Stormy Weather

Out here in the desert, we just got a years worth of rain in 4 days. I was lucky enough to be working those 4 days. Weather and the airline industry are like oil and water. Thursday I started my day at 4:45am and walked out at 9:45pm. Yes, I liked the overtime pay, but man, I'm tired. I was at one gate all day. At about 7pm I get a call from home. Keep in mind that I've been starring at about 300 people in the boarding area all day and dealing with a 20+ person line since 5am. My son is on the other end of the phone full of excitement. "Hey mom, did you know that there were 190 flight delays today?" Really, are you serious. I begin to wonder if he really knows what I do for a living. "Yes," I say with a sigh, "I'm looking at all those inconvenienced people right now. Most are looking back as if they want to follow me to my car after work and do bodily harm." I'm sure he meant well, just keeping me informed. He needs to stick to weather reports. After about two days, everyone got where they were going.

Dave is still the better mom. He finished painting the house today, just in time for the HOA! He is determined to cut back and utilize all available resources. Let's begin with the fireplace. We are in a 20+ year old house. We were probably one of the last homes built with a wood burning fireplace. Well, we're burning wood; and pizza boxes, paper plates, newspaper, and anything else combustible. We were eating pizza the other night with a fire going. When the kids were finished, they threw their paper plates in the fireplace. I looked in horror. I asked them how much more hillbilly could we get. Then dad threw his in. This is now the running joke. They all know how to make me cringe. This morning after breakfast dad chimed that he would be taking care of the dishes, I handed him the long lighter.

All of us are doing well. The new homework rules are great. Paxton's teachers are shocked that he's turning in homework. He is now getting high B's and A's. Gabby learned that we mean what we say. She had one missing assignment and lost out on any weekend activities. They are learning.

We are dealing with Dave's unemployment and realizing how blessed we are. Things are so much worse for others without the security of a duel income. We give thanks daily for those simple blessings; again understanding that all we have, and have been blessed with, comes from our Heavenly father.

To tired to notice

Working 6 days a week stinks! This week I worked 5--I had a root canal on my only midweek day off. My dentist is the most patient man on earth. He and his staff have put up with me calling and coming in for the 4 crowns I've had done in the past three months. It's almost all over. Tomorrow I'll call to request the second root canal--I'm done with the throbbing pain. He has been very conservative with his treatment and for that I am grateful. But sometimes you have to bite the bullet and go for the big guns. Every time I go in, I think, "They must be sick of me," but they always greet me with a smile and assure me they would rather I call than be in discomfort. I guess I'll mention their name since I am such a satisfied customer, Sunstone Dental, the Welch brothers. I see Dr. Greg. The staff is awesome. Sometimes that's more important than the doctor. The bonus is that Dr. Greg is just as nice.


The bad part about working so much is that one day runs into another and you don't seem to notice the things that use to make you smile. Passengers and their crazy questions and silly predicaments are there everyday. That never changes. I guess I'm missing the silliness of my family. David is still the best housekeeper and for a better term, mother. The kids are finally turning to him for the everyday kind of questions. I still get the big stuff. I can't give you one funny story. Maybe next week.


I'm feeling somewhat blah. Could be the painkillers. Okay, one funny story. David and I stopped by our friends house to participate in her bake sale. She was selling treats for a dear friend with cancer. Her husband is a police officer and came out of the house with a box of treats and Dave commented on how he got roped into this activity. We chatted a bit and he asked about my teeth. I told him things were almost over but the painkillers were great. He placed his hand on my shoulder and starred into my eyes. "Yep, fixed and dilated", he said without skipping a beat. I'm sure he's seen plenty in his days. We got our treats and he let me get in the driver's seat. (Must not have been that bad) Can't say that I've ever been scrutinized by law enforcement.

I guess I'll end with thoughts and prayers for Haiti. We all need to pray for our brothers and sisters and hope that they get the life sustaining supplies they need in time for good. Living in the Las Vegas valley affords us the comfort of not having to deal with large natural disasters. Our biggest worries are flash floods, which I imagine we could see in the next week. Please think of those with nothing and pray that our Heavenly Father will give them comfort.

Working Girl

Well, it finally happened. Dave got laid off. Now don't freak out--we planned and saved. Everything is covered. I now work six days a week. I only work morning shifts, so the kids don't even notice I'm working more. The only difference to them is not hearing mom yell at them two mornings a week to get up and ready for school. Which brings me to a funny moment.

Dave texted me the moment he got his pink slip. I answered with, "hey, I'll call my dad and let him know he's off the hook taking Paxton to school for a while." He promptly replied, "you know I have to be to the hall at 8am." To which I answered, "no problem. He has to be to school at 7am." Really? You think you're going to get out of taking the kids to school?! He didn't. He has been wonderful. He has cleaned and cooked. Cooking, not my strong point. Which leads to another funny moment.

One day my kids were watching Family Feud. The question was, "Name something women do better than men." I immediately thought "cook". They went through the answers and of course "cooking" was number one. Both my kids gave a perplexed look at the television and responded with, "What?" You see, I don't cook. I mean, I do simple things (breakfast, spaghetti, chili), but I'm certainly not noted for a particular meal. There are no request for my home cooking at dinner time. I'm sure most of you hear, "hey mom, could you make this or that for dinner." Or maybe they squeal in delight knowing that the one dinner they love is on the menu that night. Not at my house. Left to me, it's Panda or Taco Bell. I may stretch my culinary talents and get something frozen from Costco and use the oven for that. I have cooked a Thanksgiving dinner and have a killer cinnamon roll recipe; but for the most part anything to write home about has come from dad. So for that I am grateful to have him home.

He has a long list of "honey do's" and the cash to get them done. He should be back to work by the end of February maybe March. We have been very blessed over the past year when so many were not. We were wise with our good fortune and know that as we continue to be thankful and generous, we will continue to have our needs and wants met. All we have comes from our Heavenly Father, we must keep this foremost in our minds.