it's been forever . . .

Winter is coming on strong - devoid of color. I now look to the sky for the blue it has to offer until the pretty pinks, purples, green and yellows reappear in the spring.



. . . since I sat and just wrote! I've missed a lot of journaling so I'm going to try harder to stick with it. Zero desire has been factoring into my decision to just sit and look at the computer rather than keep updating daily 'haps'! I think that's fairly normal after being sick for a prolonged period of time - like, what's the point - all I've seen for the past week is the living room and bathroom - what's so fascinating about that?!

I got to see the 'outside' world today and Gma and I actually got some Christmas shopping done for the grandkids! When you're shopping for 13 of them, it can be a real trick to find just the right thing! Well, we found it today and they're going to love em' . . . anyway, I would! So, now I can officially say, "Let the Christmas shopping begin!" Ugh! I have approximately zero ideas lined up - so I thought I would let the Spirit of Christmas guide me through the season in hopes I will be inspired as I go along! However, if ANY of you out in blog-land would like to post a comment and leave a few suggestions/ideas - I'd be happy to compensate you for your trouble!

Whitney and Schuyler are separated! Yes, that's right - you heard it first here. It's sad, I know - what else can you do when you need work and there's no work in the valley? Separate! Schuy went to Utah to do construction and Whitney is working in both Victor and Jackson at salons! Morgan is babysitting for Whit while she goes to work all day tomorrow. You've never seen a girl so excited to be getting out of school to babysit! Opps, shhhhhh, mum is the word!

Cortney came up tonight, without the family, just to be safe since I've been so contagious the past week! I would have been so cool to have Ash and the boys come a stay for a few days but, quite frankly, it's not worth chancing it - Cort is even sleeping over at Tyler and Nicole's . . . just in case! He asked me if I would go with him and help him shoot the wedding Saturday night! Sweet ha! So, I'm going to give it a try and see what happens - what have I got to loose - fire me?! Haha.

About a month ago, Bob was called into the superintendent's office and told one of the principal's in the district had a heart attack and asked if Bob would fill in until he came back! Being the 'every-so-obedient' guy that he is, he accepted and is actually acting as the "traveling" principal at two local elementary schools. Another principal had back surgery and isn't doing well and won't be back for some time. So, he jumps from job to job in his quest to make things run smoothly - his 30+ years working as principal at the high school served him well! He said, it's so funny when he calls kids into the office to discipline them, all he has to do is look at them and they start crying - so different from the high school where many will 'F' you off or give you the finger! How funny is that!

Tyler, Nicole and Dottie will be leaving us very, very soon. They are making a bold move to Reno. Both Ty and Nic are saying their goodbyes to family, business associates, friends and neighbors as they ready themselves for their move to Reno. They are going this weekend to find a place to live and scope out their new city/state. They will be moving in two weeks. I am basically 'heart-sick' as I'm really going to miss them. They drop in often, eat Sunday dinners together (and many others), play tennis and basically have fun. Nicole and I share a lot of 'common-things' (inside joke) - I think we're going to be on the phone a lot together calming each other down (ha, Cole!).

Gma is back to 100% - least-wise she informed me yesterday as we traveled to Idaho Falls together! She was very sick and I thought we could loose her - it wasn't looking good. She's back to her normal sassy-self and no more doctor appointments. We really do have fun getting ready for the holidays - even though I seldom like to admit it!

Went and saw the Michael Jackson movie - loved it! I realized, perhaps for the first time, just how many of his songs I 'adore' - I mean really love! The movie captured a side of Michael that was endearing, human, kind and humble! I would have loved to have seen that concert, live - it was an amazing feat they were attempting to put together - astronomical would be a good word! I was truly sad that we lost him when I left the theater - a true craftsman and talent.

The weather is changing and getting colder - but actually, our highs are in the 50's - not bad for November! Leaves are about gone off the trees and neighbors are pounding 'snow stakes' by the sides of the road so the snow plow doesn't destroy their lawn during winter months. The snow can get pretty deep in these parts!

One last interesting statistic! Usually, Thanksgiving around here we feed anywhere from 10 to 25 people around our table! This year it's going to be 5 - maybe 3 ! ! ! This is the year everyone is G.O.N.E. and it's going to feel pretty-dang W.E.I.R.D. I'm thinking "take-out"!