We have become quite close this past year and so. We have started eating lunch together most days and have gone out a few times after work on a more personal level, which has been fun. I don’t have a lot of friends here, I left all of my friends when I moved down here almost 7 years ago. It’s hard to make new friends when you are a mother and work full time, there isn’t a lot of time for me and my needs, so it works out well to have a good friend at work considering how much time we spend at work.

It was so cool to draw her name at out Christmas gift exchange this year since I knew what would really float her boat this year. So many times you get stuck with a name for someone you really don’t know or like and it can be tricky finding the perfect gift. I really hate just buying a generic gift for anyone, putting a little thought and consideration can go a long way when you buy a present for someone.

The only guy in the family that I know what they have their wish list is my son who has been looking at some electric bb guns for some time now and pestering the crap out of me to buy for him for either his birthday, which is in December, or as a Christmas gift. I’ve discussed it with his Dad and we have decided that now would be an all right time to get him such a thing. He is a good kid and pretty responsible, but I still get a bit anxious when I think of him with any type of gun, bb or not.

Since I am not what you would call a girly girl and enjoy getting my hands dirty I have had to learn how to clean myself up along with all the other messes that always seem to make where ever I go, sigh…..One thing that I have learned to try and stay away from is grease since it can be a real pain to deal with in so many areas. I love that WD-40 has come out with a No Mess Pen that you can carry in your purse or pocket. As you know trying to remove grease can be tricky.

Besides the weather issues, my brother has been waiting on some polaris ranger parts for his ATV, which is my favorite one to ride. But I hear that he finally found the right ones and that they are on their way. Hopefully it won’t take long for him to get it together again and up and running by next weekend because I don’t work next weekend and I’m more than ready for some fun times with good people.

Joan, the wife, tells me that they are having the same company come in and do the work as the Obama’s had do the playground area that got so much media attention at the White House. They (Rubberecycle) manufacture and offer a very economical and environmently friendly rubber granule product for mulch for landscaping and playgrounds that they make 100% from old rubber tires, which I think is a wonderful gesture for the environment. Anything that will help us become as GREEN as possible is all right in my book!

On the down side, and there is always a down side, this means that we will be hearing the noises from all of these kids and all of their noisy little friends along with all of their cousins and other family members that come a visiting. I can only hope that these kids take advantage of not having to get up so early for school and actually sleep in during their summer vacation days so that we will not be woken up at a crazy early hour all summer long.

There has been a big push to get families back to playing these old favorite board games, which I think is pretty cool. So many of use our now playing online games these days on our computers. There are tons of games available to play online and they certainly do come in handy in the fact that we can play them when we want and when we can. There is no need to try and talk anyone else into playing a game with you, which can be a challenge with everyone so busy in their lives and schedules. I personally like playing UNO and Spades online, but it will never take the place of a traditional board game being played with friends or family.