TUESDAY TACTICS

[Elizabeth]

Last night's trip to Toys R Us was unsuccessful, they did not have what I needed. However, I did cleanup after the cats, ate dinner, and did the exercise bike. The cats are locked in my bedroom until whoever has forgotten the catbox remembers. I also got to bed at a reasonable 830. Even so, I had trouble getting up. I found out I have to cover a meeting on Thurs, so no lunch with friends, bummer. Today I am between projects at payroll and am at a loss as to what to do. That is unlikely to last long.

Tonight is Girls' Night Out with DD9 and it will almost certainly be: Chinese dinner with homework for desert, then Chuck E Cheese. Her favorite friend and his dad will be at CEC. Then I need to remember to put the trash out and check on some prescriptions.

[Norma]

I'm so sorry I missed HARRIET'S & HRH'S anniversary! But, not too late to wish for you all the happiness and tranquility you deserve.

Today is very busy. DH is covering the cooler and the Hot Rod today and I am working in the master bedroom and the master bath. I want to leave everything in really nice condition when we leave 2 weeks from tomorrow. I sure didn't get to do what I had planned to do here at home this year. Back surgery just took alot of planned household work out of the picture for this year. Hopefully next!

Slowly getting back in the swing after Maui. I still have 2 PT appointments before I leave. I am doing really well. She gave me another exercise to do to try and build up my leg and behind strength more. Sidestepping down my hallway and back again. I'll do what it takes.

Happy Day to all!

[Nancy]

Oatmeal crumb crust cobbler is ready to bake it's blackberry one with Splenda on the berries. Berries are frozen so I do not want to put that glass pan in the oven yet. Cleaned up after putting that together.

Laundry needs attn. x x

[Harriet]

((Nancy)), I'm so sorry you had to go through that and so glad dh was with you!

My computer has been barely connected all day and only when HRH got home and looked at it could I navigate. Still catching up with many things.

((LO)) and ((OKay)) and family

I haven't been able to get a thing done today just because I couldnt' get in the swing. My ddad stayed in bed most of the day though he says he is "not sick, just old". So I feel I don't have the straight scoop on that. And dd twisted her knee in a pick-up game of basketball so she is on the couch. I kept looking for starting places all day. Maybe i can make another start.

[lucylee]

(((LO & OKay))) Hope you both feel lots better soon!!!
You, too, (((Kathryn)))

Sounds like an super entertaining evening, Elizabeth! Have fun!

I have an entertaining evening ahead, but I am sooo tired. This has just been a l...o...n...g... day. Not a bad day... just long.
It is ds's night to entertain at the nursing home, so I'll go up there w/dh, ds, and ddil. Besides dh's two aunts, my aunt's mother is up there, and a 3rd cousin's mother-in-law. It's enjoyable -- well, kind of depressing, actually -- but the music is good, and I'm so glad ds & ddil are willing to share their time like this... But oh my... I have sooo sooo sooo much to do, and I am sooo tired. Maybe I will try to get a little more sleep tonight.

I'm kinda down re: dmom, too. Doctor told her @ her check-up yesterday that she shouldn't expect full recovery yet from the surgery, that he thinks that will continue to heal and improve... and he told her she could leave off her brace, she was not going to injure herself... and he gave her a rx for out-patient therapy.
All good news.
BUT... he also told her that re: the OTHER disc, that her problem there is caused by degenerative disc disease, and he does not see surgery as offering a solution for this disc.
* BIG SIGH *
However, he also said he could refer her to the pain clinic, that decompression therapy, etc. were still options she could try.
So... just makes me sad that dmom, at 66 years old, may be facing a lot of pain for the rest of her life, with no real relief in sight.
Of course, maybe I'm being too pessimistic. The therapy & pain management techniques might really help her, now that the first disc is fixed.
I'll try to hold a good thought.

[DeeClutter]

When you find that "starting" place, let me know, Harriet. I have been a true slug today. DD took dgd to get her hair cut this morning and I picked up and did dishes while they were gone. Did my Med Co 'thing' -still not resolved, but we'll see what tomorrow brings. Some time after dd returned there were 2 people here for dgd (I think therapist and behavioral analyst). Then dd took dgd to her new school for registration etc. They were going to P e n n e y's after that as dgd needed some thing and there was a $10 off a $25 purchase in the paper today. On top of that I've been holding a gift card worth $25.91 from there -one we found when we cleaned out dShelley's home over 2 years ago. Figured I might as well gift it to dgd.

So far it's been all good -keeping our fingers crossed that she continues in this vein. Respect and politeness are biggies right now. That's all we've all really asked for.

DH is going over to spend the night at his brother's tonight. Going with him to a flea market in the early morning. DBIL has to be doing something so he's been picking up things to sell again.

All I've done this afternoon is snooze (I'm not sick either, Harriet), but I won't admit to being 'old' either.

Glad you're okay, Nancy. My BS was low last night too -had a glass of juice and an apple to bring it up. I never have that kind of a problem.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

My board meeting tonight has been cancelled since we didn't have quorum. Yay!!!!! I was prepared to go and sit away from the others at least until my agenda items were done. Now I have the evening ahead of me.

Mass Choir was a challenge. My brain isn't running on all cylinders, I feel lousy and I'm not good at singing the music (I can't sing a C for instance so although I know I am to sing a C, if the accompaniment doesn't give me the C, I can't always find it on my own.) There were two new, more accomplished singers there and they wanted me to sing a different part. There is no way, after working so hard to learn this part that I can learn another part and not mess it up badly. I've been to 5 more hours of practice than the others and still am making mistakes. So it was all demoralizing.

I ended up with a headache (second time this has happened, I don't know if it is the stress or if I'm not breathing enough) but had to walk home because there wasn't a ride for me (dh and I had walked there.) I made dh walk slowly since that was all I could do.

Did cook a nice dinner, handled the mail, sorted something out with the bank and got some of the paperwork cleaned up.

It has been a productive day but has taken all my force of will to make it so.

On the bright side, I invited my former minister to the concert and he accepted my invitation to dinner before hand. It will be nice to have a chance to visit with him before the concert. He was pleased to be asked back to see us without having to preach or play the organ as the reason for his invitation.

[OKay]

We are waiting for time to pass so this "bug" will go away. LO is happy and playing like nothing is wrong, however he can't keep anything down. About mid day I tried a few crackers - Nope. After his nap I tried some juice - Nope. Now we are trying 7-up. So far it is staying down. I am not feeling good, but am doing the minimum to keep things going. LO and I have been watching TV today - something we normally don't do. It was a beautiful sunny day so we spent a couple hours outside soaking up the sunshine.

Got a phone call from our lawyer this afternoon telling us the court has appointed LO a lawyer to represent him. She said this is good news for us. Said they would be doing another home visit. Not sure when they will be inspecting us or who "they" are - but bring them on. Our home normally stays ready for company ......or inspection. Give me 2 minutes pick up toys and it is good-to-go.

[Harriet]

I'm glad to hear that Norma is progressing to more exercises.

All that and no one to give you a ride home, Kathryn? Good grief. Are you able to eat more easily?

It has been a productive day but has taken all my force of will to make it so.

I have not had much force of will. I am keeping dd's pain down with ibuprofen and getting my ddad to eat. Otherwise, little progress.

Small TaDa - got half the new photos uploaded to Snapfish. That became a priority in my mind when my computer was fritzy today, but HRH now tells me he doesn't think it's my computer but our connection. I had given him the "symptoms" over the phone and he had misdiagnosed until he got home to get "hands on". Either one is bad news but at least if he's right we won't have to spend $ on my computer and I feel "safer".

We got our first holiday card - that was weird. But I think they mean including Thanksgiving. I'm hanging onto it for the card wreath anyway. Actually, that is one way to distinguish your card among others, I suppose - send it at Thanksgiving.

I stuck Tobias' head under the running sink faucet today - that makes me a shocking person I suppose. He jumped poor Orphan Cat just one too many times (which causes a ruckus that makes me jump and I'm sick of it.) Since he never remembers the squirts from the spray that the man and the girl give, and goes right back to her to drive her crazy, maybe now he'll remember that the woman who rules the sink means business. It took a while for him to clean himself up and so far he hasn't tried the same mischief.

Dd pampered him this evening and clipped his nails.

Time to do my exercises.

[Twins' Mom]

Long day here; I was on the road a little past 5:30 am and was a little late to the class which started at 8:30. Was done at 3:45 and back here for thin crust pizza w dh by 6:15. Some driving in rain and darkness both ways,

Tonight I returned a phone call to mom of teenager whose car was towed at temple and got something of a tongue lashing. I had spent a substantial amount of time on the towing procedure but failed to actually call them (mom or daughter) to apologize for the office manager's behavior. And I meant to, the days just get away from me...I do have good intentions and now I'm feeling like a failure.

Skipable vent - I'm still put out w office mgr. Yesterday she mentioned that she had an insurance person coming in to quote on our insurance - this person had cold called her and she isn't authorized to make a change in our insurance. It feels like it is something every day with her. Today, a grammatical error repeated twice in an email to ins agency.

Not working tomorrow. On thursday I will finish up a couple of small jobs and then am on call for the rest of the year.