Betty on the Episcopalians!

My friend, James, posted this on Facebook and it's a scream!

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A close encounter.....!!!

It's been a little while since I wrote here. I didn't have a lot to say, I guess. Then BAM! Here's a story for ya!

I was on the road to visit my good friend, Q, who lives in Rochester Hills. On the drive up, I was chatting with my husband on the phone. Got off the freeway and was sitting at the light at University and Squirrel. (Did I mention this was 9:30 in the morning?) I had just put down the phone and was preparing to shift as the light changed when BAM!!!!!!!! I look up in shock, wondering what truck hit me and ...nothing! I look left - I look right - and see THREE DEER running like hell across the hill. WHOA! One or two of them ran, through traffic, and hit my car. Totaled the side mirror - that flew off and crashed into a million pieces - crunched the side panels of the drivers' side.... Turns out to be abut $2300 in damages.

Funny, when you think we had just driven home from up north the week before...at dusk! Ya know dusk and dawn are the best time to view deer ... UP THERE!!!

I was a bit shaken, to say the least. I immediately pulled into the circle drive of Oakland University - just ahead of me - and called my husband back. He did his best to calm me down as I went into shock.

I was able to pull myself together and make it to Q's house some 2-3 miles away.

Q showed me this article.... http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2008/11/19/news/local_news/doc4923e2f89cd10066444220.txt

Whoa. Turns out the city is NUMBER ONE in deer related accidents. Wow. The body shop I took my car to said they fix 100 cars a year that have had a run in with deer.

If you look closely at the photos of the car door handles you will see bits of fur!

I was all for protesting this deal in Rochester but, after first hand knowledge of the problem, I can see the point of city government. Cull the herd and feed the people.

Ahhh, the simple pleasures......!

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Pray for peace, people everywhere

A new year and I feel behind already. I have no real "plan" for the year...no resolutions....no outline. Geez. I really feel I need to spend some time writing and deciding what I want to do and be this year.

I know I need to carve out some self love time. I need to plan my meals. Plan some cultural time. Plan to read some really good books. I need to decide on an exercise regime.

I need to think about my guilt as being both mom and dad now that my ex has fallen out of the picture again. I know my lovely husband does his best but I do feel alot falls on me to make things happen. In looking over last years' planning calendar it looks as if Mal only spent 5 or 6 full weekends with her father ALL YEAR. There were long stretches where there was no contact. Perhaps nearly 3 months in total.

Wow.

Compassion work seems to be high on the to-do list.

Crap.

Handel - shaken..... not stirred.

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Silver linings

This has been a super crummy day! I mean, really! Let me vent for moment...if I may?

First off - I had to leave a voicemail about some really stupid behaviour. If you are trying to lead a large class of children it stands to reason that you don't need competition, right? Every week, the class teachers sit about 10 feet away from me, if that, and carry on conversations about work, family, etc. HELLO! I can hear you , the kids can hear you... IT IS DISRUPTIVE. I lose my train of thought, at times. You don't think it can derail the 3 and 4 year olds?

Okay, moving on. So on my way home I call my bank's automated line for our balance and such. We are overdrawn by $600! WHAT?

Turns out our insurance company did a major oops - took out two months of payments 12 days early. HUH? And we have over $110 in fees to deal with now.. They cannot re-deposit the funds - they will have to cut me a check. I casually mention - THIS IS A BAD TIME OF YEAR TO TIE UP ALMOST $1000, YOU %$#&**..

The dude on the phone understood and, I think, he was thinking...."damn, I'm glad this didn't happen to me!"

Okay, so then I leave to take my mum Christmas shopping. We use a wheelchair now as it really saves wear and tear on her. Hauling that around is a drag. And she front seat drives when I am pushing.. Snippy did not go over well with me today.

Then I get her back with her stuff and get on my way to get to my daughter. Today was the 2nd visit to the orthodontist so she had to get sprung early... There was a smashed car/semi truck accident not a 1/2 block from the street I had to turn onto to get to her. I had to cross the road and drive through that neighborhood to get to the other side of the mess. CRAP.

Made it to the appointment. Sigh. All good. Bad luck over, right? WRONG.

Pulling out of the office lot and onto a busy street I am, momentarily blinded by the setting sun and CRUNCH. I hit another car who is also in the left hand turn lane. No major damage - some to be sure - but we were okay. Spooked, for sure. And I had left my winter coat with my mother to repair so I stood out in the cold with no coat waiting for the police. AND I did not have my current proof of nsurance with me. I had four and none were the current one! CRAP!

OKAY! DONE!!!!

To recap...I taught three classes of pre-school music and the kids did great. Yup, Blue Cross screwed up but will pay all my fees. My mom felt better about the upcoming holidays and got some good deals. I came across the accident AFTER it happened. 'Nuff said. My own accident was minor, the lady was cool, we were unhurt, the police showed up 10 minutes later and the dude did not issue me a ticket. Not a one.

So...after looking at all this... Good day or lucky day... ????

Hard to tell.

I need a glass of wine.

'Nite.

Mysterious...........

It's a cold and rainy/snowy night. I have spent some time in a lovely hot tub with dabs of snow falling on my head. Sigh. It was lovely.

I sat with friends and family and watched some movies and ate leftovers.

I still sound like utter crap. I sang today and I think I sang myself out.

I found this picture of a cat and it reminded me...a bit..like our Amy. What does she do while we are away?

It's a mystery.