What ever happened to full service pumps???

Wouldn't you know it that after leaving Sonja's house at 8:40 p.m. this evening, I notice that I needed gasoline. It was 17º, with bitter wind chills. I won't speculate how cold it felt, but within moments, my ungloved hands were aching. Of course I had to get gas, but I wasn't crazy enough to stand and wait. I got back in my car while it pumped. My car has this "REST" button that will run the AC or heater on Residual heat or air. So I had to drive around before heading to the station until my heat was toasty, so I could run it while I filled up.
I think New Jersey is on to something. There you're not allowed to pump your own gas. I remember when Kelly and I went to NYC we pulled into a service station reasonably late and this man approached us. He was not wearing an obvious uniform and Kelly feeling uneasy told me to drive away(or maybe she was driving...I can't remember). We later realized that they won't let you do self service. Now you can't find a single service station that has full service. I wonder if it'll be the same way with self check out someday? I do like self check out, but will it make the cashier obsolete just the same way service station attendants are?
I think people would wait in line and pay plenty of $$ to not pump their own gasoline tonight! I sure would have.

Surface-itis!

I'm a 3rd generation hoarder! from both sides of the tree....so I'm s...l...o....w....ly trying to change.
These are two rooms I intend to change. Consider these "before" pictures. I'd like to say I'll be posting after pictures by the end of Spring Break, but I've got A LOT of work to do!
Shameful I know....but courageous!

Burrrr!!

Everyone is talking about how cold it is in TN! We're not used to it being cold and it is VERY cold, has been VERY cold for too long and looks like it will continue to be VERY cold. Today I got in my car, which was in my detached carport to read this on my dash.
I thought 18º was impressively cold, but as I backed out and traveled down the road a little bit I looked down and it said 14º. By the time I stopped to take a picture, it said 13º and at one point on my drive it said 12º. Burrr!They are predicting snow Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. It never makes it easy for school closing if it happens early. Last year we were half way to school before they finally called off school. I'm crossing my fingers for 5 p.m. snow that is obviously going to cancel school. But they are predicting this storm WAY too early. That's what makes me think it won't even come through the Mid South. We shall see!

39 and planning to HOLD from now on!

So my big sister turned 39 today!





I remember when my mom turned 40 and how we threw a party and my cousin brought black roses. Whoa--40 is the new 20. Crazy how much happens and how fast "grown up" has taken over my life. Though many people my age have "tween" children, I will bask in the lack of kids or even marriage for now. Anyway-- Sonja might think she's 39 and holding forever, but I'll keep reminding her how old she is (that is unless I can't remember how old she is. Just the other day I was confused about how old I was. After 30 I just quit advertising my age!)

Every other Sunday

Every other weekend we drop off and pick E up at El Chico. This year he left Christmas Day and spent the rest of year at his dad's. He finally got to come home tonight. Before he left he got to open gifts from Santa but forgot to check his stocking. We carried it to him so he could check out his goodies!!
Sonja told him to make sure to come hungry and he guessed that we were going to Red Lobster. He loves crab legs and could eat his weight in them, mostly because Sonja has to crack them and he just has to eat them! He was pretty sneaky and whispered in the server's ear that it was Sonja's birthday, so she got free cheese cake. I'm going to have to get better at this picture thing- cause I don't have pictures of crab legs or cheese cake or those who devoured them!!

My Brother's Brood

So Shane now has 6 kids. Their visits to Henning are few and far between, but we can usually count on them being here around the New Year and once during tax time. Today they came to visit. They had fun creating Mii-s and playing Wii at Nanna's house!Here the kids are watching Shane bowl. The funniest part was watching N try to keep his dad from beating his mom. First he grabbed his hands and then he tried to block the TV.This is my newest nephew. He was born in October and he's sweet. It will be interesting to see how he grows in 2010!

New Year's Stupid-stition

In our house and probably many more, it's a tradition to enjoy a "traditional" superstitious meal to help bring prosperity and health for the new year. Well again this year, we ate pork chops, spinach (though Sonja was upset it wasn't greens), purple hull peas (as opposed to black eyed peas *boom, boom pow*) and this year Sonja added beets to bring love; I'm not holding my breath!
Regardless, we enjoyed a meal that would've made Grandpa proud! I know he enjoyed a meal at Christmas before he died, but for some reason, I think he did eat parts of the new year meal too.
So to 2010, health, wealth and love! I'll take any or ALL!