Winter is officially here!

We at the Nuthouse have been having a tough run of it since the winter weather has arrived-but, we're holding up and laughing our way through.

For about two weeks now, our temperatures have been in the teens and twenties. It's cold, folks.
We had about 3 days of silly flurries, the sun was shining, yet little tiny flakes kept appearing. This was what little moisture was in the air freezing. Not enough to disrupt life in any way.

Our home is heated by propane gas, and a few space heaters strategically placed here and there. Husband informed me Saturday that the tank was running low.
Monday morning I woke up with chills. Husband was awake, watching the news. I opened my eyes and looked at him, and he must have read my mind- " we're out of propane".

oh. well that explains it. Good morning, by the way.

The day went as usual, the only major differences being the delay of school reopening due to extreme temperatures, our choice of pajamas before bed, and a few extra blankets here and there.

Tuesday Husband calls the company to come refill the tank- the house is drafty and chilly, not to mention that our stove runs on same said propane supply. no propane, no cook. They tell him that if there's enough left in the truck, they'll try to get out here in the afternoon. if not, definitely on Wednesday.
They did not come Tuesday. fair enough, that was a 'maybe' to begin with.

Wednesday rolled around, we awoke to 6 degrees outside. It felt like 30 in the house. I got up, wrangled the children out of bed for their delayed school day, and began the animal rounds.

Dog food & water, check.

Cat food & water check.

Boys fish tank, light n food, check- temp seemed ok.

Daughter's betta tank- light on, ... oh no.

The betta sank during the night. the tank temp was not even registering .
I get the net to scoop it out, wondering how in the world to tell my daughter he fish froze to death.
Start to maneuver the net over the fish- the fish twitches and wiggles away.
Oh My Lord its still alive.

I get the tank heater and put it into his tank, get it all plugged in, and hope like crazy this fish doesn't die. Spend the next half hour explaining to my daughter that the fish is NOT dead, its just, well, hypothermic. Its body got too cold to move, that's all, just like a person would. Hopefully when the water warms up he'll be ok.

Hating to leave fish duty, I got the kids to school, and off to the food store to stock up for some nastier temps and snow predicted for the coming week.
After spending over $200 on groceries, I realized I'd bought very little food to prepare without the use of propane.

When I returned home, I checked Mr.betta. This particular Betta gives new meaning to the name "fighting fish". Twice now, this fish has been revived from near death. VERY near death. It was still quite sluggish, but certainly making obvious improvements.

Husband and I spent most of the day preparing the house for the deep cold coming our way, checking insulation under the house, checking the pipes, putting plastic over the windows, and foam-filling every little gap we could find.

A bit of another side story here regarding the "plastic" for the windows:

Stores sell this nifty kit- it has a giant sheet of plastic, and a roll of two-sided tape. you apply the tape to the window frame, then stick the plastic to the tape, as tightly as possible. the last step is to use a blowdryer , to truly stretch the plastic so your window is still "perfectly clear" .

I learned the first year of using this product NOT to bother with the hairdryer, because as it tightens the plastic, it also pulls it off the tape. defeats the purpose. I also learned that the two sided tape is very useful for other things as well.

This year, Husband brought home the kit, and I started doing my thing. I applied the tape to the frame- and when it came time to stick the plastic up- I discovered that the tape had been changed, the plastic would not stick to it! Husband, ever so helpful, declares, thats because I have to use the blowdryer to seal it to the tape. I explain to him if it won't stick to the tape to start with, there's no way I can let it go long enough to even get the hairdryer!
So , I used the remainder of last years tape, and when that ran out, my handy roll of scotch tape came out. It works just as well.
But, for the cost of the kits, we'd have done as well to use trash bags and packing tape. Another lesson learned.

By 5 pm on this very cold Wednesday, The Betta was slowly swimming about, the tank temp back on the gage at 64. Still in the danger zone, but somewhat safer. Also at this time we had not seen ,nor heard from the propane truck.
Husband calls the office, and gets the "after hours emergency survey" recording. Ode to frustration. He finally gets contact with a live person, and explains we still need this propane delivered. The reply he received was "well, they must not have been there yet" .

No kidding! If they'd been here, I wouldn't be talking to you.

She tells him that if the truck doesn't come by 7pm, to call back.

At 7 they tell him the trucks are done with their rounds, they will be here in the morning. Husband is now beyond frustrated. If this operator puts us on "emergency" status, for calling after hours, we get a heavy extra charge. (Just the regular filling process is a bill we have problems with!)

Last night, the betta kept the heater, and did very well. we have had no casualties.
As of this blog entry, it is 10:00 am. The schools have closed, it has started to snow, the fish are stable, and I have a pot roast in the crock pot cooking for tonight's dinner, because the propane truck has still not arrived.

Full of giggles, we've endured. Doing extra laundry due to the extra layers of clothes needed in the house, let alone outside, school being closed almost as soon as it reopened from Christmas break, giving the children activities to amuse them,being creative enough to figure out meals to make without a stove, and generally keeping the Nuthouse true to its fame.

New Year at the Nuthouse!

Happy Holidays! I want to wish everyone a belated merry Christmas, and a happy new year! 2009 was just way too fast! Here we are in 2010 already, beginning a new adventure!

And of course, you must know, there's a story from the Nuthouse to start the new year!

Our children, aged 8 and 5 1/2 , haven't made it to midnight yet to celebrate . This year we decided to give them another shot. Daughter (8) was overly thrilled with this opportunity,absolutely positive she'd make it without a hitch. Son, on the other hand, was ready to crash before he even got tired. He moved to the couch , complete with blanket and pillow, just in case.

Husband found a movie , and when that ended we all enjoyed watching the Three Stooges marathon- the kids thought we must have been some really silly kids to have watched those "crazy guys".

We snacked, we giggled, we cuddled, until it was time for the countdown. We watched J-Lo dance around times square, in the rain, in a sparkly nude body suit- Son, of course said he thought she was pretty. The rest of us decided she'd be prettier if she had more clothes on.

As the countdown got closer, Daughter expressed her wishes to go to New York. Knowing Mom was born there somehow makes her think I have a free tele-portation pass .

5...4...3...2...1.... 2010 !! HAPPY NEW YEAR! we watched the celebration in the Square, and the cameras showed the many kissing couples.
One such couple was open -mouth kissing, and Son turned to me ( being the 'expert' on all things NY) and said "Jeez Mom- do they really lick like that there?? That's GROSS!"

let me add that this couple were not using tongues,but, regardless, not having an answer for him, and unable to answer because of the laughter trying to erupt from myself, I hid under the blanket and tried my best not to explode.

I should also admit, the children didn't actually make it to midnight. We live about an hour west of the eastern standard time line. The ball in Times Square dropped at 11:00pm for us. Being that one major city is an hour ahead, and the other an hour behind, our area doesn't have an 'official' celebration.

This actually worked out for the best.

I looked at the children, Son just fascinated numbly with what was happening on the TV (who will clean up all that paper mama ?) and Daughter curled up with big tired rings around her eyes.

Yep. Time for bed kiddos. Anyone awake before 8:30 am better stay quiet!

Son went off with his camping gear, almost happy it was finally time for bed.

Daughter, on the other hand, has the glorious ability to tell time. " but its not midnight, WE didn't have OUR new year yet!"

uh oh. she's onto us. the next ten minutes consisted of me trying to convince her that she wasn't going to miss anything, and her breaking into tears, and becoming very frustrated.

When I finally corralled her into her bed, she was still upset. I explained to her this was nothing to be so upset about, and by this time if she lay here in bed for another 15 minutes, she'd have made it to midnight here. THIS bothered her as well, because she can't see the clock in her room, and brought on a fresh round of hysterics.

At this point, I told her this was nothing to cry about, and because she was sooo tired, she'd cry about anything. look, I bet you cry because I make faces at you- and did indeed give her my silliest of faces.
The child went into hysterical laughter at this. I was relieved at not leaving her to sleep upset.

I went through the goodnight rituals ,gave her a kiss, and said "happy new year baby"

Much to my surprise, this brought the tears back!! "mama you're the first to say it to meee"

No, I wasn't, but I think her exhaustion was grasping at straws now. Now we went through the cry, laugh bit again for another ten minutes. laughing like a loon, then into crying because she couldn't stop laughing.

And I'll be- she did manage to unintentionally do this right though to midnight.

Husband and I retired to our bedroom to send out bulk text messages and answer the mandatory drunken calls from all over the country. To be honest, Husband and I don't generally stay up to celebrate the New Year, it'll be there when we wake up. Its rare that we brave out into the masses to become the sending end of those mandatory drunken calls- especially since the children have entered stage right.

Much to my delight, our resident Nuthouse rooster, this being Son, did not make an appearance until exactly 8:30. I have no idea how he does this without the advantage of telling time, but somehow he does it. Daughter slept an additional 25 minutes.

And so, with this tale from the Nuthouse shared, I wish you all the best for the new year of 2010.

I'm sure we'll be full of more news here as well!

my tradtional holiday vent

yes, i know i said this blog wasn't for venting, but this may prove to be just as amusing as Nuthouse events as well. after all, I am a resident of said Nuthouse for a very good reason. Though, it may be time to look into better security. Seems I may be getting out too much.

Oh yes, the holiday season is upon us. 10 days until christmas and the shopping crunch begins. We live in what I consider to be a very small town, (remember my comparisons include places like the overpopulated Florida, and New York) and so, the store choices leave MUCH to be desired.

Our biggest and sadly, "best" option for holiday shopping is Wal-Mart. I say sadly, because since WalMart has become the giant superstore for one stop shopping, thier service, and product variety has declined horribly.

some examples of said declines ?

This giant corporation expanded its stores, yet neglected to expand STAFF. You can go shopping for everything you need, groceries, clothes, toys, all in one tiny cart. Being that we live out of town, we do bulk shopping. I have been known to fill two carts on my own , with two small children in tow. On these glorious rare events, I am expected to bag all of these items myself (if I can't keep up with the cashier, they don't HELP, they stand and glare until there is space for them to continue) .Once the two carts are stacked with all the bags, I am somehow expected to push both carts, complete with two small children across the parking lot to my car on my own. If I request help, I'm told they have no one to do it. (not that they attempt to find anyone)

sorry folks- this peeves me. I just spent more money in one spot than I even see all year, and they can't help me to the car? I've lived in CITIES and shopped at poor mom/pop shops that make sure they bag your items,and you get help out, even if the cashier themselves have to close the registers to do so. This is a multi- million dollar corporation, and they can't extend this simple courtesy? They pay multiple people to stand outside and inside the doors to make sure you have a cart, need it or not, and a cheerful hello, but can't hire people to bag items or help to cars??

Again a staff issue here : each department has its own staff, to stock shelves and be helpful assistance if you can't find something. each of these staff members get 2 or 3 aisles to care for.
Why then, is it seemingly IMPOSSIBLE to find one of the helpful associates? You stand in the aisle, looking lost and confused, and no one shows up. however, if you know what you need and where it is, they flock to you, one after another, to make sure you've found what you need, even after you're holding it.

The "need help" crisis is amusing in itself. no one comes. You find one of those buttons they have which convieniently pages said helpful associate to their department for customer assistance. IF the associate is paying attention, they may arrive in the next half hour. Once they do and you ask them about what you need, either the store doesn't carry it, or they have NO idea what you are even talking about!

This is what I was faced with on my holiday "stakeout" . Rather than go blindly from store to store snatching items off shelves, I do a "dry run", take notes of prices in stores and then figure the best way to do the actual shopping. (this actually saves us a ton of money) .

I was looking for a Lego kit. simple enough. I go to the aisle with the lego products, and all I see are duplos, and the lego bionicle kits, or star wars kits- neither of which is what my 5 year old has asked for. he has asked for the Pirate ship. (available in stores now!) WalMart 's lego shelves had virtually NO legos! (besides of course the sets we already have)

I look for one of our handy helpful associates. no luck. I push the pager button. and begin the wait. amazingly this particular staff member broke the 30 minute record with a 20 minute one."can I help you?"
well, yea, thats why I pushed the button 20 minutes ago. I'm looking for Lego kits. I was hoping for the pirate ship set, but at this point , I'd be happy with whatever you guys are getting.
"getting?"
yes getting, They ARE going to restock these shelves with actual legos this week right?
"uuuum... legos?"
yea LEGOS.
well we have these- and shows me the twelve dozen duplo kits, among the rows of empty lego shelves.
no, I need LEGOS. I show him the star wars kit- you know, like these, only a pirate ship, or a little town...
Kid looks at me like I'm on drugs.
"these are legos. "
you don't have kids do you? those aren't legos. legos are much smaller, and come in kits for older children than the 2 year olds that duplos are made for.
I get the look again.
ok kiddo- back to square one. I point to the empty shelves, and say" these are labeled for lego sets. these are empty. you work in this department right?"
yea
"ok. will these shelves be restocked with legos at some point before christmas?"
I dunno.

'wow. you've been VERY helpful. thank you soooo much."

I continued my price seeking and repeatedly had problems finding items, which were advertised from the store- and every time I asked, the helpful associate had no clue what I was talking about.

I asked a MANAGER as well, who also gave me replies that didn't answer any of my questions, and didn't know what half of the requested items were - from thier own ads!

So , after an amazingly frustrating 2 hours in the "superstore that has it all" , finding nothing I needed, I left the store, joyfully skipping past the manager, the dopey helpful associates, and other frustrated shoppers, singing my wal-mart song.
"we hate the wal-mart .. .we hate the wal-mart... we hate the walmart 'cuz THEY SUCK!!!"
This is not the first time I have followed this tradition. And I'm also pretty sure my song was enjoyed by other shoppers as they watched, some smiling, some laughing, and some even gave me a thumbs up, a sure signal that I was not the only patron in the store that wished it to explode.
I've made it a point over the past few years to avoid the wal-mart at all costs. But like I said, store options are minimal in my area, and for the holidays I am forced to deal with it.

ok, well.... depending on how you look at it, perhaps they are forced to deal with me.