Until the lake freezes over

This a a photo of the big lake freezing over. A co-worker took it but I have to use it without permission because he doesn't know about my blog. It's cold here and we've had snow the past two days. Snow is pretty but it's not fun to shovel, which it looks like I may have to today in order to get out for work. Driving in snow isn't fun either, so I'm leaving for work early.

I've missed you all and sort of replaced my blogging habit :(
So here's a quick rundown of what's up in my world. I DO really hope to get the time to visit your blog soon and catch up on what's happening in YOUR world, too!

I've lost a total of 52 pounds and even people at work are noticing. The guys were the first to notice, or at least say anything about it! BZ and Favorite Co-worker haven't said a word, of course.

The lovely tax people did an audit on my 2004 tax return and are asking for a whole bunch of money (from all the penalties). I'm appealing but just sent in my last appeal yesterday. If I lose this one, I must either pay all of that money or they will garnish my wages.

Job is the same, in fact I have an annual review coming up that I am dreading. I do have to take ten days off before the end of the year or lose them. Now that would be stupid to lose my days off...

House is the same, still pretty much a demolition site in the basement. The woman helping me had a fire in her own house and needs to get it liveable by the end of the year or lose her homestead tax exemption for property tax. So things haven't been progressing, but that's OK I guess. So far I'm hanging on here and my son is working again down there and it looks like they will stay there.

And some crazy good, sort of, news..I'm going to be a grandma!!!!!
Remember how my son broke up with his girlfriend? Well turns out that in late October she found out that she was pregnant, very pregnant. And they had wondered why she kept gaining weight all those past months! So anyway, they are back together since finding out they are going to be parents. I had a weird mix of emotions over it: excited to be a "nana" at first, then sad for my son who had broken up with her because he liked another girl and wanted to date her.

The kids were in denial over it and she has not even gone to the doctor even yet. So I was worried about them and felt I needed to jump-start their responsibility towards this new life, so I went shopping in thrift stores and got a whole bunch of baby things and clothing. Had a day off the Wednesday before Thanksgiving so I washed up all the baby stuff, cooked a bunch of food. Thursday I spent with my Mom but on Friday I went to see the kids with the jeep loaded down with good stuff. It was fun to look at the little bitty baby things! The tiny little socks really got to me, and the bunting, and the onesies--everything so cute and so tiny. The kids reacted in the same way as I did, with lots of awwwwwws and oooooohs.

Her due date (they think, she just had an ultrasound which cost my son $130 and couldn't even tell if the baby is a boy or a girl, no doctor has examined her yet) is December 11th. Soon, very very soon. And another weird thing about it is that my neighbors are also having their first child and I've watched her grow larger all summer and fall--her due date is December 9th. Little did I know that I would have a grandchild about that time, too! Life is so strange. Especially this year. How has your year been so far?