Random Stein News/Schweitzer Girls Rule

Todd has been working 18-hr days to open Stein's. He usually works there until 5 am, then drives home, gets some sleep, and leaves again at 10 am. I am feeling quite useless. I can't even help paint or clean tomorrow with the rest of the crew because 1) we don't want to expose the baby to any paint or cleaning fumes 2) my ankles will swell up to the size of watermelons. He is way stressed out, frantically trying to get everything done before the grand opening. I guess the phone has been ringing off the hook with former customers wanting to either work there or know what is going on. A stressful time, but a good stress, he says.

I survived my trip to KC. I must say, Schweitzer girls rule! H and I were both born with keen senses of direction. We are both very good navigators. This is the 4th time I have been to the Westin Crown Center KC with Sean and Matthew for a CENRAP meeting. The previous 3 times I sat in the back and we got lost on the way there, lost on the way back, and lost in the parking garage. This time, the I-35 bridge over the river was closed, so I sat in the front seat and navigated. I must pat myself of the back. We drove straight to the hotel and got a spot right next to the entrance to the lobby. On the way back we even had to take a different route, and I got us directly to I-35. The men were appreciative, but sheepish. Catharine, Pete, and Chad all drove separately and ended up in Kansas. Good for me! Pat, pat.

The meeting was not as helpful as I expected, but I did schmooze with some big wigs and eat two fancy meals. Mom says anywhere that puts squiqqles (fancy sauce drizzles) on your plate is fancy. The first place put a fresh orchid blossom on my steak! I went over my food allowance, but I consider it an investment in my future. You never know who you might meet. The first night we ate with Pete, who is a my former bureau chief and a big mucky-muck at MidAmerican Energy (cost $48 just for me) and the second night I sat next to the chairwoman of the North Carolina Environmental Protection Commission (cost $38 just for me). A little over budget, since we only get $40 a day for all three meals!

I am cropping tonight, and I cropped last night too. My new setup upstairs works pretty well. I am trying to finish up several pages to enter at the State Fair. I have about 6 possibilities and can't decide. Tomorrow morning I am taking Heather's, Jen's, and my entries out to the fairgrounds. Might as well dehead the roses while I am out there... only 7 hours left to go for Master Gardening. Last night I was picking cucumbers at home, and I screamed! I thought I saw a rat in the cucumbers, but it was a baby bunny. He was so cute that I forgave his parents for chewing the blossoms off my daisies.

I am still feeling good, just tired. He is really growing, and that darn baby keeps sending me messages to give him junk food. I try to resist but ... don't worry, my blood sugar is good.

I need to call my mom and catch up on the news. I hope my dad had a good week at work. He works third shift and rides with another man from Aurora. Last Thursday night they had a flat tire on the truck, Saturday the brakes went out of the truck, and sometime this week they hit a deer with Harlan's car. Heather had to drive them home from work one morning at 6 am. Poor H.

That's the news for now. I should get a lot done around the house since Todd will be in Newton all weekend.