New Age Shopping

While in Minneapolis visiting Ali and Mike I stepped into a ladies clothing boutique. Who needs a box of crayons for children or a book- this store knows how to keep kids happy. Ethan, when are you coming shopping?

We're Back!

After taking a creative hiatus, Champion Chores is back at it!  Good to be Back....

San Diego

The week after I returned from West Palm  Beach I joined Jim in San Diego for a Rose Hulman board trip.  Every year the Rose Hulman board has a meeting in a location where other board members live.  This way members don't have to always travel (and the people from Terre Haute get out of town for a week)

This year was San Diego!  I had gone to a nurse practitioner conference many years ago there, but did not have a chance to see the city.  Our first day there, Jim had some extra time so we took a fairy over to Coronado Island and rented bikes to tour the island.

We met a friend on the ferry.

The weather in San Diego was a little colder than we expected.  This became problematic for Jim on his bike ride.  He needed a jacket and needed one quickly.  Most of our ride was spent looking for a jacket for Jim.  Found one!

After our bike ride, Jim decided he needed a hair cut.  Jim struggles to find time to schedule a hair cut at home.  When he wants one--he wants it then.  Enter iPhone-and Google good hair places in San Diego.

Jim waiting on his hair cut (love those white socks).  Who says Hoosiers are tacky dressers!

Saturday Jim attended meetings and I headed for the coast line.  I started with a yoga class in La Jolla.  I had planned to drive up the coast and check out some different towns, but when I got to La Jolla, I couldn't imagine a more beautiful place- so I stayed there all day.

Here's my yoga studio- Namaste.....

Just your average view on a walk......

 This boat sculpture is on the side of the modern art museum in La Jolla.  I wasn't suppose to take pictures, but this just couldn't be passed up.  Wouldn't a small one of these be perfect in my back yard?

 After Jim finished his meeting, the board and their guests headed out to the San Diego Bay for a boat ride.  It was a beautiful evening to capture the skyline.  The only problem with the boat- it was owned by Caterpillar (arch enemy of Cummins).  Jim said he was going to throw water in their fuel line as he left, but he was kidding (I think!)  Cummins doesn't compete with whatever Caterpillar division owned this boat, so we didn't have to resort to covert activity.

San Diego is a beautiful place I would recommend going to.  Just take a few jackets and make sure your hair is trimmed!

Life in the Slow Lane

Did I mention that I was retired?  Of course I did.  You might be wondering what I've been doing with all my spare time?

The day after I retired I left with my friends Tammy and Diane and headed to West Palm Beach.  Girl trips are so much fun.  Diane and I went for a manicure to 'Sippy's' on our first day.  You can purchase drink while you get a manicure.  So, when they told me champagne was half-off, I knew it was my lucky day!

If you look closely you can see my super sun screen which makes me looks like an old ghost.  Not a fabulous look.  But the champagne was perfect.  I always toast my dad, John White- who also loved champagne and passed this trait on to me.  

West Palm Beach has fabulous restaurants.  Here's a meal we shared at 'Too Bizarre'.  Compare the first and second photos.  We planned to have leftovers the next day.

Diane and Tammy have their black belt in shopping.  I learned so much, but didn't buy much.  I was just a trainee.  I did buy Anne these back to work after baby shoes.  I think I may be promoted to shopper-in-training from the Rookie league next year.  Can't wait! 

From Sou Chef to Engineer

When Ethan comes over on Wednesdays, he often helps me cook. He's my #1 Sou Chef. Yesterday we traded our cooking skills to mechanical skills. We attempted to put the double stroller together that has been in our garage all winter.








After about 20 minutes we moved all the parts to Jim's garage. We figured he would put it together since it was junking up his side of the garage. (I decided this...and Ethan agreed)

Hope to post the finished product soon!

Did you mention retirement?

My work has been slow and never taken off as I wished it had. My Mom needs more coordination in her health care. Morgan was born. Ethan is a toddler. Baby Trueblood is arriving in June. Many people I work with are losing their jobs and no one knew what to do with me.

How are all these related? Pick Two reasons-- and retire!!

Most of you know I got my first real job when I was 16 at the Dutch Pantry Family Restaurant. I was so excited to be hired as a waitress. There was one small problem- the pay was 1/2 minimum wage and I was worried my parents wouldn't let me work while I was in school for $0.99/ hour. (Apple doesn't even have a cents sign on their keyboard) So, I just didn't tell them what I was going to earn. I was assured I would make over minimum wage in my large tips generated from serving coffee and frozen foods warmed up in a steam table.

Now move ahead 41 years...8 jobs, 2 children, 10 apts/homes, 1 husband, 3 dogs, 2 granddogs, 2 grandchildren and 1 on the way.

RETIREMENT is my next adventure. Some of you who have known me well might have heard this before. This times things are a little different. (see first paragraph).

I'm excited about my new adventure and to be surrounded by such a wonderful family who gives me joy beyond what I can express.

When the Cat's away...the Mice are lost!!

We have an ice maker...a really nice ice maker. It makes little cubes of ice which stay fresh due to a process where the ice doesn't freeze, they just get born-then melt!

You'd think my life would be complete---except the door to the ice maker has some issues. The problem is the door doesn't close completely at times  It just stays open about a half inch.  When this happens, Jim gets a screwdriver and does something. 

Jim left for the UK yesterday and won't be home for a week. That's a long time to leave a freezer door open.  Since I have no idea how to fix the door, I string arted it!  This looks just like the string art project I did in 7th grade (imagine colored string-smaller scale)

I'm thinking about stringing some other parts of the house!!