THREE ON TUESDAY

[OKay]

I have been thinking about Kathryn's wise words from yesterday. How as we get older we have less choices in life and sometimes reach a point that the only thing we can control is the food we eat (or don't eat). A couple years ago DDad didn't want to eat and was existing on those liquid drinks. Then DMom started asking DDad each morning what sounded good to him. One of DDad's biggest joy each morning is deciding what he wants to eat that day. DMom is over the top awesome in that she will prepare it for him about 95% of the time. I am fascinated how DMom does it. I am humbled by her continual care & love toward DDad. She bathes him. Dresses him. Cleans up his messes (he always apologizes profusely even though he can't always control his body functions). etc etc etc. Each morning we talk on the phone and I ask....what does DDad want to eat today? Sometimes we have a good chuckle at his food choice, but he almost always gets it. DMom gets great joy from preparing him food that sounds good to him. DDad gets great joy anticipating it. Win - Win!

[Harriet]

Elizabeth, I am with you on the happy dance about prescription - my GP refilled my thyroid med so that I can postpone a visit to him until after the holidays, and that takes one thing off my plate. You mentioned the Comet, which made me remember you painted a picture of it. Did you hang it in the garage? One of these days, I'd love to see a photo of some of your art (or stitchings) posted in Art, Crafts & Needlework here!

((Sadie)) I hope your shoulder feels better soon! I saw your mention of Little Debbie, and yes those are treats my ddad likes! His absolute favorite is Chips Ahoy Chewy Chocolate Chip. They are soft to eat like Little Debbie (important) and the package opens on top without spilling a lot of crumbs, which happens to him so much because of his essential tremor.

OKay, I think there are rules about doing procedures that will cost large sums of money, in that physician is supposed to discuss with patient in advance. Seems to me no one should open a bill and be in shock to that extent. Sure, everything "costs more than it used to" but that bill is inappropriate as a patient surprise. Tapping my foot for you. That's great that your ddad enjoys variety, which I would think would be healthy. My ddad may be a little wary because of teeth issues and swallowing issues, also needs to have spoon-friendly foods or finger foods because of the tremor, but I think mostly he is just a creature of habit! I am grateful for Ensure.

((lucylee)) Hugs to you for dealing with an unruly classroom of teens - ugh. Dd32 sometimes teaches classroom-size groups and when students won't pay attention (and she's a faculty trainer for instructors in colleges but it still happens), she flips the lights on and off, which does seem to get her groups to listen. In your situation, that would probably be way too tame to impress your much more savvy students, wouldn't it? You probably need to ask Sly Stallone to visit with his headband on. Right now dd32 is supposed to instruct on the responsibilities to students with disabilities and is shocked at some of the inattention, as if it's not important. (Not wise if they only knew her own child has hearing loss.)

Although my plan this a.m. seemed to be the "but first" syndrome, I did get quite a bit done. Bags of trash ready for the cans, decluttering in front rooms in prep for decorating, organizing my gift-tag creativity into just one box and storing card-related things. "But first" upon finding coupons while straightening I thought I "should" put them into my purse, but there discovered my change and mini-store-cards had all spilled, which looked like a problem waiting to happen in some checkout lane somewhere. So I ended up sidetracking into purse organization from dining room organization. Sigh! That's one of the reasons! "But first"s added to "shoulds and oughts" equals sidetracking.

A further "3"

DPC
pharmacy 1
Christmas lights onto tree

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

My comments on food were informed in part from this post that I read just a few days ago. I read this man's blog almost daily and often it is my highlight of the day. His mother died recently and he's been writing stories about her allowing us to get to know her better.

http://www.newsfromme.com/2012/12/08/ta ... -mother-8/

What struck me is that when she was given permission to do travel anywhere or do anything she wanted, her choice was:

"I've decided I want to live on my own schedule. I want to eat when I want to eat, sleep when I want to sleep, watch what I want to watch. Would that be okay with you?"

That eventually led to:

She was as likely to be up watching TV at 4 AM as at 4 PM. She ate meals so irregularly that she couldn't classify them as breakfast, lunch or dinner. They were just meals and she didn't have many of them.

I arranged with two nearby restaurants to deliver to her and to charge everything — the meal, the delivery fee, the tip — to my credit card. She just had to call one and say, "I think I'd like chicken tonight" (or shrimp or beef or...) and within the half-hour, a man would bring a freshly-prepared, low-sodium dinner to her door. I thought it couldn't be simpler but she used this service less often than I expected. When she felt like eating, it was annoying to wait the thirty minutes. "What if I order and then decide ten minutes later, I want to go to bed?" she explained to me one time. "I can heat up a Stouffer's frozen dinner in the microwave in ten." Also, both restaurants stopped delivering at 10 PM and she often wanted dinner after that.

The level of independence he gave his mother was an incredible gift. She had amazing health difficulties (was blind, couldn't walk) but until the last 20 days of her life was fully 'with it' and was living her life to the beat of her drummer. It must be said, a lot of her independence was due to unlimited amounts of money available to provide care at home. That is seldom an option for most families.

Of course, in Harriet's case, her father isn't 'with it' at all times, so the dynamic is different. As well, he has shown himself to be a danger to himself and the household on occasion (wandering away, turning on burners) so letting him mix up his days and nights to suit himself isn't a safe idea. But somehow he needs to be given some control over his life. Perhaps control of his own reality, when it doesn't create a safety issue, is the answer.

[blessedw2]

(((lucy))))

[scattered]

Kathryn - what a sweet story.

OKay - Is LO running a fever? Could it be allergies? I would probably call the Dr's office.

(((Sadie))) - I have a bum shoulder also you sound like you are doing better than me though as I don't exercise it I just make one of the DS's doing my scrubbing for me.

Lucylee - you are much more patient then I am, I love teaching but could never put up with adolescents.

Harriet - I hate days like that, what is DPC?

Mystery - I have Christmas cards still in the box that I bought like 15 yrs ago.

Morning went pretty great until a few minutes ago... DS13 is cavity free! Got him dropped off at school in time to still make all his classes. Got to the College and am now placed in a curriculum, so hopefully I can sign up for my classes by the end of the week. Checked emails when I got home and I HAVE AN INTERVIEW THURSDAY! Unfortunately the nursing agency wants some one with recent (6 mon- 1 yr) Medical Hospital experience.

Time to check the job search websites.

ToDo/TaDa's
d2s
coffee
DS13 to dentist then school
Clear off DR table
Find fleece
find patterns
cut out fabric
sew
send out resumes
make phone calls
swing by college
Dinner

BBS

[Emptynester]

Woke about 3:30 in the AM with leg cramps - so went to big chair with the heating pad. Fell back asleep around 5 and slept until 8:30. I'm up and S2sox. Need to get the BGS and get moving on many, many things this morning.

My 3: Hummmmm!
1. File piles of papers on the floor in den (yesterday's decluttering project - 50% or more went in burn basket.
2. Print, fold, stuff, label and mail Christmas letter.
3. Laundry - the basket overfloweth.

We went to the Cowboy Poetry Concert on Saturday and one line is stuck in my head. It is such a description of my life right now.

I'm drinkin' from my saucer, 'cause my cup has overflowed

Maybe it won't mean much to others - but it sure hit a spot in my heart. Maybe cause I remember my dad drinking his first cup of coffee from his saucer every morning. One of his favorite sayings when things were going right was "My cup is running over."

[Nancy]

My three things today:
#1. B.S. is normal today yea! Glad I am in the routine of checking it first thing when I get up!

#2.I'm SO excited I called about the craigs list chickens found some chickens to add to my flock a few "younger replacements". Will pick them up later in the week. One black austerlop sp? looking forward to looking that up on the net. a buff one too, one barred rock and couple of Americana's [also known as easter eggers] that are suppose to lay blue / green eggs. Come with a bonus free rooster as well he might be chicken dinner how ever.

#3. A stress buster meal planning idea I discussed with hubby the other day for holidays lasagna meal planning is some thing we enjoy here as well maybe the veggie one with a side of turkey sausage patty.

Looking forward to the weekend dgd will be here and then we take her to a bb game they have another tournament this weekend looking at the schedule looks like they have a Sun. game too.

[blessedw2]

http://www.makeitfunanditwillgetdone.co ... -half-641/

enjoy

[blessedw2]

hi empty/ hi nancy

[helia]

Good morning! Peeking in. . . .I don't have time to properly cuops.

Three things -- goodness, I could fulfill that just by my taxi schedule today. I'm taking dd14 to 4 different meetings/appointments - bloodwork (done!), Dr. appt., oboe lesson, band rehearsal. 3 of those I need to be around for, or at least not at home. I do go to the cafe during her oboe lesson. I will also need to pick up dd14's renewed prescription tonight. I believe the pharmacy is open until 10 pm, which is good b/c I won't be home until about 8:50 pm.

My 3 things:
1. Driving dd14 around to her activities/appointments
2. exercise
3. a wee bit of shopping -- I think I can accomplish a couple goals just by going to Target.
(4.) Dfriend's open house/sale tonight
(5.) Pick up dd14's new prescription

a.m. routine is done. I've checked w/ dh re: some gifts for dd14. I've responded to 2 emails; one email to one of my dsils had a little catch up info and so was a little longer. I took the girls in to get their bloodwork done the morning around 8, so they got to sleep in a little. I was aiming to leave by 7:30, but we left about 15 minutes later. Before I left with them, I did get dniece's bday card prepped, put letters in the mail, found dd17's lab requisition, and called in the girls tardies and dd14's absence later this afternoon.

Next:
-fold a lol
-devo time
-Target