Massive Monday

[Nancy]

I too have the bright sun light bother me this time of year and was hiding from heat yesterday heard it was 105* here ack it can make me nauseous and make me a headache-y. So I was glad for cloud cover today and it was cooler. It is summer after all but so hot we did not cook for dinner.

make bed x
wrap quick bread to freeze x
water back yard x
water front yard x
make puppet x
unload dishes x
process mail x
next up
I need to spiff up the kitchen counters a bit more.
Working on a groc. list.

[Indiana]

Mother nature is kicking me hard today.

[lucylee]

CI:
* s2s, morning routine
* ironing lady
* post office
* CVS
* other drug store
* called re: mail order for dh
* called re: scheduled maintenance on SUV -- long day tomorrow! Expensive day tomorrow, too, but dh says he agrees w/man @ the shop -- maintenance is easier than repair. * sigh *

Waiting on dh to get ready to go to Wmart now... planning to go to music in the park tonight if weather permits.

(((Helia))) I can't really relate to your problem w/dmom, either, b/c in this family the dgparents are sorta obsessive about all grandchildren and with any encouragement/information at all... the bragging is just... well... there's lots of joy w/any accomplishment at all, let's just put it that way. It did cross my mind that if another grandchild is challenged in any way, then maybe your dmom feels bad in some way that she can't "brag" equally. And very possible that she feels in competition with you... or maybe she feels bad b/c she is sensitive that your dchildren didn't physically inherit any of their talents from her, since you are adopted. Maybe it makes her wonder if your biological parents were "better" than she & your dad, since the other grandchild has problems? Maybe I'm talking too much? I'm just thinking "aloud."
Anyway -- you've already received excellent advice here, as always! Just hang in there. You ARE doing great, and your children are PROOF! (((BIG HUGS)))

Kathryn, I am very impressed w/your motivation to keep at it, even for 15 minutes of each hour. In your situation, I always tend to crawl under the afghan (sp?) and sleep. There is no limit to how much I can sleep, I believe.

(((Nancy))) also... 105... * whew * Hot here, too, but at least we've had a break from the 100 degree temps for a while.
Likewise, Cowinkie!

Cowinkie -- Just keep telling me ALL YEAR how wonderful retirement is. I almost hope I get the class from H-E-You-know-where... to help me be READY to give this up 9 months from now. It would be/will be so nice to be out of school during the time of year when dh is taking me off to a ballgame every Saturday. For the duration of college football season, I always feel that I have NO WEEKEND at all... and it does exhaust me. Only one more football season to deal with that!

(((Elizabeth))) Sooo difficult to watch a much-loved pet pass away. (((DD))) too.

(((Indiana)))

Waving to ALL of you!!! Hope you have a good rest-of-the-day!

[Sadie]

Another HOT day here. I ‘m not sure of the temp.

Trying to unpack as well as get the house in shape. Worked until 12:30 and called it quits.

I am so exhausted. Yesterday DH and I went shopping for new work boots for him. We went back and forth between two stores. He always goes to those western wear stores for boots. Tried on some at both stores and finally settle for a pair, I hope they work out for him. I just got so tired from standing and being in the heat.

He treated me to dinner at Olive Garden so can’t complain.

Wanted to write a bit more about the trip.

On the Sunday we got in NY, DH , Dson-16 and I went over to Daunt Betty’s house. Dsons-21 and 22 were worn out from the travel with stomach problems and just wanted to rest..

We had come 1400 miles on this trip and then got lost looking for her house in the half mile to her house. So I called her on my cell phone and she told us how to find her house.

She was standing on her porch waiting for us when we pulled up. It was so very good to see her. She is 93 but gets around so very well. She refuses to use a cane or walker to help her. She said they ruin your posture and make you dependent on them. So she says she walks a little funny but she get around ok.

Her house had so many familiar things from years ago in it. Brought lots of memories back to me. She bakes every day and gives it away as she is a diabetic. But she had goodies for us to eat.

She has a great sense of humor and told funny stories with punch lines. Reminded me of a stand up comedian. She hugged me and the hugged DH and Dson-16 saying I just love to hug men.

DH and I went over each day we were there for a visit, and different sons would go with us so they all got to spend time with her. She loved to visit.

Way back before I had thought of going on the trip, I had a dream about my Dmom and in it she told me to find her cookie jar. I woke up wondering where it was. A few days later Dbrother asked me if I knew where the cookie jar was. I said I didn’t know. Then I was talking to Daunt on the phone and out of the blue she asked if I knew that she had my Dmom’s cookie jar. It caught by breath for a second and from there it turned into a desire to see Daunt and put Dmom to rest. So after visiting with her for a couple of times, I asked my Daunt if she would leave the cookie jar to me in her will. She said she would give it to me then. She was crying when she gave it to me as she said it made her so very happy to know that it was going back with me.

Will write more tomorrow about the towns we saw and my sisters-inlaw.

[lucylee]

Sadie, that is such an amazing and sweet story about the cookie jar! I am sooo glad your aunt let you take it home with you!

[OKay]

Sadie - I am enjoying reading your about your trip. The cookie jar is a family heirloom. I'm so glad you have it.

I just took a peek at our weather forecast (I try to ignore it when it doesn't have anything different) because we were suppose to drop below 100's on Wednesday. ***VBSigh**** I shouldn't have looked. We just have more of the same in the next 7 days. A couple days ago a heard that was Day #26 being over 100 degrees so I'm sure we are over #30 days now. Worst than the heat (IMHO) is the no moisture.

DMom called this morning for our typical morning chat. She proceeded to tell me she has volunteered me. DBrother will need to have someone stay with him for the 1st week after his shoulder surgery. She told DBro that I would be willing to stay with him and help him since I will soon have my days free with LO in school. She also told him that I would take him 8 hours drive away for a 2nd opinion. About the time I started wondering why she would take this upon herself to make these decisions for me.....she softly said ">>>My First Name<<<, I can't help him. He needs someone and I can't be there for him. I need you to be there for me". THEN I understood. DMom is still grieving DBro #1 death and not being able to be there with him during his hospital stays. It doesn't matter that DBro was always surrounded by multiple family members.....SHE wasn't there. She can't stand the thought of another son not having her Momma pampering.....so this is how she is handling it. DMom would go to the moon for any of her children, but she will NOT leave DDad side and he can't go there.

DBro and I have been talking this past week about his surgery. He called late last night and asked me to research a couple things for him. He has never used a computer. I've got those done and printed out to give him when he comes to check cattle today.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Okay and Sadie: I must be in delicate emotional state today because I'm tearing up over both your stories about a mother's love.

I went back to bed for an hour which stretched into 2. Watched the women's soccer team lose to the US team (grrrrrr, but it was a pretty goal.)

Ds should have been here at least an hour ago so now I'm starting to worry. Most likely, he didn't wake up from his sleep (he was on the overnight shifts on the weekend but also went outdoor rock climbing yesterday so only had naps through the day.) We tried calling him but his phone is off and his roommate's phone wasn't picked up either, so we are going ahead with eating and ds can eat when/if he gets here.

[Cowinkie]

Handing my hanky to you KIC.

Indi, tell ol' Mother Nature to buzz out and give you a break. Maybe we need to stand round in a circle with you in the middle so we ca protect you from her evil forces....

I don't think Sweetie is feeling himself today. I held off on the house blessing and am reminded of Lucylee and her dh. I think working on the car out in the garage with no A/C is finally catching up with him. Not that he would listen to me...

My mom made me sit with herfor entire day while she went through everything she wanted done when she dies. Glad to have these conversations, but my goodness. We had to go through every piece of jewelery she owned and designate who would get them. Enjoyed rehearing all the stories that went with each piece. However she wanted me to retell everything to my brother so he would know....this is not a secret because we've know all this stuff for years. Knew my brother would say to me...whatever you decide....which is exactly what he said....but I told him if my mom questioned him as to whether I had followed her instructions the least he could do was pretend he knew what she was talking about.

Off to make dinner........

[helia]

What heart-warming stories, Sadie and OK.

((HUGS)) to those who aren't feeling well. What a bummer.

Thank you for all the thoughts! Wow, you all are like cyber counselors or something. I have much to think about. I'm not sure exactly what is going on inside dmom, but I do know that I need to do what I can to love her well. And I'm not going to let anything she says hinder my enjoyment of my kids. I really enjoyed their humor and camaraderie at dinner tonight. Dh was off to a work-related dinner.

I got the meal made and delivered to the young couple. I chatted with them a little; they are really nice and might visit our church. Their little boy is adorable, of course - 2 weeks old, I think.

Off to round up the kids to help get the kitchen back in order. Then, I'm going to keep laundry going. I might go to the gym tonight; if I run on the treadmill, I can also watch the Olympics on one of the screens in the room.

[Harriet]

My evening has been calmer than my morning. I did an extra load of laundry, finished through to drip-dry. Let the girls out to bug-hunt. Made lemon-mint-cucumber-ginger water, steeping for tomorrow in the fridge and labeled.

Indiana, you are on my mind. I hope the weather has a blow-through change soon. Here we are having thunderstorms every day so at least one thing we can be sure of is change. The skies at mid-day have been worthy of Emptynester waxing poetic, and it has cooled down to only 90.

Waving to Sunny, who said something to which I wanted to respond but now I forget. I'm sure I would have been profound.

sherinjoy, how does it feel to settle in home again?