Thursday, December 31, 2009

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

I LOVE the snow. I don't so much like to get out in it and get cold and wet, but I love to look at it. I love the way it makes everything seem quiet and peaceful. I love the way it covers the imperfections and makes everything beautiful!

I don't mind driving in the snow, I kinda like it, and I think I'm good at it. I drive a Jeep Cherokee and it makes me feel like I can do anything. Sometimes I try to slide as I turn a corner and am disappointed. I often watch cars in front of me as they come to a stop and attempt to go again, but simple spin out. I wait patiently (and sometimes impatiently) for my turn and then have no problem at all. Tonight I watched a car attempt to drive up a hill, I pulled to the side of the road and watched as the car went halfway up and backed down again three times. They then turned and drove off in the other direction. I just waited patiently and once they were out of my way, drove up confidently without a problem. Poor little car....

I do get frustrated by others and their stupid decisions. I recently took a trip to Portland to hang out with my two sisters and our two cousins. (That is another GREAT story for another time.) It snowed while I was there, and it made the trip home interesting. The major freeway I took to get out of Portland had not been plowed, and was pretty bad. Not so bad that you couldn't drive a good 40 mph though. However, people began pulling over to put chains on, which wasn't really the problem either. It really got bad, when the big trucks would stop in the middle of the lane (whichever one they were driving in) to put their chains on. No need to pull off the road, please just stop right there. Anyway, it became an obstacle course. It took an hour to drive 20 miles. The only thing that redeemed that hour was the landscape...

And, since I wasn't moving....I had plenty of time to take pictures of it.

Monday, December 7, 2009

To speak or not to speak?

My kids went to the US Nationals swim meet in Federal Way this last weekend. It is a swim meet for collegiate level swimmers and there were some Olympians there. They road separately with friends. When they called after the meet was over to say that they were on their way home, this is how the conversations went:

Me: hey Cass, did you have fun?
Cassadie: Yes, it was sooo much fun......, we got to see........, oh my gosh mom, I'm tired so it doesn't sound like I'm excited, but I really am and I'll tell you more about it tomorrow
Me: sounds great, are you guys headed home now?
Cassadie: Yeah, we left the swim meet a few minutes ago, and Jeff told me I should call you now
Me: alright, so you'll call when you get to Ellensburg?
Cassadie: Yep
Me: Okay, see you later. Love you
Cassaide: Okay, love you too mom
(this call lasted several minutes)

Me: Hey Jarod, did you have fun?
Jarod: Yep (silence)
Me: Are you headed to Max's aunts house now?
Jarod: Yep (silence)
Me: Okay, well, have a good night
Jarod: Okay (silence)
Me: I'll talk to you tomorrow. Love you bud
Jarod: Okay, bye
Me: WAIT! YOU WILL NOT HANG UP WITHOUT TELLING ME YOU LOVE ME!
Jarod: Oh, I love you mom
Me: Thanks bud. Bye.
Jarod: Bye.
(This call lasted about as long as it took you to read it just now!)

It's so funny to me how boys and girls are so innately different. He is a man of few words, the strong silent type. She will talk your ear off about nothing at all.