Christmas Countdown Monday PWYC

[Twins' Mom]

We're counting down to Christmas on Thursday. Do you have lots to get done today? Or are you coasting, or maybe somewhere in between? While we're counting our successes along the way, remember to leave some relaxing time for you and the family. We all need it right now!

[CathyS]

Hi Twins' Mom! Thank you for opening the village this morning!

It's cold but the sun is out! I'll take it.

I would like to be able to sit and relax for a few days. There is one load of laundry that needs to be put away. Right now only 1 cat box needs to be cleaned. There is the roasting pan to clean as well as the large platter I served last night's supper on.

This morning I topped up the vegetable oil bottle that lives beside the stove and the dish soap bottle that lives beside the sink.

I have 2 gifts in my trunk to be delivered this morning. I will be going to the library to see if anyone else shows up. This afternoon I will be doing some final (fingers crossed) shopping for food. Dh says he has some running around to do.

We are having leftover pork tonight. I will make a package of mashed potatoes to go with the pork and gravy. Gravy and mashed potatoes just seem to need each other, don't they?

[Twins' Mom]

I woke up this a.m. wondering why I had set my alarm, then realized I don't get a do-over on Sunday's doings, but it's Monday already. I need to go out for workout this afternoon and go by the temple. I'm not sure what we'll do for our supper yet. Right now I'm feeling like I might not need to eat again ever.

I was sneezing during the night and now am sneezing and sniffily. I've had two false alarms for colds, or perhaps very mild colds in the last six weeks. Not sure what is going on but I certainly was around a lot of people in close quarters yesterday.

And I slept restlessly. My hips ache sleeping on my side...looking forward to seeing massage therapist tomorrow. Standing so long yesterday left my back and glutes sore too. I need R & R! I do have a slight break - nothing today but workout, nothing tomorrow but body work, then out for lunch on Wednesday and on Wednesday evening, and on Thursday evening.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Hanukkah party last night - so many of our mutual Jewish friends and so much good food. I didn't talk to everyone but did have a good chat with several. Spent some time with this couple's adult children, who are contemporaries of my kids. Ds was in their son's wedding; had a great conversation with the oldest dd who is working on their genealogy right now.

Dh has made an appointment for his shoulder this a.m. at a place for "sports medicine." It's intended as a walk-in for sports injuries and the kind of injuries that aren't ER level but are issues that a general urgent care clinic won't have resources for. He's hoping a steroid injection will do the trick. Should has been hurting on a much lower level for awhile but the batter stirring last Friday seems to have done it in. I hope I can beg off on going - perhaps the fact that I'm sneezing and sniffling could be the ticket? If I hadn't been out so much yesterday at his request I'd be more inclined to go.

I would like to be able to sit and relax for a few days. Echoing Cathy this a.m.

[Lady Maverick]

Good morning

I’m loving the slower pace that Christmas break has brought. All the school alarms are off, and there’s no need to be out the door by 7:30 a.m. on Monday. And I’m not rushing back home to dive straight into homeschooling. It feels like pure time luxury to skip those routines.

Lately, I’ve found it helpful to highlight the hours of the day when I’m out of the house. It was a bit surprising to realize just how many hours I actually get to spend at home. Instead of focusing when I will be out of the house and getting that overwhelmed feeling, now I am realizing the majority of my hours are spent at home. Seeing the gone/home hours visually has made my introverted, homebody-loving self realize that the time I spend out of the house is far less than I had imagined.

We finished replacing DD14’s bed yesterday once the new box spring arrived. One of the perks of having teenage boys around is how quickly and effortlessly they can move furniture. I’d love for DD14 to switch to the bigger, unused bedroom, which was originally the master bedroom and has a walk-in closet, an attached private bathroom, and more space than her current bedroom. However, she’s not interested in switching spaces, so I’m just going to let it be.

Now that DD14 is over her bug/germ/virus/whatever sickness, I am going to try corralling the three teenagers for a trip to the city for some Christmas shopping today. My plan is to kind of nudge them into picking out their own gifts, which should help avoid the usual “I don’t want anything” response when I ask for their Christmas wish list. Will it work? >>>>shrugging shoulders<<<<

[Nancy]

Was up in the nite went back to bed up at 8:00.
I did dust my bedroom before going back to bed.
Small smokey out today here.
Sun is peeking through some fog we have today.

Begging off yd. work today.
Inside stuff needs attn.

Working on my D's
Dinner I have a plan beef today.
Duds are current
Dishes are done
Dusting in bedroom happened & under the bed too!
Dumped trash
Did some journaling.

[Twins' Mom]

If I show up at my workout sniveling like this trainer is not going to be happy, but the last two hours have seen little improvement, despite taking cold meds. I wouldn't mind having the afternoon off but OTOH I'm not working out again until next Monday, and then not until the following Monday. But right now my nasal passages are not good.

I've finished another card, still have a birthday card to do, and I'm having a great time despite stopping to blow my nose. Wonder when dh will be home from his appointment, and what they'll do?

[CathyS]

Got both tins of goodies delivered before noon. Also got a reservation made at Chinese food place for noon tomorrow. We won't need supper tomorrow night, but we have cheese, pickled things (pickles and beets ) and fancy crackers and sliced meats.

Dh has actually gone out. Now I'm ready to get going and do some other errands, like the bank and groceries.

[blessedw2]

good morning! I am a little to a lot frustrated at people today. dh over silly things - he wants to take the pillow I threw out to the cleaners - it's ready for the trash and he took it out - he is starting to get into my space to get rid of things or put things away that I use every day. - he just does it. Also at others bc I feel I have to step in for mom to keep her busy. I didn't plan well for it.i lost time for christmas bc of us being sick and I am trying to come up with things to cook for Christmas Day. I think I have a plan.


- I can see I am just complaining and I need to turn it around. I am a little overwhelmed on where to start first. So I am just going to start! being sick took me off track of the holidays and cleaning. I have to admit I am annoying myself

putting one foot in front of the other:

what needs to be done the most:
family room
bring the christmas presents and separate them into Christmas Eve with larger family, Christmas Eve with pj's us, christmas morning and Christmas Day
cooking
I do have to get larger family dog present exchange wrapped.

be grateful.

[blessedw2]

hello d everyone

hi d twins sorry you have a cold! glad that you are feeling an improvement! hoping you feel better fast! praying you sleep better tonight!
yay on another card!
hope your dh's appointment goes well!

hi d Nancy hope you can rest tonight!
yay on your d work

hi d lady good morning glad you have a slower week for holidays

Instead of focusing when I will be out of the house and getting that overwhelmed feeling, now I am realizing the majority of my hours are spent at home. Seeing the gone/home hours visually has made my introverted, homebody-loving self realize that the time I spend out of the house is far less than I had imagined.

I think this is a brilliant observation - it will really help me. I am already worrying about being out of the house Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday bc I am overthinking what I am supposed to bring etc. This was brilliant for me to see! thank you!

hope you have fun holiday shopping!
hope they are wanting to go and enjoy the moment!

hi d cathy I hope you get that opportunity to set and relax!
hope your day is lovely!

hello d everyone! I am sorry I haven't been able to read everyone's posts!

[MysteryWoman]

Hey, all!

Earlier this morning, I was mentally running around like a chicken with its head cut off and physically a lump. I'm doing better since taking my meds. Got stew going in the crockpot. We are out of bay leaves. Once I have had a little sit down, I will go cut some sprigs of rosemary and thyme, which have stood up to the cold and snow so far, and put those in in hopes that they will compensate. Hmm... maybe just thyme. Rosemary for sure if it were lamb, but I'm not so sure with beef.

Presents are making me crazy. I don't feel I have enough for DD. She didn't want much, and much of what she asked for is needs, not wants. She asked for a bike, but I have a good one in the garage that I never use that we can take to the local shop and have refurbished. She is getting a new phone, which should justify having a little less under the tree, but I'm not sure she'll like the one I got -- it's not the one I was originally intending to get. (We get our phones used; we don't use a carrier that has contracts for such.) I'll see if I can pull DH aside when he gets home and see if he has any ideas.I may get her new headphones, which she asked for; I'm hesitant, though, for two reasons: 1) the headphones she has are electronically fine -- the only thing wrong with them is that the cushions are deteriorating, and long gone are the days when you could get replacement cushions; and 2) I have no idea what new headphones are equivalent. But I wouldn't have to order them -- I could pick them up from the store, and I wouldn't have to worry about them not getting here for Christmas. I'm getting all in my head over this. I have no idea what to get my best friend at all. The best idea I have is to have our next pedicures be my treat. I think I've gotten her all the quilting supplies that someone as ignorant of quilting -- and of what she already has -- as I am can.

Our houseguest is over at the house of the friend who picked her up at the station. To the best of my knowledge, she will come back and stay here tonight; tomorrow night, the friend will take her back to the station. One of the reasons for the stew is my uncertainty as to how many we'll have for dinner. That and I'm getting to the end of this batch of menus. We may need to get groceries the day after Christmas! Better, I suppose, than the day before.

Sorry for all my thinking out loud, as it were.

"Bowling shoulder" sounds a little more apropos for the sports medicine clinic than "latke shoulder" does, I think, Twins! Glad you enjoyed the party -- sorry you are feeling less than up to par.

Your day sounds mundane in the best way, Cathy.

Your Christmas shopping plan sounds like a good idea, LadyM. Maybe I should have done the same.

Sounds like you're humming along, Nancy!

I hate to say it, but I'm glad to have some company in being a little overwhelmed, blessed. Of course, you have much better reasons what with folks being under the weather and having to take care of your mom.

Lunch and exercise up next, and then, I think laundry. Have a great day, everybody!