march madness

March 31: Is Spring on the way yet?

No, although the temperature broke the freezing mark.

musing mondays

Click here to play along.

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying about it.
• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it!
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

As part of the Barnes & Noble ebook settlement, I received a refund and used the money to buy the following books from my wishlist:

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly, Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers, Wonder by RJ Palacino, The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson, Afterwards by Rosamund Lupton, The Winter Witch by Paula Brackston, The Yard by Alex Grecian, The Department of Lost and Found by Allison Winn Scotch, The Walking People by Mary Beth Keane, and My Ex From Hell by Tellulah Darling.

bafab week!

First week of April is here. I need to order!

march madness

March 30: Share a nifty website.

I love 22 Words! Their posts on my blog and in my newsfeed make me happy.

22 Words collects a blend of everything from the serious and creative to the silly and absurd. As your source for the crazy, curious, and comical side of the web, 22 Words can be counted on to share funny and fascinating viral content as well as more obscure (but equally interesting) pictures, videos, and more.

sunday stealing

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Sunday Stealing: The 20Q Meme

1. When you buy a greetings card are the words or the picture more important to you? the words

2. What's your favorite kind of cake? chocolate cake

3. Do you ever make gifts for people, if so what, or do you buy them? I occasionally will knit something as part of a purchased gift

4. You are chosen to have lunch with the President. The condition is you only get to ask one question. What do you ask? How come politicians are making education decisions and not professionals in education?

5. Which do you dislike most: pop-up ads or spam email? spam email

6. What was the best party you've ever been to? the turn of the century party in 1999

7. Which is worse, being in a place that is too loud, or too quiet? too loud

8. You are offered an envelope that you know contains $50. You are then told that you may either keep it or exchange it for another envelope that may contain $500 or may be empty. Do you keep the first envelope, or do you take your chances with the second? it kind of depends on where I am... but my gut says to swap for the potential $500

9. Do you wish cellphone etiquette was a required class upon purchasing one? yes

10. What's the most messed up food combination that you've had that was actually good? I can't think of anything weird

11. What's one of your most random pet peeves (something that annoys you)? I dislike being in multiple lane traffic when sirens go off and emergency response vehicles need to get through

12. When is the last time you had home cooking? one of my friends gave me some quiche she had made

13. If you could be a fictional character from a book who would you choose? I would want to be one of the zany sleuths like the Spellman files

14. If you could be in a television sit-com, which would you choose? I wanted to be one of the Friends cast

15. If you could be any animal or creature for one day, what would it be? a pampered pooch

16. What's your favorite girl's name? I like vowel names like Emma, Ella, Elaine

17. What's your favorite boy's name? I would have named a son Paul, or a vowel name

18. What's your supermarket of choice? a locally owned store

19. If you were to attend a costume party tonight, what or whom would you go as? I would go as a stressed out middle-age woman

20. What is your concession stand must-have at the movies? I love junior mints

postsecret

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. I like to post one that speaks to me each week.

march madness

March 29: Describe your camera/device. Do you take many pictures?


After attending my Pennsylvania niece's wedding last May and hanging out in the photo booth, I realized how easy a smartphone or an iPod is for taking pictures. That prompted me to get an iPod Touch. And my photo taking has dramatically increased! Then, in February, I decided to upgrade my TracFone to a smartphone via the great deals going on at the local service provider and got an iPhone for 1¢. I have joined in the FatMumSlim Photo-a-day prompts and have fun with them. Mostly I post those photos on Instagram although I've been known to make a Pinterest board or two.

saturday 9

Too Close

1) This song is about a friendship that turned romantic ... and it doesn't end happily. Have you ever crossed that line with a friend? If so, how did it work out? disastrous romance but still friends

2) When he was a kid, this week's singer, Alex Clare, listened to his dad's Stevie Wonder records. When you were in 7th/8th grades, what music were you into? I was listening to disco music because that's what my sisters had for music, until I got the Grease soundtrack and wore that out

3) "Too Close" has been featured on the TV show, The Vampire Diaries. Do you enjoy shows/books/movies about the supernatural? yes, although I am not obsessed with them, I find them entertaining...

4) Some of Alex Clare's tour dates were sponsored by Bud Light. Do you like beer? occasionally

5) Mr. Clare trained to be a chef, just in case the music thing didn't work out. Are you a good cook? when I cook, I am a very good cook

6) Crazy Sam is forever running out of mayo because she slathers it on her sandwiches. What is currently on your grocery list? yogurt, granola bars, Parmesan cheese, and orange juice, oh, and crackers for my desk at school

7) Where are you most likely to find spare change -- between the sofa cushions, in your jeans as you toss them into the washer, or under the floor mat of your car? floor mat of my car

8) How did you spend your Friday night -- working late, hanging out with friends, or just enjoying a quiet night at home? I was watching season 6 of True Blood and knitting

9) Do you use Pinterest? oh, yes! I love Pinterest!!!

friday 5

Contained

1. What’s something you’re keeping in a shoebox?
I've got some shoes in a shoe box
2. What’s something you’re storing in a plastic container that some food item was purchased in?
I have some bandaids in my desk drawer in just such a container
3. What’s a non-food item you’re storing in a zippered plastic bag?
the charger cord for an iPod/iPhone
4. What originally came in some of the now-empty boxes you’re hanging onto?
mostly clothes--this is a tough question for me because I hoard empty boxes...
5. What’s something you own that came in really cool packaging?
I ordered a purse shell that came in a cool wrap to keep it clean

march madness

March 28: What do your glasses/sunglasses look like?

Don't mind my messy desk!

march madness

March 27: What's in your purse?


Oh, heavens! My wallet, an iPod/iPhone charging cord, sunglasses case, two pens, a notebook, seven packs of tissues, hand sanitizer, two tiny altoid tins, a calendar, 8 receipts, a flash drive, a comb, Burt's Bees lip balm, a wooden token, and three sets of keys (car, house, school).

thursday bug

Sometimes it helps to share with others what bugs your mind.

They may have a solution, a kind word, or a smile of encouragement.

This week my thursday bug is:

Nosy people.

w.w.w. wednesday

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading? I'm listening to It's Kind Of A Funny Story by Ned Vizzini. And I'm reading The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt.

• What did you recently finish reading? Tell The Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt.

• What do you think you’ll read next? I'm not sure--possibly The Bookman's Tale by Charlie Lovett.

march madness

March 26: What makes you smile?


Puppy videos. Laughter. Driving on a sunny day. The last day of school. My book group. Talking to my students. Lazy Sunday mornings. Payday. A flash of inspiration and creativity. Found money. Good hair days. My sisters. My parents. Seeing someone after a long time apart.

finished reading...

This is the coming of age story of 14-year-old June Elbus set in 1987. I think the author was able to capture the obliviousness of a teenager beautifully.

From the publisher:

1987. There’s only one person who has ever truly understood fourteen-year-old June Elbus, and that’s her uncle, the renowned painter Finn Weiss. Shy at school and distant from her older sister, June can only be herself in Finn’s company; he is her godfather, confidant, and best friend. So when he dies, far too young, of a mysterious illness her mother can barely speak about, June’s world is turned upside down. But Finn’s death brings a surprise acquaintance into June’s life—someone who will help her to heal, and to question what she thinks she knows about Finn, her family, and even her own heart.

At Finn’s funeral, June notices a strange man lingering just beyond the crowd. A few days later, she receives a package in the mail. Inside is a beautiful teapot she recognizes from Finn’s apartment, and a note from Toby, the stranger, asking for an opportunity to meet. As the two begin to spend time together, June realizes she’s not the only one who misses Finn, and if she can bring herself to trust this unexpected friend, he just might be the one she needs the most.

It's a weirdly beautiful story. I wish one of my friends would read this so we could talk about it. There's just so much to say.

ten things tuesday

Ten things that would make today a perfect day:

1) Being able to sleep until I wake up, not until the alarm rings.

2) A Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee drip. At least as much as I want.

3) Heat in my classroom. Although now that the sun is shining in the windows on me, I'm warmed, but this well-below zero weather is trying my patience.

4) Being able to hang out with students of my choosing. Hanging out instead of having to stick to curriculum.

5) Teaching what interests me instead of curriculum.

6) A day without whining. Students' whining, teachers' whining, my whining.

7) A nap.

8) A nice meal that I don't have to cook for myself.

9) Someone to clean up after me. At home and at school.

10) More positive news.

march madness

March 25: Share something that you saw on social media that caught your eye.


This Jimmy Fallon clip of Kevin Bacon recreating his Footloose role is hilarious. The man still has moves!

musing mondays

Click here to play along.

• Question: Do you ever feel like you’re in a reading rut? That you don’t read enough variety? That you need to branch out, spread your literary wings and explore other genres, flavors, styles? {source}

Sometimes I feel like I need to read "heavy" literature or "important" fiction. Instead of cozy mysteries or rom-coms. I also used to feel like I needed more non-fiction in my reading, too. But since I started listening to books, especially while I'm knitting, I've listened to several memoirs and biographies. I don't know why I feel like this, there's no Reading Police.

march madness

March 24: Where are you going next?


I don't have any plans to go anywhere in the near future. I would like to head to Central or Southern Maine in April. My Pennsylvania sister invited me down there for a couple of weeks. I've got options just no plans!

postsecret

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. I like to post one that speaks to me each week.

march madness

March 23: Who is your favorite artist? What style of art?


I really love all forms of art. But I'll focus on painted art.

For painted artwork, I love the Impressionists. Especially after visiting the Louvre, d'Orsay, L'Orangerie, and a few others in Paris. It's something else to see them in person instead of in a book or a reproduction. Monet and Van Gogh are my favorites.

sunday stealing

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Sunday Stealing: The Seventeen Meme

1. Do you know triplets? one of my colleagues has 9 year old triplets--two identical, one fraternal

2. Do you prefer Titanic or The Notebook? The Notebook

3. Have you ever eaten Indian food? I don't think so

4. What’s the name of your favorite restaurant? Cafe Sorpreso

5. Who’s your favorite person in the world? my dad

6. Would you rather live in a rural area or in the suburbs? rural, although I'd prefer living closer to civilization rather than here at the end of the earth

7. Can you whistle? yes

8. Do you sleep with a nightlight? no

9. Do you eat breakfast every morning? breakfast is the most important meal of the day

10. Do you take any pills or medication daily? a few prescriptions and a calcium/vitamin D

11. How many times have you been to the hospital as a patient? once as an overnight, five times in the ER

12. Have you ever seen Finding Nemo? Love it!

13. Where do you buy your jeans? either CJ Banks or Catherines

14. What’s the last compliment you got? one of my students said she liked my new haircolor

15. Do you usually remember your dreams in the morning? no

16. What flavor tea do you enjoy? Constant Comment is my favorite hot tea

17. What social media sites do you use? Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat, Pinterest, and Tumblr are the biggies

march madness

March 22: Do you collect anything? When did you start?


I always say I don't collect anything but then have 50 different kinds of post-its in my drawer at school. Or multiple sets of colored pens and pencils. So, I collect school supplies! And I have since I was a child. I've always loved getting new school supplies. It's like a fresh start for how the year would go. And there's something about going now that excites me for the school year.

saturday 9

Copacabana

1) This song refers to the merengue and the cha-cha. Are you a good dancer? absolutely not--only in my dreams

2) Dances like the merengue and cha-cha are featured on Dancing with the Stars. Are you a loyal DWTS viewer? not loyal... I do tune in occasionally

3) The Copa girl in the song, Lola, wears yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to there. If we were going to the clubs tonight, what would you wear? no feathers, that's for sure! Probably something that would be considered hipster, even though I'm not intentionally a hipster

4) The real Copacabana nightclub was on East 60th Street in New York. It was used as a setting for the movie Goodfellas. Do you have a favorite mobster movie? does Married to the Mob count?

5) Our featured artist, Barry Manilow, has unfortunately spent a great deal of this young century in the hospital -- broken nose, face lift, chest pains and two hip surgeries. Tell us about your most recent trip to the doctor, ER, or dentist. I had a check up in February to monitor my blood pressure which had been unusually high back in November... but it's all good now

6) Manilow told US Magazine that he enjoys nude sunbathing. Have you ever skinny dipped or sunbathed au naturel? the last time I skinny dipped was while vacationing in Aruba just after sunset, I was in my 20s and feeling glorious!

7) Before he became famous as a performer, Manilow was a very successful jingle writer. "Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there …" and "You deserve a break today at McDonald's …" were his. Tell us about a TV commercial you saw recently. an ad for the spin mop, it will change my cleaning life...

8) The Manilow faithful are known as Fanilows and proudly wear Barry hoodies, wristwatches and even dog tags. Do you have any clothes that feature a recording artist? I've got an Elvis shirt from my sister's visit to Graceland

9) In 2005, Manilow refused to respond when Larry King inquired about his sexuality. Do you think it's rude for interviewers to ask personal questions? Or is it something a performer should expect because it goes with the job? some things should be private

friday 5

Nature

1. When did you most recently feel like a salmon swimming upstream?
at the teaching workshop I went to today
2. When did you most recently feel like a sheep following the herd?
at the teaching workshop I went to today
3. When did you most recently feel like a dog whose bark is worse than its bite?
at school yesterday, trying to settle my students down
4. When did you most recently feel like the cat whom curiosity killed?
chatting with my niece earlier
5. When did you last keep the hours of a night owl?
I didn't sleep well last night

march madness

March 21: What is next on your To Be Read list?


Next up is my April book group selection: The Bookman's Tale by Charlie Lovett.

I saved a life tonight. One of my students reached out to me through social media and I caught what was going on. This is heavy. I'm exhausted. I called the hotline after the crisis passed and got some support for myself. Holy shit. I saved a life tonight.

uh...

So I'm sitting here all kinds of frustrated because I assigned a simple activity and most of my students are making it harder than it is.

march madness

March 20: How do you relieve a headache?


I don't like taking OTC medications, so I avoid them as much as possible. Depending on the type of headache--sinus, stress, or migraine, it depends on how I treat it. I like to breathe in steamy air with a sinus headache; tea or hot soup help accomplish this. I've also made "vicks boats" by filling a bowl with boiling water and floating a glob of vapor rub in it. Stress headaches are usually handled by stretching and deep breathing. Sometimes a nap. And most of my migraines are what's called "blind migraines" where I feel all the symptoms but not the excruciating pain of a migraine. It is really freaky to have wavy vision, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and other symptoms. For those I generally take ibuprofen or acetaminophen. I don't get blind migraines very often but they shut me down for a couple of days when I do get them.

I used to get frequent headaches. I feel fortunate that I don't get them as severely as I used to.

thursday bug

Sometimes it helps to share with others what bugs your mind.

They may have a solution, a kind word, or a smile of encouragement.

This week my thursday bug is:

Where is it the first day of spring?

Thu, Mar 20, 2014, 8:43 AM EDT

... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON...

* LOCATIONS... NORTHERN MAINE.

* HAZARD TYPES... SNOW. THE SNOW MAY MIX WITH RAIN THIS AFTERNOON SOUTH OF PRESQUE ISLE.

* ACCUMULATIONS... SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 3 TO 6 INCHES.

* IMPACTS... LOW IMPACT. SNOWFALL WILL RESULT IN SOME TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES WITH ROADS SNOW COVERED AND SLIPPERY.

* WINDS... SOUTHEAST 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH.

* TEMPERATURES... IN THE MID 30S.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF TRAVELING... SLOW DOWN AND PLAN EXTRA TIME TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION.

march madness

March 19: What is your favorite or lucky number?


3. My students also notice I do things in multiples of threes (like when I knuckle tap the door or fingernail tap the desk).

w.w.w. wednesday

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading? I'm listening to Tell The Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt. And I'm reading The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt.

• What did you recently finish reading? I read The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, which was a lot of fun.

• What do you think you’ll read next? I'm not sure--possibly The Bookman's Tale by Charlie Lovett.

ten things tuesday

Ten things that begin with the letter Y:

1) Yarn. I love, love, love shopping for yarn.

2) Yellow. My least favorite color to wear because it washes me out. But I like yellow around me.

3) Yelling. When it's for something fun, like cheering on a team, I am all about yelling. But raised voices in anger makes me very upset and anxious.

4) Yawning. A yawn and stretch makes everything better!

5) Ya. A slang word I really need to stop using.

6) Youngest. I am the youngest of four daughters. My sisters and I are very close.

7) Yippie dogs. I don't like little yippie dogs that yap and yip all the time. Although I like small dogs that aren't yippie.

8) Yogurt. I have a cup of pineapple Greek yogurt daily. It's my favorite!

9) Yoga. I have tried basic yoga and liked it. But I like the meditation more than the movement.

10) Yakking. I can't wait to get together with my bestie again, soon!

march madness

March 18: How often do you check off items from you bucket list?

I've kind of been making up my bucket list as I go along, so... pretty regularly. I made my original bucket list when I was in high school and checked off all but one item on it (to travel Down Under), so a few years ago I started working on another list.

march madness

March 17: Do you have a favorite holiday? How do you celebrate?


I love holidays! And I would say that St. Paddy's Day is on my list of favorites. I celebrate the date by wearing green and reciting Irish blessings and limericks, songs, and snippets.

musing mondays

Click here to play along.

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying about it.
• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it!
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

According to Goodreads, I'm one book behind my pace schedule for this year's challenge. So, what am I going to do to make it up? I'm going to continue reading the types of books I normally read but maybe toss in one or two fluffier books that are quicker for me to read. I'm going to turn the TV off and listen to more audiobooks, vegging out and knitting and listening instead of vegging out to the TV. Simple things I can do. I'd like to be at pace or a bit ahead of it.

oh happy day

An Old Irish Blessing

May love and laughter light your days,

and warm your heart and home.

May good and faithful friends be yours,

wherever you may roam.

May peace and plenty bless your world

with joy that long endures.

May all life's passing seasons

Bring the best to you and yours!

postsecret

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. I like to post one that speaks to me each week.

march madness

March 16: What's for breakfast?

Today was an oatmeal kind of day.

sunday stealing

(click the icon to play along)

Sunday Stealing: The Yeah Meme

Do you have another window or tab open? If so, what are they for? the Sunday Stealing home page

Do you like to cook/bake? not anymore--I used to bake and cook all the time but it's too much hassle

What are you currently listening to? Annie Hall but I'm going to change the channel soon

How long have you lived in the house you live in? 19 years

Are you tired? no, but I'll probably take a nap later

Do you pick your words carefully, or just tend to blurt everything out? I choose my words carefully

Are you nice to everyone? I try to be

Have you ever tripped in public? yes

Are you a morning person or a night person? a morning person by default

Is it easier to forgive or forget? forgive

Is there something that’s recently shocked you? the Malaysian plane disappearance

Which is harder: walking away from somebody you love or coming back? coming back

What were you doing at midnight last night? reading

What color are your eyes? very dark green hazel

just finished reading...

This is a delightful, quirky book, a contemporary romance that's not typical.
From the publisher:

MEET DON TILLMAN, a brilliant yet socially challenged professor of genetics, who’s decided it’s time he found a wife. And so, in the orderly, evidence-based manner with which Don approaches all things, he designs the Wife Project to find his perfect partner: a sixteen-page, scientifically valid survey to filter out the drinkers, the smokers, the late arrivers.

Rosie Jarman is all these things. She also is strangely beguiling, fiery, and intelligent. And while Don quickly disqualifies her as a candidate for the Wife Project, as a DNA expert Don is particularly suited to help Rosie on her own quest: identifying her biological father. When an unlikely relationship develops as they collaborate on the Father Project, Don is forced to confront the spontaneous whirlwind that is Rosie—and the realization that, despite your best scientific efforts, you don’t find love, it finds you.

It is amusing and kept me turning pages. It's reminiscent of The Big Bang Theory which made it familiar. So much fun!

march madness

March 15: Check today's horoscope--is it at all accurate?

from Twittascope

Saturday, March 15, 2014 - The emotional currents are wild as your two key planets, intense Pluto and impetuous Mars, take you on a bumpy ride. You're not completely in control today and you won't be able to fend off the surprises by solely relying on cool logic. Instead of fighting against the changes, you're better off jumping right into the rapid flow. Pay attention to every moment as if nothing else matters and you could be rewarded with an incredible ride and a memorable experience.

Accurate? Not so much.

$

Shout out to my cellular service--they did a double-check for me to make sure I had the best plan and ended up saving me $20/per month!

saturday 9

The Unicorn

1) This song was recorded by The Irish Rovers. While it's said that on St. Patrick's Day everyone is Irish, can you honestly claim Irish heritage? I can on my father's mother's side

2) According to the 2000 Census, Massachusetts is the state with the largest percentage of residents of Irish descent. Have you ever been to The Bay State? yes, many times

3) Other than St. Patrick, what is Ireland famous for? it's where my heart is

4) St. Patrick's Day is celebrated the world over. They even watch marching bands and wave Irish flags on St. Patrick's Day in Moscow. Does your town have a St. Patrick's Day parade? no, it's still too wintry

5) "The wearing o' the green" is one way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Will you wear something green in honor of the day? you betcha! I just bought a new green sweater--can't wait to wear it!

6) Have you ever had green beer? I have... and I've turned green from drinking too much beer >wink wink< 7) Have you ever ordered a Shamrock Shake at McDonald's? I think so... it's minty?

8) A four-leaf clover is considered good luck. Do you have a lucky charm? my lucky charm is my four-leaf clover tattoo

9) Speaking of Lucky Charms, they are magically delicious. What brand of cereal is in your kitchen right now? Bite size frosted mini wheats

I have to add that the Irish Rovers had a popular television show in the 70s that aired on Canadian television (one of our local stations) and I have very fond memories of that show. My sisters and I know all the words to their songs. Especially this one.

not again...

Why the 19.5 inches wasn't enough is beyond me.

friday 5

Breath

1. What are your weapons in the fight against bad breath?
tiny altoids, flossing, brushing
2. What activity most recently caused you to be out of breath?
hurrying upstairs at school
3. How does your breath smell right now?
like Girl Scout cookies
4. What are some songs in your iTunes (or other media player) whose titles contain the word “breath” or “breathe?” Which is your favorite?
"Catch My Breath" Kelly Clarkson; "Every Breath You Take" The Police; "The Air That I Breathe" Maroon 5
5. What was the last thing you cleaned using condensation from your breath?
probably my glasses but I really can't remember the last time I did that

march madness

March 14: What is your dream vacation?

Today, my dream vacation is somewhere without snow, that is hopefully warmer than -2. Exotic location would be nice. Cabana boys would be nice. Umbrella drinks, with and without alcohol would be nice, too. A pampering spa would be nice. Because we got 19.5 inches of snow in the past two days and I'm over winter.

thursday bug

Sometimes it helps to share with others what bugs your mind.

They may have a solution, a kind word, or a smile of encouragement.

This week my thursday bug is:

A terrible headache. Kind of ruined my snow day.