Wild and Crazy Wednesday

[DeeClutter]

Good vibes for Mr MT's ears. Can hardly do anything when your ears hurt!

Did another project -cleaned/sorted out our dresser drawers. That's ok, since if I have a day that I absolutely can't get to my projects, I'll still be ahead. Got my travel file all cleaned out and have a lot more 'burnables'. Think that will be one of my early do's when I get home. At least I'm paring down. Crazy transporting all this stuff back and forth every year.

Need to get dinner going pretty soon. Only goulash so it's an easy do. Not sure what time dd will manage to get home. Depends on if her tutoree shows up or not I suppose. She had her formal observation yesterday during her absolutely WORST class. The gal who did the observing asked her if she wanted a 'do-over'. DD told her as long as she wouldn't be getting any non-effectives, etc, then there was little sense in doing it over. The 'observer' noted that she wanted to just tell some of these kids to "shut up!". DD has a few in her late period classes (mostly 8th graders) who are bent on making life miserable for their teachers. All the people in power know who they are and there's little they can do with them. It's pretty much, "I'll talk, eat, throw things, etc whatever I want -what are you going to do about it?" Lately there's been times that dd has called for administration when they become absolutely out of hand. Enough to want her to be out of the classroom. But then there's all the really teachable ones whom she adores. This is a school of choice, but also open to all those in the neighboring places. Many of those are there only and really don't want to learn or be good students. Suspension means nothing. With some parents it does and when they're notified, dd has noticed in them -a big change! And often an apology!

[Twins' Mom]

Home from a wonderful round of errands. I still need to unload the car. It was lovely to get enough time just to look at things also. Went to bank, YMCA (to straighten out over credit card) got the car washed and went to Lowes. Then to bank re: account set up last week, The Walking company store at mall, then a walk through Homegoods. Ended up with a trip to Costco and stop at the vet for meds, which weren't ready so I need to go back out and pick them up. I enjoyed walking around at Lowes, Homegoods and Costco and as a benefit, I have 8400 steps today. Hoping to end up over 10K.

I need to unload the car, and then go back to vet's for meds. The gal remembered me calling, but hadn't gotten it written down and the file was refiled. At least we're close, I don't mind running back over there.

Dh has meeting this evening. I have making myself a salad and using the leftover grilled chicken from last night.

[helia]

More done:
x met with mentoree
x worked on teaching; still need to rearrange some concepts and write out concluding remarks
x went for a jog; it was not a good jogging day - just for me personally. the weather was gorgeous! In fact, I got a little hot with my fleece jacket on. I was just tired throughout the jog. Wondering if lack of sleep was a culprit. Or, maybe it was just a bad jogging day. That happens. I'm glad I did it, though.
x checked on hens
x supper made; dd15 and I ate. Dd18 is coming home soon from youth group and GG is coming home soon from crew. She's had rides every day so far. I wonder if some parent is starting to get irritated?

This evening:
- finish laundry
- make copies of dd15's passport
- dd18's lease for next year needs to be signed and sent in today -- of course.
- refine teaching notes and handout
- bring garbage bin up from the curb
- clean kitchen
- find camera and charge battery so dd15 can take it with her on the trip.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Finally cuop after a very long day.

At 8:50 I got a call saying I could get in to see the fourth place at 9:45. I left the house at 9:05 and pulled in there at exactly 9:45. Of course, the speed limit signs were viewed as suggestions....

I'm exhausted. Saw four places. Only two are acceptable to me. None are even close to what you have now, in size, location, or fit and finish.

Viewing 1. Unit will need new carpet and repainting and refacing of the kitchen cupboards. The tenant is moving out on May 31 and while some people work through the night they don't think they can get all the work done (complicated by the fact the 1st is a Sunday so workers won't all want to work on Sunday.) So you could move in late in the day and have workers back to do more work through the first week you are in the place.

I've deemed this place unacceptable

Unit 2. As close to perfect as possible. Gorgeous kitchen for dsil. The rest of the place ticks almost every box. The only downsides are the carpets seem worn considering they are supposed to be less than 2 years old and he's had it empty for a long time. He has had tenants apply but turns down anyone with cats or dogs and the other people weren't a good credit risk. He would accept them (based on my description!) for May 15 but isn't willing to hold the place until June 1.

Unit 3. Older, charming in many ways, but unacceptable. Only one bathroom built back when you were happy to have a bathroom inside so didn't mind tiny. A sink, toilet and tub is sufficient. People went out to have their hair done and shaved with a straight razor so who needs counter space or a plug. The tenants in this place obviously cared for the place, it wasn't a pigsty and they made energy saving efforts (which also points to the place being expensive to heat or drafty.)

Final place. Tied with #2 for my affection/approval. It ticks most boxes although the kitchen is a compromise. It is a hybrid between apartment and town house with neighbours on three sides. It is also a 2 bedroom plus a bedroom in the basement, so much smaller than the others, more apartment like.

What I loved best about this place was the neighbourhood. Both the condo community and the surrounding community. It is a short, interesting, walk to shops. On the other hand, the surrounding community is predominantly French (I was using the McDonalds and heard not a word of English spoken while there and my GPS switched to French as well when I was there even though I was asking to enter an address in another (English) part of town. It is also Roman Catholic. The development is surrounded on all sides by the church. Between it and the main road is the Notre Dame de Lourdes church. Two sides are made up of the Notre Dame cemetery. And the fourth side, beside the entrance to the development is the Notre Dame de Lourdes Grotto complete with the stations of the cross and Calvary crucifixion scene. The church has bells that strike the time and ring out at noon. (I loved them.)

I made up a spreadsheet comparing all 4 places and loaded up photos for them to look at.

After the last viewing I grabbed lunch at a drive-thru and went to my church meeting which was exhausting but important. Then a Costco run (unsuccessful, no talapia fish after I converted my weekly fish recipe to that.)

When I got home, dh was ready for a walk. So I have no shortage of steps today.

Dh cooked dinner while I wrote up my report on the viewings and I'm still cleaning up. Was distracted by Surfer Dude who called to talk. I miss him when he's gone to Germany (next month!)

So you've caught up on my day. Exhausting.

[OKay]

No tooth fairy needed here. LO ended up auctioning off his tooth before it was pulled. It was done informally - DH told LO that he would give $1.00 for the tooth after it was out. DFriend overhead and said he would give $2.00 for the tooth. DSis overhead DFriend and then offered LO $5.00 for his tooth. I ended up giving LO $6.00 for it.

The wind made it impossible to grill out. So I modified the menu a bit and cooked dinner inside. We had BBQ weiners, mashed potatoes, salad with Banana dots for dessert. Quick-n-easy.

LO has pushed the reel mower enough this evening to fill the grass catcher twice. While was doing that, I organized the seed planting supplies. I am late late late getting started but I was too eager last year and lost many plants to the late freezes. That experience made me a bit freeze shy this year. DH told me he saw the blackjack trees blooming which supposedly means there won't be anymore freezes. Maybe......but the ground is still cold and needs to warm up before any warm weather plants are put out.

Have a few more cards to do then I'm heading to bed. The next 3 nights are going to be late (for us) so I want to get as much sleep as possible tonight.

Cards due today = 9
# Cards completed = 82
% Cards completed = 90%
Papers processed = 25

[Harmony]

Auction off a tooth!

Awful news tonight.

Well, I changed into work clothes and I went out and mowed the lawn. We have 2 big lots with many things to go around. It isn't an easy place to mow. But it is done and I pointed out to DH that only about 1/3 of a cup of dust/dirt/grass got blown up onto the lanai...and why can't YOU do that when YOU mow. Told him I didn't want to see him making a mess of the porch ever again. It wasn't hard to do at all, just go the other direction. Sheesh!

So S2S late in the day and helped DH get ready to go to youth group tonight. Night routine done and tomorrow's first LOL done waiting to get hung out first thing. Dishwasher is running. I only have to run it every few days.

Very upsetting call from neighbor next to rental house. She's asking about fixing a room in her house. She also gave me a report on our renters. I had told DH I didn't like the state of their house the last time I was over there and he wasn't interested in doing anything...but I think we are forced to do something. They need to have a big cleanup around there. Yesterday he said the front garden is badly weedy and he wants to take everything out and put different bushes in...and I don't like that idea as it's over a septic tank and we need access. I shouldn't have to be weeding their place, as that was not the agreement we had, but clearly something needs to be done - and I'm not happy. Why, oh why, were we not able to sell this place?

[Ivy]

Harmony, That sounds like a real bummer!

OKay, Way to go, LO! A tooth auction was an ingenious idea!

Kathryn, You DO sound so tired! Hope you get in a restful night's sleep and that tomorrow's not quite as exhausting for you, too!

Helia, Your posts always amaze me! You seem to get so MUCH DONE! Hope your DD has a good trip, too.

Twins', You sounded like you had a very productive day, too!

Dee, You're productive, as well. It sounds like you're getting a lot done. Goulash sounds yummy to me! We had fried cabbage.

Lucylee, I read somewhere, a good way to get a stool sample, is to put plastic wrap on the toilet seat, then collect from that. I was reading up on alternatives to colonoscopies, the positives and negatives of each test, as opposed to the colonoscopy. Sorry DMIL can't recall anything. Yes, your doctor week's been a busy week, so far!

Harriet, Sorry to hear about your sleep last night. Glad you got a nap. Sorry your day's not been "on-target", too.

MT, I hope your DH's ears get better soon, too!

I ran away today! I had to get away from home, writing stories, and being a homemaker for awhile. It was a sunny day, I was feeling well, and I went to see my shut-in 97 1/2 year old BFF! We sat outdoors for 1.15 hours, while we sipped blueberry tea, I ate cookies, read her the church bulletin and one of my published short stories. Her caretaker listened from the open front door, to my short story, really enjoyed it, and complimented me on how good it was. I was so happy! While I was reading it, I kept thinking about a stinking male POV story I'd outlined and how awful it was. When I got home, it hit me- how I'm a WOMAN anyway, so why not write it from the female POV!? It solves the problem. Now to get busy on it! I enjoyed seeing her so much. Actually, when I visit her, there is plenty of hand-holding, kisses, tears, and we're slowly saying our good-byes to one another, while she's still living. One of my doctors told me that this is how it works; also, when they've passed, how we say good-byes again and have no regrets. It's so nice to tell her things NOW, while she's alive, so she truly knows how much I love her. ♥

Waving to Everyone! Have a GR8 night!

[lucylee]

(((Harmony))) Rental property is often such a huge headache. DH was just saying last night that when the time comes to divide his mother's property, he has no interest whatsoever in rental property. In our (dmil's) case, renters are constantly complaining about something -- and since most of her buildings are fairly old, their complaints are probably justified -- but * whew * I've told y'all about all the upkeep that needs doing here at OUR house. DH certainly doesn't want the responsibility of anymore houses/offices/land.

WTG, LO!!! I am extremely impressed with his business sense! Good job, getting $6 for a tooth!

Of course, the speed limit signs were viewed as suggestions....

LOL, Kathryn!
You are doing an excellent job of scouting out the apartments for dd & dsil!

WTG, helia, jogging even when tired. I need to do my walk away the pounds. (It's not really sending any pounds walking away, so far as I can tell, but like you said, I'll feel better if I do it.)

8400 steps is pretty impressive, too, Twins! Good for you! I should get a pedometer. The last one I had was not very accurate.

Dee... oh... (((BIG, BIG HUGS))) for your dd... I know exactly what you are talking about... the class that is bent on making life miserable for their teachers... Yes, yes, yes... every teacher has had classes like that. Sometimes you get at least one a year. But like you said, there are other kids who are sooo wonderful that it makes the job worthwhile, so you keep plugging away at it... but oh my, the joy when a pep rally or something is scheduled during that class-from-H*** period!

More adventures here. I'll continue this in J&C.