Smouldering Sunday

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Someone had a bonfire in the area. Couldn't hear the party but certainly smelled the smoke, it kept me awake until past 1:30. Sigh.....

As the saying goes, where there's smoke, there's a chance of fires developing. What is 'smouldering' on the backburner that you can turn your attention to, or at least take time to develop a plan to work during the upcoming week?

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

I got up at 12:30 and closed the window. At 1:30 I had to put on eucalyptus oil to break my congestion because I couldn't breathe, my nose had clogged up. I don't think of myself as allergic to smoke so am wondering if it was the wood they were burning. At first it smelled pleasant, then it got thicker and started to irritate my nose and throat. I haven't tried talking or singing this morning, I just hope my voice is OK.

Didn't finish the services until 10:15. Need to go over them now.

Ds is home. He'll be back to work for 3 to 11 p.m. Tomorrow's shift starts at 4 p.m. He had forgotten about the shift tomorrow so I'm glad I mentioned it. He had put it on the calendar but his phone didn't update the calendar so it fell off his radar. He'll be able to get 12 hours of sleep tonight and the unexpected shift is only 5 hours so he'll get another 10 hours sleep before his eye appointment on Tuesday. He's offered to drive me into town if I'm doing my volunteering at Presbytery. I'll think about it.

[CathyS]

Smouldering on my back burner? My dad is "alone" for this next week and is trying to make me and my sister feel guilty about it. His caregiver is on a planned family vacation. His lady friend is also on vacation. He has someone coming in to administer his eye drops 3 x per day and he also has to inject himself in the stomach with blood thinner (not Warfarin or Heparin). He has meals in the freezer for the week. He just doesn't want to be alone. My sister made sure that she was out of town for the week. My brother goes to his cottage every weekend and doesn't seem to be willing to take any time off work. I live the closest. Mike is home most of the time and I told my dad that if he needed any rides, that Mike was just a phone call away because I have to work. (I can get the time off, but my sister and brother have told me that I am not to be doing that.)

Guilt is bubbling over and spilling on to the stovetop like a pot of soup put on a high temperature and forgotten about.

I have a "dreaded" event tonight. Best friend's 50th birthday party. I won't know anyone else going to the restaurant as they are all "work friends" of hers. I have the card and 2 gift cards and I will be pitching in towards the cost of her dinner (as suggested by the person who set this up.) The anxiety is overwhelming this morning and I will be taking my bottle of Ativan with me.

[DeeClutter]

Woeee! I just remembered what I've had 'smouldering' for weeks! I have church council tomorrow night (we don't meet in July) -which means I've had 2 months to do this. Not that I haven't had other things going on! So guess that means I absolutely have to do it today. Tomorrow we start watching dgs8, dh has cardiac rehab in the morning, and we have the (obviously changed by dr's office) eye appointment in the afternoon. Dh could maybe drive to his rehab, but definitely would have no strength to drive home. I'm usually the 'driver' anyway.

See gd15 posted they crossed in to FL last night somewhere between 8 and 9. DD did post at one point that they had just paid $3.13 for gas -ours is closer to $3.85 and the temp was 100! Their plan was to go to Flagler Beach today for a few hours -supposedly meeting dsonil there-. Then he was taking dlab home (about 2 hours) and dd will take gd back to the youth ranch. She's ready for that.

[Harriet]

Cathy, anxiety is a funny ingredient when mixed with reality and stirred. What we are worried about almost never turns out to be the thing that really goes wrong. Time passes, we look back, and we say, "Gee, I wish I'd known what SHOULD have been worrying me." So since it's a mystery anyway, don't assume you'll have such a lousy time. It's tough to be "odd man out" at an event, but you care about your friend, so be happy for her that she has so many good friends at work and just be the best "other guy" you can be. Your friend may zero in on you as the guest she's proud to "show off" to her work friends. You might be surprised how much it means to her that you would come and brave the unknown!

I'm having a dickens of a time planning a party for dd14. It's tough when you're the youngest and your siblings and all working, with inflexible work schedules that don't match at all.

Ds is going to meet us here before church and we'll go together.

[Nancy]

What is smoldering? thinking on that...oh I've got it plenty of hot spots to attend to around here this week. Laundry etc. I have a pen pal letter to finish and send and need to write mom. Would like to get to the berry patch as well as it's time to see about the later berries.

This morning I've fed the chickens did my journaling outside on the patio. That was fun still need to go my at reading. I worked on the neighbors pruning low handing branches a bit so mowing is easier glad to have that progress.

All the chickens fit on the roosts so 16 is a good number here. Yea! Yesterday I caugh h. packing a chicken around petting it and talking to it before returning it to the chicken area from the patio.

H. & dgd had fun at the demo derby.
I'm happy with my progress on the house.
It's at least tolerable today I'll take that.

[BookSaver]

Good morning, villagers ~
I've spent a couple of hours decluttering Emails from a couple of accounts. Easy but time-consuming.

I'm still feeling a bit discombobulated from my trip. Unpacking and putting things away immediately did not help. Hoping that since yesterday was a "normal" Saturday schedule and today should be a "normal" Sunday, that will put me back on track.

Mid-August already. I'm wondering what summer activities do DH and I need to squeeze in before the warm weather disappears?

[CathyS]

Thank you Harriet. Someone just called here and told Mike that dinner is now at 6 instead of 7.

Mike and I are enjoying some cut up Niagara peaches for breakfast # 1. I have been informed that an omelet is in my future.

[Harriet]

Such a warm, meaningful time at church. My green-eyed boy fell while toddling around the playground, but aunt dd14 was the nursery helper today, so all the tears were eased. Goldfish crackers cure plenty. We couldn't find a mark on him later and he had forgotten. Many condolences were offered to ds28, who several there haven't seen since the funeral. His same-age second cousin, we were told, had to be turned around and taken back home by her husband before they reached church, because of tummy upset. Hmmm... ...

The party is now tentatively scheduled for next Sunday afternoon, and ddil will just not be able to be there. She knows I had to make a decision that favored the most work schedules, and as a part-time, recently-hired RN, she is working almost all Sundays on the pediatric wing. Kinda too bad, because with her maternal family business of catering, she is not only lots of help with get-togethers, she genuinely appreciates the food/table. I'll send her photos!

A package which, when fully opened, seems likely to be a present for dd14, has arrived without invoice, giftwrap or note, to HRH's name, all perfectly spelled and addressed on a business-like typed label. We are mystified. As of this a.m., all siblings say it's not them. Quite contemporary-teen-ish, it doesn't seem likely it came from an older relative, and it's too much to be from another cash-strapped teen, lol. Very interesting it was addressed to HRH. I feel as though someone is out there thinking some form of explanation came along with it. This is why we should all remember to inform the recipient when a gift is on its way without us. Too many things can go wrong. I'm reminded of the envelope that looked just like the company's usual mailer, which I almost tossed, glanced at again, and realized was a gift certificate from dd's aunt.

BookSaver, the way I've been able to tell you were discombobulated was that we heard so little about the trip! Your posts concentrated on everything that happened right on its heels. I think you ended up really busy afterward, and that's probably what's left you feeling this way.

[OKay]

Slept very well last night. Was groggy and not ready to wake up when fitbit started vibrating at 4:30am. Turned it off and next thing I know the clock said it was 6:15. Started doing my daily leg lifts before getting out of bed however I must have fell back to sleep because the next thing I knew it was 7:00!

I was ready to leave for church when my stomach started acting up. I'm not sure what the cause is, so I stayed home to make sure I didn't spread a virus (if it turns out to be that).

Last night was okay but not something I want to repeat anytime soon. LO at the movies was not a good mix. I thought the movie (Planes) was perfect for his age however he didn't enjoy it. About 10 minutes into the movie, he leaned over and asked if we could leave now. It went downhill from there. Afterwards, DGS16 said we should make LO watch more TV so he would learn to sit still and watch a show. LO sits quietly in church so I know he knows how to sit and be quiet. I'm not concerned if he isn't interested in plopping down in front of the TV and staring at the screen for hours at a time. Given his lack of interest, I don't think we will be taking LO to watch another movie any time soon.