Thinking Positive Thursday

[Harriet]

Lots of emotion is likely to be in the news today. Remembering is right but tough to do.

The most important part of remembering the tough things is the moment when you take that growth, testing and new strength and you move on with it to the next thing, with positive thoughts.

“Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.” – Kurt Vonnegut

If you hear a voice within you say “you cannot paint,” then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced. –Vincent Van Gogh

Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. –Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” – Milton Berle

[DeeClutter]

Nice quotes, Harriet.

I'm really, really slow getting going this morning. Went back in the recliner about 7 and it's now 9:30 and I've done NOTHING. So -off I go to start my morning do's, albeit LATE>

[Lady Maverick]

The first 3 hours of my day went well. Not perfect but consistent on track.

Today extra activities are MPB insurance audit, taking LO to his counselor appointment, DH getting 2 shots @ doc office and doing a big "list buying" at Sam's. I go back-n-forth about taking LO to counseling. He is doing well 99% of the time but I see moments of anxiety happening occasionally. I want to be pro-active and teach him how to deal with those difficult moments. Twice this month LO asked to call DD. She didn't answer the phone either time he called so he left voice message. "This is LO, I want to talk to you. Will you please call me back?" Once DD called him back and talked with him about 2 minutes before telling him she needed to "go and take a shower". The other time she never returned his phone call. LO occasionally comments that DD hasn't sent his birthday gift ..... she continues to tell him that she will...... There is no way to prevent the emotional scars LO is getting from being abandoned by his birth parents. We are seeking (with counselor guidance) to minimize the long term negative effects.

Next up - CFO cards

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

I shall think about a friend's birthday, not the past, nor the future. The chair of the committee yesterday tried to 'talk me off the ledge' as to my feelings of impending doom but can't shake me. Churchill named the first volume of his history of World War II, The Gathering Storm and I feel that is where we are once again.

I've stopped paying close attention to news and am using The Economist to stay minimally informed but not to obsess over each day's FUD as reported in the daily news. To me humans are programmed to repeat the mistakes of history and there's nothing I can do to stop that. But I can create pockets of light and respite for others so that's my focus and I can't do that if I'm depressed.

As for creating respite, today and tomorrow we nail down the set list for our next performance at a seniors' luncheon. We've brought in a tenor for the two luncheons Sept 19 & 20 so tomorrow will be a lot of singing . Today, dh is getting as many lyrics and chords as possible so we can sing through the possibilities tomorrow and develop the list. Our eyes are getting old enough that we can't all work off the same sheets!

As dh is working on this in the office, I'm working in the kitchen (right next to it with a doorway connecting them) and working on my harmonies. I was struggling to even think of anything for Leaving on the Jet Plane when dh called through that I'll be lead on that and he and the tenor will do the harmonies. Most of the songs are geared to male voices so I'm there for the harmonies and to fill in the guitar with ooohs and hums and to lead them on the chorus when we see they want to see along.

One of the blessings of the new apartment is the office is in a HUGE room. Dh has squished his working spot to one third of the room (plus a full wall of built-in shelves and cupboards.) A second third of the room has the exercise machines and the remaining open space (which is about 6' wide and 15' long) gives him room to set up his guitar and music stand and I can stand in there with him. He can move back and forth easily between his computer, the printer and the music stand so can research new songs easily. Not sure if we'll all practice in there or move to the living room (which has my piano keyboard and still has lots of room to stand around.) Obviously, both rooms have great views. The living room is farther from the shared walls but is open to the front door and sound carries through the doors into the shared corridor. On the other hand, our office wall is shared with our neighbour's bedroom and she does shift work. I don't know if she can hear anything (they haven't commented and we chat with them often) but culturally they are different from us so I don't know if the music would sound good to her or not if she could hear. We seldom hear anything in our bedroom but it is our neighbour's kitchen and dining area that shares a wall with us. Occasionally I'll hear what might be the running of water to do dishes, or in the morning a knocking sound that we think is chopping food for her lunch but that's it. No cupboards opening and closing, no radio or tv.

I'm awake. I have an 11:30 lunch so will try and skip breakfast (except for the already consumed tea and chocolate.) I've tidied the bedroom and more importantly, reclaimed the kitchen which I consciously left in a mess last night (although we ran the dishwasher.)

[Twins' Mom]

I'm with Dee on the late start today. I got up late thinking I had plenty of time today and remembered when I sat down at the computer that I'm supposed to take a meal to neighbors today. Just got the bread started in bread machine, and I'm thinking I'll buy dessert and save myself additional baking. I also have to p/u meals and get to dmom's this afternoon and get back in time to bake lasagne, which I just got out of the freezer. Hoping I can get it thawed, if not will need additional oven time.

Oy. I'm still feeling bloated from dinner out last night.

-change clothes and walk ddogs
-straighten Gr room
-kitchen counter, et al clean up
-breakfast and meds/vitamins
-start a lol

[BookSaver]

Hello, villagers ~
Moving oldest DSis into the nursing home yesterday took a lot longer than I expected. The problem was that someone -- I don't know if it was staff or other residents at the assisted living apartment -- had already packed all of her stuff before DMom and my other 2 DSisters arrived to do the packing. That meant that not only did we not know what items were in the boxes (and there wasn't always a logical reason for which things were packed together), they also packed EVERYTHING including things that should have been thrown away. For example, they packed her half-empty bottle of Diet Pepsi in one of the boxes with toiletry items and shoes. Moving yuck!

Then when I got home to cook supper after being out of town all day, I found several Emails and phone messages relating to the really awful meeting from Tuesday night. double yuck!

Since yesterday was so busy and stressful, I have been taking things easy so far this morning.

My plan for this afternoon is to spend at least 2 hours at the library searching our storage bins for particular LEGO pieces and decluttering the storage room. LEGO Club starts up again next week and the other volunteer has told me she can't be there for the meeting Wednesday. Thus, I am starting the prep work early.

I have planned a Kit Day for the kids, because we have several donated new & used LEGO kits that we have been holding back for this post-summer meeting. The kids can work together in teams to put together the special kits, and we have permission to display the finished projects in the library.

I got very little sleep last night, so I'll go take a nap soon and hope to pick up at least 1 hour.

Before I nap, I will inventory at least 1 LEGO kit to see how many pieces are missing. Turns out that sorting through LEGO is quite a soothing activity.

After nap, I will do my exercise DVD and then have scrambled eggs and toast for lunch.

[DeeClutter]

The Gathering Storm and I feel that is where we are once again.

Afraid I'm in that same boat, Kathryn. Dejavu. There's just been so much locally, globally. And today being 911 gives another whole element to the day. It's a very dreary day here.

Kathryn, saw mention of the RMCP's presence at the local police officer's funeral yesterday. They were from Hamilton, ON and certainly stood out with their red uniforms. A very nice testimony.

I can barely get myself going. JUST now ate my breakfast and am now sipping a cup of coffee. Think I'll walk down the street to visit friends -whom I have not seen since they returned after Labor Day. Have to be back to fix dh's lunch in half hour or so. BBL

[Lady Maverick]

Posting to get back on track. I got waaaaaay sidetracked reading & researching. Yesterday the FBI busted our neighbors (3 doors down) business. We have talked several times with these neighbors but our lives are so different that we didn't have a common connection (other than living on same road). Now the "rest of the story" is starting to come out about them. Sad to see they had done prison time in another state for the same thing they are being accused of now (financial & real estate fraud). So sad.....they have a young child whose life has just been turned upside down.

Next up -
** 3 minutes in each room
** clear desktop
** sew rips in puppet from church

[Nancy]

Love the thinking positive theme, tying to continue with keeping it upbeat here. Hens & chicks are all fine. Here now. Some nearing the end of molting.

I am thinking of the gardening I want to do some plants need to be moved. I can tweak areas like around trees got that cleared out, hens have been a great help keeping weeds down but now it nearing the over grazed look bc fruit it done time to thin them out a bit.
2 chicks are squaring off so if they are roos that will get it down to the perfect #6 for replacements! Mom's warmth helped to save on the power bill too.

Living room is picked up. I have sheets to get in the wash from one more bed. So much outside stuff has the inside in need of attn. Again here.

43* -73* a bit cool overnite so it is nippy for yd. Work in this a.m.

[Twins' Mom]

And going again.....

-shape the challah to rise
-make the bed
-try to call doc's office re: medication refill
-call dfriends to ask to Shabbat dinner tomorrow night
-put Goodwill box in the car, organize goodwill box from garage and get in car