Mrs. Tittlemouse Tuesday @ TDD - C&C

[trissie]

Happy wedding anniversary, kittykatt! The restaurant will be there tomorrow anyway
kitkat, with the way SIL communicates... who knows. I don't. I just know that school's out on June 26 and I expect DH to be home two days per week to watch the kids, and that me and the kids are leaving for a seaside vacation on July 4 (of course DH is expected to go, but if he can't, I am still going) and quite frankly couldn't care less if there is care in place or not. I did offer to hire somebody, I did offer to do a summer schedule, but SIL thinks it's not necessary and therefore it's not my problem.

Re the SHEM - just finished listening to an audiobook on Chernobyl, so I'd say there are indeed some failures which are pretty fatal, but they usually include highly flammable or explosive components

I have managed to drop my car for servicing and drive home in the rental. One full of electronics I have no idea how to operate, of a brand I am totally unfamiliar with, and with an automatic transmission (all of my cars have been "stick-cars"). So... BWTG for me! It's all DH's fault - I did try to drive his automatic transmission Volvo, but he was constantly making suggestions and requests and I've been terrified of automatic transmission cars ever since. But the shop only had this as rental and I need a car, so I just have to do it!

TaDas
- drop off my car
- drive home in the rental
- permission note for DBD
- filed prescription with the pharmacy
- create work presentation
- actually present it
- BoD materials
- emails and calls
- morning routine
- lunch (do toasted sandwiches count?)
- load of linens
- load of colors

ToDos
- 15 in DBD's room
- midday routine
- 15 in front garden

Braindump
- DBD's speech therapy apt (5pm)
- afternoon routine
- evening routine
- dinner
- bake something sweet
- cherry jam
- clean DBD's room
- declutter and vacuum upstairs hallway
- front garden - presentable (weeding, pruning of roses)
- take things from master bedroom to attic
- 30 on laundry
- remake master bed

[helia]

WTG getting safely home with a strange-to-you rental car, trissie! Ugh - I vaguely remember those late afternoons/ evenings with multiple kid pick ups and drop offs. Sometimes, I would set up the crockpot + rice cooker with timer in the afternoon to get dinner for everyone on the table bc there was no time for me to cook.
Have a good day of appointments, kitkat!
Happy Anniversary, Kitty! It's nice that dh has a project in mind to start off his retirement.

Plans are constantly changing here. Flexibility is the key! Dniece is still not feeling well enough to travel. But a covid test was negative, and a cough and drippy nose cause us to suspect a virus and not strep throat. Dniece + dsil will stay at least another day.

And now, dh and dd30 (we're not sure if I'm included or not - I don't want to go so it's all good) have been invited to a special breakfast with the board of the religious conference -- Thursday morning. That means we're leaving a day early -- tomorrow, not Thursday. Probably late in the afternoon. This all means we get no down time between hosting and going to the conference, where we are sharing a house with 3 or 4 other people, but mostly family: dd28, S, and a friend of dd28's. Maybe M, our renter, but it sounds like she is planning on staying home.

Good news: dsil is going to cook for us tonight! I think she's going to make a quintessential Dutch meal, stamppot. So, I don't need to shop or cook tonight.

The table cloths and chafing dishes are being picked up by the rental company today. I don't know if I need to be home when they're picked up or not. I should find out.

I do have a payroll meeting Thursday morning, so I'd just stay home from the conference that morning - or find a quiet room at the conference to take it. I have a hotspot on my phone I can use if needed. Other payroll projects I can do online, so I should be OK. I now need to coordinate with AS to see if I can work out with him tomorrow instead of Thursday and make sure I get laundry done by tomorrow.

Next:
- reclaim kitchen
- back exercises
- jog
- s2s and self care

Later:
- squeegee and wipe down shower
- call rental company
- make bed
- some qt
- lists in notebook
- lunch
- after lunch clean up
- go to coffee shop with dh
- payroll: finish exam prep
- payroll: start course overviews for S6
- payroll: (if time), make edits to Int Writing coursepack
- other things from list?
- maybe, 1 lol w d f pa
- maybe, car wash
- dinner: stamppot
- after dinner clean up
- garbage and recycling to the curb
- duolingo
- update health apps
- update goodreads

TaDas!
- up; braved the scale - and found that I have actually lost 0.4 lbs. -- with all the celebrations and eating. I wonder if it's the stress.
- coffee
- conversations with dh, L, and dsilM

WEEKLY ACTIVITIES
Tue dniece LP and dsil MP still here
Wed late afternoon or evening - drive to Ohio for faith-based conference
Thu at conference/ 11- payroll: CA ci with AC
Fri at conference/ dinner out with dh
Sat at conference/ drive home w. M
Sun 10 - church/ evening - Shakespeare in the park

Mon PACK for backpacking trip
Tue DRIVE to N. Michigan with dh and dd28
Wed - Sat drive to park/ backpack and camp in beautiful wilderness along Lake Superior's S. shore
Sat hike out/ DRIVE home
Sun 10 - church/ 3:30 - 6ish CG2 @AA? / 6 - ? host Sunday dinner??

6/1 - 6/7 Menus:
M - leftovers: lentils, roasted zucchini
T - dsilM cooks - stamppot
W - on the road/ OR eat at home first?
Th - __________ (not sure - bring a frozen meal? I don't want to eat restaurant food every day.)
F - dinner date with dh in Ohio
Sat - TBD
Sun - TBD

JUNE Brain Dumps
This Week - House
- can I spend some time decluttering in MBR?

This Week - Deskwork
- Writing progress - wip
- figure out another knitting project?

This Week - Errands
- car wash
- return another pair of shoes
- WF groceries
- Kroger groceries
- road trip on Wednesday
- road trip home on Saturday
- do I need to get the oil changed?

General Brain Dump
- progress decluttering clothes - wip
- new phone eventually

[Bama]

Good morning!
It’s a rainy day here so I was very tempted to go back to bed, I’ll go against the flow today and stay awake lol.

Happy anniversary, kittykatt!
Very cool to drive a stick, trissie, do they even sell them anymore?
KitKat, you’re making me want to declutter some books.
Helia, how nice to have a meal cooked for you and of a different kind than you (meaning me) would normally make (or never heard of).
Thinking of (((French))).
Dogged, chuckled at the chat gpt loose translation.

Tux is looking puny, do I take him in? It’s just nearing his time so maybe let him sleep? He seems comfy, has gotten up to use the litter box, is eating soft food, just very thin and losing muscle mass. Sad but a part of life. I will let him sleep for now. His tummy is full and he doesn’t seem to be in any discomfort.

Lots to get done, I wanted to get plants in the ground yesterday before today’s rain but that didn’t happen, might try to plant a few today in between showers, if it’s not too rough. Supposed to be storming but so far just showers with a heavy downpour occasionally.

Done:
Bible
Weigh
Breakfast
Fed inside pets
Tux extra attention, wiped off paws, fed treats, gave supplement so all cats got a little extra treat sample

Do:
Pet chores
Dust, vacuum, mop
Kitchen - unload dw, clean out fridge, wfd

[trissie]

Bama, stick cars were always more of a European thing, it's really only the last couple years that automatic transmissions started to be prevalent in new cars. Up until ten years ago, you couldn't get a driver's license if you were not proficient with manual transmissions, and only in 2016 it became possible to get a "limited driver's license" that allows you to drive only automatic cars.
Never heard of stamppot before, helia, but googled it and it looks nice! And, of course, it's somebody else cooking

Back from DBD's speech therapy apt. Dinner is calling!

TaDas
- 15 in DBD's room
- midday routine
- 15 in front garden
- DBD's speech therapy apt (5pm)

ToDos
- afternoon routine
- dinner
- 15 in DBD's room

Braindump
- evening routine
- bake something sweet
- cherry jam
- clean DBD's room
- declutter and vacuum upstairs hallway
- front garden - presentable (weeding, pruning of roses)
- take things from master bedroom to attic
- 30 on laundry
- remake master bed

[trissie]

TaDas
- afternoon routine
- dinner
- 15 in DBD's room

ToDos
- evening routine
- declutter and vacuum upstairs hallway
- bath & storytime with DBD

Braindump
- bake something sweet
- cherry jam
- take things from master bedroom to attic
- 30 on laundry
- remake master bed

[Doggedly]

Hi, all. I did CUOP, though did not come back to post. It was an early start today, as I had an appointment for blood tests. And the day so far has been like a situation comedy. Everything going wrong, but on such a small scale that we can start from square one next week.

[Skippable comedy of errors]
I had the appointment listed on my calendar but got my days mixed up. I was thinking that it was Wednesday, and that I had to start withholding food tonight. I started out lucky, because I woke up on my own at 8:00 am, and I hadn't had anything except water so I was good to go. I showered and dressed and managed to be late, so gave Germane some food and treats and hurried off. I found the building all right, by the line up of cars outside their parking lot and down the street. By the time my car got to the ticket gate, the attendant had given up on giving instructions over the intercom, had come out of his booth and was basically doing everything except holding the card for the confused drivers. By the time that my car was parked, I was definitely late. I wasn't sure if they would honour the appointment, but the clinic does take walk-ins. When I got into the clinic, they had a line up to the door and people waiting in chairs. By the time they asked if anyone in line had an appointment, prompted by an irate customer, they couldn't tell if I had shown up late or if they had kept me waiting half an hour.
Then it was another wait, and I got my blood drawn. I asked the lady if they had a cafeteria in the building, as I was feeling a bit lightheaded, but they didn't. The butcher that sells local eggs was very near, and they sell things like coffee and muffins and sausage rolls, and I did consider going there. But I was so close to home, I thought "just go home and eat your food. You'll be eating almost as quickly."
I considered eating one of my scotch mints, just to get my blood sugar up, but thought that I would be home so quickly that I would still have it in my mouth when I would be ready to eat actual food.
Well, I got home to find the Canada Post truck parked in my parking space. That's literally the only place that I'm allowed to park. We get ticketed by our own parking authority if we park in Visitors Parking, even if we pay, and we get fined by the city if we park on the street. I considered my options, and then parked next to the walkway near my car, and wrote a note of explanation to leave on my dashboard. This is not a parking space.
Before I could get out of my car, a ParaTranspo van (public transportation for the handicapped) came up behind me and had to maneuver around my car to get to his spot to debark passengers. He managed it, but I wasn't sure if he would be able to back out again, so I went up to his van and waited for him to open the door on my side. He didn't seem to be leaving his seat, so I walked around the van to the driver's side. By that time, he had gotten up and was working on helping a passenger. He spotted me, and came over to the window to see what I needed. I explained why I was parked in his way and that I was going in to see if the Canada Post van could be moved out of my spot so that I could get out of his way, but if he needed me to move right away I could move the car. He assured me that it was no problem at all, I wasn't blocking him and that he could back out just fine, and thanked me for my concern. (We are Canadian.)
I thanked him and went into the building. I found the letter carrier and apologized for interrupting him, but explained that his van was in my spot and that I am not allowed to park anywhere else. He apologized profusely and repeatedly for parking there while I reassured him that I was not upset at all, and apologized for interrupting his work, and we apologized our way back to the parking lot. (We are Canadian.)
He found another parking spot, I got into mine, the ParaTranspo van backed out and we all went on our merry way. And I got a yoghurt and a pastry because I could finally eat and didn't want to wait any longer. And coffee.
And here I am, no worse for wear and ready to cheer on my dfs.

[helia]

I can drive a stick shift as I learned to drive in a car with one and have been able to intermittently do so over the years, trissie. Though, less often now; I think rental cars in Europe are mostly automatic now? -- Not sure on that one. --Stamppot is not gourmet fare but it is hearty and tastes good. Since L is vegetarian, it will be vegetarian.
Bama, I saw Lily, dd30's cat, for the first time in months on Sunday. I was shocked - she looked so thin and she's not grooming herself well, so her fur is a bit matted in spots. She is a Ragdoll cat so she has long hair. She appreciated pets from us and she seemed comfortable. She's almost 18yo. She hasn't seen a vet for a long time, so I told dd30 I thought she should go asap - but dd30 didn't appreciate my comments. LOL! We're supposed to get some rainstorms in about 30 minutes or so. . .
Well, all's well that ends well, Doggedly! Glad you got your appointment after all.

Mini rant: Dh said that the girls are welcome to join us for dinner. Then, of course, dd28 asked if her friend could come. No one has yet checked with dsilM about all this. I've asked dh to do that but he's suddenly gone radio silent. Cooking for 7 people is very different than cooking for 4 - though, I suspect dsilM would be happy to include dd28 and dd30. I'm also slightly irritated at the fact that we can't have a family meal. Friends must be included. We've already had multiple meals with friends over the last 4 days. And now, we'll host yet another dinner party at our house. I won't be cooking, that's true - but when it's at our house, I feel it's my responsibility to make sure guests feel welcome and included. Meanwhile, some guests never ask me a single question (I've read that middle aged women become invisible to others) so it can be a one-way social-emotional energy dynamic - and drain. I'm so done with dinner parties. I want someone to host a dinner party for me at their house for which I don't need to lift a finger!

Dh says that he said "no" to the conference breakfast invite -- so I guess we're going to the conference on Thursday as originally planned after all. It's hard to keep up with the ever-changing plans here. . .

Next:
- s2s and self care
- squeegee and wipe down shower
- gather stuff and otd

Later:
- make bed
- some qt
- lists in notebook
- after lunch clean up
- go to coffee shop with dh
- payroll: finish exam prep
- payroll: start course overviews for S6
- payroll: (if time), make edits to Int Writing coursepack
- other things from list?
- maybe, 1 lol w d f pa
- maybe, car wash
- dinner: stamppot - dsilM cooks - 7 people here
- after dinner clean up
- garbage and recycling to the curb
- duolingo
- update health apps
- update goodreads

TaDas!
- up; braved the scale - and found that I have actually lost 0.4 lbs. -- with all the celebrations and eating. I wonder if it's the stress.
- coffee
- conversations with dh, L, and dsilM
- reclaimed kitchen
- showed dsilM where the post office is
- called PO to ask if they have international stamps
- back exercises
- dressed to jog
- jog
- rental company picked up chafing dishes and tablecloths
- lunch

[Bama]

Yay on losing weight, Helia, and I will commiserate with you on being invisible and advice not heeded. My dd1 was like that with her pets when she lived in Mississippi. Now she’s on my turf where I can keep an eye on things and keep everypet healthy, she just has one dog now. Stamppot sounds like my kind of food. Hope the meal plans all work out. I was inconsiderate until I was the one put on the spot, now I get it.

Trissie, that’s so interesting about cars. When I was growing up, most “adults” had automatic cars but younger drivers wanted sports cars with stick shifts. All of my brothers had one at some point in their life, before kids, but they never taught me, afraid I would strip the gears or something. There is a huge age difference too so they were past that point when I was ready to drive.

Dogged, lol at all the apologizing and thanking. What a nice way to handle something.

Done:
Bible
Weigh
Breakfast
Fed inside pets
Tux extra attention, wiped off paws, brushed, fed treats, gave supplement so all cats got a little extra treat sample
Pet chores
Dust
Kitchen - unload dw, clean out fridge, wfd - plenty of leftovers

Do:
Break
Vacuum
Mop
Plant some things (depending on the weather)

[Doggedly]

Thank you, helia. I can well imagine that you have reached and pass the Too Much Of A Good Thing with the dinner parties. I hope that you are not the one stuck delivering the news about the extra guests, and I hope that your dSIL understands that you are not the cause.

Thanks, Bama. We Canadians are our own stereotype, LOL.

I actually glory in being invisible. It was such a relief to be past the stage of receiving attention that I didn't want. Now that I walk with the cane, I am in the Nice Old Lady stage where people say hello to me and open the door for me. That's the kind of attention that I would have liked all along.

... And speaking of old ladies, Germane has woken up and keeps coming out to inform me that it's treat time. I picked up the pieces of cheese from her dish and put them in her mouth, which sufficed until we both remembered the turkey leg in the fridge.

[helia]

Doggedly, I did check in with dsil - because she was asking about M, our housemate, eating with us and making food lactose free for her. I don't know if dh actually checked with her or not. Of course, she was OK with it. With M, that would be 8 people at dinner tonight, but she pointed out that she regularly cooks for 6 as she has 4 children (ages 9 - 21). Yes, people here joke about Canadians being so polite and apologizing for everything all the time. I wish the whole world were more like Canadians. As Bama pointed out, the world would be a better place if everyone dealt with issues that way.
Were you able to do some planting, Bama? I think we all grow from where we were when we were younger. At least we do if we're paying attention to life and ourselves.

Thank you for being kind and understanding, Doggedly and Bama. I think the hosting and providing food for others, etc. so many times in a row has jut been a bit much for me. I wish I had endless social energy for reaching out to other people - but I don't. I am better than when I was younger,

Stamppot is basically mashed potatoes with other things mashed in, like vegetables, cheese, sausage, ham, and/ or ground beef, etc. I think dsilM will make it with leeks, mushrooms, and cheese.

At the coffee shop. I'm going to work next. And then make a list. . . It's nice that we're not leaving for the conference until Thursday afternoon. That gives me more time to get some things done.

Next:
- payroll: AR Exam draft made
- lists in notebook
- payroll: start course overviews

Later:
- make bed
- some qt
- lists in notebook
- payroll: finish exam prep
- payroll: start course overviews for S6
- payroll: (if time), make edits to Int Writing coursepack
- other things from list?
- maybe, 1 lol w d f pa
- maybe, car wash
- dinner: stamppot - dsilM cooks - 7 people here
- after dinner clean up
- garbage and recycling to the curb
- duolingo
- update health apps
- update goodreads

TaDas!
- up; braved the scale - and found that I have actually lost 0.4 lbs. -- with all the celebrations and eating. I wonder if it's the stress.
- coffee
- conversations with dh, L, and dsilM
- reclaimed kitchen with the help of dsilM
- showed dsilM where the post office is
- called PO to ask if they have international stamps
- back exercises
- dressed to jog
- jog
- rental company picked up chafing dishes and tablecloths
- lunch
- after lunch clean up
- s2s and self care
- squeegee and wipe down shower
- gather stuff and otd
- ordered tea; cuops
- signed letter from new trustee
- emailed reply with past trustee's contact info