Sunday - Paradise by the Dashboard Light

[FelineFriend]

CONGRATULATIONS, ELIZABETH! GO, GIRL! GO!

I didn't turn on my laptop yesterday. I don't think this has ever happened to me, in the 3 or 4 years I've had it, too! I was busy, DH and I watched 2 football games, I wrote 1 letter to thank a dfriend for a towel topper for my b-day, and we watched some movies, and boxing matches, too. Time got away from me.... .... But I kept notes in my steno pad, to report things here, so I was motivated by ALL OF YOU GALS, ALL DAY! I just did not sign in, is all, but YOU kept me GOING! It's so nice to have our Village here, which motivates us, whether we're on-line or not. It's wonderful.

I have a sore thumb, so I'm taking a break from crochet. Also, it hurts to hand-write, so I might cave in and do computer letters today, which are quicker for me, too. I can say more things, in the space of computer paper pages, too.

My cold's better, which is nice, and DH is not worried about getting it, as he NEVER gets sick! (He "brags" about it, too!) He's so smug, so proud, so delighted, as to how healthy he is. But its GR8, for a 73-year-old man!

Have a great Sunday, Everybody, and I ♥ LOVE ♥ the opener today, too! WTG, Elizabeth!

[blessedw2]

hi friend too

still working on decluttering my desk area. Needing to focus.

[FelineFriend]

Blessedw2, These are the items on my desktop, where my laptop is:

- a pottery vase with a glass-blown flower in it, from DD,
- a tall wire mesh circular holder, for pens, pencils, scissors,
- Kleenex tissues box in a decorative-patterned box, for prettiness,
- a flat, long, wire mesh organizer, for post-it notes, paper clips, etc...
- a small stand-up 1-year-at-a-glance cardboard decorative angel calendar,
- a digital clock-calendar-thermometer in one,
- 1 email, from Ddil, with specific dates on it, for occasions up-coming,
- small legal pads (2) for note-taking,
- 1 small 3" x 3" kitty calendar, recently given to me, (I'll put 2015 deadline dates in it, when we get the dates,)
- 2 pens,
- 1 timer, to time myself on-line, to be sure to take breaks,
- 1 lined basket, about 6" x 12" x 10" tall,
- 1 get well card,
- 1 bunny I squeeze to exercise my hands, as recommended by the Dr. (he said a stress ball would work, but I use the bunny, because I don't need to purchase an extra ball now,
- a mini-cat/bird, which are cut crystal,
- laptop,
- 2 post-it notes.

We do bills in the kitchen, near a basket/checkbook, as they come in, so they're there, at mail time, and not off in a separate room, getting lost in clutter or other papers. I keep writing, laptop receipts, booklets, and DVD boxes for the laptop different programs, in my drawers, along with postcard stamps, and a calculator. I have a book of passwords, emails, and sites, too.

I keep other paper-related items in files in baskets or in a filing box or filing cabinet. I have built-in shelves, too, and we also have a large closet with long built-in shelves, in the main office, which is not being used by DH right now b/c he's not gotten a new tower.

Good luck on your desk organizing. I think it's fun to use decorative things, which are functional, too. If it's overwhelming, a timer is a God-send, too! Good luck with it all! You'll feel so GOOD when it's done, too!

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Since I hate writing long, long, posts, (actually, I like writing them but feel sorry for you guys having to read them...) I won't list what is on my desk. It is a large desk, but the list is HUGE!

In fact, my desk is usually so cluttered, my laptop ends up on the pull out shelf at a 90 degree angle from the desk, which makes the location of the second monitor less useful!

This is the first I've been online all day. Got up debating swimming but decided to shave my legs instead so showered at home.

We got off to church on time, walking there. Knew two people there today. The minister is on holidays but being there for a lay-lead worship is actually a good idea to see what the depth of leadership is at the church. And attendance. There were quite a few there. They average around 150 and I'd say they were close to average this Sunday. Next Sunday is joint with the Anglican church that shares the building so we won't go. But we'll try it at least one more time.

Didn't really feel at home. I thought ds was uncomfortable with the message in the sermon but he claims he wasn't. Boy I must have really misread his body language! On the walk home we discussed whether we felt at home there and neither of us did. Yet we did the first time we went to our current church. And I feel at home at one I preach at and at my minister friend's church. So I analyzed why and I think it is partly because they are white, middle-class, churches. On the other hand, so is our sister church but I wouldn't pick it as a church home if I was church shopping. I'm wondering if theology plays a difference with our church being a comforting church and this one being a discomfort church (you can't serve God if you are too comfortably settled in the pews.)

So lots to ponder. And three more churches to sample over the next while. I suspect I'll be at my church for at least 2 more years now since finding a new church will take us at least 6 months and that's not enough time for then to get to know me to recommend my license be renewed.

They do a nice coffee hour and people were very friendly. So it is a mystery to me what the missing ingredient is to make it home. I want to like it.

We were going out to lunch on the way home but the restaurant I picked seemed too expensive. At least the club sandwich was $18 so we passed. It was called the Savoy and was complete with prices that I'd only find acceptable in London.

We picked up three bags of groceries on the way home (I had planned ahead and had enough bags in my purse) and then we had homemade cheese and bacon hot dogs which were exceptionally good. I sprung for the more expensive hot dogs and am glad I did.

After lunch, dh watched the second in the LOTR trilogy and I finished off my mystery book. Then went to take a nap but ds called so now I'm up and on the treadmill instead. I need to add to my steps for the day, the walk to and from church was great but then I read all afternoon so didn't move and of course was sitting during church.

Dh is heating our dinner now (leftovers.)

[helia]

Good afternoon all!

Wayne sound like a wonderful keeper, Cathy!

I feel asleep this afternoon and now feel worse for it. I'm not a huge fan of afternoon naps. Oh, well.

After church and SS this morning, dh and I went out to lunch together. Dd16 went to her small group meeting. After lunch, dh went to a church meeting and has just called to let me know it is about over. I think he is now going running. I had earlier toyed with the idea of joining him since it is (relatively) warmer here, about 26*, I think. But it is kind of late now, and we will be hosting S, R, and J soon for simple dinner tonight and then we've all been invited (last minute!) to A's house for dessert and coffee since her dbro. is in town. So, I don't want to delay dinner any more.

Starby, our sick guinea pig, seems to have perked up! She is eating more and is more active and alert, so that's good. She is still bleeding (and will continue to do so, I believe, as it is the tumor? inside of her that is bleeding), so there are small spots of blood here and there in the cage. Sorry if that is TMI. I'm happy she seems to be feeling better today, though.

Desktop - interesting question. I traditionally have had no specific space in the house for my stuff. After some "discussions" years ago with dh, I finally got a shelf on a bookshelf. My grad school books are still on the bookshelf in ds' room. Eventually, I made some space with two cloth "crates" for my teaching books. However, just yesterday, dh got rid of our desktop monitor and put all my notebooks on the desk in the computer room. He is giving me that space for my own! I now need to go through them and organize and declutter them. Actually, this isn't even all my notebooks and binders, just the ones I had in the 2 "crates" in our bedroom. I have a gazillion notebooks/binders/files from moms group over the years, Hebrew classes - big U and the synagogue and the online course that started this all, various Bible study groups in the past, volunteer teaching resources, current teaching materials, grad school, church committees, Sunday School classes, etc. Some are also in a big plastic tub that is under the desk. For bills and mail and other odds and ends, I have paper sized stacked "baskets" on top of the file cabinet that is next to the desk. There is a spot in those baskets for mail that dh needs to see (or I don't have time to process immediately) and snail mail bills. (Many bills are online.) Stamps and address labels are in a small basket in the top drawer of a different set of drawers on a different wall in this room. We don't do budgets well, to be honest. Dh makes plenty (I now make a little too ), and we have always lived very simply and well under our income. Neither of us is a big spender. Our house is paid off, we have saved for kids Univ. educations, dh has always maxed out retirement input, we also save on top of that. I think we could do a lot better tracking our $$ though, so I'd be interested in what others have to say here. I'd like to see what we're actually doing and tighten up.

--OK, this sat here while I talked to dh on the phone. And Robert on the phone. So, dh is now running in the dark. And we're hoping to eat at 6:30, so I'd better go. .

[lucylee]

Hmmm... I don't know if my "desk" really qualifies as a desk. It IS the mail center of the home, I guess. As you come in the back door, I have a built in corner desk/countertop with one drawer and two open shelves over it.
The drawer has --
- mailing address labels and stamps,
- checkbook registers,
- staples,
- and a few misc things -- like the extra numbers for the mailbox we no longer have. Oh my... I see how this will get embarrassing in a HURRY.

On top of the "desk" --
- the phone
- the computer modem
- my digital camera
- my 35 mm camera which I never use
- a post office box from when the renovated the post office in my dad's hometown. It houses extra paper clips and staples. It probably measures about 12"x4"x4".
- boxes of envelopes
- boxes of checkbooks
- box w/all the misc from dmil's funeral (flower cards, etc) and her will
- a clay pencil holder ds made in middle school
- a white board we use to leave notes to each other when someone isn't home at the expected time
- my purse

The lower shelf --
- coupon file thing (dh keeps all this organized very well)
- a junk basket which is the container for scotch tape, super glue, eyeglass cleaner, and a HUGE assortment of other stuff, including, some Halloween "blood" belonging to dnephew, we think, which we found in dmil's van several years ago
- a napkin holder which we use to hold mail that is needed for future reference -- tv satellite info, stuff dh orders and sometimes needs to call about
- pen/pencil holder
- flat file box which holds I know not what; dh goes through it periodically and discards stuff
- papers on top of the flat file box as above

The top shelf --
- flashlight
- pink ceramic basket I recovered from dgparents' house. It holds old sunglasses and old cell phones
- basket w/misc cards (sympathy, thank you, etc) which I do use from time to time
- flower vase/puppy dog w/no flower in it

* sheesh * This sounds so terrible.
We share the computer desk, which is really tiny and is not used for anything financial. We don't do any online banking or anything like that, so none of those records need to be with the computer.
I write all checks, but dh "files" all bills, etc. His system is completely insane and out of control. Since we have quite abundant cabinet space in our kitchen, he has these things in stacks in various drawers and cabinets. It is really comical and sad at the same time. For example, the phone bills are in the drawer next to the stove. The credit card bills are in the second drawer by the den. It's really ridiculous.

OTOH, we NEVER pay a bill late, and dh knows where EVERYTHING is, and my kitchen table is NOT covered w/piles and piles of stuff like my dmom's.
Dmom just told me she missed paying her property tax by the deadline, so she'll have a penalty with that. * shaking my head *

I think our "budget" is all in dh's head. We really never talk about it much -- as helia just said, we manage to live pretty frugally (sports/travel related expenses aside). Neither of us are big spenders and we're fortunate that our house is paid for as well as our vehicles (2008 Tahoe, 1988 truck, LOL -- it'd be sad if THAT wasn't paid for, wouldn't it? Just went out to help dh super-glue the rearview mirror back on for the second time.) Dinlaws' gave us savings bonds all through ds's first 20 years, I guess, to save for his college, but when the time came, we just paid as we went (housing was provided by dinlaws) and so we're still saving those bonds. DH says he hopes we won't need them and can pass that along to ds/ddil for dgs.

Dmom did sound good when I talked to her, and said she had been to church this morning, ate lunch w/a dfriend (female friend, I mean), and was planning on going back to church tonight. I don't think she even thought about how long it had been since we last talked.

I have s/s one bathroom and the kitchen, paid the newspaper man, and we went to church this morning. Tonight we're going to see The Imitation Game -- the movie about the British man who broke the German codes in WWII. Looking forward to that.

[blessedw2]

thank you thank you... i am struggling with desk stuff and how to set it up. I have shredded tons of stuff and have started putting like things together. Dh and I split our bills.. he does some and I do some. I am taking in any information any of you would like to share.. thank you again.. it is really helping!!!

[Harriet]

I am covering my ears about the desk talk, determined to stay on my schedule and wait to get to that decluttering on January 19, the Monday before the Focus week for Office. I will simply say that a description of what is on my desk would be something like, "these papers, those papers, the other papers... ...etc."

helia, I am especially glad Starby is having a good day. I imagine Taffy is as happy about it as anyone.

Lynlee, you were quite poetic about the grass! (smile)

Church was tough on me today. Just extra expectations and suggestions for more ways to use my time, so too much for comfort. I do have some guilt because one was that I take dd to a Monday night choral group at the community college during the coming semester, and an argument would be the voice training it would entail. Yes, I would like to take advantage of that. But I would already run out of breath listing all her extra-curricular responsibility. At some point, we have to say there's no more time. Right now she's at youth group and will have to dive into study for mid-terms as soon as she returns.

She was offered a scholarship to the summer program at university's college of arch. the other day, but she can't be two places at one time and must complete her required 8-wk internship this summer in order to graduate with the high school's engineering program under her belt. So she simply has to turn it down.

The principal is panic-excited about receiving approval for some new academic program coming to the school soon, and the flying emails and phone messages are intense, expecting a lot of change, "zero to 100 very quickly" he says. "get ready". I must have had kids in school too long. My all-afflutter is all fluttered out.

[Lady Maverick]

I woke up at 1:30 and made myself stay in bed. At 2:30 I gave up and started my day. I was fine until I sat still in church THEN I finally was sleepy. Church was cold (about 50 degrees inside) and our preachers style is anything except still & quiet which makes it somewhat funny to me that is the spot/time that my body was finally ready to sleep.

Lunch was good at regular place. I did eat some fried pickles that tasted wonderful but are anything except healthy.

I took a 3 hour nap when I got home. I'm trying to wake up and get going again.

It is cold and feels dreary without sunshine. MPB has only been open 3 of the 11 days this year due to cold weather. The forecast is for 2 more days of the high temp being below freezing, then maybe it will warm up a bit and MPB can get back in business.

It seems we have selected a horrible time to sell MPB. Beside the cold weather which has temporarily put us out of business, and the biggest employer in the area recently announced an expected 7,000 reduction of jobs, and now we have the latest drought whammy going into effect today. One of the 3 biggest towns in our area has banned all outside water usage. This level has never been implemented before and is the most severe water restriction level. This extreme water restriction puts friends in the same business as us completely out of business. Although our town hasn't implemented this severe of water restriction it could happen if the drought continues. The drought has improved somewhat over the past few months, but not enough to fill the lakes that supply water to towns. The town that was forced to implement the worst water restriction today is pulling water from a lake that is now below 30% full. Hopefully the spring weather will bring an abundance of rain and break the drought.

Alrighty! Enough of those looming job reduction & dreary drought focused thoughts. There is absolutely nothing I can do about it (except pray) so there is no need to spend time and effort whining.

Next up = 15 minutes timed sessions focusing on -
** laundry
** serving dinner (left overs)
** LO reading to me

[lucylee]

(((LadyM))) Praying with you re: the MPB.

Took my vitamins/etc...
Refilled meds for coming week...
Got coupons from dh for calcium & multi-vitamin.
-- I will complete the 30-day probiotic this week, but I don't see that it has made any real difference in my "habits" so I think I'll leave it off again. Maybe I'm just getting used to what is "normal" for me? Who knows?
Watered house plants/dead stalk. This is a schiffilera (sp???) that my lifetime best friend gave us as a housewarming gift 28 years ago. I think it has finally given up the ghost.