Wednesday Warm Up

[DeeClutter]

Thanks, gals, for the help in trying to keep the onboard mouse disabled. I have to remember to do it each time I turn the computer back on. But there is no 'permanent' solution.

[BookSaver]

Shoveling is done, I was able to get the car out and go to the post office. The shoveling was not as bad as I expected because the snow is light and fluffy. Also there wasn't much wind, and the sun was out, which made the freezing cold more bearable. It still took an hour to do, though.

Tomorrow weather is supposed to be better, somewhat warmer. I should not have any trouble driving to The Big City for errands.

At the post office, the box was stuffed full of mail and included a magic yellow card to ask me to stop at the counter for something larger than the P.O. box. It was the book I was expecting.

Tonight I will sew.

I'm thoroughly chilled, which calls for a pot of tea. BBL.

[DeeClutter]

A 'spot' of tea sounds good, Booksaver. Maybe after I do up the dishes. Thankfully there were leftovers to be eaten tonight. Didn't feel like cooking. DD had to go to Orlando after school with another teacher for a special training. Can't remember just what it was.

Dsisil's dsis came to her house today. Dsil had a card made out for gd and her dsis asked me where T was now. Told her and she asked about where she'd been before that -what happened. Simply told her gd was 'kicked out' and the state deemed she needed a more stringent facility. Explained about her escalating violence a bit. Never got a bit of negative feed back. I almost think they're beginning to 'get it'. Know dsisil hasn't said anything to us about her since we got here 5 weeks ago. Have always been nervous about what to say, but questions today were ones I could answer and hopefully they began to 'see'.

[Harriet]

Dee, that's good, I'm glad for you. You're smart to answer in terms of the decisions professionals and groups of professionals have made.

I think I need a spot of hot cocoa. Or decaf Swiss Mocha. This shrimp and salad is just not cutting it for comfort food.

Fielded a long call from a cousin.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

After my triumph of booking the flights, I realized I missed the outgoing mail pick up at the post office. But I took the cards dh did last night (international) and decided to mail them today even though they won't actually leave our post office until tomorrow afternoon.

Today Canada Post announced they'd be raising the price of a stamp to mail a letter from 63 cents to a dollar if you buy one stamp, 85 cents if you buy stamps in bulk. We have something called P stamps (permanent) which means no matter what you paid, they are good even if the price goes up. I just finished off my last roll of stamps (bought when the cost of mailing a letter was 54 cents) and went to buy another roll on Monday. None available. Nor were there any Christmas stamps available. So I picked up 3 packets of 30 instead. Those stamps will be worth $20 more in March when the rate goes up.

Unfortunately, as of this morning, all P stamps have been pulled from sale. So now we understand why our post office wasn't able to get any stamps - head office was choking off supply because they didn't want a leak to clue people into stocking up on P stamps.

Except our post office didn't have very many other stamps for sale. I just needed international but he was out of those as well. As a result, my letters went out with a $1.10 stamp + 3 x $.25 stamps on them. And I bought up the rest of his stock of 63 cent stamps since I'll need them for our Canadian Christmas cards and I won't want to use any of the 90 I bought earlier this week since they'll be worth $20 more in March.

I can't believe Canada Post did all this on December 11. Had they waited until Jan 11 to announce this, customers would still have to pay more but there wouldn't be a shortage of stamps with which to mail Christmas cards and it would have been a lot easier on post office staff who are dealing with the normal Christmas rush and now the shortage of stamps. Seriously? Someone ought to be fired for further reducing morale.

Dinner is now done and it is time for me clean up the dishes. I'm avoiding that by hiding out at my desk with my heater on. Dh got really cold earlier today and moved his heater to under his desk. He was surprised at how much better he felt with the change in location. It is our cold feet that are making us feel so very cold.

[Harriet]

Kathryn, although it doesn't sound like it would help in this situation, buying stamps online has helped me quite a bit. Several times our local staff has had to disappoint me but I could always get what I needed online. Of course, if the stamp you wanted is actually pulled from sale to anyone, there's nothing to do but be grateful you got some previously. So, a one-time 22cent increase even if you are buying in bulk.... ... wow. That's too much to expect people to accept all at once. It does sound foolish to make decisions that will keep people from using the postal service as much, right at the time of year they were planning on using it most..???? What a blow to deal to snail mail. I love snail mail - the tactile feel and interesting design of all kinds of correspondence, the obvious personal attention, the permanence, the surprise of what may be inside an envelope, and the stamps, too.

[CathyS]

Hi everyone! I am so happy for the news I just read in MO.

Talked to my sister for a while last night. As a result, I spent most of last night and today looking at homes on line. Mike saw one he liked last night and I've looked through my history and I can't find it.

In between wasting time online, I did 7 loads of laundry. Most of it is hung up. No socks or under things put away yet.

I also played in the jewelry today. I have 8 "pearl" necklaces. I don't think any of them are real. Some are very ivory coloured with age. The clasps are a little bit green where they meet the string. I don't have any earrings to go with them, other than the freshwater set I got a couple of years ago.

I have way too much non-precious jewelry... but it's never all been together like this before. I have 6 large, flat trays that I bought at the rock and gem show last year and I am trying to keep stuff together by colour. Ha! White pearls, black onyx, turquoise, garnet... yikes. I am tossing anything broken. I also have a pile for my dd. I hate bangles, and I have 7 or 8 of them. She is more than welcome to toss them.

Now I need to go put away laundry because I made myself accountable here.

[lucylee]

Definitely wanted to send congrats to Sunny’s dgs & dgd!
… and get well soon wishes to Tobias…
… and happy birthday to LisaB’s dd…
… and probably a bunch of other stuff I meant to comment on, but no time.

DGS is throwing things out of his playpen. I may have to go let him out in a bit. Or maybe ds/ddil will return soon.

Today, I returned the old D irectv receiver to them, via F edEx
Met w/student whom I bought fruit from
Delivered fruit to dmom
Helped dmom set up her tree
Organized dmom’s cabinet of dvd’s and videos, assorted paint chip samples, photo albums and misc. (This b/c I was looking to see what Love Comes Softly she needs and what she lacks! – And I couldn’t stand the mess. DVD’s are now alphabetized.)
Got a copy of dmom’s chilli recipe
Got dmil’s mail
Watched dgs since around 4:30
Addressed about 15 Christmas cards
Went to dmil’s w/dh & dgs
Ate supper @ Mc Donald’s
Talked to dcousin on phone

Pretty full day. Still intend to exercise and try out the new DVR.

[OKay]

I drove to town to pick up cookie dough (fund raiser) and deliver snacks & drinks to LO classroom for tomorrow. I was surprised by the amount of ice/snow still on the roads. I was driving slow and careful but still slide sideways twice. Hopefully tomorrow it will melt off when it gets above freezing.

I am becoming a HUGE fan of Kindle FreeTime for kids. Well worth the $3 a month for endless books, shows and apps. Like Amazon Prime, I can't understand how they can offer so many benefits for such a low price. I haven't found anything I don't like. Kindle FreeTime enforces a time limit (that I set) how long he can use it each day. The only books, shows, apps available to LO are age appropriate with no ads. And now they are making where the educational apps are encouraged. LO loves the educational apps and considers them as entertainment.

Papers processed 9
SHE cards completed 130

D: Pinto Beans with ham, rice, tortilla chips

[Ivy]

My med got shipped same day (today) as dr. office called them to tell them, "What's up?"

Made another phone call to health authority. The info has changed from mailings going out now. They say, call your dr., see what healthy options your dr. uses (ins. providers), then call DSHS, to tell them, who you've picked, get on the list, etc... How soon "things" change from Oct. to Dec.!

Got my story done and sent. Am doing laundry now. Am tired from writing, exhausted, actually. But it's my job, passion, desire, so love it anyway. Now, April's stories are due by 1/17/14. It's hard, sorta, because it'll be written over the holidays and my b-day in the New Year. I'll try, is all I can do. Thinking about submitting to children's magazines and "Chicken Soup for the Soul" and a poetry site, too. Have the guidelines. Wanted to "branch out" in 2014, to do something different anyway, although poetry's where I got my start.

Our phone rang, we got an automated message from our garbage company that our county's load restrictions, due to ice/snow means the garbage trucks cannot be on the roads, so we had to bring the garbage and recycle back. They don't want potholes.

We found out our dfriend's wife's Dfil passed away in Canada, where Dfriend's American mom lived with him. They're going up to bring her back to the states. Such a sad time for them all.

I'd better go check the laundry and on DH's dinner-cooking. Hash from the beef pot roast last night, tonight.

Have a great evening, Everybody! I hope everyone's warming up like we are here!