Closing Out January

We're into the final week of January, and we'll be prepping for February.  At least, I will.  I'm guessing you will be, too.

The Good Stuff:
- I got everything done I went down to San Antonio to do -- initial service on the truck, hair cut, new glasses lenses installed (I love them!), and dinner with friends I haven't seen in a year and a half.
- We got approximately one-third of the back hedge pruned down to about four feet in height.  We could have easily gotten it all, but we had no place to put the trimmings.  We'll get the rest over the next couple of months in approximately two or three increments as trash pick up permits.  Yes, we have wonderful trash guys in Alamo Heights.

- I'm nearly finished with El Narco.  I'm not sure if I'll finish it before I leave on my trip, but I'm going to give it a try.
- I had no trouble driving the trailer up here, and it backs like a dream (but I wouldn't try threading it between two parked cars unless there were at least two spaces between them)
- The trailer is emptied from the trip up here, swept, and I'm putting my few things in it for the trip -- a cot, mattress, and a box of puzzles I'm bringing Mom, Dad, and Grandma.
- I'm gathering my emergency road kit just in case.  I hope I won't need it, but I'll have a couple of MREs, my sleeping bag, winter clothing, a few other snacks, and plenty of water on board.  That will be in the truck with me.  (The weather should be good all the way up, from what I can tell.)
- I plan on stopping just North of OKC the first night and near the MO-IA border the second night.
- I love road trips.
- I found hubby's great grandmother's quilt and am taking it with me, because Mom wants to make us a quilt and hubby would like a replica of this one (it's a Texas Star pattern in beautiful blue, pink, and white). I contacted Mom to see if she'd be able to take a break from moving long enough to get dimensions and pictures of this quilt to help her with the project, and she responded she'd LOVE to do anything other than moving for a little bit.  So, I think this will provide a nice break for them. (Yes, Tammy, you will be able to see it, too.)
- Weight has been coming down this week.  I hope this is a new trend.
- I have all the entries for 30 Days of Me scheduled.
- Changed downstairs air return filters (they're under my desk and get dirty really fast) 

The Not So Good Stuff:
- Um, I won't be able to go outside in short sleeved T-shirts for the next two weeks.  Well, at least, not comfortably.
- I accomplished nothing on Polar Bear on the Loose
- I probably won't accomplish anything on Polar Bear on the Loose for the next two weeks (but I'll have it with me "just in case."
- When I told Natasha this morning that I was going to be gone for two weeks, she growled at me.  When I assured her I would return, she growled at me.  I assured her Daddy would take good care of her.  She growled at me.  We're both a little worried how Natasha will handle me being away, but I think she'll be just fine.
- I forgot to wait for the held mail to get her, and I called Black and Decker about the shipping label for the lawn mower. She arranged to send another one, but the original was in the mail.  (insert sheepish look here) We trekked down to Rockdale and caught the UPS truck across the street from the shipping location and gave him the box.  We'll see what comes back.
- Hubby pulled a muscle in his upper left arm moving a heavy saw this week, and after a couple of days, you should see the bruising.  Impressive.  Lots of purple, turning to black, turning to yellow.  Poor puppy.
- As you can see, nothing really bad this week, and a lot of pretty good stuff

The Week Ahead:
- Drive to Wisconsin and arrive safely
- Help Mom and Dad move to their new house
- Spend some quality time with my sister -- maybe playing a board game
- I know I'll get a few games of Scrabble with my grandmother
- Develop a plan for the quilt Mom wants to make us, using hubby's great grandmother's quilt as a guide
- Work on my Sweet Spot maps in the evening on the drive up.
- I should have internet access to post as planned next week, assuming Verizon works in Wisconsin (not a given -- Wisconsin is strange, and the area outside of Madison has a lot of dead zones to major carriers, because a local provider (US Cellular) has the towers locked up and charges a fortune for roaming to major carriers)
- I'm going to miss my nutty kittens and my grouchy snugly cat
- After doing the 30 Days of Me thing, I'd like to develop a series of blog post prompts to help people keep going.  I may begin working on it over the next few months or so. (Note:  The Daily Meme may be useful.)