nothing original

Snowmaggedon 2012

jeanicarlson — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 01:13:17 +0000

Winter has finally come to the PNW this week. We had lots of snow, then freezing rain which became ice on top of the snow, and more snow on top of that. We have lots of icicles hanging from the house gutters; ice on the trees. There are news reports of downed trees along highways, on cars, on one person (so far). Power outages everywhere because of the downed trees. The Narrows bridge is closed because of falling chunks of ice. We currently have rain which is melting the snow causing flooding and landslides. Now I hear we have a wind advisory starting at midnight tonight through tomorrow morning. This past weekend was MLK Jr holiday, so we had a 3-day weekend. Because of snow fall, I started work a little late on Tuesday, and because of the weather mentioned above, the kids and I have been off from school and work for a 5-day weekend.

I read that the Washington State Patrol handled 2317 incidences in a 24-hour period on Jan 18-19. That number includes collisions, traffic control, stranded motorists, debris, etc. Found that out from the Twitter feed for State Trooper Guy Gill.

Even so, it was pretty, and with a lot of luck, our power did not go out.

Snow over MLK Jr Holiday weekend.Freezing rain on top of snow (held upside-down for ease)

This is pathetic…

jeanicarlson — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:10:20 +0000

I came home today and turned on computer to check my e-mail. What do I see as the first story on Yahoo!’s homepage? This:

The first story on Yahoo!'s homepage

It just makes us look pathetic.

New Year’s Resolution

jeanicarlson — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 07:17:50 +0000

Winter quarter begins tomorrow, Wednesday, January 4, 2012. It’s weird, but that is how the calendar is going to work this year. It’s a leap year and the end of the world will be coming in December. Time to figure out my New Year’s resolutions and bucket list. ;-}~

Seriously, I need to eat better, exercise, finish my transcription course (had to purchase another extension!), and get crafty (add organization to that too). I keep looking at my piles of stuff. I still have pictures from our Hawaii vacation in 2010 that need a home. I practically used all the color inks in the printer to print them out, so I’m obligated to get them onto pages, and into a book. Also, I’ve purchased a Sizzix Big Kick and reconnected with my Silhouette, so I should be great on any dies or embossing. I have TONS of stamps can be used on A LOT of ink pads that need to be broken in. I need to stop being a collector and become a user.

I got a coupon for a free exercise ball from Sears. Just need to put air into it and figure out a way to keep the daredevil boy away from it. I should invest in the Kinect, exercise and/or dance games, and some workout shoes. Yeah, daily positive affirmations for this one.

I need to keep up on my Arbonne. I purchased a bunch of make up (mainly eye shadow) and should use it on a daily basis. I also have a nice stock on lotions. I had to throw out some stuff that I recently found for product lines that were discontinued a couple of years ago. That made me sick to my stomach. I was literally throwing out hundreds of dollars worth of product because it was too old, and no longer available. Talk about “use it or lose it.” I need to USE IT! Since Arbonne is vegan and has a great health and wellness line, vitamins and supplements are not hard to come by.

It sounds like the State may have to implement a clause in the upcoming contract that will decrease my salary by 3%. In exchange for that, I will get 5.2 extra vacation hours per month. I currently accumulate 14.66 hours a month, which means from July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013, I will accumulate 19.86 hours per month of leave. On top of that, I will continue to accumulate 8 hours of sick leave. I really need to finish my transcription class and supplement my income (and hobby). Theoretically, I should have a lot more time in my world this year, just to see it all come to an end… or do we already live in hell?

Happy New Year!

jeanicarlson — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 08:41:07 +0000

Happy New Year everyone! Funny enough I was flossing my teeth when the clock struck 12. I only figured it out from the fireworks that were going off in and around the neighborhood. So here’s to good dental hygiene and taking better care of myself this year. I already have chiropractor and massage therapy appointments lined up (along with the reset of medical deductibles). Woohoo!
We even decided to treat our cats with a can of tuna. It’s so funny to watch them when the can is punctured. They start crying in alternate turns and sometimes in unison. I wish I remembered to grab my phone and record. That would have been a great post.
Well, since I missed the live fireworks, I’ll be watching online. Be safe!

Ugh…have to return to the real world.

jeanicarlson — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 07:12:12 +0000

Having been on vacation last week, I now have to wake up to an alarm tomorrow morning. Ten days of sleeping in. Well, 8 actually since the kiddos had school last Monday and Tuesday. Minor details, anyway good thing my boss lady gave me a $50 Starkbucks giftcard (!) so I can get me an extra shot in my latte. I’m going to miss sleeping in until 8a.
Christmas was good to me though. I got all the stuff I wanted – considering I bought almost all of it. I almost wrapped them too, until my sweet hubby said he would do it. He hid one of my gifts (that I didn’t know he got) in one of them. Sneaky guy. A new cell phone! Had a blast setting it up. I also got a couple of gift cards. Found some really good After-Christmas Day sales like 50% off Christmas items (gift wrap). The best deal I found were for a pair of boots that were originally $100 marked down 60%, additional $10 for ?, plus another $10 off a $25 or more purchase equals just over $21 after taxes! Woohoo!
The only downside to Christmas? Removing all the tags from clothes, then having to do laundry soon after having already done regular laundry.
I’d better get to sleep .

Yay! All done and ready for Christmas!

jeanicarlson — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 05:52:18 +0000

All the cards are completely done, signed, stuffed, stamped, and sealed. Just need to stop by the Post Office and drop them in the box.

Christmas 2011... done! Need to drop these in the mailbox so they'll be delivered by New Year's.

Almost done!

jeanicarlson — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 23:51:19 +0000

Three days till Christmas and my cards are almost ready to be sent. Just need to stuff and stamp. Almost done with wrapping all the gifts. I’m so glad I took this week off… Whew!

My stopping point last night a little before 11p.

My stopping point this afternoon. Just need to stuff the envelopes and stamp 'em!

Finishing up my…

jeanicarlson — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:56:39 +0000

Finishing up my cards, rockin’ out to Christmas music and a shot of Bailey’s to complete the trifecta. There’s a reason for the phrase “Happy Holidays” and “Season’s Greetings.” It’s for those of us that tend to procrastinate.

It’s been a while…

jeanicarlson — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 03:55:24 +0000

Every year since I started this blog, I make a New Year’s resolution that I will post every day (read: more often than I currently do). I think I will continue making that resolution for next year. Who knows? With the Temporary Salary Reduction next fiscal year, I may have more time to do so.

Paying tribute to a legend in our time

jeanicarlson — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 04:50:05 +0000

Yesterday, was a figurative “shot heard ’round the world” as news of Steve Jobs’ passing spread on various digital devices and mediums that would never have been created if he hadn’t thought of it first. Even I am writing this on my iPad, a tablet computer more portable than my laptop computer, in the comfort of my bed.
In homage to the great icon, I wore to work a black turtleneck (for lack of a mock), blue jeans, and tennis shoes. Ironically, I find that others will pay the same tribute on October 14, when the iPhone 4S is released. At least I can say “I thought of it first.”
I hear stories on the radio and TV, read articles using news apps. One question that was asked by reporters to pedestrians was, “What was your first Apple device?” Most people would answer the iPod or iPhone. My first Apple device was the Apple IIe. Okay, it’s not a device but a computer. It was the most incredible thing back in the 80s. I was living on an air base in Japan. I learned very early and rudimentary MS DOS program coding. Quite tedious in typing, but very cool to see what the program you wrote would end up doing. It’s probably why some of my computer teachers gawked when I moved back to the States and said that I already understood how to use the Apple IIe in the classroom. A lot of people here had the Commodore 64. It could also explain why I’m a bit geeky with gadgets.
By the time I reached high school, all the computers were IBM compatible with Windows 3.11. I never had a relationship with Apple again until my husband got me an iPod for Christmas a decade or so ago. I later got a video iPod, the hubby a nano, the kids each got an iTouch, now the hubby and I have the iPad2. I can carry this with me almost anywhere since it can fit into my purse.
So, thank you, Steve Jobs. You have changed my lifestyle and made it better. My nonverbal son is more vocal because of apps that were made available on the App Store. My developmentally disabled daughter is able to find videos and entertainment easily on her iTouch because of it’s simplicity and ease of use. And my family can have a bit more quality time together as we sit around the glow of our individual screens.