Cash for Clunker Appliances

We got in on the Cash for Clunker Appliances program! We just bought a dishwasher (thanks income tax refund) and will get another $100 for doing so. Not a bad gig, right?

I have no idea how old this dishwasher is that was in this house when I bought it 15 years ago, but it is old and loud. Since we are painting our kitchen and putting in a new floor, I was advised that if I was thinking about replacing my dishwasher, now is the time...before the floor goes in. So, ok, twist my arm for a new dishwasher.

Consumer reports says that Kenmore was rated the best for the money, and that's good enough for me. We get it installed the day after we return from Las Vegas. See, I already won!

The program started on Friday, and by Monday all the money was "reserved." I found out that you had to go in and reserve your rebate online before you buy, then you have 72 hours to buy. Who knew? Who came up with that plan?

I was allowed to go on a wait list, and today I got an email saying money was available. I knew all those people wouldn't really buy one. Today there is $113,755.00 available (where did that number come from if the rebates are $100?). Get this, $1,917,650.00 has been used (did someone qualify for a half a rebate?). Go figure!

There is money for refrigerators, washers and water heaters also. Just in case you are in the market for any of those.

Only another woman would understand when I say....Whoo hoo...I am excited about my new dishwasher!!

God has a sense of humor!

After all that blogging (and whining and crying) about the "unbelievable" experience of our Las Vegas flight being actually canceled only three months ago, here we go again. No, not another flight canceled (at least we sure hope not!), but another chance to go to Las Vegas.

Ed needs to go to a National Broadcasters Association (NAB) conference that is held in Las Vegas. If I take some vacation time, and pay my own way, I could go too...ummm....let me think about this...ok, I will do it!

Here is just one example of how much God loves us. He canceled that flight in January, knowing we would be going in April (and geesh, who needs to go to Las Vegas twice in one year?). And he provided free flight and hotel for four nights for Ed. Thereby saving us some money! Isn't he a great God?

I only wish the friends that we were to meet there in January (who made the trip on a different flight) could go again. I will miss them.

Can you believe that we are going to Las Vegas (again)? Now let's all pray that God does not find it funny to have another flight cancellation...or I will surely die! Not really, but I will surely something!!

The question to ponder is...what do you think our odds are of getting there this time?

Goodbye Thunderbird!

It's been nice, but you are not fun to be with anymore. I love your Mozilla counterpart, but you don't seem to work as well. I love your logo, and it compliments your counterpart so well, but it is not enough.

I am tired of your "loading message" message that lasts forever whenever I get an email with images. When I try to close you in order you (in order to restart and get my messages loaded), you tell me you are already running and I have no evidence of that anywhere on my screen. As a result I am forced to restart the whole computer, just to get you back up and running. Also, I get my messages on my phone long before you give them to me.

You and I just not working out together, and since I am in control of what programs I will use, I am afraid you have lost the battle for the last time. We have fought with you several times and I do not see the point in going on with this tumultuous relationship any longer.

The only thing worse than fighting with you is going back to the Microsoft email program, but I must. So it's curtains for you until you can prove yourself worthy once again.

Goodbye Thunderbird, this is the last time (still love your logo).

Where did the time go?

Here it is Friday already!!! I was going to do so much this week. I had great plans. What happened?

I'll tell you what happened....I slept!

I did manage to get out every day though. (No I didn't drive - I obey the rules) Ummm let's see, Best Buy (we bought a Wii), Kroger for food, Costco more food and a Wii Fit Plus, JC Pennys (much needed black shoes). I made my weekly team meeting (oh yea about those rules...don't tell HR). Did I mention that I have a great team? And I even made my small group meeting! Did I mention that I love my small group?

I even went on a couple of walks. The weather is so beautiful I just couldn't stay in. Shelby was lovin' it too. I started a new book too (thanks Anita).

But that still did not get all the work done in the house I wanted to do. You would think that being here 24/7 I could have done something. My wonderful husband even got the laundry done for me. Did I mention that I have the best husband in the whole wide world?

You know after writing all this I do feel better. I don't feel like such the loser I felt when I started this blog. And I still have a couple more days! Gee thanks dear blog. You have lifted my spirits.

I woke up!!!!

I have to blog about this, this is what blogging is all about. The most bizzare thing happened to me during my operation.

I woke up during surgery!!

It was the most unbelievable feeling. No, this wasn't for real, was it? Was this really happening? No one seemed to care but me...and I was scared. I thought that I woke up last year, but recounting the events I knew I couldn't have. But this time it was for real, I know for a fact I did.

I could hear Dr. Krug's voice "tension...tension 10...suture." I could feel pressure on my face and my eye. There was another male and female voice on my left with the doctor. I moved my hand and someone on my right gave me their hand and I squeezed it. All I wanted to do was go back out...please put me back out. But they didn't hear me for I was only crying on the inside. It felt like 10-15 minutes passed. I just knew I couldn't move.

Krug then started to address me! "You are doing good...you will feel a slight pinch...ready to close (well maybe that wasn't addressed to me)." Noooooo, don't talk to me...I don't want to be here...I don't want to really hear you now! The next thing I felt was ripping off of all the covering that was on my face. Then he put a patch on and taped it down. I couldn't believe what was happening! It didn't really hurt, but I could feel it!

After recovery Ed asked how I was feeling and the surreal and scared feeling was still with me. I said "I can't talk about it now" (because I knew I would cry more). It wasn't until we got home, that I tried to tell him what had happened, and yes, of course, I cried telling him the story.

All I can say now is...God is an awesome God! I will never understand how that all happens, but thank you. I don't think He minds that I was scared. I do know that He kept me calm so I wouldn't do anything stupid, and was certainly there with Dr. Krug! I am so loved!

Big day a comin'...

Here we go, under the knife again for more eye surgery. Last year a detached retina and scleral buckle (yes, a buckle on my eye), this year a vitrectomy operation. One day I Googled a scleral buckle in video form....nope couldn't watch it...still can't. It is too gruesome. Maybe some day. I am amazed that we have the technology to do such a thing, and I will leave it at that.

I'm not nervous, not sure why I'm not nervous. I guess because I have faith in this doctor (hey if he can put a buckle on your eye, he's got to be good). Dr. Stewart Krug is a man of little words, but I think big competency. Or is it faith that God loves me enough to get me through this with my sight? Speaking of competency! I am thinking the latter is true, without that the former is irrelevant.

My understanding is that this isn't even the end. I will then grow a cataract which will have to be removed too. As we all know that is a much more routine procedure.

Oh these eyes! Mine hardly seem worth it (I say that because my sight is so bad). But any sight should be better than none, right?

Let's look at this positively, maybe I will have more of a chance to blog! I know that makes the one person who reads this just ecstatic! I will blog as soon as I am allowed to do such things.

Forgive?

Dear Blog,

Ok, this isn't going so well. My posts are getting further and further apart. I should just close up shop and forget this idea. I was skeptical of a long lasting relationship with you right from the beginning.

You just sit there quietly, not saying anything, but beckoning me all the time. Sometimes when I see you I feel guilty that I have neglected you. Sometimes I promise....tomorrow. Sometimes I make up excuses why I won't sit down with you. Sometimes you make me angry because I can't even keep up with you.

Gee, who else does that sound like? Yes, you are in my thoughts, yes I want to spend more time with you, yes I know it is all up to me....and yes, I know I have dropped the ball again.

But if I ask for you to forgive all those things, you will. You will take me back. Your love for me never wanes. It is I who must step up to the plate. It is I who must turn and face this task. It is always in my court.

So my quesstion today is...God, will you please forgive me?