Am I really getting that old? Geez some little stuff at work is starting to bug the heck out of me! The tellers don't hang their coats on the coat tree, they shove them under their teller windows. So? It should not matter to me as long as the customers cant see them. But it bugs me. I don't say anything because it isn't a big deal, but it bugs me. I tind myself getting very annoyed, very easily. Am I just getting old? J never used to get annoyed by such little things. Maybe it is just that I have been working at the bank for over 30 years. Maybe injustice need to do something different. I am not sure what else I would do. . . Or maybe I just haven't spent enough time recharging at home. I have been gone nearly every evening at meetings and such as well as most weekend days. It is all good community stuff - like we (the community band) played during the Coaches. Vs Cancer basketball game, we went to the chamber of commerce annual banquet to represent the bank, went to a bridal shower, and then there is Lenten services, Hospice Banquet and lots of other stuff. I guess I have also been stressing myself out a bout a few things at work too. I had to do a presentation on retirement plans to a group last Friday and today I had to go to Sioux Falls to do my proctor testing. Maybe now that both of those things are done, I won't feel so annoyed all the time. Maybe. . . . .

What a difference a week makes. The past couple of days have been warm and mostly sunny. And a few people have even seen robins!!!! A lot of the snow has melted and you can see grass. It is wonderful!! It is also very appropriate since we are going into the lenten season. I have also come down with a nasty cold. I cough all night long and blow my nose constantly. I hope am over this soon. I am so tired when I get home, all I want to do is sleep. I think I will take a nap now.

Windy and snowy and cold - oh my! Yes, winter in Minnesota. I am so tired of winter. Spring just can't come fast enough. I really do like winter, but this winter has been exceptionally long and cold. In fact, the weather broadcast the other night said it has been the 4th coldest winter on record. Not just here, but across most of the United States. The best part of most winters is that it makes me appreciate spring that much more. Anyway, because of the blustery day, I didn't leave the house. I slept in till 7:30 and putzed around the house. I thought about not even getting out of my pajamas, but I would have been so embarassed if someone would have stopped. I didn't do too much cleaning, because Denver and Danielle are bringing the dogs for a few days. They are going down to Florida to Twins training camp for a few days and I said we would watch Rocky and Pearl. Rocky sheds so bad! Pearl is part pug so she doesn't shed much, but Rocky makes up for both of them. when they come and get the dogs I will do some cleaning - serious cleaning. I feel bad that we watch Randi and Travis's kids all the time, but we don't have a chance to do much for Denver and Danielle. This is one small thing I can do for them. I love the dogs, but not too excited about getting up early to let them out to go potty and taking them on a walk in this cold weather. Oh well, it is only for 4 or 5 days so it isn't so bad.

You know, I feel like I have wished my life away. In high school I could hardly wait until I got to college. In college I could hardly wait to be done and out in the working world. Then after we had kids I could hardly wait until they got potty trained,got into school,, etc. It goes on and on. I didn't often stop and just really enjoy where I was at in life. This is not a new revelation for me. I have thought about this many other times. I just seem to fall back onto the same rut though. This time I was working with my 5 year plan. You know, in 5 years Leon will be old enough for social security and Medicare, the house will be paid for, etc. Once again I found myself feeling like I could hardly wait to retire. Yes, I feel overwhelmed at work a lot, but it is a good job and I love my coworkers. And I don't really know what I would rather xdo. I just have to find a way to deal with the stress. How do I make myself feel less stress. I have to think a lot about this again!!!

An attitude of grattitude! I have so much to be grateful for in my life. I have a husband who loves me - despite a couple of rough patches. I have children who have grown up to be very responsible adults. I have a house that is small, but almost paid for. I have a job that has given me the opportunity to travel, meet new people and grow as a person. Despite the stress, it pays the bills and allows me to save a little. I have wonderful friends and family. I am truly blessed!!!! I have to remember all of these blessings. So often I dwell on what I don't have and get depressed. I am trying very hard to turn that around. Nobody likes to be around a "Debbie downer". I am going to try harder to be happy and grateful.

It has been a great long weekend. It started off on Valentines Day. We had tickets to a "Sons of the Pioneers" concert. It wouldn't have been my first choice of something to do for Valentines Day, but Leon loved it. Saturday and Sunday were a little rough. I had a cold so after I got the house cleaned on Saturday, I took a long nap. I did the same thing on Sunday. After lunch I took another long nap. I really needed those naps though. I feel much better today. I got lots of little things done. It was wonderful. The weather was even great. I think the high was around 40. Melted a lot of snow. It is supposed to be warm all week! Yipee!!!! I think everyone feels better when the sun shines and we get hints of spring. Just keep thinking spring!

Well, I feel like I have gotten a lot accomplished. This past weekend I got the front of the quilt done. Now I just have to back it and bind it. That is the easy part. I also got our taxes done. I spent the last 4 evenings working on it, but now it is all done and ready to send in. At work, I think I finally have everything in my office organized and looking nice. I have the kids Valentine's all ready to go and Denver's birthday present ready. It feels good to have all of that done. Now on to the next set of things to get done!