Vacuums -- my bane

Someday I'm going to go postal on vacuums.

My husband is under the weather so I put my foot down and told him I would be cleaning the whole church (we're the custodians and normally split the church in half to get the job done in half the time -- the only time I've heard of a church split being a good thing).

Did fine. Till I got to the vacuuming. My vacuum broke a belt.
*sigh*
That's okay. I'll pull out the one my husband uses. It has a shorter cord and doesn't suck as well, but it will do.
NOT.
It spits. Really. Everything it sucked up it spit out.
I changed the bag and checked the filter. Tried again. It still spit.
By this time I was ready to spit too.
I got out the old stand-by that we avoid like the plague.
Short cord and it reminded me of that old Cat Stevens' song, "Fill My Eyes," because it's wheels don't roll. So I shoved it around the sanctuary and lobby. My arm hurts from muscling it, but at least it got the job done.

Now to hope my vacuum isn't so old that finding a belt for it won't create another headache...

December -- The Month of Ick

Between pneumonia, colds, asthma, and stomach viruses my daughter and I have been sick all month. My husband must have felt left out because he joined in as well. Christmas Day plus stomach virus does NOT equal a good time. Granted, stomach virus is never a good time, but on Christmas, well that just stinks.

I'm hoping and praying that finally all this will end and we can look forward to a new year that will not have us staggering around with some sort of Creeping Crud.

A Season of Sorrow

This time of year is supposed to be one of joy. A time when we gather with loved ones -- friends and kin. But this year, one family from our church will not be celebrating. And from now on, Christmas will a season of sorrow. Today, we will be attending the funeral of a junior-high-aged boy, their only child, who took his own life earlier this week.

Please, please pray for this grief-stricken family. They have said only their faith and support of their church family has kept them going.

An unexpected twist to my day

Well, I just spend an exciting eight hours in the emergency room. Good thing we didn't have an emergency. Oh wait. We did.

No long or short story -- I'm too tired. Final result: one daughter, one son-in-law, three grandchildren fine. Car totalled.

And it appears that the guy who pulled out in front of them and cut them off might not have insurance. Oh joy.

But that's another day. Tonight (this morning?) I'm just thankful to G-d my children/grands are all well -- bruised and sore, but alive and well. Let's hear it for proper use of seat belts and car seats!

How can it be?

Writers' characters are real. Ask any of us; we'll tell you.
But sometimes it's scary how real.

How can my characters realize something I don't, and tell me about it? One of the first times this happened was during a conversation I was writing between two characters and the protag told the other character something and as I wrote it, I thought, "Now wait. Is that true?"
I checked and yes, he was correct. But how did he know that when I didn't?

Mommy-mode

Guess some things will be set to the side for the next few days, at least. Gotta be mommy to my sick daughter.