Life in Weyers Cave

"Mom, where can we get a thumbtack?" "What for?" "Uh, don't ask" the kids said. "Oh, we can use duct tape!" All five were busily working in the hall by the door to my bedroom on their project. After listening enough to realize they were getting ready to terrorize the cat, I slipped into my bedroom from the rear door where I thought she was hiding. No fear, she can read minds. She was safely tucked away under the king sized bed. Allen came in and saw me and figured out I had hidden the cat elsewhere in the house. The search ensued, with children even checking the cars to try to find her. Finally, someone had the brilliant idea to check WAY under the bed and Bingo! (Sorry, Faraday.) They scared her out with the vacuum. Apparently the torture had something to do with videotaping her running into a wall of Saran Wrap at my door, but she just ducked under it. They thought she wouldn't be able to see it. (Who are the dumb ones now...

  

  Proof they belong on the OTHER side of the camera! 

  

  

  We had posters of duct tape "hints" all over the gym. 

Last night was Allen and Chantell's Duct Tape party. I am too tired to write as much as I can, but there was a lot. We had games on each table. Crazy hats in the corner for pictures. Roast beef sandwiches, cheese, and desserts. We had about 100 people and I think they had a great time. Bryan made a wishing well. The girls made a giant card. My friends really pitched in and things went smoothly. Thanks!

I was told about the following song titles for Christmas tunes. I am not sure what they are. Any guesses? 1. Uncouth dolt with his beazer on teh booth thinks he's a storm cloud's boyfriend. 2. Apartment of two psychiatrists. 3. Coniferous nativity. (O Christmas Tree?)

So Cathryn comes tomorrow, Addie, Lawrence and Gail Monday, Carolyn, Mark, Arline, Bryan and maybe Chantell's Aunt Kelli Tuesday, the party on Wednesday, and as I walked in the house just now, guess what Allen and Chantell wanted to get TODAY? A DOG! A PUPPY to be precise. I don't know how many of our guests are allergic to animals, but this is one being I do not need in the mix right now. How loud and quickly can I say "NO!"

On what is happening around here. Bryan got an awesome second job as a pilot of a submarine. Allen still has no job, but was offered a temp position tending mentally retarded people. He wasn't too thrilled. He has some possibilities though. Chantell is loving her new job as Manager (we think that's the title) of the new Staunton Grocery restaurant. Dianna is so happy to be out of school, but is swamped with homework for the holidays. Cathryn has finished her last final and is coming in on Sunday. We made divinity and it was good! Gail will be visiting here on Christmas Day. I was supposed to see her today, but her blood pressure went up and she had to see the doctor. I keep buying and buying and will NEVER have enough gifts for everyone. Argh! We are going to move all our couches and overstuffed furniture to the living room so all our company can sit in the same room. David has been working many hours on an article so he hasn't been around much.

I have no fever. I'm not coughing (much) or sneezing and have no runny nose. No headache, achy joints. I'm fine. Just because I can't talk, everyone thinks I am sick. The kids came into primary today and I whispered that I can't talk. "Yeah," said Clark "We all know. Everyone in church is talking about it." But they listened really really well. Because everything I said was whispers, so they start whispering too. It was nice. Except for Jaden who kept interrupting to say that he knew I could talk because he heard me yesterday. And of course, Tommy, who interrupted to tell us that no one should use drugs. The phone is ringing. I have finally learned not to answer it, because, well, I can't talk and it is rude to answer a phone and then not be able to talk. I called Margie after church and forgot I couldn't talk until she answered the phone. Luckily, she had been at church with me and had caller ID so she knew what was going on.

  

Potatoes: I arrived home yesterday and my kitchen literally sparkled from where it had been spit-polished. Happy Happy Joy Joy! I decided to maked instant mashed potatoes for dinner, so I boiled the water with cream and salt, then put the water in the mixer, added the mashed potato mix, and turned the mixer on. Nothing happened. Oops. It wasn't plugged in. So I leaned over the mixer to plug it in without turning the mixer off, and the next thing I knew there was boiling water-cream with instant potato flakes all over my face, clothes, and covering everything within a two foot radius of the mixer. Sputtering out a few expletives I rarely use, I called for help. Allen ran (Allen IS an expert in emergencies), followed closely behind by Chantell and lastly by Dianna. After realizing I wasn't really hurt, they did an admirable job of containing their laughter - certainly better than I would have. They immediately went to work cleaning up the mess for me. I half-heartedly m...

Many people are worried about "Big Brother" watching them. Warrantless wiretapping for those calling terrorists in Iraq. Monitoring emails for certain words. Looking at bank account balances. But I personally have nothing to hide and see a distinct purpose for these activities. There is, however, another group, that is starting to kind of creep me out. I dare not mention its name. This group is starting to control the internet. First a browswer, then a free picture editor and storage, incredible mapping, blog services, email, news, shopping, instant messaging, and now financial checkout. Talk about someone knowing EVERYthing about you! And they are not without prejudice. Type "failure" into the search engine and then the lucky button and see what you get. Go to a liberal website, cut out the first line and post it in the search engine. See what you get. Try the same with a conservative one. Some political speech is deemed "hate speech" and is blocked...

--- getting Blogger to recognize me on posting comments. It won't let me post anonymously either. Bummer. I worked today in Broadway, got home, then the lady I worked for said she couldnt' do payroll so I had to run all the way BACK to Broadway. The screen had cut off the "next" button at the bottom of her payroll page. That has to be as irritating as Cathryn's while/if problem. Is anyone else still having problems with Blogger?

So we are in the throes of Christmas. The tree is up, albeit undecorated. Faraday left a present under it -- fortunately it is all on the tree skirt which makes it easy to - uh - enjoy. Last night we went to a ham radio party with a white elephant exchange. One of the first presents was a lovely bird feeder. Most of the presents were not so good -- five and a quarter inch floppies, a tape measure, a baseball cap commemorating 50 years of Yaesu radios, etc. Everyone could keep what they want or exchange for a better one. Everyone took the bird feeder. Which made no sense since they said whoever had number 1 got to do the last trade. So of COURSE number 1, a lady, would go for the bird feeder. Which she did, leaving lots of disappointed people in her wake. Also popular was a digital thermometer. I ended up with some sugar cookies and David got a flashlight. Allen, Chantell and I went with Sam Frank to inspect the house this morning. There was a bit of an old newspaper in the fo...

I have NOT updated to the latest blogger whatever-there-is-to-update to. But I now find I cannot comment on other blogs, specifically Admiral's and Isepik's. It just won't accept my name and password, and then won't let me comment anonymously either. But since I am posting this, it still accepts my name and password here. Hmmmm. We have an appointment with a doctor today (Tuesday) for Chantell at 11:00 IF we can get her previous doctor to fax her notes here. Allen and Chantell interviewed for two jobs yesterday. Chantell has an interview for a job today, but the boss has already proven to be a jerk despite the great pay, so I really hope she won't take it. I keep worrying about Cathryn and her creepy cough/lung problem. I sure hope the antibiotic solves it. Other than that, life is normal. Visited Gail, exercised, worked on Ruritan stuff, etc. I am excited about my first Christmas in three years. Need to spend some money!

Yes, we all want to SCREAM!!!!! This morning we (Allen, DJ and I) took Chantell to the emergency room. There is some internal scarring (adhesions) from her last surgery that makes her unable to eat, sleep, work, or be free from pain. She has other symptoms which are beyond the scope of this entry. It was THREE HOURS before the doctor came in. She asked the same questions we had already answered several times, did not want to see the records or films Chantell brought from Idaho, and did not tell us what she was going to do. Chantell had lots of blood and urine tests and an xray. They were looking for all kinds of things we already knew it wasn't. They came in for the xray and I said it was a waste of money, since we already knew it was adhesions, and they don't show up on an xray. The doctor insisted they would if it was a full blockage. I reminded her it wasn't a full blockage since her intestines were working. albeit painfully. She had the xray anyway, which - duh ...

Yes, we found the house, made a ridiculously low offer on a house that was already dropped in price twice, by over 30%, and got it! It is a nice brick home, 67 years old, by a creek, in Waynesboro. I think we are all way excited about it. Last night I was president for the evening. We have a dinner coming up, a breakfast with Santa, and one member died, so there was a lot of business to take care of. We had a dinner at church tonight. Rayenell Coiner really works hard on these things! Instead of Santa, the three kings came to give present to the kids. I thought that was a super idea. Allen was supposed to be a king, but chickened out. I made him a costume this afternoon, but the missionary took his place.

All, right, here is the whole sordid story. Allen took the van to a job interview. As he started the van, he noticed something was kind of funny, but couldn't figure out what it was. He went to the interstate and as he turned he heard a "Squeak - Thump! coming from under the engine and then saw a furry carcass in the street behind him, which was immediately run over by the next truck. It was quick. I am sad. It was not his fault and David is ecstatic. Fortunately, I am sure there are plenty of other Jason's out there to take his place.

It is with geat sadness that I must announce the untimely demise of Jason, our resident groundhog. Jason has brought me many hours of gentle pleasure over the years as I have watched him in the back yard, with his babies in the spring, with his friends, also named Jason, and climbing our peach trees to glean the fruit. He will be sorely missed. And Allen is in BIG TROUBLE!

Saturday night was Gail's 90th birthday. I took her to dinner at Rowe's. We had a table of 16 people there to celebrate. I took her home and gave her a warm cuddly quilted microfiber comforter in pink. She seemed to like it. Yesterday was Stake Conference. It was held at the new Harrisonburg High School, which I had never gone to before. Beautiful building, nice to see friends. In the afternoon the kids went to see a house they really like in Waynesboro. In the evening, I went to recorder group with Chantell, who I had given a quickie lesson in recorder to. She did great. Then today we had a recorder concert at the Bridgewater Retirement Home. It went well, but Chantell didn't come. I love the people in my group. And Jeff who is leading it now is awesome. He is a retired high school band leader. It is great to have a leader. We have two more performances in the next two weeks. December is always a busy time for us.

For the last week, Chantell and Allen have had periodic flashes of sickness and tummyaches and fever and nausea. And stuff I won't talk about. But they have worked through it to go out looking for jobs. It has been awkward, because I know I need to push them to satisfy David, but I'm a mom -- I don't want to push someone who is really sick. So we have been trying to figure out what they allergic to that is making them sick. I gave the cat a bath. They have an air cleaner in their room. (Okay, my opinion, but I think it would work better if they would turn it on!) I washed all their sheets, blankets, comforters, etc. before they came. But when I went down there yesterday my nose ran so there may be something in the walls or ceiling. I don't know. Then yesterday evening, at 4:45, BAM! I got it. I spent the next hour or so in the bathroom and, despite the fact that I had a lamb roast going for dinner (one of my favorites), I started some chicken soup. Lamb, ble...