(((
Lilac))) Sooo sorry you've had such a rough time with this flu?/crud?/whatever it is.
We are not as sick as you described, but dh and I are both just plugging along and hoping we feel a lot better before we take on this six day trip tomorrow. It's about a 10-hour drive, but we are breaking up the trip with stops in college town, going and coming. So about 3.5 hours drive tomorrow and 6.5 hours or so Tues. Then 6.5 hours on Fri. and 3.5 Sat. night after basketball game. That won't be too bad. We have made the trip all in one day before, but that was a pretty long day, I can assure you.
I certainly understand about Mr. Lilac's situation at work, w/the sick days restriction. That used to be a BIG problem at school. People would take off 2 or 3 days a week for most of the last semester, or entire weeks at a time. They started to get a lot more picky about what you could call sick leave about the time I retired. They never required doctor's excuses while I was working, but there was talk that would be something that might happen soon.
I am just not impressed w/my antibiotic or other meds doctor prescribed. DH has not been to the doctor. We both are coughing too much for comfort, and although we don't feel especially feverish, we feel achy and exhausted.
Slept a LONG time after church this afternoon. Had crazy dreams... dreamed dmom was having bladder surgery this week while I'm gone, and ddad was still alive and he was furious at me b/c I wanted to go on ballgame trip w/dh rather than stay here for dmom's surgery. Then dreamed I lost dgs in town, in a subdivision, and I couldn't find him. I was frantic. Maybe I should try not to nap so much.
But -- when I woke up, I did get to work and --
* got clothes together for dh to pack
* got meds together for packing in the morning
* s/s kitchen
* took allergy shots
* watered plants
* paid newspaper man
* called newspaper man, asked him to return garbage can to house and put newspapers in back of truck while we're gone (since ds is out of town too)
* called hotel, made sure we had king size bed
* called dcousin to thank her for family pictures she had sent us last week
* sort of organized cards for next Sunday
* filled out purse calendar and wall calendar w/birthdays, ballgames, vacations, and ds's schedule
I think dh and I are going to see
The Gambler (w/Mark Wahlberg) tonight. I have other movie reviews:
Big Eyes -- I loved it. Lots of LOL moments, and a very interesting, true story.
Unbroken -- VERY good. The prison camp scenes are pretty harsh, but it is so amazing and inspiring to think he survived such horrible circumstances.
I would not make a good movie critic, b/c I am fairly easily pleased, I guess... but dh and I both love a true story that is well done, and both of these were. I mean, I like stupid movies, too; I like probably 90% of all the movies we see -- but these are "smart" movies, both fascinating stories.
Goals for the new year... well learning to quilt and to cook more/better would be very nice skills for me to develop, and I wish I were better at both of those, but right now I'm thinking my main thing for 2015 is to learn to Follow The Routines. * sheesh * WHY WHY WHY can't I DO that???
I'm doing a lot better, however, w/my morning routine of 5-minute exercise, s/s main baths, Bible reading, vitamins/water. All together, this takes about 20 minutes.
So my next "baby step" will be another 15-20 minute block of daily/weekly chores, and then when I feel I'm forming a habit of that, I'll add 15-20 minutes of zone work.
I really do want to do better with all this, in spite of the crazy schedule we keep at this house...
And in spite of my MANY excuses and the many obstacles dh's "schedule" puts in my way, I know I really COULD do somewhat better.
So... I guess these are my new year's resolutions:
1. Concentrate on routines and using my time more wisely.
2. Exercise daily, or at least on M-F.
3. Dedicate more time to helping dmom get HER act together.
and
4. Help ds/ddil get moved into their new home, dispose of unwanted items from dmil's house, and
pray they do not have another child until she completes her degree and is ready for a regular job.
Oh -- and
Happy Dance
Downton Abbey returns tonight!!!
We are pretty much unpacked. I put away the snacks, the dog things, clothes from my suitcase. I still need to put away some toiletries. 
