NOW it is Thursday!

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

(I started a Thursday thread yesterday, wondering where everyone was! Found them in Wednesday's thread!!!)

What can you do NOW to make it easier for Future You?

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

I'm awake. Barely.

Just finished my tea and chocolate. The plan is to head to a charger and eat while the car charges up. A charger we need at the end of our trip is broken. We are trying to get past a chokepoint charger (everyone really needs to stop there unless they are just a few hours from home or a hotel charger) without having to stop. Not sure what our plan is for that, we'll 'wing it for the first time ever. In theory, we have options that are just slower.

Had this hotel had a charger, we would have stayed here for breakfast, so I mentioned that to the check-in clerk (who was very EV savvy), to pass on to management. It is a lovely hotel and I would have liked to have stayed here a lot longer.

Our stop tonight is outside Quebec City in an inn on Ile D'Orleans, overlooking the city. We could in theory make it home from here, arriving later in the evening, but I wanted to break up the trip and see if I like traveling that way. So far, it isn't helping my frustration/hatred of the car. Obviously, I can't change what car we have (if I could, I would have sold it in 2021 when it was worth $10K more than what we paid for it), so I have to figure out how to live with it. The original plan was to rent a car for road trips. That might be our next experiment. More expensive but less frustrating and since it will cut our days on the road back to 4 instead of 6, that means $500 less in hotels and meals on the road. As well, it means more time with family at the destination.

[MysteryWoman]

Good morning!

A belated happy anniversary to Lord and LadyM! 50 years! May we all be so lucky!

Sorry you're having such frustration on your trip, Kathryn.

I didn't think I'd be posting this morning, but I'm feeling overwhelmed, so some tens will help me along, I think. DF's DD should be here in about half an hour to go over stuff. My hope is to get out of here by 10:30, because we need to stop for gas, and I'd like to stop for an oil change. If we end up getting out of here as late as 11:30, though, we will still be in good shape. It's just over 2 hours to the camp, and 5:15 to Albany from there. So if we're on the highway by noon, and we spend half an hour picking DH up (and rearranging the car to fit his camp stuff!) and an hour for dinner, we're at the hotel before 9. Which means we can even stretch things a bit about leaving. Still, I'd rather not leave too late.

So, current tasks:

See if old belt will work as strap for carrying folding chair; folding chair to the car
Find and pack a hat
Go over things with DF's DD
See if WD40 has worked on gas tank latch (it has two springy things, one of which is not springing)
Get dishwasher loaded (as soon as DD has had breakfast) and start it running
Wash hand dishes
Make sure kids are packed
Have kids clean out car
Pack beach stuff
Bring up coolers (actually, probably have kids do it)

[Harriet]

I definitely believe in breaking up long trips when possible, Kathryn - good decision.

Today is the small private service for Dee and dh, this afternoon. Main gathering Sunday afternoon.

Yet more in-laws may come. Different plans, different time, one hand with no idea what the other is doing. I do not feel that we are responsible for getting these folks together, but just visiting here randomly does not help extended family members know anything about each other. Our house is too small now to host a large gathering, and that's way obvious. But no one steps up to say they will host at their houses, so it's just piecemeal, with "well, I visited (HRH), and that's my contribution". Frankly, I think we've gone through a time, generally, in which family is not so sure they want to gather because there is polarization and they may have felt it elsewhere, don't want to chance it with family, or already regret fussing and want to avoid.

I thought about baking a cake. I'm not sure ducks are in that row. In the past, at this house, my dmother worried that there wouldn't be at least cookies to offer guests, and when she could, she would bake. Now I marvel at that and wonder how she kept up with everything. For HRH's part, he says "cake? sure. That will be mine and then what will everyone else eat?" I fear he may be too close to truth with that prediction. Creativity, though... ..

Well, I'm rambling and not accomplishing. Poof.


pay attention to Mystery's excellent planned trajectory, not my waffling!

[blessedw2]

I hope that someone in your family offer a gathering place for the party.

thank you for letting us know about d dee and her dh's gathering. I wish I could be there but I can be there in prayer and thought for the family.

hi d mystery

happy belated anniversary Lord and Lady M.


hello d Kathryn thank you for starting us!

[CathyS]

Compost, garbage and recycling have been taken to the end of the driveway. Both cat litter boxes have been cleaned and refilled. Tossed out some moldy cheese and a few other things from the fridge. Dh picked 2 baskets of peas and beans. Most of these are now in the freezer. Then he came in with a partial basket of potatoes. There is also a zucchini in the fridge for tonight.

I heard dh cutting the grass. Looked outside and a customer was dropping off their car. Then the lawnmower started again. Then it stopped and I heard dh talking to somebody and another car was in the driveway. I offered to finish cutting the grass, so now that's done.

There is some laundry in the dryer getting the wrinkle free treatment. It's mostly t shirts for dh. I must hang them up when this load is done and move the wet laundry out of the washer and into the dryer.

I have to stop at 3 banks today. One has to be done on the way to knitting. Plus I need to get to Costco while I am out that way. This is something that can be done tomorrow morning. Dh needs a new phone. This one doesn't sync to the truck any more and it doesn't hold a charge for very long. I think I should take care of that this afternoon.

Besides all the fresh picked veggies from the garden, we are having BBQed pork chops for supper. Weather forecast says a bad storm with possibility of tornadoes is heading our way later today.

I will be thinking about Dee and her family today.

[Lady Maverick]

Good morning!

(((Dee family))) Holding them in my thoughts and prayers today. I am listening to I'll fly away while thinking of them.

I have a free day that is filled with options. This free time puts me in charge of what I spend my time doing. I could use it to relax or accomplish a project that has been waiting for my focus and time. I'm choosing to scratch the relax option from the possibilities because I am fully rested, have an abundance of energy and am eager to do something. So...... my question is which project is going to get my attention?

Before I get focused on a project, I need to make sure the basics are covered. The biggest basic is what to feed the family. Hum. Why do the daily simple things seem so hard sometimes?

[Twins' Mom]

It is indeed Thursday.

I've taken care of my big task for the day: finding a dog sitter for the weekend. DD's friend A and her dh will do it. That is indeed good news. They're older, reliable and have stayed here with Millie before.

But wait! There's more! Much, much more!

2 p.m. workout

-gas car
-wash car
-grocery
-p/u dog meds at vet
-drugstore
-teeth mold to dentist's mailbox - she lives near us
-take care of whatever smoke detector is beeping upstairs. Will take some hunting down and waiting (should put my hearing aids in too)
-laundry, etc. whatever else we need to do to go away tomorrow for the weekend.
-also, whatever else needs to be done here because I have a week long virtual genealogy institute next week. (I don't want to be going out for groceries on Monday a.m. when class starts at 10:30)

I've walked thee laps, about a mile, with ddog. Dfriend M drove by from walking at the park with R uby and stopped and we caught up some. Two sides of circle so we weren't blocking anyone in or out.

Dh and I are eating out tonight- I don't think we ate out all last week either - at the favorite place tonight. I need to call this afternoon to get us on "call ahead" seating.

Gotta get moving again...

[Nancy]

Belated anniversary wishes to LM & her hubby!

I have walked sheets; are done from the washer twins.
Busy moning for me this week again today and tomorrow also in the a. m.

Thinking of you all.
Did my morning stuff.

On my walk I got to the corner just as a concrete truck was arriving for the neighbors pour today they had a pumper set up and I got a few great vids. of that action, then half a block away got some of a deer in velvet what a great way to begin my day.
-----
Back from an errand.
Fold laundry done.

[MysteryWoman]

Well, Harriet, my trajectory is going out the window, so don't lean on me too much. DF's DD is not here yet. I sent a text. I'll wait 20 minutes (maximum walking time between our houses) then make an actual phone call. (I know it annoys kids!) Oh! She finally came; that's taken care of.

DKids are just about finished cleaning out the car, so they can pick out their beach chairs next, and we can start loading the car.

Good to see you, blessed!

Cathy, you've got quite a busy day!

Previous ten are done -- I'm not going to post the next 10; it's time to pack up the computer.

Prayers being said for Dee and family and particularly will be said as we go past that area.

Have a good one, everyone! See you in a week or so!