a-z Thursday

[Harmony]

Lynlee, that was a thought-provoking opening this morning. Nice.

(Dee) I'm sorry your time each winter here in Florida is so difficult. Oh, you might appreciate this: I tried to buy pointsettia's today, and they had gobs of them, but chose to throw them away and take the loss rather than sell them reduced. They were dry but I could see they would have worked fine eventually. Oh, well. And I had just the right spot to put them and waited all year for them to come out... they grow so nicely in Florida.

I am trying to figure out what to do next. There is so much.

I went out with DH, we went to post office, mailed off all the government forms (they had to be weighed) and all the employee stuff. So that is out of my hair for another year. Yay!

Got prescription straightened out at drug store. They had tried a couple times to refill it but insurance wouldn't let them as it was too soon; then they just quit trying and I was down to 5 days. I take 2 things, and neither is optional and cannot be missed. So we went back and picked that up. Got pictures of Christmas printed and picked out a 5 x7 of the DGKids with their quilts to put in a frame above my sewing machine. That will be ready later.

I'm trying to straighten out my receipts, my wallet, my purse...purse is worn out, wallet doesn't close, and I have a nice new one all leather (gift from Italy from DD1) but I'm thinking it will be hard to use everyday. Lots of clasps and zippers. My quilted bag I've been using is ok except for the straps. I need to get all this stuff organized, it's driving me crazy. Today I couldn't find my debit card which just got tossed into the mess there...

And I am so frustrated. The house is falling way behind. Christmas decorations are still up and I'm ready to take them down now. Laundry needs folded. Dishes need put away. I just do not know where to start, I am so behind.

Trying to add 2 things in this year but I really don't have time for them and that is upsetting. I have too much to do every day to keep up properly.

Well, sitting here isn't helping. Here I go to do something.

[Harriet]

((Harmony)) How like P and P of you to frame that so fast - it will give you smiles.

Lynlee, I certainly agree with R and also like the change you made to P. (HRH says, don't say you are expert, say you are experienced.) The alphabet reminds me of dd's psychology teacher's recent assignment. She had them come up with 14 personality traits that described them and be able to explain why they felt each one was a trait of theirs. A lot in that alphabet sounds like the "positive" personality traits they learned.

Kathryn, some of your dd's thoughts sound like a person who does still believe in more than randomness. The rain falls on the just and the unjust. An agnostic would point out randomness only, not ponder how desired life events might cement or undo faith, not consider equating or comparing with others who experience those events.

I got to sleep late, had sleep interrupted twice because dd couldn't sleep and felt sick-ish in the night. By 11 she had decided to call me. She felt so unwell she had to be picked up at school. This is her tummy. Turns out 11:15 or so is the moment of decision whether you are "present" for a day or not, so the school secretary did log her in as staying long enough to be counted. I appreciated that.

Morning Dailies are done, but little else.
I had a brunch of omelet with peppers and onion.

It is Desk Day for our household.
Declutter and focus cleaning are also still to do.

[Lilac]

All of the decorations are stored for another year. When I finished rearranging the storage closet, it is still full but at least it is organized again. I noticed that there were boxes that needed sorted thru that are paper, but no magazines. Next time I work on it, I am moving them out of there. But for the time being, they are fine.

Guess I better get a shower. I want to watch the Fiesta Bowl tonight and I don't want to watch it looking like this.

[helia]

I love coming here and reading all you dear ladies' thoughts on daily life and everything. ((HUGS)) on those who need them. I even had a dream last night that our whole village had gone to Kathryn's church. Her minister friend was preaching and something was very sad; at least I was sad but I knew I was not alone in my grief b/c all of you were there. I saw Kathryn in my dream, but not the rest of you; I'm not sure I even spoke with any of you in my dream -- I just knew you were there. So, you have all made it into my subconscious.

I do hope dd14 feels better soon, Harriet.

On a conscious note, this day is going more slowly than planned, but it is going.

Done:
/ a.m. routine; I still need to make my bed to call it complete
x scheduled practice session for dd14 w/ her piano accompanist
x scheduled oboe lesson for dd14
x updated January calendar; got dh's travel, that he knows of, on my calendar through May
x crockpot started
x haircut and highlight
x breadmaker started

I'm having a snack now and will soon get potatoes in the oven. Then, I'll have some quiet study time before I prep the green beans and garlic. Dd14 and I need to leave here at 6 to pick up dfriend and then head to the synch. swimming slumber party.

Dh has gone for a run. I declined to join him for a walk this time; there are too many things I haven't gotten to that I would like to.

The girls are supposed to be writing the New Years letter, but I'm not sure what sort of progress they've made - or not.

This is the 6th time we've had people over for dinner in the last 2 weeks. It has been low-key in that it has usually been 1 or 2 people, and R almost doesn't count since he eats with us pretty often, but I think I'll be happy to be less social once this vacation is over. I'll be happy to have my house to myself a little more often, that's for sure.

[Twins' Mom]

I was done with funeral and meal and all about 2:45 so went on to the car dealership and got my burned out lights and windshield wipers changed out so quickly that I came home for a little downtime. Still didn't get books dropped at library, or by the alteration place. I am heading out again in a couple of minutes for a temple meeting - shouldn't be too long.

Dh came home early and isn't feeling well.

[ellyphant]

Sheets changed and 2 lols accomplished. Found my missing Christmas potholder! It had fallen down beside the washer. I was mortified thinking that I delivered it in the bag with a meal I took to a church family over the holiday. I knew it needed washing.

Rearranged table, buffet, and movable kitchen island. It looks good...too bad I didn't do this before the family was here visiting. DH always gets upset if I involve him in moving furniture. Have learned to do these things on my own to keep the peace.

Didn't hem my curtain yet, but thinking about it...

[Harmony]

Plodding along. I decided to add those 2 things to my day right away before the time got away. I jumped on the elliptical for 5 minutes, then I sat down and had QT. Too often that gets missed in the busyness of my days.

Ran outside and picked beans and watered all the shrubs and the bulbs we spread out and replanted yesterday. Back inside I processed the beans for the freezer along with a bowl in the refrigerator.

Back to my desk, I discovered a receipt I needed to log, and the report I'm keeping that stuff on was confusing to me...so back to the computer where I couldn't find the original spreadsheet...so I made another. 2 pages easily read and understood. And set up properly and saved. I will use this one for years, until we sell this house or move or something.

House is still a mess. Will I ever get it all done?

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

The foyer tree is put away. And the dining room and living room (except tree) are done. I need to sweep the foyer and then Pierre (my small tree) needs to be put back. He has lights on him year round so brightens the hallway when the Christmas tree is not there.

Turns out I didn't have the full episode recorded so only got to watch 2/3 of it. The remainder is summarized on the internet so I'm ok with that. Still have a behind the scenes to watch which I will after dinner.

Dh is making his dinner now (pasta) and I'm just heating my hamburg/rice chowder. I'm starving because I missed lunch (and a nap) today.

[Emptynester]

The MH is home. Now people will quit asking us if we sold it. Everything now works on it - so it will be fun to take it out into the desert in a couple of weeks.

I removed almost all of the batten strips today so when the contractor comes he can skim coat the walls. We are still waiting for him to come today to talk to us about the counter tops.

Had a long phone call with Customer Service at one of our Credit Unions. It wouldn't let me log on. After much discussion we found out that I have to type in 10 digit account number (I was using copy and paste) before it will work. DUH! That was the first question I answered when we started the conversation. Guess he didn't listen. But he was nice so that is done. Now have changed login to something I can remember (don't like long numbers) and wrote it in my password book.

Next up in the things I don't want to do - is that I have to figure out how to use my points gained with buying all the appliances yesterday. I have almost $150 accumulated. It is time to use them or lose them.

While I'm thinking about it - going to go out to MH and find some things I can't find in here.

[Lilac]

The new tree is finally down and downstairs. It is a good thing that I decided to use the old tree box for it because one section is over 50 inches and another is 45. This tree just has 3 sections. I am going it let it sit overnight and rotate it so that it loses it's fullness. I can't believe they way they cram trees into these slender boxes. I don't know how anyone ever gets their tree into them. The old box is a lot bigger than the ones that I seen when I bought this new tree. In 86 I bought a new tree and the box was almost the size of a long chest freezer. It was not crammed in there at all. Luckily had a stairway to store it under and it took up a lot of room.

It sure is bare where the tree was. I was second guessing my decision to bring in the library table and put it there, but I think it will work great.