Friday Fun

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Back from the church supper. We got there 90 minutes late but were the last ones out of the church because I insisted on staying and working hard on the cleanup since we weren't there for setup. Still, we were home just 50 minutes after the dinner was officially over.

Ds got up when he heard us so I zapped 1/2 a serving of stew for him and he had that plus a clementine and some blackberries.

Don't know how much energy I'll have this evening. Dh was freaking out because I was working so hard on clean up but I had done nothing during the meal except visit (there was some pastoral care to be done) and only began hard, physical labour after people were done eating.

Everything is cleaned up here at home and the crock pot ready to go back to the basement. I need to type of the stew recipe and forward it to someone who asked me for it. Dh is watching a movie. Ds would watch it but says he doesn't have the energy.

[Ivy]

I didn't get much done today, wasn't feeling well, but got in a good long nap. I fixed a contract to go out for a story, which I'm happy about. I didn't do outlines, but I found a LOT of papers with titles on them and the names of characters. They just need plotting in outline form done on them and the actual writing either by hand first or just by what some writers call SOTP, which is by the Seat Of The Pants, where you just sit and write directly without writing on paper first.

I'm glad I got in a nap. The mail brought 1 letter and 1 crochet magazine and Jan. devotion booklet.

I didn't do laundry, it was too windy, and DH agreed with me if the power went out we'd have wet laundry. Will try to tomorrow. I wasn't up to do laundry anyway.

Kathyrn, I thought TOM was Tom the Turkey. I hope your dson gets well soon.

Scattered, you work so hard! They'd better value you! They have a good worker!

Twins, I'm glad your meeting with the rabbi went well, too.

OKay, I hope you can not have anymore plumbing problems, after you return from your trip and get the stuck washrag fixed out of the pipe.

Harriet, You had an amazing list of to do's to do today. I'm glad you went to your dcousin's funeral. Some people skip them altogether. They say you go for the living; not the dead.

Sometimes it's hard to go, since family situations are such as they are, for me, so I don't go. But I went to my step-dad's in 2009 and it was full military honors. It was great to see everybody although I'm not close with anybody except my half-sister.

Nancy, Your grands will never ever forget you and the memories you made with them!

I got the name of Bert & Ernie from somebody else here in the Village, who was naming things one day. I think Fred's the Freezer, but cannot be certain. We should make up names for the toilets and sinks. Tom the Toilet and Sally the Sink or something better than those.

I just took some more Children's Elixir, which helps. This has been nagging at me for about a week now. I wondered if I picked it up at the eye doctor's clinic because when you lean with your forehead into the top of the machine, put your chin on the chin rest, your hands are grabbing hand grips. I thought, at the time, gee, I wonder how many of other peoples' germs are on these things.

Booksaver, My nap was good, too. Do you also have a Nook or Kindle? Just curios with your love of books.

MT, That sign with the motto sounds so nice! I'm glad you found it in order to feel Indy's presence.

Harriet, Are you talking about wooden decorative eggs? I have a tray and a bowl, with carved fruits that go in them, from about the 1970's. I ought to get the tray out and decorate some place with it. I have the bowl in the entry way. The wood makes them look so pretty and rich.

OH! I almost forgot! I get a newsletter for people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. I don't have CFS, but I have FM. The newsletter stated how the holidays can bring on more stress to = more pain, and other problems. So they said to remember the 3 P's: PLANS, PRIORITY, PACING! It's so important for anyone, who even doesn't have a physical or emotional illness at this time of year. It is a smart way to make it through the day without wearing ourselves out!

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Ivy Priority, planning and pacing are certainly a part of my life right now. I have to keep reminding myself to be as easy as possible on me because, not only do I have 2 - 3 months of work to catch up on, I also have 2 hours less a day in which to do my regular workload. So something has to be jettisoned.

Ds was almost in tears when he realized all that has to be jettisoned from his life. He's been training to do Ski Patrol (which cost $250.) That's gone now since he'll miss 4 of the sessions and the final exam. He was also signed up for a multi-week climbing competition ($100) and he won't be able to climb for at least 4 - 6 weeks.

Add in the lost wages (no benefits, including no sick leave) and he's set back months on his savings plan. I suspect he'll have to delay Australia. (On the other hand, thank heavens this hit now and not when he was there. And it helps that I've just been through this so know exactly how he's feeling. Dh was commenting on how last weekend ds just sat at the table and didn't help with dishes or anything else. Now I understand that he physically couldn't volunteer to do anything.)

I'm working my way through the week's mail right now. Maybe I'll get the meal plan and grocery list made up as well.

[OKay]

I found my way here! I am on a new device and could not remember the URL so it took several tries

Trip here was uneventful. DSon/DDIL had a feast prepared for us. Excellent! DGD1 has been in my arms or right beside me 99% of the time. I am honored that she has bonded with me. DGS6 and LO played nonstop for 8 hours without a murmur. They are going to sleep well tonight

DSon handed me a new Microsoft Surface device to try. I fell in love with it. He insisted that I keep it. This thing is amazing!

[Harmony]

Have enjoyed reading your Thanksgiving celebrations, and all sounded nice, whether you were alone or had lot of people around.

Mine was great in many ways. I am choosing to focus on the positives. Everybody got here safely. The DGKids are a joy to be around. All the food turned out delicious. Extra guests (DSiL's brother and his sister) arrived with green bean caserole and big cheesecake. The brother's 2 kids came and sat at the kitchen table with the other kids and ate their 2nd meal. They came back after leaving for someplace else later. As the DGKs played in the family room, we grownups took over the living room, pulling extra chairs in there and had great conversations. People were comfortable enough to wander into the kitchen by themselves and help themselves to extra desserts and coffee, making me smile.

DD1 left for a plane ride to Island town for best friend's wedding. They will return Sun afternoon to get their 3 kids who stayed here. DD2 left this afternoon, with plans to attend big college football game, and she had families to leave 2 of her kids with but not the 3rd, so we also have her youngest boy also. He will go back home with DD1 and they'll meet up to pick him up.

All in all it was a success. Many of the dishes we made were of the last minute stand-and-cut-up-and-bake variety, so DD2 and I worked in the kitchen all afternoon...I'm talking about 6 hours with DD1 coming in to help a bit also. I am stiffer than stiff and not happy about that. I surely must do something about my weak muscles and stiffness in the coming year.

Biggest challenge was space - in the refrigerator and freezer, on the floor where the boys decided to put the air mattresses for their slumber party. Tonight I cleaned out one kitchen cupboard and organized all the plastic...Most of it is in the refrigerator with left-overs and the rest is thrown away or matched into sets.

Boy I'm tired...and have almost 3 more days to get through.

Kathryn, I'm sorry to read about your DSon. OKay, I hope the plumbing repair is not extensive and expensive. I have little cross pieces inside the top of my drains, I'm not sure a washcloth would go down mine. You might check on that being installed in yours.

[Elizabeth]

Hello everyone! Happy Leftover Turkey Day. My day has been virtually useless. I stayed in bed most of it, not ill, just exhausted. I did get up to go crochet with the group at the yarn shop. I finished a sleeve and started another. I have also cleaned part of the kitchen. I still have to do the sink and one counter, but everything else is done. Now, I will do more crochet for the yarn bombing and watch a mindless video. See you tomorrow!