Soon to be a "nonna"

Well here we are just a couple or so days away of my daughter giving birth to my Grandson. It has been a roller coaster of emotions the last few months. Watching and experiencing while my daughter and my son n law traveled down the road it took to get to here. It's had its share of heartache (miscarriage's) and joy as each month of this pregnancy advanced and she made it past the milestones.

I am excited to watch these two special people enter parenthood. They will be good at it,no they will be great at it. I am a firm believer that these two have a strong bond in the marriage that will naturally carry into raising this child. Will they make "mistakes"? sure they will. All of us parents do. Each child is different and takes a different approach. So yes,some times you learn as you go. They will too.

I am excited and nervous. When your child is diagnosed with a dangerous clotting disorder or any other type of health disorder that can become deadly or disabling you get this fear in your gut that you have to deal with and learn to live with.This is how it went for me when my daughter was diagnosed with her clotting disorder... First you have to accept that you can not fix it for them. A parents first instinct is to care for and try to fix what ails your child. For me,and any good parent, that instinct runs to the center of your very core. So when they have a disorder that can only be managed there is a strong sense of helplessness. I research when I am faced with a problem. When my daughter was diagnosed with Celiac,I read and read and learned. The same with the blood disorder. Well with that she read and read and taught me. So second,you learn to live with the stark fact that you can't fix everything and you can't control a hell of allot that life throws at you . Having known parents who have had children with severe life threatening illnesses you can see in their eyes the pain that it causes.

What you CAN do is learn ,educate and become responsible. Which my daughter is. She has a health issue she complies to the zillionth degree with what she is supposed to do to manage the problem. I am so thankful she is this type of person. I hope I had something to do with how she handles her health and her life. She has watched me be health conscious and take care of myself,and I know children learn from what they see . Good or bad,they learn.
So am I worried about this upcoming birth with all the concerns that go with it? you betcha I am ! What parent wouldn't be?? But I also am hopeful and excited and happy. She has a great doctor,she is a strong awesome person,and we can only do the best we can . And that we are doing. So I head into these next few days with excitement and determination that we will all make it to the end of this road  with tears of joy running down our cheeks.

Hot Time in the Summer!

This is what I am picturing our earth like these days,
It finally cooled down to the low 80's here. After record breaking over 100 degree days.

I usually look forward to summer around Michigan. My favorite time of year,followed by fall. This summer however has been a scorcher. And unless you have your own pool your probably inside in the air. We have a community pool and I'm not big on swimming with a crap load of strangers so I've been inside most of the last couple weeks. I would go out in spurts to try to get some sun,than back in after 10 minutes drenched. I want to open windows! Enjoy the warm breezes. 

The week ahead looks awesome! 80's all week with it getting up to 90 again next weekend. So all in all this looks to be one of the warmest summers in many years.

I can hardly believe that in less than two weeks we will welcome Lincoln into the world! He is making his entrance in a record breaking summer!

What is Ticking me off these days??Road construction AND Rude drivers.

Here in Michigan summer is welcomed with open arms. It’s a nice break from our long winters. But along with the warm weather comes the dreaded orange barrels. Road construction kicks into high gear making the days of ice covered roads "almost" a nice memory. It's a sure thing that at least part of your way into work will be fraught with lane closures, and detours.


As annoying as it can be I realize we need to fix our roads and that we don't have a long season to do so. What I don't get is when I am squeezed down from three lanes to one day after day and don't see any work being done? What’s THAT all about? Why the heck do you need to close off a lane way before you even start to fix it? Is it just to get us drivers 'used' to it?


But what fries me even more is when the lane is getting squeezed down and you happen to be in the disappearing lane and none of the jack holes that are in the lane you need to squeeze you into will let you in. Real? what...the...hell.? I thought it was every two cars you let one in. Isn't that the rule?? I was so fried when the other day there were like 10 cars that REFUSED to let any cars merge in. Seriously people is that the ONLY control you have over your life is ruling your lane spot??


Trust me I am not talking about the jack hole that roars up the disappearing lane to try to jump ahead of people. That’s a whole other story. I'm talking about people that had no choice because the lane was ending. These people would not budge...People are so impatient these days. It is a sad state of affairs when you getting somewhere two minutes sooner matters more than just being courteous.


I have seen up close and personal how road rage can ruin a life. It is NOT worth ticking off the wrong person on the road, trust me. Next time some jerk cuts you off or you see someone being aggressive on the road. Back off, get away from them. It is not worth getting into any road altercation with them. Chill out everyone and just get home safe.

Painted the deck today....by hand

Yeah,what was I thinking? The deck was looking pretty shabby this year. Raw grey wood showing through in many places. Last time we had it refinished was hmmm 3 years ago? By my wonderful talented son n law. Well he is just not available right now cuz of the fact he is nesting with my daughter finishing a crap load of projects in anticipation of the event of the summer ,the arrival of my first grandson!
So anyway I'm looking at this deck and thinking , "this looks terrible " If we don't do something this year before winter we will have some serious wood rot. So since I had scrubbed the deck really good the other day (my version of power washed) and since today was beautiful (not too hot,no humidity and sunny) I figured what the hey lets stain this bad boy.
In my dreams this is what my deck would look like,

Isn't she purdy?? Man I love this deck.someday...
I don't have an actual picture of my deck but it looks something like this,

Minus the railings and add some solar lights and planters in place of them. Not bad ,but nothing like this ,

Isn't that absolutely the prettiest deck ever? I could live on a deck like that. Or at least fall asleep in a lounge chair on it. Add a nice hot tub off to the side of it and I would be in HEAVEN!!

Anyway,I thought I would paint this deck with a brush....Yeah,can you say stupid? I should have gotten a roller and pan,would have knocked it out really quickly. But I got all Karate Kid (wax on wax off) and started this rhythm with the brush and just kept going. Now mind you my deck is a pretty good size,think 11x14 or so... 3 hours later...
My back has a bright red sun burn...and that's the least of it. My hand has blisters and my spine needs traction! . But the deck looks pretty good and should make it through until next summer when I can get my son n law to do it again.
Off to lay down and I doubt I'll have trouble sleeping tonight.

stress is both a killer AND a motivator

Guess that is what they mean by "good Stress" and "bad" stress.
I never knew how nerve wracking it would be to have "my" baby having a baby. It's exciting and scary at the same time. Kinda like a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I know my daughter is feeling all of those same feelings PLUS the anxiety of childbirth. I know she will be a trooper because she just is.
I've been doing my own nesting. Didn't know expectant grandmas did that. I find myself cleaning and organizing as if the little one was going to be at my house. Well of course he will but I think its also that I will be watching this little guy on what is normally my day off to get chores done. I am so looking forward to "my" time with this little one but I will have to reorganize my life a bit to my own change of schedule.
So I've been finding myself kinda all over the place since the due date is getting closer and closer. Can't seem to get that weird feeling out of the pit of my stomach... 
Was at the mall today looking for something and found myself motioned into one of the Chinese massage places. Yes I must look like I need one. 25 minutes? YES PLEASE!!! She was wonderful! I need to see this woman every week!. She knew where all my problem spots were. She says "you have ear problem??" Why yes,yes I do...and then she did  some kind of  stuff to my neck that made it so much better... Ah-maz-ing!!!!!

Ever have a week where you just feel under appreciated?

I'm sure I heard a ton of "YES'S" out there just now. Well thats how this week is going. From the plumber I waited half a day for and then didn't have the part he needed to fix my problem to the husband who thinks he can complain about how "it just isn't going to work" for him to wait for the plumber when he comes back out...
....
really people, really??

There are a couple other issues bothering me this week also,but will not place them on a public blog.
Just one of those weeks. This too shall pass,as they say .
I am sure you all have those days/weeks where you would just like to pack up your car,hit the road and don't stop until you hit a nice warm beach with an unbrella and a great book. A good summer read,like Shades of Grey. And you look up from your book as you sip your fruity drink and see a muscular man sauntering your way with tosseled coppery hair and dark grey eyes. His white linen pants hanging off his hips and he smiles your way.... Only to pass you as he makes his way to the gorgeous woman on the lounge chair behind you....
yep it's one of those weeks.

what is annoying me right now!

Those insane word letter things that they make you decipher when you go to write a comment on someones blog. WHAT THE F???
"please prove that your not a robot " it says than proceeds to provide you with a jumble of crazy looking ass letters that will probably prove that I'M BLIND! I feel like I should be in Dr. Seuss land to read some of those. I went to comment on a blog I follow this evening and I had to refresh like 4 times to finally get one I could read.
Seriously what the friggin hell.

And as long as I'm pissed off. Let me yell at the TWO people that pulled directly in front of me today like I was driving the invisible car. Thank god I still have some reaction time left in this ol body of mine or I would have been sitting on both of these peoples laps and not in a good way. I am getting a bright yellow car next time around because its obvious that my dark blue is not eye catching enough.

one last bitch of a parting shot while I'm on a roll here. The moron that filled my order today at McDonald's. NOT the nice lady that took it ,because she got it right. As it was just one medium coffee with two creams,not to hard to get. The moron I am referring to is the guy who gave me a coffee with no cream and enough sugar to send me into a coma in a cup with a leak in the bottom AND the lid not on all the way.Thanks for that leaky mess jerk wad. I will be back tomorrow and you better hope your not at that window...

whew I feel tons better now!! :-)