40 Hour Work Weeks

I have officially joined the forty hour week work force.  I hate it.  What a blessing to only work 30-32 hours weekly and get full benefits of insurance and vacation.  The lady that is here Mondays so I can enjoy three day weekends all year, had surgery.  She's been out all month.  I have been singing the 'wo is me blues' all four weeks and still have one more to go. 

 Now I see how hard it is to get anything done. Doesn't matter if you go to bed early, it's the same twenty-four hours to get everything done in. To treat myself and Mr. Manly, we will be going to see the play, 9 to 5 at the Hale Theatre on Labor Day. That will be my official end of working five days a week. 

Today was payday and my check was more, but is it worth it?  I will tell you next week when this stint if over.   For now I'm just glad to have a job to pay the bills.

Beautiful Bathroom or Bust

I avoid attending the Parade of Homes because seeing all those smartly decorated models, with the latest in technology, massive kitchens, the hottest colors and perfectly placed plants brings on depression.   My own adequate home looks like an outhouse compared to them. 

Well, this year I am putting on my big girl attitude and going out to see every last house. 

I want to redo my master bathroom and what better way to drive up the price than to get ideas from theirs.  I can't even come close to all the gadgets in the ones at the Parade, but at least ours will only be semi-outdated. 

 We must have a separate toilet room, two sinks, bigger shower and tile everything else. Should we do a garden tub or jetted and how big?   

 What size shower, double or single size; clear or frosted glass, surround or one sided?

 His and her sinks and cabinets or....Hey wait a minute.  My budget is only $5k or less.  Now let's start over.   Although better than lovely, they are more than I can afford, but a starting point at least.

Yep, I think I'm ready to re-do.  Now to get Mr. Manly to come on board, we will be taking off in November.  Oh, the places you can go when you buy tickets to the Parade of Hot Houses. 

No Way, No How

I found the cutest old wagon.  It was probably fifty years old or more. 

Then the most amazing spot for a photo, was just outside where the wagon was spotted. No grandchild of mine was ready or willing to have a picture taken.  No way!  No how!

  It would have been easier to bribe some strangers in the neighborhood than get mine to smile.  Hey, wait a minute, there's a quick one we got on camera from Zach, while holding baby brother, Josh.

Chances are they will ask ten years from now, why was I so cranky?  Because, we are part of the 'Cranky Crane' bunch.  Thus history was made on a farm in Nounan, Idaho.   And to think this is my very own Grandma Eugenia Crane's birthplace, as well.  She was probably watching

and laughing from the spirit world, while we begged our little ones to look happy. 

Faulty Foot Needs a Fix

Three years ago I traipsed around on vacation in poor shoes on cement and got plantar fasciitis in my left foot.  This is severe pain in the plantar (foot) fascia (tendon or sheath on bottom of each foot) often caused when the fascia relaxes at night as you sleep with toes pointed downward.  Upon awaking and walking the fascia stretches and becomes inflamed.  After six months of stretching, foot bracing and inflammation it was healed.  Now my right foot has it.  Curses!!!

Was it the four miles of run/walking a day, worn out tennie runners or foot abuse that has caused this unfun problem?  Each day is another one of achy foot, anti-inflammatories and limping about.  Got to get that foot brace, I say and new shoes. 

The major causes of getting this dreaded problem are poor shoe support, high heels, over-weight, long standing on hard surfaces and myriad other reasons.   Take care of your feet because 'where ever you roam,' you will be using your feet.