Finally Friday

[Harriet]

Yes, I can see Cowinkie as a surfer (adventurous) and helia as a cheerleader (enthusiastic).

The "something you don't know about me" answers from me are usually comprised of things you all DO know but others don't. Number one is probably that I keep chickens. That's the thing that makes the most people do a funny double-take. The fact I had a child at 42 raises a few eyebrows. You would think that people in my area would be aware I wrote for the paper for so long, but it turns out very few people actually look at by-lines! LOL. So if that's ever mentioned, it can become a "something you don't know about me", even for someone who says they've been taking our paper for ages!

BookSaver, I so relate to your confusion about how formal the wedding may be, since I really had to rethink a lot about my dnephew's wedding a few weeks ago. Yes, first clue that there ARE seating arrangements at all - LOL! In our case, the noon hour also seemed rather casual, until we learned that this venue is so exclusive and the noon hour is sought-after because of photo opportunities. Smiling that your shoe quandary will not be like mine, however, since our invitation had cautioned about the sand.

Ouch, Ivy!! Feel better.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

My washer is acting up again. I started the load 100 minutes ago and just stopped it. This time the dial motor stopped at the pause and let soak stage so after an hour I asked dh to bring out the clothes for me so I could hang them on the line. It had stopped in the middle of the cycle so we advanced it slightly, it was pumping out the water, so we went on our way and I did a task in the basement (empty the filing cabinet there so dd can take it.) After 30 minutes realized it still hadn't buzzed so checked and it was still pumping water and hadn't moved.

Started a new cycle (but didn't bother to put in soap) and after 7 minutes realized there was no point running the washer now in high-rate time because it is now too late to get things on the line. So I've stopped it and will restart when the rates drop at 7 p.m. It is about 1/3 through the second cycle so will run at least another 30 minutes. The sheets will be well cleaned when this is done. But they won't be line dried and that's the second week in a row. Sigh.

I'm just finishing up lunch now. Got the weekly kitchen chores done before I ate. Came across our fridge magnetic words (a Chinese set and a Christmas set.) Not sure whether to keep them or not. They are stored on cookie sheets to they are easy to use but I never use them. They appeal to me, I love them, but I'm guessing I'm not 'that kind of person.'

Thinking about the magnets got me thinking of dd coming and I emptied out the drawers that hold my sewing things since she's taking that set of drawers. Found temporary home for those items. Found a spot for the photo albums so will move those next. That will empty another bookcase for dd. I'm beginning to think we are getting rid of too many bookcases (we'll be down to 4.5 - one is tiny) but many of those are currently displaying items, not books so I might be ok. There's one 5' wide bookshelf that I'd be happy to get rid of but currently need for the photo albums so it will be one of the last ones disposed of. Dd is taking 4 of our bookshelves and two of ds's. They left all theirs behind (too expensive to move cheap thrift store shelves.)

Dd comes next Tuesday. She and dsil will do another 'pass' through the house looking for things to take. Dh intends on offering dsil Grandpa's roll-top desk. I'm not sure I want to get rid of yet and the offer to dsil is conditional on ds getting it when he has room. I think I want to keep it for ds myself and am hoping it isn't suitable for dsil. It is HUGE (5 feet wide and almost 3' deep) and looks like an antique roll-top desk but he had it custom built for computers. So one pedestal has three drawers (one a filing drawer) and the other is faux drawer fronts that is actually a door that opens to a spot to hold computer tower. There is built in ventilation and cable tracks and two power bars with surge protection. On the desk there are removable cubbies/shelves. You can adjust them for one or two monitors, or, as I have it now, two monitors and a printer. And the tower door locks with a hidden magnetic catch so there is no lock to pick, you have to know where to place an earth magnet on the outside and then slide the catch over.

It is a lovely piece of furniture as well as being practical. I've just never managed to get comfortable working at it. Not sure if that is because of its location (it is in a dark room) or if it just doesn't work for me. Instead I work at my 30" x 18" pine desk in the kitchen which doesn't have any room to spread out so I overtake the kitchen table and counters as well. Once dd takes the spare bedroom furniture, I'm moving my desk up there and will see if not having it forces me to work at Grandpa's desk. I might ask to move the desk up to the kitchen or family room to get it out of the dark living room.

[Twins' Mom]

I'm having a massive "lollygagging" day, not surprising after being productive yesterday and doing the garage clean up on Wednesday. I'd like to get something done this afternoon and I'm thinking it needs to be paper taming. Was thinking about heading up stairs and doing a round of stuff in crafty room but I should do what I should do.

DD showered and took off. I think she is meeting us at temple this evening; I need to s2s before I go.

I napped after dcleaning lady finished up.

Going to work to :15 before TOTH now.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Photo albums are moved.

Dd will be taking the board that makes my standing desk in the basement to make a desk for herself at her new place so I found two more boards I can use. I'm also planning on moving one of my dad's giant tables into the basement. He used them when sewing large canvas projects (boat covers, tents) and they are 5' x 5' so he had room to layout the fabric for cutting. I'll need the space to work on the memory albums when I finally get around to that project later in the winter. Hmmm, I'm away for most of the winter, must get going on those projects soon.

[Lilac]

Kathryn, I just got a dose of what you are dealing with your knees and housework. I was trying to clean dh's bathroom and hand mop and dry it. It hurts to be on my knees, so I felt like I was standing on my head. I have cleaned the toilet and ceramic tile in my bath also. I want to take a shower and then can finish cleaning the bathroom. Kathryn, I am glad you were able to prevent a fall when your knees gave out on the stairway.

helia, dd2 thinks the house they are buying might be too small for them, so she would like us to buy it and then they would buy ours. Which was theirs until 2 years ago. It is a nice house but we keep remembering our move 2 years ago and saying over and over, we aren't doing this again, anytime soon. So. we. are. not!

The phone has rang a lot today with out of town family and friends calling to see if the weather report is accurate and how much snow do we have? It quit snowing about 1:30 and is starting to melt. The sun peaks out every so often.

Better get that shower, that I was going to take hours ago...............

[DeeClutter]

Want us to copy this to remind you, Lilac?

So. we. are. not!

Haven't even gotten here today until now. Glad to see MT peeking in. (((Kathryn))) -sure do know the knee saga. Hoping mine will improve when we finally get to FL.

Well, DD took gd to her new residence in Bradenton, FL today. Said everything went fairly well all day. But gd was MAD when she found out she couldn't keep any electronics (mainly her Ipod). She should have known this from when she was in the Behavior Hospital in Orlando a couple of years ago. DD also knew it, but she figured she'd let them deal with it when they went through her belongings. Think dd is feeling a lot better now that this part is finally done. She was very fearful of how gd would behave today.

DD had called to say she was at the park where my daunt/uncle (the one who's 22 days my 'senior') and asked me to call to let them know she was very close & wanted to stop for a few minutes. Unfortunately they aren't there as yet. But we'll have opportunities over the winter to go see them.

Kept waking up last night with a sore throat. Finally got up and took some medicine middle of the night & slept in the chair. Never did get up until 7:45am. Then had to hustle so I could take dh to his cardiac rehab. Not used to going on Fridays.

Came home, took ty lenol and snoozed for a while. Then went to the grocery store to 1) get a gift card for friend from here who was always making dishes for us this season and 2) get teas & cocoas (I already have different kinds of hot apple cider envelopes) for gift baskets for the cardiology team and for the team at rehab. Dh had asked for a fruit basket but I wasn't comfortable with that and thought of this one. I have one basket but have to get something else. May have something stored away here I can use. So -main emphasis of this story was I CAME AWAY WITH NO GIFT CARD! Arrggghhhh. So now I still have to go back. And I also forgot I wanted to get potatoes to make mashed potatoes for Sunday. (DDIL -DS-A) is having our whole family over for turkey dinner & I volunteered. Now I REAlly have to go back!! Never shop when I don't feel good!!

Got about 1/2" of rain last night and now it looks like it's clouding up for another go-round. Can't believe Lilac is getting that S word. And I was a tad confused about the house buying as well, Helia. Think I've got it now.

Here's dh -must be time for din-din. Later. Going to work on laptop tonight (I hope!).

[Twins' Mom]

Yes, Lilac! We'll keep reminding you! You have no business moving again!

[lucylee]

I've been lollygagging for days, from the looks of this house and my routine checklist.
DH & I saw Gravity last night, in IMAX 3D, and it was good... but not that good. I mean, I thought it was really going to just totally blow me away, from all the hype. And it WAS good, don't get me wrong... but it just wasn't AMAZINGLY good, you know? Maybe I am too hard to impress. Maybe I wanted MORE George Clooney.

Then dgs kept us up VERY, VERY late. He was happy -- as long as he was NOT in his bed.

Slept late this morning... bug lady came and sprayed the house... I took dgs home. Talked to dmom on phone.

Read a lot.

Now we're about to go visit dmil for a minute and then go to ballgame w/dbil.

[Ivy]

GOOD AFTERNOON!

I started a lol, but DH dried it and got it out of the dryer. He laid it flat across the back of the sectional sofa, started to fold, then I came to help him. He got firewood today, stacked a dump truck load here, so he's VERY tired!

I received 3 letters with 1 of my pals' down's syndrome dd's letter. They're short notes, I write her letters and send her stickers. She's such a sweet dear soul. We don't know how fortunate we are. I have 2 down's syndrome cousins, don't know what's ever happened to them, as our family's so large and spread out, I've lost contact. I don't even recall their names, bue remember them from my childhood. I'm lucky that our children and grandchildren were born without it. But my DS is still a blessing. So excited about Special Olympics, is in training, and she has a zest and energy for life. She told her dmom, "I want to be a SHE DEVIL for Halloween this year!" I believe she keeps her about 74-year-old dmom young.

Harriet, It's super you write for the paper!

I need to work on an outline for a title, which popped into my head and the plot is trekking around inside my mind, so I'd better capture the bare bones before I forget it. Resting is helping me feel better, too, as far as the little pulled muscle goes.

Have a GR8 Finally Friday!

OH! P. S. My 5 (4 x 6") index cards are done. I found some scrap book stickers, so at the bottom of my a.m. routine card, I have an "A" and "M" stickers with flowers, etc.. on them and at the bottom of the p. m. routine card, I did the same with a "P" and "M" stickers. I wrote another card for writing work-job, another card for high pain FM days/lay low days, and a Conga Day card for cleaning. It's fun to have such pretty cards because I alternated 2 colors of ink, per card, too, so they're bright and pretty.

[Elizabeth]

Hi everyone! It's 4:30 my time, and I still don't know if I have a broken foot. I did put in a call to the doctor hours ago. At art class, I finished the pen work and started painting. I found something really cool: a solution you mix with regular acrylic paints that makes fabric paint! When I got home, I did the entire FlyLady detailed cleaning list for the laundry room. Of course, that is one room that will not even be seen during the Halloween party. It did have the advantage of not much moving around and it was fast so there was not much standing either.

I had lunch with my friends today and one of them asked me if I would TAKE CARE OF HER CHICKENS while she was away!!! It was her chickens that put a SCAR on my leg and left me bleeding all over her porch. Her chickens attack EVERYONE!!! She offered to pay me, but ABSOLUTELY NO FREAKING WAY would I even venture into her backyard without backup. Preferably a shotgun.

Tonight, there is ladies Bunco at church. This is extremely well timed for me. Normally on Friday night, I go to a knit/crochet group. If I get a spot in the yarn store parking lot (that fits 6), all is well. But if not, there is a LOOOOONG walk involved. I can feel the swelling in my big and first toe. It is the middle of my foot that is injured.

My plans for the weekend: cat clinic, rabies vaccines for Gravity and Levity, take DD11 to a pumpkin patch, and much much cleaning for the party, and maybe some food planning for the party.

Something people don't know about me: I was a recreational belly dancer for years. People here probably already know that though, so I will add another. Part of the décor in my bedroom when I was a little girl, right up until I moved out of my parents' house, was a 22 rifle. That always completely shocks my friends from California.