Last Wednesday of March

[blessedw2]

So cool d harriet that your dh's grandfather was a member of the house band - also so neat that your d gr grandmother could listen to the Opry on the radio - sounds like her d son christened the bringing in of electricity to the home getting sick on the pole.
have a great day

hi d nancy
wonderful that you got that planning done! Waving to you too! wishing a great day without sore muscles! .

hi d kathryn waving to you too - hoping your tiredness lifts and you start to feel energetic.

physical therapy is no longer needed (hopefully ) I have been working on shoulder with exercises the er dr. gave me and they have helped tremendously. I have an appointment in 2 weeks but if my should is still in good shape I don't have to go.
walked on treadmill

exercised the d dogs.

[LadyMaverick]

I have an unexpected free time. And I am all alone! **swoon**
DS9 asked if he could go with DH to town. Normally I would veto that idea but it has been a hard mental morning for DS9 and I think a break will be good for him (and me). DS9 is working on multiplying 3 positions x 3 positions (aka 879x348=?) and it is taxing his brain to do the multiplication while keeping everything lined up in neat columns so he can add the three lines together. It takes us about 10 minutes to work through ONE problem together. He worked hard this morning during the hour of math and kept a good attitude through most of it. I know it isn't easy to keep a good attitude and not become frustrated when you are learning something that seems overwhelming. I am proud of him. Once we get past math it feels like the hard part of the day is over. All the other subjects are not such a huge challenge to do.

This is one reason that online public school would be a big failure for DS9. They have the same curriculum and schedule that brick-n-mortar public school has. They teach a new concept and then move on to the next one whether all of the children have learned it or not. The majority of the children learn it that quickly but there are a few that don't learn at that speed. DS9 is one of those who learns just fine but not at the firehose speed. We work on learning a concept until he grasp it and then we practice it until it is doable. I love that DS9 is excited about learning. I don't want that love of learning crushed because he isn't meeting a public school schedule. He will get there at his own pace with minimum stress.

If I could turn the clock back one of my biggest regrets is not realizing how much DGS22 struggled in school when he was 9 years old. That was the year that DD left them and they were devastated. I will never know if that is the reason DGS22 shut down in learning because he was devastated or if he learns at a different pace like DS9. I just know DGS22 gave up learning at school and shut his brain down. He spent the next 5 years being put all kinds of programs which didn't work for him and then he quit school totally. I wish I could turn the clock back and give DGS22 a different school experience. Public school totally failed him…..and so did I.

I've been on the phone 3 times with DMom this morning. Mostly listening while she talks….and talks….and talks. Her memory is getting worse but she can still manage day-to-day things okay. It is vital to write things down if you want her to remember it correctly. We can have a 5-minute conversation discussing details of an upcoming event and then the next day she will declare you never told her about it. Yes. Ma'am.

My schedule for today = (although it is rarely followed perfectly. My goal is to hit 80% of it)
6:30 Do the 12 tools
7:30 FoF Call & Breakfast
7:45 Bible
8:00 Math
9:00 English
10:00 Reading
11:00 History/science
Noon - lunch
1:00 PE
2:00 Life Skills
3:30 pick up M from school
4:00 Cook for the church family
6:00 FoF Call
6:30 Dinner served
7:00 Worship
8:30 4 G's

[Lilac]

Harriet, that is neat that HRH's grandfather was a member of the Opry house band.

My dh is a country music purist also. He does not like the new pop country music at all. He always comments that his dad would hate to hear this music. The funniest story about dh's dad and dsisters. Dh's dad loved Merle Haggard and had a cassette that was played continually in his car. One day the sisters were taking him to an out of town dr. appt. After they had heard that same album for the umpteenth time, dsis2 asked to change it. Dfil was having none of that, so dsis2 punched the button to eject the cassette, opened the car window and tossed it out. Dh and I have always laughed and said that we would have loved to be a fly in the car to watch that happen and see the expressions on their faces as it did. So after that dfil insisted that he wanted to buy a new cd of that same album and it was purchased soon after.

It looks like dh will be installing the hot water heater. They called with the price today and all they have in stock is 6 year warrantied hot water heaters. We want a 9 year one. So he is buying one today. We will have one of the dsils help get the new one downstairs and the old one out.

We ordered a hand rail to attach to the brick exterior of the house from A-river. It should be delivered today. There are only 2 steps up to the 8 x 12 foot landing in front of our door. Dm always struggles with it. After dh's ankle was broke and he had to have surgery, when dd1 and I brought him home later that day, dd1 was helping him and he went down. We had a terrible time getting him up and in the house. At the time I told him when he was back on his feet, we needed to get a hand rail, that would have been a big help that day. The entry to our house is a 12 x 24 ft. covered area and it has ceramic tile. Which is pretty but when it is icy or wet, it is treacherous to say the least. This will be a safer way to navigate those steps when icy or wet.

My dm's every other year extended family reunion will be in Branson next year. Dd2 and her family vacation there every other year. This is their year to do that but because of the reunion next year, they have decided to do something else this year.

Guess I better hit the shower. I have a bunch of errands to run.

[Lilac]

LadyM, you are much too hard on yourself. I can remember when your dd was with her first dh. You would have the boys, it almost seems like weekly for overnight visits and did all kinds of things with them. More importantly, you were and are a very loving, devoted and hands on grandma, then and now.

I understand any regrets you have, I have them too with dgs almost 24. He has Asperger's that was undiagnosed until he was a 7th grader. Even then, it was an unofficial diagnosis and dgs does not self identify as having Asperger's. Dd1 and dsil had taken him to a specialist in Denver when he was younger and he was diagnosed with something that I can't remember but it basically meant small motor skill development. So looking back, I think we just dealt with that. I know dd1 has deep regrets that she didn't explore more options, but there is no changing that now.

[LadyMaverick]

Lilac - Thanks for the kind words and reminder. I did the best I could at the time. Good or bad there is no turning the clock back.

I used this alone time to plan Easter menu and send out invites. I set up a group message for "Our Tree Branch" and let everyone know the meal time and menu plans. I don't ask for RSVP but will just fix enough food as if all are showing up. We like eating leftovers so it will be fine either way.

I miss Dee posting regularly. JS.

[blessedw2]

sat and sat and sat and sat (to infinity)

Did figure out what concerts we would be interested in. wrote d in laws of which ones we can go to. Put the sheet away to what I should handle in April.

spoke to d (not so d) mom as dd younger texted me that she has been awful to her - I didn't say anything about dd but just let her talk. mom has no idea that she is being jerky but dd younger said if she continues she will put a boundary up for her. mom has no idea she can be when she feels frustrated - I have gone through this before with elder or ill persons care - fear sends them into protection mode and can't see/listen/understand - it's about her and I get that. It is hard for her beyond her comfort zone even if people are trying to be kind. I hope I helped release some of that frustration so that she feels better and not so on top everyone.

lunch eaten
dh cleaned his dishes and the recycling (so nice)
now to be an adult.
15 minutes instead of 10 on round robin - basement - much needed put away, vacuumed stairs to basement

[DeeClutter]

Well, one step accomplished at the least. I'm on my 'new' computer and got to this site with no trouble. DD still has to remove several things from here and I have to figure out how to make it truly mine. I'm missing posting regularly for sure and being to be caught up on everybody.

DD has gone to get her hair done. Then she has to go to Tampa to pick her dmil who was taken to Tampa General last night. Not sure what will happen after she's home. Dsonil is in a quandary as to what he should do. DD told him "Nothing" right now. It's no doubt that something WILL happen (as it will for any of us) -just don't know the time. Who does? Meantime he does need to have a job (which he has right now and it happens to be up north). DD will be ready to strangle him if he decides to quit and come back to FL.

My dh has been up north since late Monday afternoon. He's been shopping for 2 days and spent way more than I ever figured he would on groceries/supplies. Dsonil will probably move in with him for a month or so. I'm dreading facing that RV when I go north the end of May. It would be bad enough with just dh baching it there, but 2 of them?!?!? DD and dsonil are trying to get a permanent spot for their motorhome. There is one available, but on the other side of the ponds and they really want to be on the west side nearer all of us.

Going to quit for now. Mainly wanted to try this out.

[Harmony]

Dee, I see your light on. How are you doing? Oh there you are. Glad you're back.

Just dailies done so far and a whole bunch of desk chores. Last Wednesday (thanks Lilac) and last of the third month (almost) which means first quarter about done. I did all my month end projects and quarter reports. Taxes and everything in good order. I was in the middle of stuff when DH wanted to use computer and I had to put him off. I was having trouble balancing stuff...but all figured out now. My unemployment doesn't print out as well on this new computer. 1 thing I've found that was better on the old XP. But it's done now.

Been wondering, when I don't have to do this work any longer, what will I do with all the extra time. It doesn't bother me to think about that (like it does DH) but just curious. I don't want to clutter up all my days with busy-work running around... and I sure hope the feeling goes away that sitting around in front of DH makes me look lazy.

(LadyM) remember, we all do the best we know how at the time... you did what you knew to do with DGS, which was probably way more than other grandparents usually do. Also, he never asked for help or I'm sure you would have given it.

I've been rearranging stuff in my kitchen. I bought an 80-piece set of that green plasticware that's supposed to make veggies and baked goods last longer (De bbie M yers). So 40 containers and 40 lids are coming any time now and I need a place to put it. Finally managed to clear a cabinet shelf. Hopefully I'll not have to throw out any salad or veggies again. Has anybody here used this stuff? I never wanted to buy her plastic bags because they're not so reusable, but with this I can rinse and reuse.

[CathyS]

Hi!

Woke up to another ant invasion on the counter this morning. I saw that there was a new container of Lysol wipes on the island, so dh must have dealt with some before he went to work. It's like the rats and mice outside. Dh killed 3 rats yesterday. We are both fed up with the uninvited critters. The rats are eating the bird seed that the birds are spilling from the feeders, but dh doesn't want to stop feeding the birds. The ants show up on the nights I don't get the counter completely cleared.

While I was reading about the Opry stuff, I was listening to opera in German and it was very loud. I can listen to country, and I recognize some names and voices, but I couldn't point to a map and show you where Nashville is.

Tonight we are going out for Italian and it is a buffet with bottomless pasta from the kitchen. Dh loves the penne and he takes the opportunity to have mushrooms and hot Italian sausage. He mentioned craving pizza last night even though we had pizza last Friday night. He also wants a hamburger, so we have scheduled fries and burgers for this Saturday when he will do all the prep and the cooking while I go stitching.

[LadyMaverick]

DH and I made the decision to buy DS9 another green machine. It should arrive tomorrow. He has literally worn his current one out. We have replaced tires but there are other parts that are not easily found and replaced. After wearing out 2 sets of tires he is currently riding it on the tire rims! The tire rims are leaving strange marks all over the driveway that proves just how much he rides it. If he uses this new green machine as much as the old one, then it will be $$ well spent. I like toys that require physical activity and this one most definitely does.

Time alone is over. We are back to homeschooling