Way-to-Go & Happy Hanukkah Wednesday

[Nancy]

Happy Hanukkah! Thanks Feline Friend for the topic title today. Wishing you all a way to go Wed. Today! I am up early with a low. Eating breakfast early.

S2s x

[CathyS]

Hi everyone!

I have been awake for quite a while.

Never had a chance to get any laptop computer time last night. Went to C ost co yesterday. It was a mad house here too. It's all very nice when a group of adults decide to have a visit with each other, but could you move your carts over and try not to block the entire end of an aisle where there is someone giving out very popular samples AND there is a display of Christmas cakes that a lot of people want to get to.

I also went to a W almart. Not as busy, but the parking lot was packed. The Ch apters store was marvelous, and I ended up using a gift card there. Guess what Ch apters?? If you had buggies or some other way of carrying more than the 10 books that I had, I would have bought more books and, therefore, spent much more money.

There is a drive through car wash here for $12 for a Platinum wash. I used to do a do-it-yourself when I drove a regular taxi because I could do it quickly and it would cost less than $10 from start to finish. I was a lot younger then. Maybe when the weather gets warmer here, I will see how much it will cost to do my Focus.

Today I need to actually do the laundry that I put into the car yesterday. I also need to buy more hangers. One entire pile yesterday was clean laundry which was terribly wrinkled and there is no way I'm going to iron that entire pile. I also want to buy some clear "under bed" size boxes to use for storage on top of one of the 2 cedar chests in the bedroom.

[blessedw2]

good morning d nancy and d cathy and dear everyone!!!

I couldn't be here yesterday as we went to see the specialist for dd younger - it was a good visit but some choices have to be made regarding school... Her therapy will take 4 weeks at least from 8 to 5 daily - monday through Friday. They say that there is a good chance she can walk again because of her age. So now dd younger has tons to think about, She doesn't want to leave school. She thinks by going to school 2 weeks and then getting a medical leave and working at home will be okay but I don't think that would work. I can't imagine her professors being thrilled by this especially physics and I can't imagine that her work wouldn't suffer from the absence. So some tough choices have to be made. But at least there is hope!!! Hope such a lovely word!

dd younger flys back today so she can take her calc test Friday and then she flies back home Friday evening.

Happy Hanukkah our dear friend Twins!!! Blessings and joy to your whole family!

[Emptynester]

Good Morning, All.

I'm up and dressed. BP and BS taken. BS high-ish again but not OMG high. I'm going to get a lot of exercise today so I'm hoping it will bring it down.

Today is finish Christmas cards, write annual report for church, 2 loads of laundry, pick up the den and dishes. Those are the priorities. Nice to get done would be bake cookies, dresser in bedroom, and archive some files.

Last night I ordered DH and I our Christmas presents to ourselves. I ordered some medic alert bracelets. Mine is silver and white with a crystal and pearl band and his is all silver and black with a heavy chain band. I have been putting it off looking for a cheap one that looked nice. Then I decided that we (and our health) were worth it.

Time to eat breakfast and get moving. TTFN Have a great day.

[Twins' Mom]

I am heading out to see my dsis today. Need to get ready and walk the dogs and get on the road. I've done some hurry up a.m. routine.

-brush teeth, wash face, get dressed
-find form that I need to take for someone to deliver to dd
-get dd's gifts out of car and wrap (or bag) pretty
-walk ddogs
-maybe make bed

And then I"ll be off.

[blessedw2]

great job getting those for yourself d mt.

I might be annoying this morning as I need to list everything I am doing to stay on track. It might be here or card file - but the cards I am doing are temporary but important cards and only for this morning as I have to drive dd younger to the airport.

time to be productive

[helia]

Good morning all!

I had a small scare last night. As you may (or may not) remember, I was pfished for my SSN a couple years ago. More or less since then, I have kept a fraud alert on my credit reports but have let it lapse this year. Well, I got a letter in the mail last night from some debt assistance company. This is concerning b/c I have no debt. House is paid off. We buy cars for cash, pay cc in full each month, etc. SO, of course, even if this company is a fraud, I didn't know where they got their info and if it was possible that someone out there was accruing debt in my name. This morning, I got an email from google that they had blocked someone who had tried to use my google account with my password. I'm actually not worried about that account since I never use it - I'm not even sure what it is for. I'm quite sure there's nothing interesting there. But the fact that someone in TX had used my password and tried to get to it just kind of spooked me and was the extra impetus this morning to (1) renew my fraud alert and (2) request credit reports. Everything looks fine on 2 of them, but the 3rd I got blocked twice b/c of security questions -- which were all about new lines of credit opened within the last year. I'm hoping that I was blocked b/c I set up the fraud alert through this company before requesting the reports (I should have done it the other way round) and not b/c someone out there is opening lines of credit in my name. The other 2 reports had nothing in terms of new lines of credit. Anyhow, I prepped a snail mail request for the 3rd company. Hoping the rest of this day will be a little easier on my nerves.

I hope to get some shopping done this morning and maybe start some deeper cleaning in prep for the party here tomorrow night. I didn't have much heads up, so I'm not going to fret over things too much. r and baby J should be here for dinner tonight, and I think dfriend A will stop by.

I picked up dd19 last night, so she is now home. I don't know when ds is coming home, but he is borrowing a car tonight.

Next: tackle the a.m. routine.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Helia: that is concerning. Hope it all works out well. Can you phone the credit reporting company?

Thanks to everyone sharing car wash prices.

The self-serve place is just $4 for 4 minutes and then each additional minute is a $1 so that sounds close to what Cathy was paying. Heated, indoor, sounds lovely. They also do an express machine wash for $10 or I can buy unlimited monthly for $40. But that place is still 20 minutes from here. About 10 minutes away is a place that offers all levels of service. But their machine monthly pass is $45. The difference is I get to choose the level wash and can pick their $24 wash. Plus I get a special line-up. Hours at this place are limited (only open until 5:30 and not open on Sundays) compared to the other place which is open 7 days a week until 8 and the outdoor self wash are 24/7. Both are not chains so that won't figure into my decision. Both have excellent reviews online, praising staff and services. The second place offers hand washing options and a waiting room (if they are doing work on your car.) It looks like cleaning the car on the inside is just $7 (that includes windows, vacuum. wipe down the seat and interior surfaces.) So I'll swing by there and talk to someone when it isn't freezing rain outside.

Dh is leaning toward the monthly since I could just run by after the gym. Frequent washes are best in the winter because of the salt used on our roads. Currently our parking garage is staying above freezing so that means the salt will be able to corrode the car when it is parked. It will also change my mood a bit - I find driving in a very dirty car, makes my outlook on life dirty as well. Noticed that many years ago and started to do more regular bucket washes at the house in the winter as a result.

Dh has to drive out to meet a friend for lunch (not on a bus line so he has to take the car.) Thus the car will get rained on today which might clean it off some more. I keep a silicone wiper squeegee in the back so I can wipe down the car when it is very wet and hopefully wipe away some of the dirt. And we keep an old towel and some window cleaner in the parking spot so I can wipe the salt build-up off the lights and clear off the whole of the back window (we have a Prius V so it is a station wagon and the back window gets dirty like the back windows on SUVs and vans.) At the house, we'd just pause in the driveway and use snow to wash off the lights. But that's not an option for us any more.

Owning a car in an apartment building is really different. I'm sure most people don't do the math but it will probably cost me $500 more per year (having to pay for things I used to do for free) not to mention the monthly parking fee. That makes a home with a driveway where you can wash and clean your car worth about $20K more than a shared parking lot at the current interest rates. Not to mention time saved.

[DeeClutter]

Good morning, friends. I'm up and s2s -breakfast/coffee nearly done. Just have to finish off some local Christmas cards and that project will be done (I think).

Cold is getting a little better, but still with me. Went to dd's school's winter concert last night at a local college. They combine all the choruses and bands/orchestra/steel band so that all the concerts are on one night. Makes it good for the staff and parents -and the kids. Tomorrow and Friday dd will be at the city's Center across the street from the school for skating. DD is on duty -different grades go at different times in those 2 days.

Have to get my hair washed and make a W mart run. I'm just beginning to get out a very little bit. Tonight we're having dinner with gd16 at O Garden. Her foster Mom is meeting us with her -there and then we'll drop her off at the 'kick boxing' place. (Which she hates -no surprise there- there's DISCIPLINE!) DD had thought of getting her an electronic something for Christmas but her "Mom" said she'd rather she have NO electronics. She's gotten her 3 MP players and every one is broken because something was wrong with them. She might get underwear for Christmas (which she also hates.) We've actually bought her a new rolling good sized duffel bag. Figured she can use it when they go to Germany. Not sure if dsonil is going with us or not tonight. He had told dd, "No", but then dh asked him about going the other night. Said he didn't 'realize' we were all going so he "may". GD and her family are all going to GA to be with her 'Dad" over Christmas vacation. Think he's being deployed in January (right now that's Germany).

Have to go find the list I copied at church yesterday -with church addresses. Think my book must be up north.

I've been strongly hinting to dh that our car is in dire need of a bath as well. Hoping he'll get it done this week on his way back from his walk. Just wondering which car we'll take tonight. Ours will seat 5 -though I'm sure it'll be tight in the back. Dsonil's new VW probably won't. Could take dd's I suppose. Makes no difference to me.

Have 1 LOL going and it should be nearly ready to go in the dryer twin. Next up is to get those cards done.

[blessedw2]

Helia that is scary - praying that this all clears up fast.. we had someone steal dd olders insurance info and even transfer it to the woman's name - best wishes to you

hi dee hi kathryn

off to work - working in the front room, vacuuming, washing floor and dusting