Case in Point PBS leads to trouble. Maybe.

My little Princess.

We always have been a PBS family. Arthur Reed, Teletubbies, Zaboomafoo, Banana's in Pajamas, Sesame Street and anything else that came on.

At one point the kids were obsessed with National Geographic stuff. They were showing blow pipes and people using them. Catherine not to be outdone, stripped off all her clothes except her diaper, went and got her headdress and the handle from one of her toys and got some cotton balls. She went so far as to go outside and rub her face with dirt from the flower beds. That obsessed look on her face was her absorbing more of the "culture".

I love PBS

Relish

At the kids middle school the kids who have better than a D average and less than 15 tardies (unexcused) are treated to a day of fun.

Personally, I think that a D is way too low and there is no excuse for being late.

But Catherine had a 3.58 and Dan has a 3.16 average and no tardies so they got to go. Those are my super kids! They had open bowling for 3 hours for 240 kids, I provided single scoops of Cold Stone ice cream.

Daniel

Daniel had the chance to "Do a Good Turn" and help out Ron Schara, a MN icon when it comes to the outdoors since he started writing for the Tribune in 1968. Daniel helped with the fishing clinic at the OutDoorsman Show at the Excel Energy center. Steve, Catherine and I went wandering around dreaming of vacations, campers and boats. Then settled for some nachos and warm fountain water in a bottle we brought with.

Daniel was just glowing and adorable in his class A's. We couldn't pass up the chance for an autograph, a scratch of his dog Raven (the granddaugher of the original Raven). The dog was so patient. Ron was so personable and very knowledgeable about boy scouts. He lives next to the Rum River Boy scout campground.

Very cool.

67 Dodge Polara

Look at the grill on this. This is a REAL car.

My dream car. Next to my Bel Air, this is my dream car.

A 1967 Dodge Polara.

I had one once in 1984, she lasted me 2 years and cost me $35.00. It was big, it was steel, it went very fast and it seated up to 10 of my closest friends and I was able to stuff 4 humans into the trunk to get into the drive in. I also had to use a screwdriver to hold the butterfly on the choke to get it started when it was humid, it sucked gas, it was this color yellow, it only had an A.M. radio.

I loved the bench seats the massive steering wheel, the chrome inside and out. She always started no matter the weather. God, I miss her.

Neglecting ones-self

I figured it out today. I have been neglecting myself. Wait, I have this Epiphany every time I am forced to go to the doctor, dentist or PT because I literally can't function anymore without some "upkeep".

I keep telling myself that it's all about the kids, the business, the functioning of my well oiled machine I like to call my life.

In reality, I spent over an hour in the dentists chair with my mouth open, I have enough Novocaine that I sound like a drunk person (or mentally challenged) and I have a freaking monster of a headache coming on and a 14 hour day ahead of me.

It was $1,500 in dental work, of which they will only cover $400. After 9 years, I needed to go in. I put myself first. It's going to set us back a house payment to get my teeth in order. I know for a fact that if your teeth and gums aren't in good shape it affects your health. My mom is proof of that. One she got her top teeth removed she pinked up, she was in a much better mood and she just looked healthier.

I can preach all I want, I can promise myself, but how does a Mom actually tell her kids that she needs mommy time by herself? Put my pair of new pants before my kids school supplies, or a YMCA membership instead of extra money in their lunch account because school lunches are not geared towards filling the child up. A pint of milk for a 13 year old boy is NOT enough.

I know everyone is feeling this pinch with the economy, but owning a business it's even more a struggle to justify the Target economy underwear vs. the ones that are more expensive and you really, really like and will last longer, or you hot glue gun the underwire in your bra because the $20 for a new one is just highway robbery when the rest of the bra is fine. Sounds silly, having to not feel bad about missing time with the kids for the sake of locking myself in the downstairs bath with a book for 2 hours just to relax away from the constant mess and commotion, but I do.

I haven't spoken to a good friend of mine for 2 years because she just didn't get it. I need my shoulder operated on. I need PT on it to strengthen it before they will do surgery, but I do not have the $30 per appointment that is the co-pay, $60 a week, $240 a month to repair my shoulder. I can't just charge it, the money has to come from somewhere. I couldn't get her to understand that I can't just hire a manager at 20K a year to cover the store because I need to be out for 6-8 weeks after the surgery, plus rehab costs, the deductibles and co-pays that are associated with the surgery. That 20K would buy Jeff and I new transportation.... plus a myriad of other things that NEED to be replaced to literally function.

I wouldn't be able to work. My friend didn't get it that I don't draw a salary now, but for 2 months I woudln't work, plus paying someone else to do what I do.

Charging it is not tha answer either...the Visa bill can't just get the minimum payment each month because you need the money that you would have paid the Visa bill with for something that you "deserve". My questions is.... what's the next big thing you will need to remain "feeling good about yourself" after you get what you deserve? What good is a 10 day vacation you have to charge and stress about paying for the next year?

Some items are upkeep, or issues that you have te deal with to live... but unless it's pressing, do you really need it? Comfort vs. function. I tkills me when people bitch about money then paint thier homes, redecorate to make themselves feel better, then turn to pay the bills and they feel worse surrounded by the things that got them to where they are now.

As the Novocaine is wearing off (slowly), sitting in my Thrift store clothes with my shoes falling apart, ready to put in my 6 th day in a row open to close at the store, while stuffing in all the to-do's to keep the House running, Catherine's blood sugars in check, Daniel's autism and immune system issues and Steven's migraine's (which he was weeping in pain most of the night and this morning, and I didn't sleep because he's my child and he's hurting) there's not much time for anything else or money in the account to do it with.

We did get ourselves into this position with the store, but it would be sure nice to get a break. Anything.

The capper on this below zero week is my father's car finally dying. It's in our driveway now, I'll post a "post mortem" picture. So I am off to start hunting for a $500 car that will get my 82 year old father around. Oy.

Back to the Dog

Barney has no concept of " personal space". There is very little personal space in our home. The bathroom isn't a sacred place. The only time he isn't with you is when the door is shut... all the way. Then he just sits outside and waits until you are done.

With Steven it's about rough and tumble. The only time he's on Steve is if he's too lazy to move. barney tries to steer clear of Steve. Being near Steve means you will be wearing human clothes. Barney is a good sport.

There is a hierarchy in Barney's world. People who he sleeps with, warms up with and goes to just to mess with. Jeff is a pushover....he knows that Jeff will pass out bits of his food from his plate and accommodate his odd sleeping habits.With Jeff he is a sleeper. It's about serious nap time. He usually is between Jeff's feet, but at times Jeff is in a real bed, then it's a free for all, but it's nap time.

With Catherine it's about just being near her. We keep it very very cold in the house. Often the kids will sleep in hooded sweatshirts. We have horrible insulation. We would have to rip all the walls out and re insulate them. He usually starts out with Catherine. As Jeff snacks after we go to bed Barney heads to the living room.

Again, with me, it's about having his nose shoved up my nose. When it's time to wrestle, scratch tummy, he's on my bed.

Someday we will have to teach him some manners.

This is the house that Jeff built

This is the house that Jeff built.

He built a scale model of Greg and Stacey's home on Mille Lacs and made it a bird feeder. Took abotu 30 hours and everyone (but me, I was at the store every night) helped cut, glue, nail and paint.

Christmas this year was a home made Christmas. After speaking with some other families, this theme was not only at our home but friends of our family and kids said the same thing. It was not about what they didn't get, it was the thought behind where it came from. One boy last night got 3 things for Christmas. The "coolest" thing in his mind was a bar of chocolate that came from Arabia. A friend of his mother spend alot of time traveling all over Europe and loves to ski. She sent it to him.

Amazing.

This teenage boy did not sound resentful, but rather raved about how good it was.

I felt more blessed, for my kids of course, but the friends and acquaintances that we have surrounded ourselves with. They have the same circumstances, values and children who understand that it's not the dollar amount spent, or who has the latest gadget, but where it comes from.

The heart counts for so much.

The conversation went like this:

Paul: So Dan, what did you get for Christmas?

Dan: [I anticipated a meek answer or no answer] I got a whole can of Grandma's scotcharoos, Homemade Toffee from Grandma Stockdill's recipe, a snowmobile party, a fancy dinner at the Ridgeview and a new pillow.

Paul: Got any of the scotachoo's left?

Dan: Nope I ate them all.

Paul: That's cool. I got a Chocolate Bar from Arabia. I was soooo good.

The End.