Spring!

The weather outside is delightful; a fire would be so frightful! Since we’ve got places to go, let the sun glow, let the sun show, let the sun glow!

Things have settled down at work, but there is still an undercurrent of impending layoffs coming again next quarter. I’m still trying to live very frugally, because a dollar saved this month is a dollar I will have when there is no salary coming in.

Jocelyn, Eric and Liam came out for a visit from Wisconsin last week, and Don and Betty drove over from California. They brought Shelley as a surprise for her two sisters (Joce and Heather), and she stayed with me, as well as the Weisses. Little Liam is a cutie patootie, it was great to meet Eric, and fun to catch up with Jocelyn and Shelley. I think it’s been over 10 years since I’ve seen either one of them. We all had a great visit!

My **th birthday was yesterday. Thank you to all who called and/or sent birthday wishes. I have been sick all week (~strep throat and double ear infection), so I did not go out celebrating last night. All that can wait until next week when I am fully well and not spreading any ugly germs around. I started feeling sick on Friday night while Joce, Eric and Shelley were still here. I cannot figure out how I did NOT give it to them, but they all went home healthy … and claim to still be well a week later. After five days in bed, I went to the doctor and got some antibiotics. I’m feeling much better, and have gone back to work, but I still sound like a foghorn.

My sweet sister-in-law had surgery this week and all went very well. I won’t go into details as it’s not my story to write about, but the doctor is hopeful the test results will be much better than originally expected, and that treatment will be much simpler. We have been and continue to pray for that.

As happens every March, UA played in the NCAA basketball tournament. This year’s invitation was a real shock-a-roo, as they had a pitiful year without Lute or much team stability. But they squeaked in, and as a Cinderella team, claimed the only Pac10 spot in the Sweet Sixteen. Unfortunately, that’s where the Ball ended, and they turned back into pumpkins. Louisville spanked ’em good, and sent them home with shattered slippers. The media says we can expect an announcement on a new coach as early as next week, but the next few years could be rebuilding ones for the program.

This beautiful spring day is beckoning me, and I think I will take a little walk.  Before I go, I want to encourage everyone to click on over to Rock The Budget and make a $5 donation to help special needs children continue to receive services that the state budget cuts have taken away. Thanks, peeps!