March Madness

March Madness has arrived...in more ways than one!

Cold weather roared along with us as we entered March, hoping for signs of spring.  Finally, FINALLY, three weeks into the month, we are seeing signs that spring might just grace us with her presence.  Hubby and I have already been to the park twice this month.  Once, we wore winter coats and boots to stomp through what we expected to be muddy trails, but they turned out to be snow-covered instead.  The second time, with temps in the mid-40s, we dressed in layers but left the long-johns and winter coats off.  It was a gorgeous day!  And as you can see, the wild turkeys were wasting no time courting the ladies.  

Mid-March, Daughter had a crisis and kicked the boyfriend out...again.  Things were going from bad to worse, and she finally just had enough.  After talking to the landlord (they didn't have a lease), the landlord changed the locks.  Boyfriend came home while the locks were being changed and flipped out.  Called his parents to come move him out then and there.  Daughter called us, so we were there, too.  Locksmith was a nice guy and stayed to referee until we could get there.  It was rather awkward but we all survived.  I think they both need some time apart, and while I think they both do care about each other, I'm not sure they have what it takes to make their relationship last.  I feel bad, because he's not a bad person.  His upbringing was just too different from how we raised our daughter, and there are too many things they will never agree on.  The mom in me hopes they can stay friends, but gradually drift apart and find more appropriate relationships. Time will tell.

We visited my father-in-law again.  He was in bed when we arrived, and even Hubby offering him a Hershey's kiss didn't rouse him.  He just closed his eyes and went to sleep.  We stayed for about 45 minutes, trying to rouse him when he stirred.  But finally we gave up and left.  It's hard to see him like that.  The nurses did say he had been up earlier, had fed himself and was doing well.  That was good to hear.  And my sister-in-law is hoping to go see him soon, for the first time since last August.  I'm afraid it's going to be a shock for her, seeing how he has deteriorated.  She has been unable to see him because from August through October she was in the hospital on bed rest, awaiting the birth of her fourth child.  Since October, she was unable to visit him because the baby had some respiratory issues and the doctors were concerned that she might bring home one of the many germs found in nursing homes, and endanger the baby.  We were not allowed to visit the baby if we had been to see my father-in-law the same day.  So it's a good sign that she will soon be able to visit her dad -- good because I know she has missed seeing him, despite his condition.  And good because the baby is improving, which allows her to see her dad.

Writing-wise, March has been kind of quiet.  I've done some reading for craft, and also some editing.  I've worked on the writing blog.  And I'm currently reading a book so I can write a review for an author friend.  I'm not real excited about writing a review - it's not my thing.  But we wanted to help her out by posting the review on our blog, so I'm doing it.  So far, the book is fast-paced and interesting.  Hopefully I won't fail at writing that review!

Another part of March Madness is the NCAA tournament.  My bracket is busted, no doubt about it.  And round 2 isn't even finished yet.  I'm not very good at picking teams, but it is fun - it gives you someone to cheer for when they Hubby is immersed in basketball.

Here's to March going out like a lamb, since it roared in like a lion.  And may spring bless us with warm temperatures soon!

Mother Nature is Causing Cabin Fever

It's been awhile. Cabin fever is running rampant.  Luckily, last week the weather warmed up enough that I convinced Hubby to go to the park.  I can honestly say I've never hiked in snow boots before, and it was a workout.  But it was so nice to be outside getting fresh air!

Last time I checked in, Daughter and her boyfriend had broken up.  They were both miserable, and now they are back together.  I think (I hope) he realized that he needs to make some changes if he wants to keep her in his life.  With the help of a friend, I think Daughter also realized she needs to make some changes. I'm the first to admit she isn't easy to live with. But she has to learn to let some things go. She can't control everything in her life, no matter how much she might like to!

Son is doing well, but is so ready to be done with high school.  A couple weeks ago, he received a letter offering him a scholarship to our local junior college. The scholarship is two years of free tuition.  That will be a huge help!  I still plan to make him apply for other scholarships that can help pay for his books, transportation, and other fees he may incur with his chosen program - officially titled Digital Media.  I'm so proud of him!  And although he may not admit it, I think he was pretty proud of himself too.

Hubby is still happy being a house-husband.  Mother Nature has not been nice to us this winter - we've obviously pissed her off.  I do hope she's getting over it though. We're tired of the cold, tired of the snow - we're ready for spring!  Now with graduation looming in May, hubby may decide to hold off on job-hunting.  I have mixed feelings.  There are times when I think he REALLY needs a job.  He needs to get out of the house and converse with people other than me.  But on the other hand, it's really nice not to have to do anything around the house.  I don't cook (never did much of that anyway), I don't clean except for doing laundry on the weekends.  He's home so he takes care of it all.  I guess you could say I'm pretty spoiled.  Not sure I want to give that up.

We haven't been down to visit my father-in-law as often as Hubby would like, due to the weather. We were there in January and we took him a box of chocolate covered cherries.  He happily gobbled up a couple of them before we took them away, so he wouldn't make himself sick on them.  The nurse told me the doctor had reduced his behavioral meds and that he was doing well. A few weeks later we visited again, but when we arrived it was to find him sitting at a table in the dining area with his face smashed on the table.  Hubby managed to pull him back so he was leaning against the back of his chair, but he kept tipping forward.  He didn't seem near as alert as he had the time before.  The nurses told me he's been like that alot lately.  They can't tie him to the chair, so they let him slump onto the table.  If they put him in his recliner, they are afraid he will tip right out of it.  His wife would be absolutely furious if she found him that way.  But the nursing home doesn't have the staff to, nor is she paying for him to have one-on-one care. It is what it is.

Last week, she called to tell us he'd apparently fallen in the dining room.  They found him on the floor, bleeding.  A few hours later, after a trip to the hospital for 7 stitches, he was back at the nursing home and she was on the rampage.  She told me if they can't watch him at all times then she's going to look into moving him.  I hate to tell her, but unless she wants to fork out a lot more money, nobody is going to be watching him every minute of every day.  We haven't heard from her since then.  We won't be able to visit again for a couple weeks to see how he's doing for ourselves.

I feel guilty but I haven't talked to my parents much lately.  Dad emails me a couple times a week to check in, which I really appreciate.  Mom seems to feel that I should call her because she doesn't want to bother me.  It would be nice though if she would call me once in a while.  The cold weather has been hard on them, too.  And last time I talked with them, my brother was off work - again. Some days I just can't go there because I might say something I'll regret later.  I know he's trying to turn things around, but I can't help wondering if he's doing things to compromise his progress.

On the reading/writing front, I'm getting a lot of reading done. I'm never without a book, and I have plenty in my To-be-read pile. Other than our writing blog, I haven't done much of my own writing. However, this week I met with my blog partner and we had a good discussion about writing.  I needed to brainstorm over some problems I've run into with my manuscript, and she was a great help.  I also purchased an ebook on writing characters that someone recommended.  I'm definitely finding it helpful.  Between my brainstorming session and the book, I'm feeling motivated to write again, and I'm excited about it!

Even though I haven't reached out to several good friends lately, they have been in my thoughts and prayers.  That goes for extended family too!