Throwback Thursday

[Twins' Mom]

What did you learn long ago that changed the way you operate? On Throwback Thursday we'll share some of those revelations that changed how we do things, or look at our routines or chores.

One I can think of that changed me, as a working part-time mom with kids and activities and always driving: Years ago Flylady suggested that the gas tank to the car should be filled up on errand day, so one isn't getting into a car to head somewhere and EEEEEK! Must stop for gas when one is already on a tight schedule.

You may remember that we used to live on a mountain - certainly further from gas stations that we are now. Filling the car up once a week (whether it needed it or now!) actually helped my stress levels and prevented extra stops when I was already running late.

[Twins' Mom]

I was up around 7:15 because ddogs refused to let me sleep any longer and nagged me mercilessly until I was up. Dh was up early and (I think) packed, went to a morning meeting then left on a trip to see his FL State 'Noles this weekend. We didn't talk this morning because I was zoned out sleepy and didn't talk last night because he was asleep when I got in from seeing dsis! Yesterday he worked then played golf so was tired; I got him up out of his chair in front of the TV to go to bed, but then had trouble sleeping myself, thus the morning tiredness from me.

I had a long day yesterday visiting dsis - she seemed in pretty good spirits but had an "accident" when we went to Subway, so we had to go back to nursing home and have her cleaned up before going for our drive. I really had gagging trouble (sorry if TMI) after the accident but we got through it. I was pleased that she commented that she really enjoys going out to Subway and going for a ride when I come to see her. She's usually less responsive about things I do for her.

After leaving her, I drove back to ATL and stopped off to deliver glasses and challah to ds at GA Tech, then a walk through IKEA which is nearby. I like their paper napkins and we needed some for Rosh Hashanah - I got a few more things too. Then in a suburb I stopped off at a Pier One to pick up an internet order for something not in stock here, and then finally home around 9:15.

I need to get my mind organized for the day. (Thinking as I write.) For the moment, PODA today is:
-to temple to sign cks
-pick up meals for dmom
-visit dmom
-send signed form from yesterday w dsis back to probate court
-desk day - need to follow up on tuition discrepancy from Tuesday evening meeting and respond
-routines and house "crisis cleaning" for Rosh Hashanah dinner here
-get skirts to alterations place for hemming
-find someone to feed dogs and let them out for awhile on Sat late afternoon as I will be away for the day
-what else?

[Twins' Mom]

SHEM:

“Success is getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you get.” — Dave Gardner

-change clothes and walk ddogs
-refill meds for the week
-s2s
-clear kitchen counters and wipe
-straighten great room

My tummy has been weird again. I ate too much cr*p yesterday so no wonder.

[Harmony]

Good morning! Twins, thanks for opening. You're such a good sister. Some families forget each other when someone needs help.

I was up early to make sure DH was getting out the door in time for dr. apt. He tends to get all the pots stirred and the phone going crazy early in the morning and I was afraid he'd let time go by...as it was he was on the phone ordering truck parts when he was supposed to be leaving. Having a spot on one finger frozen, biopsy came back as not cancer but pre-cancerous... and now he's done with that but reports it's throbbing.

Which is not good because he's changing 2 u-joints on his pickup today...which is not good for me cause I'll be out in driveway helping and it's still so blasted hot outside. Since I've not been feeling 100% (practically all summer) I've been pretty much hiding out in the a/c.

Thinking about what's changed in my routines... yeah routines of any sort would be it. I used to just do chores in spurts when the mood would hit, and it'd hit often enough that we didn't dissolve into chaos, mostly because I am a bit organized in my brain. So occasionally I'd clean out a room or a drawer or a closet or deep clean a space. Now I have more of a plan and a routine. I still fly by the seat of my pants and look around when I have some spare time to see what needs done next...but I'm more aware of things now.

I just wish I'd gotten my act together earlier, when the kids were little. I didn't pass along a system to them. I have one organized-type daughter and one who struggles. She could have benefited a lot from a little card system, had I taught her. She does know about fly-lady, though, if she ever got motivated....

[BookSaver]

Good morning, villagers ~
I just checked Email and found a note from DSisIL saying that DMIL has finally agreed to move out of her big old house into a Senior apartment. This is MAJOR news and such a relief, because the thought of her living alone in that house for another winter has been worrisome. The plan is that she will move to the apartment on November 1st but nothing will happen with the house until spring. That is to give her plenty of time to decide what she wants to keep, and the security of the idea that if she hates the apartment, she could move back to the house -- although DH's brothers and sisters will seriously discourage moving back. This will be a huge change for her, but unfortunately it is necessary and we all knew it was coming.

Yesterday's Lego Club was disappointing with only 4 kids ... but those 4 boys all had a good time and said they would come back next month, that's what matters.

This afternoon is a ceremonial groundbreaking for the library expansion project. As of this morning, nobody on the library staff has been told what will be needed for setting up.

Therefore, I'm going to do my own thing until time to get dressed up for the ceremony.
* 3 loads of laundry
* dishes
* pay bills
* supper in the crock pot -- ham and scalloped potatoes
* exercise
* wash my hair
* declutter kitchen
* cuop

Oops, I got up to put a load of towels into the washer, did some other chores, and now it's an hour later. Actually, that is not an oops, is it. Keep moving!

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

That gassing up the car tip is good.

We currently gas up the car each Sunday at the general store. Not as much for security (gas stations all over the place here) or price (it is 8 cents a gallon more) but because it is a way we can support the family that runs the store now that we aren't right in the village and visiting daily. I was buying a drink and snack but with the new eating plan, that isn't happening although I do get jelly beans there (I keep them in the car for when my blood sugar crashes while out.)

I love my habit of making the bed first thing in the morning. And now I lay out my outfit for the day. I seldom s2s right away (for instance, it is 11:24 and I'm still in my robe!) but at least when I do have to get dressed it happens quickly.

The apartment was 70 this morning (as opposed to 64 other mornings this week) so the radiant heat has made a difference. We slept well with just one extra blanket and our summer sleeping attire last night. This past week that hasn't been enough. Of course, cold weather has yet to really come but it is an indication that the apartment won't be too hot with the heat turned off (which had been a fear of ours.)

I need to buy more houseplants to help with the humidity and find spots for them in the bedroom and under the guitars. And collect up my pretty bowls and jugs and put them out on the radiators, full of water.

I can't recall if I kept the cool mist humidifier or tossed it. We may need it for the bedroom and it occurs to me that dryness there might be why dh's sinuses are inflamed. I'll add pots of water to the bedroom now as I head to shower.

[Harmony]

Hi Booksaver. Legos sound like fun, even with just 4. I have one DGSon who is very gifted and in all advanced classes at school, he is so smart, and he wants to be an engineer someday, and lego kits are his favorite thing to do.

Cooling off inside for a few minutes. Today I'm grateful for shade in the driveway to work in. We got the drive shaft out from under the truck but the old parts/new parts have to be pressed out/in and we couldn't do it ourselves. DH is off to mechanics shop who will do that part for us. Greasy hard work, but I recognized all the parts so I've helped do this before. 20 yrs of mechanics helper, I am. I guess we've saved enough garage fees to buy a new vehicle by now.

It's hard to think some of you are using heat inside. I'm waiting for the days we can open the front and back windows and blow some cooler air inside.

[Twins' Mom]

We have the air on intermittently - mostly in the afternoon when the western sun is hitting us. Very pleasant walking the dogs this morning. Stopped to talk to neighbor and she mentioned visiting her dsis in Nashville and I said I'm going to Nashville for a genealogy seminar this weekend and then she suggested going together. I can't do that tho - my explanation was probably poor, but I enjoy driving alone and being on my own too much and I don't want to have to make idle conversation. A dfriend had said she would go with me to visit dsis if I wanted and I'd shoot myself before I'd do that - she would chat incessantly. (We went to ATL with her and her dh once for dim sum.)

I still haven't s2s so need to do next....
-start lol
-s2s
-scan and put info that I need to return to probate court in to envelope to mail (wonder if I should mail it certified? would take a trip back to see dsis to recreate if lost in mail.
-make the bed
-grocery list - if I have time today I should get groceries

Neighbor reminded me this morning that tonight is the Mix and mingle neighborhood get together, so I'll ask around there for someone to come feed dogs and let them out for awhile on Saturday. I really don't want a young kid doing it because dMacs can get "aggressive" with some naughty behavior with kids these days.

[Nancy]

My throwback tip learned from P&P book to put things
On an errand day. Have a baking/cooking day make a double batch freeze some ahead from mom & granny.

I made up a batch of mac. N cheese in the crock pot last, but h. Complained of tiredness after that I was scared wondering if he had an allergy so did not make any more up. But he may have been fighting a cold bug.

Three min. The lenght of a commercial can make a difference in a room.

[BookSaver]

Throwback Thursday lessons learned:
It took me a long time to learn that what the experts say should be done doesn't always work for my life.
* DMom has always washed her dishes after every meal, from the many years of having 6 children and no extra plates. Now even when she only uses 1 plate, 1 fork, and 1 cup, she still washes them immediately after the meal.
* Flylady said to make sure the kitchen is clean and the sink is shiny before going to bed.
* Neither of those has ever worked for me, as I've always had non-traditional work schedules out of the house. Currently I'm still mostly a night owl, so my natural work flow is to put the dishes to soak first thing in the morning and then scrub them later after the water has cooled enough to not burn my hands. Throughout the rest of the day, dishes are put in a dishpan beside the sink until the next morning.
* I realize that would totally gross out some people, but it works for DH and me.

Something I'm still learning is to put boundaries on what demands other people try to make on my time. For example, with the event this afternoon: The Friends of the Library group made an offer last month to provide refreshments (beverages and cookies or snacks) if the event organizer wanted them. At our meeting on the 2nd, the event organizer said no thanks, she did not want to serve food of any kind; the library director has lemonade powder leftover from summer activities that should be used, and she would take care of making coffee.

Good news because it turned out they picked a date that only 3 of us from Friends can attend the ceremony anyway, so if we had done cookies everyone would have had to bake a week early and store them in the freezer. We all would have been happy to do that, but she said she didn't want them.

Well, surprise, Tuesday afternoon I got a call from the Friends president saying the organizer had changed her mind, she wanted us to do cookies after all. I said no, less than 2 days is not enough notice and I had no time to either go to the store to buy baking supplies or to do the baking. I would not stay up all night baking cookies after she had insisted 2 weeks ago that she didn't want anything.

It's difficult, though, and I still feel guilty about saying no to anything having to do with the library.