveling homeless shelter and this week is hosted by the church we've been going to. Next week, Bob will be volunteering again but at another church. 

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Weekly Preview and Review

The soccer board meeting last week was something that had to drop off the calendar for me. I really would like to be off the board already, but I have to get through the spring before I hand it over completely to my replacement. And I hope mightily that he is still planning to take over for me.

The other thing that had to go was the baby shower. This was mainly due to transportation.

My van died on Thursday on the way to writing class. It was raining. Something about my van doesn't want to run in wet weather. But there is something else wrong too, I think. Kind friends helped us out that day and again on Saturday when we tried to get the van home and realized it was only going to run in 1st gear. It stalls when shifting up. The OBD code reader (thanks, Dad!) says the shift solenoid (electrical) is the problem. That is apparently in the transmission fluid pan and thus requires taking off the pan to replace. Bob is not certain he can do this, mostly because he thinks it should be done with a lift. A friend of ours from our old church happened to come into the store where Bob works on Friday. This friend happens to be an auto mechanic whom we trust and who has done work for us before when Bob is out of his element. This guy has not been in the store before when Bob has been there. Coincidence? No, I don't believe in that. So, the plan is to get the van over to his house.

Meanwhile, we've been down to one vehicle. We still have the Voyager but it's not registered. We plan to register it on Monday morning and then I can drive that until we get the Safari repaired. Please pray that the heat works in the Voyager. Bob has been intimating that it doesn't, but he isn't certain.

The kids ADORED Michigan History class in spite of their prior unwillingness and apprehension. I believed that they would since the older kids had taken the class before.

Daniel fast is going well. I am not hungry much and tracking all my meals - keeping the calories low, mostly between 1200-1600 a day. Doing cardio 3 times a week and strength training 3 times a week, plus karate. Cleared off the treadmill yesterday and ran on that for the first time. Wow, was I sweaty! lol I will post a little more about it on Cornerstone when I have a couple minutes.

We've decided to attend the Vineyard church nearby for the time being. We've gone twice in a row and that's kind of a record for us lately. lol

1/15 Sunday - Church
Monday - Work 4, Karate, Robotics (D), Bob dentist
Tuesday - Work 4, Robotics (D), Mich History (S,E,J)
Wednesday - Work 4, Church, Robotics (D)
Thursday - Work 4,  Wordsmith class, Karate, Robotics (D)
Friday - WORK 4, CO-OP, Robotics (D)
Saturday - Robotics (D), Sword Seminar (D), Book Club
Sunday - Church

I cancelled the essay writing class I had planned to teach starting on Monday because I only got half the enrollment I was hoping for. I decided the potential income wasn't worth the time investment. It was a HARD decision that took me a couple extra days to make. That frees up my schedule a bit more.

I cleaned out the backroom yesterday, sorted through some stuff and trying to make a home for the treadmill where I can leave it and it isn't in the way.

David is going to do a samurai sword seminar with Master Collins on Saturday. He is excited.

Bob has a dental appointment on Monday. I am hoping they'll help him figure out how to have some work done on his teeth since they are getting very bad. No dental insurance for years now and no extra money makes it very difficult to obtain dental care.  Why is it all so expensive nowadays?

Other than that, this should be a prertty normal week, and it ends with BOOK CLUB! Can't wait! We are doing Persuasion!

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Weekly Preview and Review

This was our second week of Christmas break - so, no lessons happening here. The kids have been sleeping late, playing a lot of video games, watching some movies, and generally just hanging out.

I got to go out to dinner with the Seeds of Faith leadership team on Tuesday night at a local steakhouse. I usually order pasta or chicken, but instead I tried the steak my friend recommended. TASTY!! And I loved the sweet potato fries I got as a side. Mmmmmm.....  We ordered a couple desserts to share, so I had a small slice of cheesecake and a few bites of a chocolate dessert. Lots of stimulating conversation too. Lovely night out. Oh, and our friend Vicki was our waitress!

David started the robotics build season with the kickoff at Kettering University on Saturday. From here on out, it will be eat-sleep-breathe robotics for him. Pray it's a good experience for him - to learn and enjoy!

Friday I had a meeting with the leadership team to discuss some plans for NEXT year. Yes, we are trying hard to look ahead and plan well for 2012-13. We got a lot accomplished and had a nice lunch together as well. One team member joined us via Google chat as she was not feeling well, so that was nice to have her input. Thank you, technology!

1/8 Sunday - Church, Movie?
Monday - Work 4, Karate, Soccer meeting, Robotics (D)
Tuesday - Work 4, Robotics (D), Mich History (S,E,J)
Wednesday - Work 4, Church, Robotics (D)
Thursday - Work 4,  Wordsmith class, Karate, Robotics (D)
Friday - WORK 4, Robotics (D)
Saturday - Robotics (D), baby shower (L)?
Sunday - Church

The three younger kids will be taking Michigan History on Tuesday nights for the next 3 months. David and Emily have taken it before, and now it's the younger kids' turn. Emily will probably go along; since it's a family price, she can go for no extra cost.

All our regular activities will be back in action this week, if they weren't already - karate, writing class, church. I am invited to a baby shower on Saturday and I'd like to go, but we'll see how far behind I am by Saturday.

I am working on some eating and exercise goals, but I'd like to get a little further in before I share details. Maybe on Wednesday....

Have a great week!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Weekly Preview and Review

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Christmas was low-key and nice. We went to Christmas Eve service but not on Christmas Day.

Had a lovely time seeing WICKED with 3 good friends. Dinner out was a pleasure and I even got to browse the shoe sale at Parisian, a department store I'd never been to before.

Took the whole family (against their will) to see Courageous on Thursday night - special price, special time sponsored by local homeschoolers at the small town theater one town over. I sobbed throughout and we all liked it. Sometimes I am really glad I force them out of the house.

Spent New Year's Eve and most of New Year's Day with Maryann and her family. Again - a nice low-key holiday.

1/1 Sunday - New Year's Day
Monday - Work 4, Karate
Tuesday - Work 4, Leadership dinner
Wednesday - Work 4, Art class (E,J,S), Church, Robotics (D)
Thursday - Work 4,  Karate, Suzy playdate
Friday - WORK 4
Saturday - Robotics Kick-off (D)
Sunday - Church

This should be a nice relaxing week. Well, other than the fact that I'd like to get some deep cleaning done. LOL We are off lessons still this week. So, I think I'll tackle one room each day and try to do some decluttering and some cleaning that never seems to get done.

Saturday marks the kick-off of David's robotics competition season. He will be very busy for six weeks.