FEBRUARY SISTER TRIP

Janet and I enjoyed our first 2011 sister trip.  In January, Janet made a one-sided sister trip to Steamboat Rock to spend the night with me when Mike was in San Diego helping care for his mom after her stroke.  Then I made a one-sided sister trip to CR in January to go with Janet to Fab Five.  That will probably be our last show choir trip.  Yes, sad but true.  Now that Ben and Andy are no longer in show choir it just isn't the same.

So, on to February's trip.  We went to the craft show at the fairgrounds in Des Moines.  I took Friday off work because first I needed to take Mike to Iowa Falls for an MRI on his back.  Then Janet came and picked me up at 11:30.  We were a little concerned on Thursday evening that we wouldn't be able to go because of the new snow.  But fortunately it didn't happen and we were glad to get away.  We stopped in Story City and went the the factory outlet stores there.  It isn't as big as Tanger, but we found some great buys at Van Heusen and VF.

From there we headed to Des Moines.  We stopped at Jordan Creek and walked the mall.  Then we went over to Wal-Mart, Trader Joe's and Kirklands.  We decided to eat at Fuddrucker's.  Then we decided it was time to check in to our motel.  After a quick settling in, we headed over to the fairgrounds.  We did our typical first walk through to get the "lay of the land" and then left to go back to the motel for the night.  But before that we stopped off at the Village Inn for pie.  Janet had the chocolate peanut butter cup and I had triple berry.  Janet had a $5 gift card which we applied to our purchase.  Then we just cracked up because Janet couldn't grasp how I was splitting the remainder of the bill, plus tip.  It was pretty funny.  But you had to be there.  :)

Janet had a good night's sleep.  Mine was just so-so.  :(  We went back over to the craft show and bought a few fun things.  We saw our "friend" - one of the vendors.  We don't know her name, but a couple of years ago when we were on a moose hunt we got to talking with her and now we always look forward to seeing her and she always remembers us.  She's the one who told us about the Cranberry Festival and Craft Show in Warrens, WI.

We were done around noonish and headed home, but first a stop in Ankeny at the Wal-Mart so I could pick up a few grocery items.  We also had lunch at IHOP.  Got home around 2:45.  So that's it.  Not hugely exciting, but we're in the process of planning the future 2011 sister trips.  :)

TENNIS ELBOW!

I'm self-diagnosing here.  My right arm, especially the elbow area, has been hurting for a few weeks now.  I get shooting pains up and down my arm and have pain pretty much constantly.  I bought some Icy Hot today and happened to notice an elbow wrap for people who have tennis elbow.  Upon look up information on the internet, it can also be caused by using the computer keyboard and mouse.  I have had an addiction to computer solitaire for sometime and I think I've overdone it.  So now I have to really limit my time and hope my arm heals in time.

Today was such a beautiful day.  Let the slop begin.  I can endure the mud and yuck because the temps are warmer and the snow will melt.  I know winter isn't over, but maybe - just maybe - Punxatony Phil was right.  A girl can hope....

This morning I drove to Cedar Falls to go to Wal-Mart and had a bad experience there.  Boo!  If it weren't so inexpensive to shop there I think I'd quit.  Oh well.  Then I stopped by Jimmy Johns and brought sandwiches home for Mike's and my lunch.  He had been at a meeting at the church from 9:00 to noon.  I got home at 12:30.  Then at 2:00 I went over to the church for the ladies' Valentine Tea.  That was a nice time.  Came home and at 4:00 Mike and I took Rowdy and went for a walk on the snow-covered trail.  Walked for about 45 minutes.  Poor Rowdy was a mess by the time we got back so we dumped him in the sink and gave him a much needed bath.

Decided to have breakfast for dinner.  Mike doesn't like breakfast for dinner, but I was in the mood for waffles.  Since I'm the chief cook, I decided.  :)  I also fixed eggs and little smokies.  We watched an episode of the Gaither's and now I'm watching The Wizard of Oz while texting with Ben.  Dorothy is in Munchkinland right now.  Got to be careful of my tennis elbow though.  Mike is resting his back.

Tomorrow is the last day of the weekend.  So sad that it goes by so quickly.  Hoping to go for another walk tomorrow afternoon, but Rowdy doesn't get to go.  I don't want to bathe him everytime.  Next week we have parent teacher conferences so I have to stay at school until 7:00 on Tuesday and Thursday, BUT I get Friday off!  Yeah!!