Wow thought I was all caught up reading blogs and realized I haven't written in mine.  Not too much going on here--lots of snow and ice and COLD.  They are saying it's going to be 45 by the end of next week -- heatwave...LOL.  Pretty bad when 30 feels warm around here.

Rob was suffering last week-had 3 wisdom teeth pulled.  They needed to come out but he was in pain and trying not to take the prescription medication they gave him.  He just celebrated 1 year of being clean and sober.  I'm so proud of him. 

Tonight is a benefit spaghetti dinner at the elementary school -- we will go because it benefits the South High Marathon Dance.  That is my alma mater.  The started the dance the year after I graduated and have held it every year since.  They started small and now have totaled over 1 million dollars in all the years.  The benefit local people in need--from wheelchairs, helping to buy special vehicles, help with medical expenses for chemotherapy and other medications, etc.  This year they have a record number of dancers signed up--837.  The kids have to raise at least $75.00 to even dance.  Alumni are welcome also and a lot of graduates help with donations, chaperoning, giving of their time -- one donates fees from haircuts for a day, others make things for the bake sale, quilts are raffled, etc.  It's a community event that brings us all together.  The kids will dance for 24 hours with a short sleep break and then other even shorter breaks in that 24 hour period.  The marathon dance is the first weekend in March.  Almost every year they have broken the record for the amount raised, I know that one of these years that won't happen but it's amazing what they raise, even in this economy. 

Good news, I saw on my face book page this morning that a friend is home on R&R from the sandbox.  He surprised his wife and daughter last night.  I'm so happy for Josh and Katrina and Tricity.  ENJOY every minute.  My nephew is back there again from his R&R and others have not made it home yet--hoping their time comes soon. 
 
Sammy is loving the snow, hates his paws wet when it rains but loves to play in the snow.  He's been bad though, I bought him a harness cause he chokes himself with a collar.  He chewed through the first one after about a month, the second one lasted about 4 days.  Guess we are going to take our chances that he doesn't break his neck in a collar from now on.  He runs on his lead till he hits the end chasing birds flying over or the squirrels coming out across the neighbors roof to the trees out back of their house.  Loves to have his squeaky toy out there--noses it through the snow and then flips it in the air, he's too funny to watch.

Have to complain a little -- my cable company is out of control.  Our bill went from $175 to $235 a month.  So we did just as a neighbor did, called and got direct TV installed.  We didn't have any of the HBO, Sowtime,etc.  just the cable, phone and internet.   Had the cable taken out, called Verizon and they are taking over the phone next week.  Then after Jim was up there and turned in the cable box, told him we would have a $13 bill with the credit from turning off the cable --  I get a bill saying my account is overdue (direct payment from my checking account) and I owe $340.  I went ballistic on Friday.  Called and wanted to know why?????  They have taken money every month including this one from my account so how can I be overdue and why is my bill so high.  They talked in circles about the bill being done on the 2nd, we turned it off on the 4th and I didn't get the bill till the 10th (paperless so it's comes to my computer)  so now I supposedly have so much credit that for March and April I won't get a bill.  We better not or I will find another internet provider.  Just don't want to go back to dial up and DSL isn't available here yet in very large amounts -- have to be on a waiting list.  So my cable bill for the TV alone was about $100 and Direct TV it's only $34 --same channels and even a couple extra ones.  If I can get others to sign up and use my account # for a referral I can save even more and so can they.  Pat across the street has his down to $24 for the next 10 months.  Every referral gets you $10 off for 10 months and the new customer $10 off for 10 months.  Can't beat that.  Time Warner is going to run themselves out of business here if their rates keep going up.  It's ridiculous. 

Well off to the grocery store....saw a recipe last weekend on Food Network from Ina Garten I'm gonna try.  Mocha Chocolate Icebox cake.  It's layers of chocolate chip cookies with a mocha chocolate mousse.  Looked yummy.  Needs 24 hours to set after you put it together.  Thought it would make a great Valentines dessert. 

Enjoy your weekend and HAPPY VALENTINES DAY