Monday Momentum

[BookSaver]

Good morning, villagers ~
Today's activities are mostly preparations for tomorrow's activities. Not trying to be profound, here, that's just the way it is! I get an easy day today.

Today is for finishing things -- laundry, reports, meeting plans. Tomorrow will be a whirlwind of getting ready for a big meeting, and then the meeting itself will just be a lot of fun.

I've booked a costume designer to come talk to my sewing group tomorrow night. I saw her show Saturday night and cannot wait to ask her about the dresses and hats.

Emptynester ~ Congratulations on the sale. Nice to not have that hanging over your heads.

I hope Lilac's house sale goes as smoothly.

Okay ~ You've mentioned using the shower to help LO's breathing. I've been meaning to ask if you can get a vaporizer to help kick that virus? Do they even still make vaporizers? With 6 kids in my family, DMom always had the vaporizer handy in the winter cold season. ... Hmm, I just googled vaporizer and be forewarned, I'm sure my mom would not approve of many of those "herbal" uses! Looks like Vicks has a couple types, so I'm sure any major drug store would have at least 1. We always used plain water, no product, and just being able to breath in the steam helped so much when the air in the house was dry from using the furnace.

[edited to fix typo because I do know how to spell "breathing"]

[helia]

Thank you so much for your wisdom and kind thoughts, all! OK, I think the relational context in which a conversation occurs is huge! We all have our moments of saying things and wondering later if that was the best thing to say, but if the relationship is overall close and loving, it helps absorb conversational bloopers. Just wanting to encourage you not to become overly concerned about your phone conversations. You seem like a person who emanates a lot of love and warmth. But, I am also trying to examine my own heart (I am certainly not sinless!) and not overreact! Maybe my past actions of some sort have played into this. And maybe my mom is right now wishing she had said something else. . .

Kathryn, I've noticed similar dynamics between your extended family and mine in the past. I wish we could have a nice chat IRL sometime. . . Yes, I've wondered if the way my kids are turning out makes her uncomfortable. I don't think I flaunt it. I make it a point not to talk about them much at all, actually, partially for these very dynamics which I've sensed in the past. I wonder if that is part of why my parents don't ask much about my kids - I don't tell them much? I do volunteer info from time to time. Actually - I did volunteer some Universities ds has applied to, but they have never asked specifics or about the process. They do not yet know that he has gotten into UM. . . .

Harriet, yes - very profound and helpful. Maybe my mom doesn't feel free to rejoice with the blessings in my life b/c of the other shoulds and oughts going on in hers. She is extremely duty-driven. I am a little, of course, but not like she is. Maybe she thinks it is likewise my duty to worry a bit about the difficulties of other family members. I can (and do!) worry and pray for them, but I can't do much else to help since I am separated from these family members by hundreds of miles. . . She is certainly also a "glass is half full" kind of person. I am not. . . . We are very different people!

I'm feeling less discombobulated and more on stable ground now, thanks at least in part to your input here!! I had a nice little chat with dh too. My temperament is not one to stay down for too long.

WTG with your productive evening, Elizabeth.

Dd13 would love to hear the costume designer, Book. Sounds like fun!

((Dee)) I can't believe you're still having problems with Medco!! I hope the specialists are helpful for dgd.

I'm eating my lunch and making a groc. list. I need to do my teeth care and switch laundry before I head out the door.

I didn't tell you all that it is another gorgeous day here! It is sunny with clear blue skies and currently 43!

[Nancy]

I to wondered if K in C could get shoes on line in time.
I learn so much coming here and if I ever get to a position where I can get an e-reader like Kindle Fire that will be the one I choose.
Dd just called and gave me her schedule for the next week or so.

Sinks are cleaned found some mold so that may have been some of my probs. yesterday. Got mom's letter off in the mail this morning, make coffee and breakfast are done bed is made as is journaling and s2s so a good start on our day here.

Still to do dump trash.

[Indiana]

We are having a very mild winter. I know others are too.

We have a snow drought. I recently heard snow drought for the first time. Cool term.

I am puttering measuring, making notes, elevating my foot and puttering.

MT I'm so glad to see you excited.

[Norma]

Good Morning all! I had half of my post done and lost it. GRRRRRRR! Once more with feeling. I read Indiana's post and want to say I am unhappy she has to go through this and I am praying hard for you Indiana.

I almost ordered the Kindle Fire the other day but then pulled back for awhile. I love my Kindle and read on it all the time. But, my eczema meds come first. I need a very expensive med called Protopic and the insurance won't pay for it, although my Derm keeps telling them what they want me to use does not work! They just won't listen. It is $290 and I discovered the Canadian Pharmacy has it for half that. Next time I will get it there. I hate dealing with insurance.

We didn't get together this weekend with Cowinkie and Sweetie but hope to this coming weekend. We do have lots of fun together.

I'm not telling DH this, but I think Madonna was terrific yesterday. Considering she is now 53 I thought she looked a lot younger and sure acted like it. (Oh, and I am thrilled for Eli and the Giants!)

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

You all forget I live in a different country. Online shopping here isn't what it is in the US. In fact, that's why ds does so many border runs - he just ends up shopping in the US and having things shipped to the UPS store just across the border.

Not that I'd buy shoes online anyway. When I'd buy from Sears catalog, I'd buy 5 pairs and be lucky if I kept one. The sandals I'm replacing were originally Sears. I bought a black pair, they were great so bought the ivory coloured ones that now need replacing. I replaced the heels once on the black ones before a strap broke. Cost me $20 to repair $25 sandals but it was worth it. This time, it isn't an easy repair, the ivory ones are simply worn out.

I've done another 3 months of data entry, plus refilled the vitamin dispenser and other odds and sods.

I still have 3 months to do but stopped for lunch. Then got distracted on the internet.

[sherinjoy]

Helia - Hugs and reassurance that you are a wonderful, caring, loving person. Regarding your DMom, I know exactly what you are talking about unfortunately. My relationship with my parents has been similar and their lack of interest in my son's accomplishments has saddened me. They have always focused on family who need "help", and been rather dismissive of my independent personal responsibility for my life, as if it was all luck. As you said, their approach to life is different (negative) versus my positive outlook, which makes for strained conversations some times. Thanks for sharing your heart and glad you've been able to turn your day around.

Waving to all - off to the adventures.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Dh just asked me, "When you were little did you think you'd be tracking international marine shipping rates when you grew up?"

Container ship shipping rates have taken a dive so far this year. We don't ship anything so we can't take advantage of the offer today to be paid $2K per day to ship goods (instead of having to pay the company to ship goods.) But we are linked to Denmark and Europe who are implementing a technology dh is expert in. Thus we are interested in the success of those economies. Training is the first thing to be cut in a recession. And 20% of the Danish GDP come from shipping. So if shipping collapses, the Danish economy will likely tank (even though they are not part of the Euro-zone) and thus our market there will dry up.

There's just so much for me to be distracted by!

Back to work after having an extended lunch and go through back issues of magazines to cut out the articles I haven't yet read. I'll take those with me on the plane to read when electronics are not allowed.

[OKay]

Sometimes my mind gets stuck in a rut on the post-mortem

Me too! I visited the "stuck in a rut" mentally last night. I find it easy to keep reliving loved one decisions over and over....and over and over...wishing I could change it. I am getting better on catching my thoughts when they lead in that directions and taking those thoughts captive, however it is a process that I am still going through. I have to stop and have a little talk with myself. I remind myself that I can't control others. I remind myself that nothing is permanent. Everything changes. I remind myself what situations seems unacceptable today may be a blessing in the future. ((((Elizabeth)))) Hang in there!

Kindle Fire (KF) I suspect anything you want to do with it, there is an app available. Although not all android apps are available on KF yet but they are increasing daily. What I am currently using KF for is -
** Exercise buddy - watch movies, surf, listen to music or read book while on treadmill. Using a netbook/laptop required a place to mount them on treadmill, but the KF is so slim/small that it easily sits on console without anything to hold it.
** Games for LO. There are all kinds of free educational games available. He is using one now that is makes it seem fun to pick up toys/putting away clothes/ etc. DGS5 and LO are both used to playing a variety of digital devices - on laptop/netbooks, on ipad, on smart phones, Ninetindo 3DS, leapPads, roku, etc. etc etc. Both of the boys always want to use the KF. They are good about sharing but it is the device they both wait to use....yes even more than the ipad! Which surprised me!
** watching movies/TV episodes. I have Amazon Prime (AP) subscription which gives about 5000 free shows to watch. If I ever run out of free ones, I might buy some. But AP is adding more free ones each week. Last night I sat with DH while he watched super bowl on TV but not being a football fan, it didn't keep me interested so I had the KF in my lap (with earbud) to watch a Dontown Abbey episode. When something exciting happened in the game and/or a commercial came on I paused the KF show and was right there to watch TV with DH.
** reading books. Every ebook we have bought is kept in our "library". AP is constantly adding new free books. I haven't come close to reading the free ones - someday I might buy some but for now I'm just reading what is free and available.

[Emptynester]

Had a wonderful time at Park Beautification. I got to go around with a bucket and tongs and groom the chollas. Cholla is the cacti that looks like a silver teddy bear. The little pups drop off and blow around so every week someone has to go around and bump them with the tongs to see if pups are ready to come off. I only got 1/2 of a 5 gallon bucket as it had been done very well last week. I also hula hoed and raked a bed. Lots of tiny weeds are coming up now so the beds have to be hoed each week. Then we rake the sand to look pretty.

It was beautiful out so when we got home I worked for an hour outside. I think I dug about 2 Rhino loads of cacti and 1 load of rocks out of the bed by the driveway. Right now the Rhino won't start so I just made a pile of cacti and a pile of rocks. We will have to load it and move it tomorrow after the battery in the Rhino charges.

I have also washed one lol and detail cleaned the bathroom.

I am officially pooped and going to rest my back and knee for the rest of the day.

Saturday when we went into Wickenburg, I had the young man at the Verizon store fix my Droid. One of the apps wasn't working right and was taking up a lot of memory. So much that I couldn't save any contacts. So now that that is fixed - I am updating my contacts. I've also played with the ringtones to identify family with really obnoxious ringtones.

We will have left over veggie soup for dinner tonight so I don't have to worry about that. Think I'm going to grab a nap and then set up the sorting table in the den. Then I will be ready to go for tomorrow morning.