Thursday Thievery

[helia]

I'm wondering what you are going to steal for yourself today? --A quiet moment alone? --An orderly room away from the chaos monster? --Some time for a project or activity from another of lower priority? I'm hoping to steal some calmness and joy from the growing tide of stress inside me as this week is becoming increasingly a source of distress with so many commitments outside the home each day - and departure for travels looming in 2 days.

Dh is catching an earlier flight home so will be here sometime this afternoon/evening, which is good.

My day:
- start a.m. routine
- pick up coffee for brunch
- moms group - Valentine's Day brunch today
- Target for Valentine's Day treats for all
- home from 1:30 (hoping) until 6:15; hope to steal some order from the chaos monster as well as time to make some phone calls
- one more run: will need to pick up dd15 from rehearsal at 3:10
- dd15's orchestra concert 7:00 - 9:30 - or so? It is a city-wide concert.

I gassed the van last night so I'm glad that is done.

I'm off to s2s; need to leave in 30 minutes!!

[DeeClutter]

An orderly room away from the chaos monster?

Personally, I liked the idea of a 'room zamboni' from last night. Could sure use one in our bedroom!

Talked to dh quite a while last night. Sure do miss him. Can't even begin looking at flights until I know he's going to be coming back down. The thought of his diagnosis being 'pancreatitis' is something that I've wondered (and even mentioned) over the past several years. Sure does fit the picture especially now with the pain radiating to his back so much. (and no, it's not gall bladder -he's had every test known to man for that -several times over, always with a negative answer). I did find it interesting that one of the causes of pancreatitis can be radiation -the root cause of so many of his problems over the past several years. So, it would follow.

DD is going through quite an emotional time. Think especially now that it has become very difficult to meet their bills (we're trying to help all we can). DSonil has been out of work for nearly 21 months now. They're looking at taking some of their retirement to get them through.

I'm s2s, bed made and meds taken. Now it's time for breakfast. Trying to just lie low a little bit today. Need to get rested up (if that's possible) for the weekend.

[Harriet]

I was wondering what helia was up to this a.m. She DOES bear watching! And me with every intention of following her ideas because they sound wily and clever. A little time alone was already on my mind, since we are definitely more "on top of each other" here than usual. And it's quite right that there is a certain spy/counterspy element to decluttering attempts, since clutter seems to shout out its rights and privilege until we forget OUR rights - maybe it's time to be sneaky.

Gratitude this morning to electricity restoration crews who have traveled to the Carolinas from other areas of the county. An estimate of 500 have come to just these 2 states, we hear on the news, so many more when you take the several other states in this storm "swath" into consideration. Some already working with existing crews, some "staged" in their own trucks at strategic spots to jump when next areas lose power. Reassuring. We've not yet hit 200,000 outages but we're close, they say.

Our cycle continues with snow then sleet, or snow then freezing rain. We keep waffling between the two and that's the problem. Areas that looked like they would keep power will start losing it.

lucylee, I hope your menfolk didn't have too difficult a time of it last evening. One important reason not to take chances is to avoid worrying others.

Heard from dd34 last evening and they were okay.

((Dee's dd and dsil))

[DeeClutter]

Thanks, Harriet. I'm beginning to feel this 'fall-out' of a depressing house at the moment. Trying to keep my cheerful demeanor, as is dd. She has pretty much talked dsonil into going to 'family FUN day' at gd's residence this Saturday. Even if it doesn't work out with her, it will be points in their corner that dsonil is 'trying'. (even if gd won't) So we will see......

[Harriet]

Dee, it will be a good day for them - they will enjoy a trip out together, no matter what, and they have a chance of finding some good news, too.

Dear aunt93 of the daily aprons called. She still lives alone. Answered the phone and she says, "Get your sleigh out, girl!" She has such a good sense of humor. I have to admit it is really coming down. She says she is comparing a beautiful Christmas card she received with the view from her window, and believes her view has "got it beat". She is safe and sound and calling people who use the main road that she can see from a distance, to tell them about traffic there. She just saw a snow plow go by.

DcousinMary had to go to work today (3 towns away) and so did her dd. So her poor dh was out driving them both and I just talked to him. He's back safe and sound but not for lack of adrenaline pumping. He says cars were sliding off the roads and he himself felt he slid part of the way. He had tracks to follow there, but having turned around to head back, the tracks had disappeared under snow.

[Twins' Mom]

The snow has moved on through here and the day is sunny and bright with the reflection of the snow. I love the way it lights up the inside too. We ended up with perhaps 7 inches, measured right across the street. Dh has gone on to work and I'm considering myself snowed in for now although I could get out if I had to. So nice this year not to be constantly balancing work and snow - a week like this would have left me crazy. The temp today is supposed to hit 40 or so but it's already 36 degrees so we will have a lot of melting, especially on the roads. I love snow when I don't have to be out in it and go to work!

I really need to do some desk day stuff today - from the meeting on Sunday, from the meeting on Tuesday evening, and clearing some of papers out. I think dh and I are still doing "date night" tonight. Earlier in the week I was planning to visit dsis tomorrow - I don't know if I need to rethink that. (Looking at the weather channel report online it looks like they only got 2 inches of snow?)

It's 11 a.m. - I'm takin' a quick look at the blogs I usually read and then I will invoke the BGS liberally on its intended tushie.

[DeeClutter]

Just hate hearing the many 'snow/ice' stories that seem to abound this winter. Think perhaps 'up home' will escape this present storm -it will track more toward Philly, DC, NY, Boston areas. They've certainly had more than their share this year. I see that our home city and Helia's are vying for 7th snowiest city (we're presently 6th, though I suspect the outlying areas away from the city have had much more).

I'm sorry that Helia and I will most likely miss meeting up when we're only an hour or so apart -well more than an hour when you add in transportation to one of the Disney parks. Hoping you have good weather while you're in 'sunny' FL, Helia. Actually Orlando got some pretty stiff stormy weather late yesterday, as did we. Kept ddil posted on what was heading their way so they wouldn't be caught at one of the parks when they could be snug in their room.

Rather cool and windy out today, but the rest of the time DS-A/family are down here looks pretty good. Think what we're going to do is to drive both my and dd's cars to Disney on Sat. We will take my van to DS's resort area for them to use. They can then leave for the airport next Wed. whenever they're ready and I won't have to get lost trying to reach their resort. Later that day dd and I will go in her car to pick up mine at the airport parking lot. She has to be in Orlando by 6 or so for her TSA (Technology Student Assoc) competition. The 20 kids will be coming the next morning. I'll simply drive my car back the easiest route possible: 417 to I-4 and home. That way I don't have to go through Orlando, nor be on I-4 very long. 417 is a dream to drive. We also found an easier way into Disney. We take 429 and after we exit, Disney is a very short drive. NO traffic! There's a toll on 429 but I DON'T CARE! There's also very little traffic on 417 which is also a toll road. There are times that tolls are worth the cost!

Back to work.

[Twins' Mom]

Harummmmph! New computer is doing some stupid updating and doesn't want to connect to internet.

-clear kitchen counters
-start a lol
-clear breakfast bar
-move new computer to desk, assuming I get it going...
-straighten great room

[Nancy]

Quick ci have done my quiet time stuff journaling first.
Wind advisory here today.
Kids here today babyn first then pick up dgd and dgson after school.
Working on the bathroom using some of the suggestions in the new ebook I am reading. So far it is working.

[Twins' Mom]

New computer does not want to connect to internet today, when it was perfectly happy doing so two days ago. I hate all the issues with getting a new computer set up and running, moving iTunes and stuff over. I do have a Carbonite backup but I don't want everything moved over to the new computer.

-make the bed
-refill meds
-clear kitchen table
-straighten MBR
-brush and floss teeth, will s2s in a bit

PODA:
-follow up from Sunday meeting
-follow up from Tuesday p.m. meeting
-Home desk day
-routine/catch up
-crafty area upstairs set up