My Sad Little Flower

Wow! I have not blogged for a VERY long time. I think about it a lot, about what I'd like to blog about, then never seem to have time to do it, or at least I think I don't have enough time to write what I want, so I don't do it! Vicious cycle! So my new goal is to just do it! I have a list of things I'd like to blog about, but this one was not on my list. Oh, well! I have planted lots of pretty flowers in containers on our deck and around the yard. In particular, I planted a hot pink gerbera daisy. It was lovely. I enjoyed it every day. Early this morning we had a rain downpour. It rained HARD. When I got up this morning and opened the blind over the deck doors, I noticed the deck was covered with leaves and things. Then I looked over my plants, and this is what I saw.....


My sad little flower used to look like this....


Megan did point out that another blossom was growing, so hopefully my sad little flower will once again be beautiful!

Walk Like a Duck.....

I have meant to post this for quite a while. Rich brought home a couple of these bottles (they are about the size of a peanut butter jar...) from work in November. Lockheed Martin handed them out to employees.... I laughed and laughed at the front of the container, then laughed even more as I read the rest of the info on the label. This is an ice melt product called "Duck Droppings", Stop, Drop, So You Don't Flop! Here is what the label has to say....

READ BEFORE USE: So, what is "walking like a duck"? It's simple. Employees should bend slightly at the knees, walk flat-footed with the center of gravity directly over feet and take short steps or shuffle for stability. No waddling is required. In addition, walking in designated, cleared paths and wearing proper, treaded footwear will help ensure that employees stay safe on the way to their destination. Facilities and the ESH Awareness Team encourages everyone to keep a lighthearted attitude about the initiative, but remember the goal of the program... making sure that employees don't slip or fall and injure themselves outside this winter.

Stay Safe....Target Zero. "Quacks" and safety suggestions can be sent to the ESH group at ...

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: The Facilities department and the Environmental Safety & Health (ESH) Awareness Team is trying to bring a higher level of awareness to protect employees and stop needless injuries. The team's "Walk Like A Duck" campaign is a fun, lighthearted way to get people thinking about what to do when they encounter slippery surfaces outside. All kidding aside... falls outside on slippery sidewalks and parking lots are a serious issue and have resulted in some significant injuries to Eagan employees in the past, independent of job title or salary grade. Everyone is susceptible to the harsh winter conditions.

The Stop, Drop, So You Don't Flop campaign offers employees a new tool in addition to regular plowing - salt shakers - that employees can pick up and keep with them as necessary when walking between cars or on sidewalks - anywhere, anytime. Two barrels of shakers will be placed at each of the North and South employee entrances. Pick one up at either entrance, use the shaker until the contents is gone, then bring it back, place it in the empty bin and grab another one.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE: Sprinkle the ice melter on ice and snow at the rate of 1.0-4.5 lbs per 540 ft(squared), depending on the amount of snow and ice present. When applied during the early stages of a snow storm, this ice melter makes snow removal much easier.

And then there are the CAUTIONS which I won't list here because we all know what those will say -- don't eat it, don't put it in your eyes, don't use it around food, may irritate skin, etc, etc...

The kids have had fun making Rich practice walking like a duck and asking him if you used his Duck Droppings today. Then Rich and I get to laugh as we watch them practice... I should film that....

Happy 2009!

I can't believe 2008 is over. This was an interesting year for us. It seems like we could say that about every year, though. Nikki got married, Rich unexpectedly had to find a new job, I started working part time, all kinds of little and big changes occurred!

We (the kids and I) are in Rochester visiting the Burton's. The Burton Hotel is lovely. It is our favorite bed and breakfast! Plus there is built in entertainment for everyone! Especially me, I just like to watch Ann launch herself off the couch or irritate Kambrie by teasing her. Ann and I have had more fun than the kids this time, I think. Rich was at home and Phil was out with a friend, so Ann and I spent New Year's eve watching movies, eating chocolate, and telling the kids to go away and leave us alone. On New Year's day we went shopping at the mall and ate a yummy lunch at Hu Hut's. The kids played outside for hours in the afternoon. After a yummy dinner of waffles, hashbrowns and bacon, we watched more movies and ate more chocolate. Friday morning Ann and I went to Baker's Square for breakfast with Leslie, Lorie, Kris, and Janus! Do you see a food theme developing here?

Breakfast with the girls was entertaining. Lots of laughter and stories. I definitely have a new appreciation for the word "raw". Since then, Ann and I have been sitting by the fireplace getting ready for lunch! Not really.... I probably won't be hungry for days! Ann has been using her new laptop, and I have been using Phil's. We decided we should be productive and do something like "blog". We wouldn't want to strain ourselves or get off the couch (or the floor) or do anything too stressful. I did get Logan some lunch.... what does that count as?

We'll head home this afternoon, then the fun will have to stop. The kids have things they need to work on before school starts back up, and I suppose I should undecorate the house. Then in 2 weeks the fun can begin again! We will be on our Disney Cruise! We leave on the 16th. Maybe I shouldn't eat for the next 2 weeks......