New Day Tuesday

[MysteryWoman]

Back from dropping off the kids. Tomorrow will be a bit different, but not noticeably -- DD's class has a field trip in this neck of the woods for a Science Fair introduction (run by the girls' former gifted resource teacher, who has largely reinvented herself as a STEM resource teacher), so when I pick up the carpool kids, I will drop off DD, and their mom will drop off DD and their eldest for the field trip on her way to work, while I take the younger ones to school. The school actually encouraged parents on this side of town to do this, particularly as the program starts early enough that the bus from the school will have to leave before the school's official start time.

I sense a nap in my future -- for the second straight night, I got to bed late, then slept badly. The cough syrup with labeled dosing of every 4 hours wore off right on schedule , and at one point, I managed to turn off my side of the electric blanket (probably when reaching for a tissue to blow my nose), and I woke up from the chill.

I see Harriet has given Ivy the scoop on CEO. I was about to, after CUOPing from last night. Interestingly enough, I just got Houseworks out of the library the other day.

Glad the ring situation is just about resolved, Harriet.

helia, a white sauce, or some variation thereof, can be used in place of canned cream soups. I suspect the soups originally found their way into the recipes as a time-saving replacement for the white sauce. Funny, though -- my DM went to all the trouble of making a white sauce for her tuna noodle (and adding peas & carrots) when I was a kid, and I preferred my DGM's, which used mushroom soup, even though I hated mushrooms (and still am not a big fan of them).

Have done 5 cards of 27. I got all but 2 done yesterday. Next up for me:
• tidy the bathroom
• start a load of wash
• clean off the dining table

[Harmony]

Yes, Scattered, that was an awesome evaluation. I cut my holey socks (DH's actually) into a flat (almost) piece and we use for rags. He's always grabbing something to use for a grease rag.

Still in PJ's. I go to dr. this morning, and I wanted to get paperwork done first.
Proposal done and emailed off to customer.

Emptied email box.
Another set of sheets are in the wash. Dry ones from yesterday hanging in garage are brought in and folded. I'm working my way down through the large pile.

bbl

[BookSaver]

Good morning, villagers ~

(I started writing this before I cuop. Coincidentally, I also mentioned working on a new habit. SHE minds thinking alike there ~ )

I didn't think I got much done yesterday. However, I just sorted the daily cards and found that I'd done almost all of them automatically.

OK, that means it's safe to start working on a new habit. What did I miss? Hmm ... looks like I usually forget to sweep the kitchen floor and back stairs. With just the 2 of us, you wouldn't think it would get that bad, but sometimes it's just plain awful. Doesn't help that the kitchen flooring is starting to show its age. Right, that's the next habit to learn, sweep the floor and stairs every day.

Looked at the reminders I posted yesterday, and I can cross off a couple. Of course, I had to add a couple that I remembered after posting. Today is errand day that will take care of several more.

Scattered ~ I treat holey and orphaned socks the same as paper towels. (But remember, we have 3 cats with sometimes delicate stomachs, so their messes are yucky. No problem throwing away a sock with cat yak.) Socks also good for wiping any spills in the kitchen. They've been washed first, of course, but who cares on the floor. I've even been known to use a big tube sock to quickly damp mop the floor of the tiny powder room upstairs, it catches all the loose hair. A few days ago I saw a tip to use a sock on a Swiffer handle instead of buying the refill cloths. They are also absorbent enough to soak up grease that you're draining from cooked hamburger or sausage -- because of course you NEVER pour grease down the sink, right?

[blessedw2]

hoping to spend time here.

hello lucy sending you the energy of 100( straight out of college) teachers for the next few weeks
hi scattered tins lyn ok helia elly harmony harriet kathryn book ivy lisa nancy mt dee cowinke (hope the headache is gone)

[blessedw2]

room by room: have to pack away things for floors to be sanded

1. dining room

[OKay]

Back from delivering LO to school. The car windows were completely iced over this morning (first time this year). I don't have time to clear the windows built into my time to leave/arrive at school so some adjustment is needed.

DH is gone to town to buy tires for friend who is in final stages of cancer. There was many phone calls and discussions last night about how to respond to their plea for financial help. It is heartbreaking to see someone struggle with consequences of bad decisions....especially when there is a devastating illness added. They are asking for the church to step in and cover their bills. The desire to help is high, but the knowledge of how they spent the $$ given them last month dampers the desire to repeat it. Throwing $$ at their problems is effective as putting a bandaid over a gushing wound. For now, the decision was to get their car back on the road by putting tires on it. Yug. No one wants to find themselves in this situation. Not the one with their hands out.....nor the ones wishing there was a way they could truly help.

Yesterday I was fascinated watching the head plumber work. He is well into his 70's (probably close to 80 year old) but you wouldn't know it by how he works. He runs everywhere! EVERYWHERE! When he gets on the backhoe he mounts it with a leap! A running leap! Amazing! He was working in a hole about waist deep and he would jump into the hole. Not gingerly climb down....but run & JUMP into the hole! I keep thinking about his physical capabilities at his age. I am wondering why I limit myself? If he can go full out then what is holding me back?

Schedule? WHERE IS MY SCHEDULE? Running to find it and gear up

[MysteryWoman]

Previous done, as well as tidying the couch & coffee table and the playroom (which didn't need much, because the girls actually went in to pick up before bed!). Will flip wash, then take that nap -- I am too bleary to CUOP, and I nearly put a dirty dish on the windowsill instead of the DW.

[Lilac]

Dd1 called and dgd16s car wouldn't start. Could I pick her and her friend up and get them to school? My hair was sticking straight up, so I grabbed a hat. I had on a pj shirt, but did put on jeans instead of leaving on pj bottoms. White socks with sandals and a sweater. Quite the get up. Dgd16 had been crying. I asked where her friend lives but the friends mother had taken her! Dgd16 takes her dd every day, would it have hurt them to have picked up dgd16? They live within a block or two, so it would not have been out of the way. I did not mind taking her, but I guess this is a life lesson for her. It is hard to count on HS friends, they just care about themselves, when it comes right down to it. Dgd16 has an ortho appt after school, so I will pick her up and drop her off for that. Dd1 will not take a lunch period, so she can leave early to pick her up and talk to the orthodontist if necessary.

Dd2 is having a time with that dgd16. She is very smart but very lazy. Her grades are not where they should be. If your grades are high enough you don't have to take finals. Yesterday was dgd16 appt. with the surgeon for her gall bladder issue. He told her she had 2 choices, live with it because there isn't a pill for it or take it out. Of course, dgd16 opted to have it out. Her surgery is scheduled for Dec. 19. If her grades were where they should be, then she wouldn't have to worry about taking finals early.

Both dgds16 have careers planned that demand a college education. They need to step it up if they want to fulfill their dreams. Their parents are all college educated and they have been taught to value education. We all get frustrated at their lack of motivation, when they are more than capable. One dgd16 is more interested in her social life and the other is pure laziness. grrrrrr

I had planned to stay home today and clean. Since I have to get out later, I can run a few errands then.

We put the tree up on Sunday but I haven't started putting ornaments on it yet. I wanted to wait until I had cleaned and then can put out all the decorations, also.

Guess I better get started or it will be time to pick up dgd16.

[ellyphant]

I woke up to a couple inches of snow this morning. This is a wet snow, so it covers all the tree branches and the woods are beautiful. Oops, I should have first said good morning to all!

scattered, I treat spare socks much the same as Booksaver does. Use them for dusting or to clean a bathroom, then no guilt about throwing them in the trash. My problem is ratty old t-shirts. Have cut them up for rags for DH to use or will wear one when I color my hair, then throw it away.

Christmas decorating continues here. Will give myself a snow day today and then tomorrow finish shopping and get car inspected.

My strength is organizing, believe it or not. As a child, I noticed other kids thought that cleaning their room meant throwing things in the closet or toybox. I preferred to place them in neatly in a certain order! My home life was a little chaotic, so I think I was trying to create order where I could.

[Lilac]

Okay, that is wonderful and amazing that a man that age can work like that.

blessedw2, congratulations on your Christmas shopping success. Oh just noticed, ellyphant is almost finished with her shopping, too. You are both doing great.