March Madness

I can't believe it is already March 12, 2009! They say time flies when you are having fun but I think it really works both ways 'cuz I'm not having fun but time is sure a flying!

The weather has been so unpredictable. It rained all day Saturday and most of Sunday. We had this really great weather going on and yesterday I walked out in the morning and scooted back in to grab a coat! It went from 62 degrees on Tuesday to 18 degrees on Wednesday. Today is quite cold as well.

I got my car washed this morning and watched the water beading on the window shield. It reminded me of my first winter experiences last year. The funniest was the day I rushed out to go to work - now most know if it has snowed there is no rush to work because you must spend a minimum of 15 minutes prepping the vehicle and getting it all warm and cozy. This particular day I had stuff all over my wind shield so I took out my bottle of water and poured it over the windshield to clean it off. The water turned the window into an ice shield. What a mess to try and scrape off. I needed a chisel and hammer.

This year I was pretty much down with the program. I get out there and shovel the driveway (when Matt isn't around), pry the frozen doors open, start the car with all the defrosters going, and finally I scrape the snow and ice off... The order is somewhat crucial.

I know I am babbling on but I wanted to make sure I got something posted and in all likely hood I will edit this again and add a picture but I need more time...Got any?

All Right, Already!

Okay... So it snowed on Saturday, February 21, 2009. We got between 2-3 inches of the white stuff. And it snowed on and off all day long - during Ella's birthday party. On Wednesday it warmed up to 50 degrees and all the snow was gone.

Yesterday was the winner...it thundered, lightening and RAIN!!! I had a Board meeting last night and driving home was a thrill with the sky lighting up, the torrential downpour and the newly formed rivers that we normally call streets.

At 10:30 p.m. last night I received a call from a Board member - one of my buildings with a subterranean garage was flooding. Oh, Joy! So much for getting a good night's sleep.

There is water everywhere. Everyone says the past two years Chicago has had the worst weather in many, many years! As I drove home last night I thought about Noah...at what point did he know it was time to build the ark?

A Bit of This and That...

Just wanted to catch up a bit today...

Tuesday evening we were eating dinner and Rhea mentioned that she, Matt and Maddie were invited to attend Allison's (Rhea's cousin) Bat Mitzvah in Los Angeles. We discussed the invitation and possibilities of everyone traveling to Los Angeles for the event. Matt piped up and asked everyone..."What do you wear to a Bat Mitzvah?" Madalynn didn't skip a beat before she responded..."A Turban!" We laughed long and hard...I think she meant a Yamaka.

Ella just turned five years old! Her birthday party is tomorrow and we are all attending and helping out! Rhea and I called last Friday on her birthday and sang Happy Birthday to her. As soon as we finished Ella exclaimed..."Well, gosh! I wasn't expecting that!"

Kids do say the funniest things!

It has been a busy couple of weeks with work and Madalynn! I am trying to catch up before our next winter storm...tonight! Can you believe it we are expecting 6-8 inches of snow sometime late tonight and into tomorrow? I am delighted that I do not need to go anywhere this weekend except Ella's b-day party!

Well, I need to get back to my tasks so I will bid you farewell for the time being!

Well, all you groovy people...stay warm!

Maddie Madds

I could write for days about Madalynn but instead I will share a story today...

I arrived home late last night after a grueling Board meeting. Rhea shared a 'Madalynn' experience. We have had a difficult time convincing Maddie that she can live without a phone in her ear 24/7. Rhea took the phones last night into the laundry room, along with Maddie's other prize possesions (her hair straightener and digital camera). She locked her self in the laundry room, took a bunch of pictures of herself with Maddie's camera - and of course - locked Madalynn out. I didn't ask but I am fairly sure Rhea didn't use the hair straightener.

Maddie waited about 30 minutes and then knocked on the bathroom door and handed Rhea a telephone - yes, the telephone was Rhea's. She had forgotten to pull her telephone out of her purse. When Maddie handed Rhea her phone guess who was on the other line...Rhea's mother. Maddie called Rhea's mother to report her 'immature' behavior and to let her know that Rhea's behavior was bordering on abuse. Well, when I heard this I was horrified at first and then I began to laugh and couldn't stop!

Maddie is one cheeky bird! But you got to love her!

Ice, Ice, Baby!

We have had icicles on the drip edge of our roof for almost two weeks. It is great fun to watch the evolutionary journey of an icicle on a day to day basis. I guess icicles must live with the philosophy.."Here today, gone tomorrow."

Consider this...the gutters are full of ice and very heavy.

Also...on any day that it has a bit of warmth the icicles melt a tiny bit on to the concrete stoop. The stoop is extremely dangerous and my greatest enemy at the moment. I have tried jumping across the stoop but found my world upside down (should have taken a picture from that perspective but I was busy trying to sooth my bruised ego).

I love Chicago...I don't love the snow and ice.

Sofia Valencia

This is my Sofia... She is a hoot and great fun for this grandma!

Sofia is the youngest of my six grandchildren and daughter of Michael and Katie Brown. I moved to Chicago just before Sofia was born so I have watched her grow.

I babysit every Saturday while Katie and Michael work. Most weekends we play and eat and pine for the outdoors because it is too cold to stay out for any length of time. Mikey loves to play Zelda - Sofia gets to hold the extra nunchuk and she has a fairly good idea of what this little piece of equipment does...you shake it at the television and then yell and holler like everyone else in the room does. Ella loves to dance so we put music on and Sofia shakes her groove thing! This weekend Sofia added a new activity to our weekend agenda...She wanders off (this in itself is miraculous because she usually stays within a couple of feet of Grandma) and proceeds to disrobe herself. Then she does the bootie dance... Mike says she is a born nudist...

Sofia loves all things sweet. She coos while having a tasty bite of a cupcake or cookies. When she eats chocolate I swear her eyes roll into the back of her head. It is too cute!

It's true...it's true...being a grandparent is the best part of life!

Matt and Maddie...

As you may all know Madalynn and I live with Matt and Rhea. Matt and Rhea have been a really huge help with Madalynn. We are working together to keep Madalynn on track - easily said but it is a good bit of energy and effort to keep up with her.
This morning as I was dropping off Matt at work he said he wanted to use his video camera to document Madalynn's behavior. At some point in the future he wants to share the videos with Madalynn to elicit an apology from her for her atrocious teenage behavior. I replied with "I hope I live long enough to hear this."

Don't tell Matt but I am still waiting to hear a couple of apologies from one of his siblings...

Madalynn is a good girl! Her grades are good - a couple could be better (Math and Science). She does what is asked of her (but no more than what is asked) - as long as it is within her time frame. This means she wants to take care of family responsibilities between social events and phone calls from her friends. She is a typical teenager and a dynamo with a mouth attached! She may be 13 years old but she is still my baby girl.

The dynamic between Matt and Madalynn is very interesting. Matt has been almost a big brother to her until we moved from Florida to Chicago. At first he maintained his distance during squabbles but somewhere along the line he has found peace in being a father figure to her. Now he is the 'Dad' and this has added a dimension to their relationship. In dealing with Maddie's antics he is generally much more patient than Rhea or I. Now and then you do hear him raise his voice while Maddie is busy arguing with his logic. Matt and Rhea...Thank you...from the very bottom of my heart...Thank you for helping me on this journey with Madalynn. I don't tell you thank you often enough - I couldn't do this without you! Well...I could but it would be difficult and not nearly as fun!