This certainly was a couple of weeks of ups and downs. The downs included the outcome of the election. Our miserable state not only re elected Obama, but they passed same sex marriage, in state tuition for illegal immigrants and approved more casinos to be built. That's why we call them Baltimorons. Good luck to the rest of us. We were also sad to hear that our next door neighbor lost her nurse manager job(again). The hospital she worked for went bankrupt over medicare fraud and was bought out by the University of Maryland Medical System. They seem to be restructuring and bringing in their own people, so now she is out of a job. Just in time for the holidays. How lovely. And they are a bit stressed out over their daughter's college experiences that seem to involve a lot more drama than studying.

At least we had some good news. We have a new Spartan in the house! (That is if we want to pay $40K yearly for out of state tuition at MSU). Allison did however get accepted into Michigan State. It is just exciting to know she could follow in her parent's footsteps. And may still. It is just so far from home. We also still have our sights on Salisbury University on the Eastern shore. A very nice campus with a very good business school as well as an excellent teaching program. And not too far from home-about a 2 1/2 hr drive. So she still has to send in that application. And she also applied to the University of Maryland.  She just finished her 1st high school semester-she was happy to have made it through. She ended the week having to help out the substitute Kindergarten teacher with the kids since their primary teacher was out with strep throat. Apparently it is going around SCott's school. I am just glad he did not catch it(so far) or Allison. Instead, I had another sinus infection to fight and had to pick up some more antibiotics. I know we are going to have a tough winter when I develop sinus infections! Then again, I also like to celebrate my birthday with some new disease. Last year it was shingles.

I did manage to have some fun for my 49th birthday. I treated myself to a Bingo Night High School fundraiser. And I actually won two Bingos! However, one was a tie and I had to settle for a raffle ticket that did not win. But I did bring home a few longaberger serving baskets and a large stand. Plus a few bottles of wine and cheese in my gift pack. Allison came along to volunteer in the snack shop and earn some hours for the National Honor Society.  She had to sneak in some hours when she can since she has been busy working at the roller rink. She had to work a double shift last weekend-7 birthday parties! And this weekend she worked until midnight for a Girl Scout Up All Night event at the sports club. She said 470 girls participated. She said it was fun but a bit crazy.

 Last week Tom and I enjoyed a night out with dinner and then a fundraiser concert. The band was from New Jersey and played all the Beatles songs. I forgot how many songs the Beatles wrote and sang! It was 3 hours worth! I probably would have enjoyed it more if the music wasn't so loud and you could actually hear the lead singer. The concerts are held in a small stone barn converted to a chapel. It was just too much sound for such a small space. But we took our neighbor out with us(since his wife had just lost her job and was hospitalized over the weekend on top of everything else). He needed a bit of cheering up. 

And the staff at work bought me lunch and made me dessert. So that was fun especially since Tom was out of town in LA working all week. (Sorry he could not get together with you on this trip Mike, but he says he may be out there again in December).  Even Allison went out and bought me flowers and a card. So thank you also to everyone that sent cards and emails. Tom and I decided to invite a few neighbors over on Sunday to help celebrate(someone has to help us eat the big chocolate cake!). And it's an excuse for me to clean the house. Plus I think the neighbors need some cheering up.  Fortunately I am not hosting Thanksgiving dinner. We are getting together with our neighbors. But Tom and I will cook a few things too. We spent Saturday out shopping for both dinners. Tom could not believe Thanksgiving is this week. And we finally got Scott a haircut!

I would have liked to have visited with Tom's brother Mark who was in the DC area this past week, but we both had very busy schedules. Since Tom was out of town, I was busy working with SCott on homework assignments and tests since his semester is coming to an end as well. Plus I was busy with GS leader meetings and School Board meetings.

I did manage to get to an exercise class this past week. I enjoy the water aerobics classes on Friday morning at the Y. Last Friday though I went to a class on Therapeutic Exercise. Guess what-I learned that we all have to keep exercising until we're dead. Actually, that is what I usually tell my patients when they ask how long they have to do their exercises. I also learned that the best type of exercise is strengthening programs. Anything with resistance that keeps our muscles strong. Since we lose muscle mass as we age, strengthening exercises are most important. Even better than cardio or aerobics programs. Even better than just plain walking! That is why I like my classes at the Y. They usually toss in all 3 components in one workout-stretching, strengthening and aerobics. And I think it is going to be especially important to try and keep up with some type of exercise as the holidays roll in!

We certainly kept Tom  busy around the house  before he left for LA. We had lots more leaves to rake and the lawn needed cut. The cars all needed oil changes and the tires rotated. And he finally had some time to climb up on the roof near the kitchen and found that the flashing had blown off and that was where the leak in our kitchen came from during the hurricane. So that is patched.

And Scott helped me put away Halloween decorations in the attic this weekend, mainly so he could start getting down the Christmas decorations! I am still putting out the Thanksgiving decorations!

Last weekend was Girl Scout cookie booth sales. We set up a table on Friday night and Saturday afternoon at some local restaurants. I was just happy to have some girls show up to help me sell! They are so busy with other activities. Even Allison had to go to work. She is usually my back up. And we managed to put together 2 cases of cookies to donate to the US troops. I am hoping to get a donation from work so we can put together enough cases of cookies to deliver to the soldiers at the VA hospital in DC. But we have new management now at our retirement community, so things are getting a bit tight.

So I need to go clean something and run to the grocery store before our guests arrive this evening. We also plan on watching the Ravens play the Steelers tonight. Should be a good game. It certainly has been a strange year for our teams including the Ravens and Orioles, MSU and even our high school sports. Some good wins and some bad losses. Mostly I think Tom is going through withdrawal however since the NHL is on strike. That means more trips up to Hershey to watch the bears play(if we can get tickets!).

Gotta run!

 Allison as a Lego Block that wasn't. They cancelled Halloween!(at Scott's school)

So we survived the Frankenstorm known as Sandy just last week. We were pretty well prepared for anything. Our neighbor picked up some dry ice on Monday morning. Tom had extra propane for cooking on the grill(when it stopped raining).  And we had plenty of flashlights, lanterns and of course, batteries.

We were hurrying to get all the assignments done on the computer before the power went out. Including two of Allison's college applications. Schools were closed ahead of time on Monday. But Tom and I went off to work that day.

Both Tom and I were told to leave early from work on Monday, so I saw all my patients right through lunch and finished early. Both Tom and I left around 3pm when the wind kicked up. I spent the evening doing dishes and laundry, for when the power went out. Even though it rained and the wind howled for 2 days and nights, the power never went out. Shocking! It did flicker on and off quite a bit, and the house sounded like an old ship creaking. Sadly, I did notice some water on the kitchen floor and found that our ceiling was leaking! The wind was blowing so hard, the rain came in sideways and blew up under the shingles in the back of our house. The water came right into the ceiling of the kitchen!  Tom has been busy patching this week. But at least we kept our power on!

Not so for Scott's school. They did not get power until Friday. He missed 4 days of school, including their Halloween celebration and a Walk for the HOmeless on All Saints Day. Not to mention a whole lot of learning. Since most of the students had power however, the teachers sent out emails with requests for homework assignments. They had sent the kids home on the Friday before with all their books. So even though SCott was home, he kept busy doing homework(and a bit of computer gaming too). And we kept him busy decorating the house for Halloween on Weds. He did an awesome job and our house was one of the most decorated in the neighborhood(or so the trick or treaters told me).

On Halloween night, Scott went off trick or treating with our neighbor and his son. I was home passing out candy by myself as Allison had a make up Field Hockey game that night at 7pm in Annapolis. It was one of the county finals, so Tom went off to cheer on the team. Sadly the girls lost, so they ended their season. In some ways, Allison was glad to be done since she has been so busy and was happy to have a break.

She also missed out on the Kindergarten Halloween party at Scott's school with her internship. The teachers were all dressing up as lego blocks, so Allison spent part of her time off turning a box into a purple lego. Too bad. It was a very cute costume. But no way would she wear it to high school!

I also took her to a  presentation at our local community college to apply for an Honors program. They have an incredible program, but Allison is still pushing for a 4 year university. We also had a 3 hour girl scout choir practice Friday night as we prepare for the Christmas concerts that are up and coming in the next two months.

I was plenty pooped out on Friday as I volunteered to cook and serve breakfast to our Day CAre adults for our Dragon Boat team. AFterwards I helped out at work at the nursing home before heading over to the choir practice in the evening. And on Saturday I was up early dropping Cookie off for her yearly shearing. Her fur was getting so thick it was getting snarls, so she needed a complete shave. I think she feels much better though(and lighter). While she was busy getting shaved, I was busy undecorating the house from Halloween night. Tom and Scott joined me to cut the grass and rake leaves(Scott's favorite). Allison had to work that night. Before she left for work that evening, we both delivered some GS cookies to the neighbors. And we also decided to run out and see the new Disney movie "Wreck it Ralph"-very cute cartoon. The kids liked trying to spot all their favorite video game characters-and Tom and I tried to recall the names of the old video characters.

On Sunday, we were up early so Scott could serve the 9am mass, and then we sold GS cookies at the 1030 mass. Almost all my girls made it to the sale, so I had them sign a card for my Cookie mom. She had surgery for a brain tumor that needed removed on Thursday and was home by Saturday! We bought her a white orchid and Allison and I dropped it off with the card on Sunday evening. Allison had to work Sunday afternoon, after the cookie booth sale. At least she was off school on Monday and Tuesday this past week because of the end of her semester and Parent teacher conferences. Plus election day.

Tom lucked out and was able to get a day off of work due to the storm too. He kept the kids busy with computer and video games.

So we are back to our "normal" schedule. Until we had a second storm come through.........