Shaking & Blowing & Floating, Oh My!

Let's see, where were we, before everything else happened?  Oh yes, the MOVE.

Backing up, Mike is off in the wild west - has been for a few weeks now.  Life is interesting as a single parent.  Certainly many aspects are much easier since my little ones truly aren't little ones.  But they aren't grown either.  (Remember that kids - you are NOT grown - because I know you are reading this).

So in Mike's absence, as I like a wild woman leisurely inventory and pack our belongings, decide what stays and what goes and what is trashed - so much to be trashed - all other things are crumbling nature wise around us.
And on that note, it's probably a good thing Mike is not here because he is such a pack rat. (I will admit he pales in comparison to his dear mother.) Because you never know when you might need Youth Ministry materials from 1979 or seminary textbooks  from 1976 or a 1962 steel guitar.  Yes honey, of course I kept the steel guitar.  I know it was one the last gifts you ever received from your father before he was killed - but you might have a hard time finding that book on "33 Ice Breakers for Your Next Youth Shindig".

A couple of weeks ago as I sat in the living room at the computer, my chair started to shake.  I told my boy who was laying on the floor watching TV to stop shaking my chair.  He often unconsciously will do things like that.  He claimed innocence, and in fact he was.  My girl and her brother were on the couch and she said "Mom, the couch is shaking too".  Kids, I think we are having an earthquake.  After living in Southern California, my instincts immediately identified it.  It was rather mild, more like a gentle rolling instead of the jolting awake throw you out of bed  Landers Quake that cause me to permanently loath California.  Note to self - does Utah have earthquakes? Check that out.  The kids thought it was rather cool.

Next in the line of events was Hurricane Irene.   Ahhh, Irene.  There was tons of hype here in New England and being a girl from the Texas Gulf Coast, I've seen my share of hurricanes so I don't get in a huge panic over these things. We had flashlights and candles and bread and snack foods and water.  I bungee corded the trash can and the pitchback.  We were fortunate to not have a lot of damage, although we did lose power for 3 LONG days - just long enough for all my refrigerated food to spoil.  I needed to clean out the fridge anyway.  But during this event, my van went on a storm search of it's own and I have had in the past few weeks, battery problems, brake problems, and the latest, transmission issues.  I suppose it's best to have these all done before the kids and I set out for the wild west come mid October.

As if these events did not throw enough curves, my lovely FRONT loading washer decided for whatever reason, to not drain correctly and also to not lock correctly so that my son, not once, not twice, but three different times opened it to a cascade of water pouring forth - sort of like Fibber McGee's closet, only in H2O form.  And no, I am not old enough to remember Fibber McGee and Molly, but I do know the expression.  Now my basement oasis has fans going and wet dry vacs running and I certainly needed this to fill my days because I just don't have enough to do.

Oh - and work is super busy with Religious School and the High Holy Days coming up and by the way, school started and I have 8th graders!

To be continued.......