Winter Ball arrives concurrently with Winter!

Grandpa Bob calls her Easy Money from the many poker games the family played while Lex was in AK staying with he and Grandma for a couple of months the last couple of summers. We call her Lex. She is in no way way camera shy.She and the BF and a GF tripped the Winter Ball lights fantastic last night. Not so much fun they said, with a 50s theme...with same music none of them could relate to. Oh well...no matter what....it is good to be 17 with life and the.big world waiting for you!

It is snowing and icing outside as I write at 5 in the morning. 21 degrees. Winter arrived nonsensically just as the weathermen in the area promised us. See next:

Radar Page 1 - Our original Regular Updated LIVE Radar Map Links... http://www.emergencyemail.org/weatherradarmap.aspSevere Weather Map Link . . . . http://www.emergencyemail.org/weathermap.asp MAJOR WINTER STORM TO CONTINUE IMPACTING THE AREA WITHSIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATION THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. SIGNIFICANT WINTER WEATHER WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT THE REGIONTHROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. AN ARCTIC COLD FRONT HAS MOVED THROUGH THEREGION. THIS WILL BRING SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL TO MOST OF THE REGIONTHROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. NORTHERN BLUE MTNS OF OR-NORTHWEST BLUE MOUNTAINS-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF.MEACHAM.TOLLGATE338 AM PST SUN DEC 14 2008 WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING. A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THISMORNING. HEAVY SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH AT LEAST THIS MORNING. TOTALSNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 12 TO 24 INCHES ARE LIKELY BY LATE MORNING.BLOWING & DRIFTING SNOW DUE TO GUSTY WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE ATTIMES. A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SIGNIFICANT SNOWACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED. SNOWFALL INTENSITIES WILL BE HEAVYENOUGH TO SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE VISABILITIES AT TIMES. FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION.CHECK OUR WEB SITE ATWWW.WEATHER.GOV/PENDLETON.

James is looking at generators for back up heat.

I am looking for a new dining room set.

We spent a little of yest. in some minor holiday shopping. Ended up mostly with ingredients for baking bad for you lemon bars, ginger cookies and more. That is mostly the plan for today. Still don't feel too sharp but must be the weather.

Did go out last night for an hour to do our parental "get lost" duty while Lex and her beau ate their salmon dinner at home before their dance. Wanted to sip a hot buttered rum to toast the first snow of the year. The local bar was out of HBR mix. I drank what I think the nice bartender called a Ski Jump - peppermint schnapps and hot chocolate. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Came home and fell right to sleep that is how exciting I am not.

I promised myself today to finish decorating, bake, clean up all unncessary piles of stuff, sort the xmas gifts for wrapping and read a little. We will see how much really gets done...

TTFN

Reluctant Scrooge-ette

Reluctant Scrooge-ette trying to overcome external forces to enjoy her life.

At least for the moment, insomnia reigns nights and ruins my days. Hope to reverse this trend but not thinking about it too much at the moment. It's in the teens outside and I need to remember to bring the cat in charge of the house back in.

(HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR GINA!! It's your something anniversary of your 29th...and we in frigid central WA wish our friend every happiness on your day! We love you!)

MD appt this Friday to talk about the sleep study.

Worked late and almost missed a family dinner tonight. I was the one in the scene that roars in at the last minute with the anti-holiday attitude, out of sorts and disinterested. I did what I could to put on the game face and enjoy but I wasn't proud of myself.

Most of it was driven by the underperforming co-worker who gave me her next revision of a pretty big book project at work. At least two-thirds of the edits excellent co-worker had made, were not done. Therefore, mark it up again and return it. The same thing happened at lunch where I was asked at the last split second to shepherd a revision of a simple product. Four edits and running into the noon presentation deadline later, typos, mixed up sentences and other. It took me to a dark place that I am not sure how to extract myself. Although I was promised no interaction with her, I am steeped in it. Think good thoughts, send solutions. I am documenting so I have a valid trail--thanks for the tip Richard. In the real world, termination would be an old memory and someone capable and hungry for the great job would be turning out pretty professional products.

Second complaint of the day: stepdaughter tells her father she is going to GED school for testing. I talked to the administrator, there is no GED testing at night in Dec. It all takes place at 8:30 in the morning. Grandpa had the kids so the "testing" could happen. I was in the little down town down the road to get items for tomorrow's work potluck and noticed the community college was totally dark and boarded up during GED testing time. I don't participate in the pretend anymore. As much as I would like to be supportive...I will support reality.

Need to bring out more holiday decor. It's looking very deserted in our usually festive living room. And put on the happy holiday face. Underneath, I am happy but I just can't seem to get out of first gear with it.

On a bright note, found the blue collar radio channel and it cheers me up both to and from work like no other!

Daughter has her senior prom this Saturday. I vow not to have the discussion to try to force her to wear a coat over her strapless shoulders...unless...and I hear snow and ice are on the way...there is snow and ice. I know she will throw the coat off when she gets into the car. And she will be 18 in 48 days. That is extraordinary and this is the last high school dance I get to watch unfold through teenage planning. I will miss it terribly.

And, I miss my big kids.

TTFN fa la la la la....la la la la..............