Digging Out

In theory, tonight is swim lessons at the Y. We were also running low on groceries, so we decided to dig out. I mean, tomorrow I might actually have to go somewhere, right?

Well, our driveway slopes down to our garage, with a west wind blowing against the garage door. Only one car fits in our garage due to clutter, and I *swear* that this summer, we will make it so that both vehicles fit in, because chipping out our van from the half inch of ice in which it was encased was no picnic, warming it up for a half an hour ahead of time or not! My darling husband went on a supply run, and I started digging while my children sledded and played in the snow. Happy sounds, which cheered me through the grunt work. (This surprises me; I'd thought I'd be grumpy b/c they were having fun and I was digging, but no, it made me all perky and productive.)

Because of the drifting, the garage had snow quite deep. It was in layers: A sparkly layer of snow as a topper dusting the ice over which my daughter could walk, a thick layer of snow, a thick half inch layer of ice, a layer of snow, and a layer of bumpy ice. This all layered higher than the bumper of my car in the garage, so unless I moved it, I would not be going anywhere.

I was able to get my shovel between the bottom two layers, so now I have bumpy ice (old tire tracks and shoe marks,) out to the flat of the driveway, which is packed down tire tracks in the snow. It took me an hour and a half. My darling husband bought old fashioned gritty kitty litter to put down tomorrow morning for traction, so it is to be hoped that I will be good to go then.

A bit of Green in the snow

For a holiday visit my mother-in-law got Sparkle a set of Blue, Magenta and Periwinkle beanie babies. Sparkle was delighted, but I knew trouble was a-brewing when she asked "But where's Green Puppy?"

Ty does not make Green Puppy.

Everyday for two solid months, my daughter has been searching the house, saying "I'm looking for Green Puppy." or "We're missing Green Puppy," or, just plain crying at bedtime because "Green Puppy is Lost and SAD!"

Today, my darling, darling, mother-in-law sent a package. She had bought another Blue, and had hand colored it green with permanent fabric markers, spraying it with another fixative so it would stay.

Sparkle has been wandering around the house with all her Blue's Clues friends clutched tightly to her chest with a huuuuuuuge smile ever since.

Granma gets "boo-koo" points for this. Thank you, Granma! You are made of WIN!

Something in the Wii that Wii-lee annoys me

When weighing in, the perky motivating voice keeps chirping "That's obese!" every time I get on the scale. I *hate* that voice saying that every time! In addition, my Wii avatar is porked up to look as fat as I'm supposed to be. Since I carry my weight differently, my avatar actually looks bigger than I do in the mirror.

Worse? My darling daughter Sparkle, with her echolalia, has picked up on that delightful phrase and repeats it. Although it is *almost* cute when she weighs in at "normal" and chirps "That's obese - but where's my tummy?" as her avatar does *not* pork up. I tell her that her weight is just fine, so "Sister Sparkle" won't have a big tummy, because Sparkle doesn't, either.

I have figured out that about 6 pounds goes into each BMI point at my height and build. I need to lose about 12 pounds to get to "overweight." I'm not sure what it will chirp then. I'm sure it will still be in that mocking, laughing voice.