Friday, It's Friday, not (fill in the day of the week you think it is!)

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Just a reminder to anyone who needs it.

What's up?!

[Twins' Mom]

Kathryn got her start in just before me. She's saying what I was thinking. I can't tell you how many times yesterday I thought it was Monday.

Back soon, I need to straighten for the dcleaning lady.

[Lady Maverick]

Good morning.

I wonder if this how DH feels most days. On the edge of being confused because the days/week/month/year are jumbled up.

This is my last weekday of Christmas break. Tomorrow is my last free day of Christmas break. I am sorta sad to see it ending but feeling mighty blessed to have a break.

I might start the process of planning homeschool lessons for next week. Might. Or I might not. Christmas break = having options. I love having options!!

On New Year day DS16 asked me if I realized 2025 is the last full year we will be doing homeschool. He graduates in 2026 so we will stop doing homeschool before summer next year. I can see the light in the tunnel showing the end of homeschool with DS16. DD13 is thriving in public school so I don't foresee any need for homeschooling to happen with her.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Having a hard time tracking days and dates. Made worse by the plan to go see our friends in Peterborough, since we see them every year on NYE. I'm starting to think Sunday is NYE! Which has all kinds of knock-on consequences: I still think it is 2024, I think today is Monday, I am 5 days behind the rest of the world.

Making matters worse, the social room decorations won't be down until the 8th which is really late in the new year so that fits with my "It is still December" mindset.

I enjoyed the tidy and vacuumed living/dining rooms today when I came in to do my stretches. Everything needs a good dusting, though. And that kitchen floor has still not been cleaned (it has been on my to-do list for weeks now.)

I also need a blood draw and I will try and get dgs' luggage tags laminated today. (Or maybe dh can drop me at the clinic, go do that task, and pick me up since the clinic parking is tricky (but otherwise it is handy to us and I can book an appointment.)

Dgd's birthday presents are due to arrive today. Hopefully that will happen but it looks good, they are currently being processed by the delivery company but not yet out for delivery. Due to arrive by 10 p.m. Then I need to wrap them.

In between those items, it would be great to start in on the bookkeeping I need to get done.

I need to s2s first, though.

I remembered to send a donation to our local library last night. We have used them an awful lot this year for both reading/audiobooks and the 'maker studio' for dh's development of the "Revenge at Hay Lake" gameboard he created. Last night I was notified that the recently published e-book I was on a 6 month waiting list is available because they bought another 11 copies of the e-book. I had to say, "not now, try me in 14 days" because there's no way I could read it right now (I have two others on my e-reader right now) but the 14 days gets closer to my trip when I should be able to find time to read on the airplane if I haven't yet finished it. It should only take 1 day to read if that's all I have to do. But at home, that's not all I have to do!

Sadly, dh had told me about the extension for Charitable donations deadlines for the 2024 tax year so I didn't do them on the 31st (had time to do so but why not procrastinate?) but it was Jan 2 when he showed me the actual announcement from the government. The extension requires passage by the government and I believe that is highly unlikely to happen as we expect the government to fall soon after it gets back in session on January 27th, or to be prorogued (terminated and all business in process will die with the it) in order for Trudeau to avoid being toppled.

We get a change in Prime Ministers this year and already know who it will be, but we don't know when it will happen. And I don't know if I needed those charitable donation receipts to avoid a large tax bill. Hence my focus on bookkeeping so I'm ready to do the taxes early this year, rather than the last week of April, just before the deadline. If I do a rough pass in February, there is one thing I can do to lower my 2024 taxes owed if necessary.

<deleted a pile of tax and political explanations>

[Harriet]

Hey, all !
I've got my days straight because of appts. Can't help it. Today is an injection of the med that will encourage my little white cells after they were bullied yesterday. Must have worked reasonably well last time around because the number for them was good on the 13th day. This time my doctor has jumped on her chance to have me tested on the 5th day, Tuesday, when I see Gen Prac, which will give more clues on how the med works for me, and add to the knowledge base the doctors have for when it "kicks in" for patients, how long it lasts, and when your own body takes your balance back over again.

Btw, I had volunteered for a study, but it turned out I didn't need as much of a time-frame for treatment as that study was taking. I was willing, though, and it was partly selfish because I know I mentally react better to almost anything when I see myself doing something as opposed to just accepting.

Speaking of accepting, I accept my 800-calorie day today and have it all planned out. (Little cells who can hear me, keep your heads down, darlings!) This while HRH is frying a great-looking hash-brown thingie on the stove, lol.

I've just been putting away groceries we had delivered today. Worked out fine this time except for the contagious habit grocery deliveries seem to have of driving across my lawn. What is up with that? We haven't been doing a good enough job of raking leaves, perhaps? So that they think they can pretend they don't know where the driveway ends... .. Funny no other delivery has that problem.

PODA used to contain buying an item at pharmacy1, but Doctor said, "Oh, just get a generic" and I was able to add that to grocery order easy as pie. One thing down. Still have to actually Go INSIDE (gasp, don't tell dd26) both pharmacy 1 and pharmacy 2 today, one to show my new drug ins card and one to pick up the (undoubtedly expensive with them) compounded prescription I need on hand in case I have mouth sores sometime. They do not take insurance unless you send it in yourself later and do all the work, so I may ignore it. Doctor specifically, in front of me, halved her usual order to save me money, since I haven't had problems yet and may not have. That bodes well, IMO.

lucylee, just ask your mother for some journal pages for Christmas. She says yes, of course. You say, "I'll just buy it and remember another time you paid". Now hug mother. You're square with your mother and your own nice gift she would want you to enjoy. You tell anyone who will see them (probably no one) "Look what Mom gave me". You have something that interests you and takes some enjoyable time, and you can't help but have it - your mother gave it to you. Ta-Da. I, personally, think they look cool, and need your touch.

[CathyS]

Hi! It feels like Thursday because garbage day was delayed for a day due to the holiday. We rarely have a different day, so it feels really off.

I got the 4 bags of garbage out along with the compost and recycling. Dh has brought the totes into the house so the undecorating can start tomorrow after I get home from the monthly Saturday stitch group. No knitting in this Saturday group. Today is the knitting group.

I need to remind myself that I can wait to do the thrift store drop off until next Thursday.

Dh bought me some awful, sugary treat that was "on sale" at the dollar store. I made a big show of opening the box and unwrapping one of the things, but by the time he got to the couch, this stuff was in the garbage bag. The "sugar" for one was almost 30% of the daily intake on the nutritional information on the packaging. I'm watching those nutritional labels a lot more carefully lately.

[Lady Maverick]

DS16 has called twice this morning giving status of his activity and the fire (70 round bales of hay burning). His boss stayed by the fire all night to ensure a spark didn't escape and set surrounding areas on fire. The weather is driving their decisions on how to best handle the fire. The next weather pattern change happens late Saturday night and that will bring 40mph winds. The fire must be out before the strong wind happens. The plan is to put fire accelerant (diesel fuel) on the hay bales to make them burn hotter and faster. The local fire dept has tanker trucks to immediately provide water to control and prevent fire from escaping. DS16 is with boss on the front lines, listening to the discussion of options and involved in resulting activities so his life lessons/skills continue to happen.

The city clerk called to let us know they are going to do repairs on the water main near our home. We will be without water while repairs happen. There is now a backhoe in front of our home digging up the road to access the leaking water main.

DH left in my vehicle to go downtown. He seems to be thinking clearly today and has his phone with him so I can find him if things go wrong.

[blessedw2]

I am so sorry they lost all that hay d lady. praying the fire goes out and all are safe!

[blessedw2]

sorry quick hi.

hi d Harriet - praying those blood cells behave themselves
hi d lady
hi d cathy
hi d Kathryn
hi d Lucy
hi d twins
hello d all

had a nice quiet moment with dh this morning before mom got up. it was nice that he wanted to talk and not inside his head. He was very cheerful and it was lovely.

[Twins' Mom]

Dcleaning lady is doing her magic. I've done what I need to do for now - dog walked and fed, sheets over into dryer, previous laundry folded and put away.

I'm getting stuff ready to go out and run errands:'
-ups store
-target return (see if I can find a picture frame that works for what I want)
-post office for HOA
-drop donation books at library