Massive Monday

[OKay]

(((Helia)))) hang in there. IMHO, you will never be sorry that you went the "extra mile" with your DMom. ...and remember that during some seasons of life it just more more MORE extra miles .... I wonder if your DMom feels like she is competing with your DKids for your love and attention and not being found as awesome as they are? I know that is kinda weird for a grown up to compete with children for someones attention, but sometimes it happens. Maybe just focus on her...talk about everything under the sun that impacts her life at the moment, If she ask about DGChildren then share highlights of their current activities.....then return to talking about her. Maybe this is a dumb idea....

We are experiencing birthday toys OVERLOAD. I'm overwhelmed with how to store them so am breaking them into piles/categories. Once I can see how big of stack each of the toy categories are then I can develop a system to store them. My rule is one box of toys at a time. When you finish playing with them you put those up and then you can get another box of toys out. So far the new toy categories are....
** Hunk dress up including HUGE padded hands
** superman dress up articles of clothing
** Knight dress up clothing HUGE STACK
** dragon related ....dozens of dragons and parts to fit on them
** tonka type toys....dump truck, backhoe, excavator
** balls, bats, frisbee, ping pong
** canteen, backpack, binoculars

CCC = 40

[helia]

That is brilliant, OK. Maybe that is part of what is going on. . . Thank you!! Yes, conversations do go better when we just talk about what she wants to talk about. My kids loved dress up clothes and my ds loved tonka toys!

[DeeClutter]

Ah, yes, Helia, thank goodness for that! Ditto Okay's words of wisdom. She probably hit the nail on the head. Sounds very much like dmil.

Yes dh has been ill again - longer & harder. Said just a while ago to add to dr. note that he;s still feeling pain with each step still -in sternum region. This is also the closest together he's ever had one of these attacks. Supposedly the extra omeprazole the gastro Dr. put him on was supposed to quell these attacks. Doesn't seem so.

[OKay]

Baby stepping menu/meal prep/planning....
Lunch menu = pork loin DMom cooked and insisted we take the leftovers, black-eyed peas from DCousin garden, sliced tomatoes from our garden, red potatoes from DBIL garden.
Supper menu = ???? did I mention baby steps? I need to pull out my monthly menu plan cheat sheet and get a clue

Trying to get at least 24 hours ahead in prep.....
Tuesday
breakfast - pear, banana, eggs, ham
Lunch - picnic @ park after LO meets with counselor.....use leftover potatoes from lunch today to make potato salad served with finger food... ham chunks, pineapple chunks, cheese chunks and red grapes. All easily packed into cooler because we have to be out of the house by 7am in the morning to go to DH eye appt
Supper - rainbow salad.

[Nancy]

I've mixed up quick bread - orange applesauce it's in the oven now water deck & patio plants
I have the sprinkler going in the back now.
Journaling is done.

I've started the next puppet will need to make one additional one for a shower gift I have the blanket done already and I want to do one to go with it. Made up a bag using the tee shirt bag for a pattern only I used old jeans for it and I like it much better for books and such it's so much sturdier.

Next up unload dishes in the dish washer. x

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

I'm up for 15 (or more.)

For my first 15, I started dinner in the crock pot.

At my second 15, I just couldn't get out of bed.

At the end of second hour of being in bed I had dh bring some plain rice krispies and some non-diet gingerale. I had a bit of both and 30 minutes later was up for 15 to strip and remake our bed.

Dh came in from working outside (while I'm lying on the made bed, totally exhausted) and said that I needed to take a shower. Yes, I know, but I spent all my energy giving you clean sheets for tonight, so I'd like to rest another half hour or more, please. I asked if he'd go to the store to pick up some things we need (bread, eggs, bananas) and he said he'd do it on his way back from the city where he has a music practice.

I managed to get up to brush my teeth and pushed myself into the shower. I can't go back to bed because my hair is wet, so I'm having some applesauce. I made jello too.

I'm going to find some place to lie down where it doesn't matter that my hair is wet.

[Elizabeth]

I am fairly sure DCat18 is dying. I have a vet appointment at 3:15 this afternoon and do not expect to return with a live cat. This week she has gone on a massive downhill turn. It started when she was no longer jumping on my bed, so I got a stool to help her. She used it some, but mostly stayed in the bathroom on the rug. Last night, late, she would walk 3 feet then fall over, wait a while and repeat. This morning, I don't think she can get up at all. She was laid out flat when I left this morning and still breathing.

DD10 was with me last night, she is staying the week. She got very upset and wanted to go to her Dad's house to see her dog. She is convinced that if I just force feed the cat, she will gain her weight back and live to be 20. I don't think it is that simple.

I promised a resume to a friend today. Guess I should get on it.

[Harriet]

((Elizabeth)) What a hard situation. I'm glad you can be there for your kitty and take on this responsibility for her, though. Hugs to you today.

Oh, Kathryn, I was hoping you would say you felt better today! Did he think you needed a shower to improve how you feel in some way, like for sinuses or something? Otherwise, why waste your energy?

helia, did your mother brag on you and your successes as you grew up? Or did she also seem to have a problem encouraging her own child? I wouldn't think so, since you are such a well-rounded, cheerful adult.

You're right, I think. At least generally my children's good news has been met by lots of bragging from grandparents. My mother would privately compliment a lot then warn against immodesty. My father would laugh and loudly announce it must be his good genes producing such smart boys and girls. HRH's mother has a self-depreciating style: "Oh, I could NEVER have done that well so young!" Dfirstmil will brag, but the problem is that her pointed comparisons, then, to another grandchild, will make everyone within earshot look for an exit.

OKay does have a good point about competitive feelings. Another person she may feel competition with is YOU. Does your mother think she in a competition to keep her good-mother status now that you are striving to be a good mother yourself, and have such successful children? Maybe you need to say, "I'm glad you taught me _________________, Mom, because then I knew I wanted to train my children in that subject."

[Cowinkie]

awhhhhhh Elizabeth, how sad. Its never easy for anyone in the house under those conditions. Know how hard it must be for you. Hugs

Helia ...ditto, ditto, ditto what Okay said.

KIC ...hope you get to feeling better. I hate being sick. it feels like such a waste of time.

Dee hugs to you as well.

We are under a heat advisory. Temps are suppose to be at 115* by this afternoon. That means no swimming for Willis because I won't even think about venturing outside. The heat and brilliant sunlight makes me very nauseous and give me a headache. I've been doing desk work for the last few hours. After I leave here I will begin my house blessing and see how far I get. I have a pre-op appointment with my toe dr. tomorrow, but I made it for early in the day so I wouldn't get caught up in the heat.

School bells are ringing around here. Teachers went back last Wed and the kids show up day after tomorrow. I still feel like I'm on my summer break, but am dancing a jig every time I think about where I would be if I hadn't retired. I am soooooo looking forward to cooler weather. Never been out of school during that time and I am anxious to be outside as much as I can. My friends from school keep emailing me saying it seems odd not to have me with them. I email back and say I miss THEM, but not enough to come back...except for an occasional lunch

Need to get up and away from my desk. I sort of have Lucylee's tomorrow, tomorrow philosophy, but I also have my cards sitting in front of me. Never been much of a self-starter once I get distracted so need to leave this computer alone until I get my cards done.

Cy'all later.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

I've been waiting for that post from CoWinkie. You just dance around girl! You deserve to enjoy your retirement.

I had a small snack and then snuggled down under a warm blanket on my vinyl reclining chair in the reading room. I put on a CD of a master story teller and promptly fell asleep. The phone woke me so I dealt with that (church stuff), took the time to wind the clocks (a weekly Sunday chore) and then rested through the last story which had me sobbing (it was about the death of a husband after a long and happy marriage.) I'm looking forward to dh getting back home so I can sob in his arms for a bit.

After that I did a 15, crushing the recycle cans, washing up the dishes that can't be run in the dishwasher, and loading the dishwasher. I've just had a piece of toast with peanut butter on it since I wanted something more substantial than dry cereal or apple sauce. I'm also sipping coke.

I just realized I took a tylenol before my nap in the chair (it was all I could do at the point to get upstairs to get the pill) so that might be part of why I'm feeling better at the moment.