Holy Smokes

It's been a long time since I've been here. That's a reflection of how busy life has been... busier than usual.

We left for Wisconsin for Thanksgiving on Monday, November 24. This year, and for the first time since Ron's traveled there for T-giving, we took two days going out as well as the usual two days for the return trip. It takes about 18 hours to get from Greenville to just north of Green Bay and after last year's trip, the last third spent in hard rain with five hours of that after dark, I refused to do it again in one day. It was downright scary as well as extremely stressing and exhausting. He'd never admit it, but I think Ron was glad for the two-day trip.

Instead of individual Christmas presents for one another, we bought a mutual one of a GPS just two days before leaving for Wisconsin. I love tech gadgets, and the TomTom we purchased is no exception. I had it up and running before leaving the mall parking lot and played with it so much on the trip that I am now an expert. We didn't need it for the actual trip. Ron has traveled to his daughter's many times, but I wanted it in case there were problems in Chicago to go around as well as being able to find motels, restaurants and gas stations. It worked great!!

I missed Em terribly while gone for the week at T-giving, and she missed me. Michele called me T-giving morning so Em could talk to me. Em asked if I was going to come and eat with them. When I said, "No," she cried and sobbed and begged me to come home. When we finally got home Michele told me that every morning when she woke up, Em asked, "Is Grandma Marla coming today?" Every morning she cried when she found out I wasn't. She was soooooooo happy to see me on Wednesday last week. It had been two weeks; a long time for a little girl.

So life is pretty much back to normal, except for Christmas prep. Ron has doctor appointments. I'm doing Ember care two days a week, though I have her three days this week. I had Em yesterday, and if the weather cooperates (a storm is predicted Thursday into Friday), I'm bringing her down for an overnight Thursday.

I'm just about ready for Christmas. I want to pick up a pair of gloves and some underwear for Tony's stocking. I also need to get money out of the bank for him as well as mail presents to Maureen and her family. Tony, Ember and Judy are coming here Christmas afternoon for dinner and present opening. The original plan called for Michele to also come down, but she has backed out telling me that she didn't want to spend more time with Tony than necessary. I don't know what that's all about but apparently he's done something wrong. LOL

Gas prices - They are LOW LOW LOW. The lowest we saw on our trip to Wisconsin was $1.53 a gallon somewhere in Ohio. Back here in Glenmont, Cumberland farm is selling it for $1.81 a gallon. Greenville stations are $1.89. Yahoo!!

Exercise - Other than that which I get from living life, I've done nothing extra special.

Weather - Temps have been up and down. It was really cold over this past weekend through Tuesday. Right now the outside temp is 50 degrees but will fall into the 30s and bring a winter storm.

Life lessons - Oh there are so many lessons and changes that I've experienced the past two weeks, but it's difficult to put them into words. What comes first to my mind is I better watch what I wish for. This relates to going to Wisconsin (or really NOT wanting to go to Wisconsin). It also relates to missing Ember but after being with her for a couple of days, wishing for another break because I am so so so tired at the end of the day. I don't know how grandparents who do full-time care do it, unless they do a haphazard job. Child care takes a lot of time, energy and effort if one doesn't use a TV for a babysitter.