Up to now

Yesterday was a frustrating day. I tried to download the free trial of Paint Shop Pro and it was taking forever! After about 12 hours it was at 86% complete and then horror struck. I lost connection! Download aborted and I have not been able to get it going again. I guess the only way I am going to get it is to buy the CD from store. I hate DIAL UP!!! I am stuck with it. Nothing else is available here, at least not for me. Oh well. On to other news. Brook took her Green belt test last night. She now holds the rank of 7 KUB. I am so proud of her. The studio has a demo team. They go out to schools, churches, and other places and do demos of Tae Kwon Do. You have to be a green belt to try out. She is talking of trying out. It will require a lot of work if she makes the team. Part of the program she would not get to do and that is the trip they take overseas. I will not allow a 7 year old to be gone for 2 weeks by herself! I think for the most part it is only the adults that make the trip. Last night there was also a Black Belt Test. It was amazing! Mary is the first girl to achieve her black belt from this school. Everyone is so proud of her. She was great! Last month a young man took his test. I watched that also. her test was different. She had to do more kicks, throws, and blocks than he did. She also had to spar with someone. He had to break a concret block and she did not. She did have to break twice as many boards. I know it sounds like discrimation but he had to perform more tasks that required strenghth and she performed more that required agility. Get this, she broke 5 boards at one time! It is cold and wet and icy today. On our way home from the testing last night, my windsheild kept freezing over. Pretty scary. When I got home the gate was frozen shut. I had to take my gloves off to thaw it out so I could open it. Pat did not realize it was icing up until he saw me trying to get up the ramp. I did not realize the ramp was frozen either. He slide down and took Brook so she would not fall. I slide back down the ramp and went to the steps. He helped me up the steps. I then found the rock salt so he could ice the steps and deck. He then went and put Belle up in the barn. She need the shelter from this ice. This morning Pat was supposed to be at work at 6. He did not make it. I got up and there was so much clear ice and it was still coming down that I did not wakehim. I waited until 830 to even get him up. He did leave for work. He was not mad at me for it. His truck was encased in ice. He said the roads were not too bad here except over the bridges. He has to cross about 5 or 6 bridges to get to work. The news said that only about 2300 people are without power. They are all out because of 1 tree taking out lines. I went out to fill up the birdfeeder and suet holderand feed the horses this morning and froze! It is only 30 outside but because of the ice it feels so much colder. While I was filling up the feeders the horses saw me and came running from the back field. They were very much ready to eat! It is such a beautiful sight seeing them fly across the fields. It scared me because of the ice but I did enjoy seeing it. If you have never seen horses running with their head held high, wind blowing their manes back and seeing them kick their heels out of pure joy of just being able to do it, I feel sorry for you. I never cease to be amazed when I see it. Well that's it for now. I think I am gonna put something on for dinner. Not sure what so I need to go look in freezer.