Sunday Showers

[ellyphant]

Good afternoon!

No church for us today as Dh was up half the night being sick. Have not seen him this sick in 33+ years of marriage. He did have a flu shot. All I can do is wash his face and keep water by the bedside. We were looking forward to hearing the assistant pastor preach this morning, too.

Harriet, I love that "rule" you posted!

Sadie, I bet your aunt looks forward to getting your cards in the mail!

blessed, you are right about the difference in level of friendliness at churches. We attended one for a couple of months and usually no one spoke to us. We did like the pastor, so kept going. But something just wasn't right...so glad we finally visited the one we belong to now. We knew we were "home" on the first visit!

lilac, what a thrill with the potty training!

[Harriet]

((ellyphant's dh)) In case it seems more like norovirus symptoms than flu, use that diluted bleach solution idea for cleaning surfaces to try to keep from getting it yourself. I saw that Pi ers Morgan also got sick with what he at least believed was the flu, 10 days after his flu shot. Since he did not get a blood test to see what the illness was, or at least did not publish one, no one knows if he actually had influenza or something else, of course. It does give one pause, since the network would certainly want him to dispel rumor quickly if he could, since it was their idea (he says against his wishes, but that could be showmanship) for him to get a flu shot on national television. 10 days after that he was talking about how sick he was and his poor voice quality for the show, so of course people wonder. Norovirus "season" is winter, just like flu, so again, with the sunshine, so much of this will leave us, thank goodness.

blessed, dd is not driving yet is she, so you are her transportation? I'd be tempted to ask what time you are supposed to have her there, then, and clear that up. She certainly doesn't need to be fussed at if she is arriving on time!

Twins Mom, yes a luxury to stay in your own home - I get that! Here also I have a need for HRH to go out for some things (we are suddenly out of some staples I just bought - long story). I think the roads here are sunny-ed up nicely but would rather he do it now than later after freezing again.

[Elizabeth]

Hi everyone. I have child from Hades today. DD11 has been nothing but a monster. We missed church because she decided she did not need to be dressed, locked herself in the bathroom, then in her bedroom. I have told her she can stay there all day and taken away her gadgets. (She was also extremely disrespectful all day). I am so glad I live in a time and place where I could choose never to have another child! Unfortunately, because she is in her room, I cannot do roof work. I do have a LOL that just finished washing and dFosterCat13 has had her meds. I still need to update Quicken and pay bills and work on a box. I think I will try to finish the bedroom box today. Next up will be one in the LR. I intend to get lots of sewing done today, WITHOUT monster child. She did come out of her room to ask if she could come out, but I sent her back. She has been on the phone with XDH for about an hour complaining about me.

When we were married, if DD was being disrespectful and/or hitting me (which happened frequently), XDH would just sit there reading a book or working on something (in the same room) until I asked him to help. From this, DD learned that it did not matter what she did to me as long as it did not bother XDH. Then XDH got a girlfriend about a month after our divorce and DD learned that mothers are disposable too. She does not see me as a person, only someone to get things from. She is only nice to me to get something from me. I am not sure she even owns a conscience. Other people say they get joy from motherhood (I suspect they are covering up the truth), I have gotten nothing but problems and pain. I am not even sure why people bother to have children, life is better without them.

[Sunny]

It's a quiet, lazy day here also. Everyone is relaxing from the busyness of last week and the BBQ yesterday. There were 5 families here (including ds's family and dh & I); 7 youngsters 11 and under and 2 - 15 yr old girls. Everyone had a good time and the food was good.

Dh was up first this a.m., as usual, then me. Ddil has to work today 1 - 6 pm. While dh made sausage/cheese biscuits for breakfast I made our bed and broom swept the kitchen, drm, breakfastrm and fam rm and tidied the downstairs bathrm. Ds took care of the dishewasher. Since then, we've all just been relaxing and enjoying each others company. Dgkids are playing a game on PST and I'm keeping them company/reading in family room.

Weather here is sunny and temp is up to 33*. We had a short snow flurry yesterday from the storm that passed by quickly, but I followed the storm on weather channel.

Harriet, I'm sorry for the rough day for your ddad. I liked your response to the sch traffic rule. I think some drivers see some of the rules as an inconvenience and a challenge.

OKay, Sadie (and others in drought areas....), hopefully this will be the spring/summer for more rain!

Twins', hope this week is a pleasant one for you.

OKay, glad you could make it to church today. And Elly, hope your dh feels better quickly.

((Elizabeth)).

Saying hello to others who have been here or will come in later on.

[Twins' Mom]

I laid down to sleep an hour at 1 p.m. and just now woke up. Need to get busy now.

-start a lol
-straighten great room
-clear kitchen counters and wipe
-clear kitchen table
-water the rest of my plants.

Arrrrrgh. I know I probably needed the sleep, but really.

[Twins' Mom]

and again.....
-straighten up MBath
-Straighten up MBR
-clear high breakfast counter
-start chili
-refill meds containers for the week

[lucylee]

Twins -- we were napping along with you!
I am very proud of myself though -- since I woke up a few minutes ago, I have
* stripped bed & put sheets in washer
* emptied vaporizer to air out
* watered plants
Before napping I
* went to church
* ate lunch
* read the papers
* finished grading last set of tests from school

Sooo much I need to do, still... this week has REALLY gotten away from me. The last TWO weeks, to be honest. And next week doesn't look much better.
Tomorrow, we will be at school approx. 12 hours, with MAYBE a two-hour break for supper? We have a faculty meeting, and then we are supposed to be back @ 6:00 pm for a parent/community meeting.
Tuesday -- dh & ds will be singing @ nursing home; I will be along to babysit... then dbil's birthday supper @ local steakhouse.
Wednesday -- I will be taking off work early to either (a) keep dgs or (b) accompany dh to college town for ballgame. DS may not be able to go, so I told dh I could go. Yes... I will be teaching Thursday... but * sheesh * I'll probably get as much sleep in the car as I do at home. I'll sleep most of the way there & most of the way home.
-- If ds goes to the game, I could ask daunt to keep dgs again, b/c she genuinely seems to LOVE to have him, but I hate to ask THREE weeks in a ROW. So I told dh I'd take off. I have 2.5 personal days left, plus probably 4 sick days, without messing up my retirement credit for that extra month.
Then Thurs.-Sun. will be "normal" for us, but I suspect some babysitting time b/c ds is going to be out of town, and ddil will most likely be working at least part of the weekend, since she was off all of this weekend.

Anyway... I'm going to REALLY strive to get in bed earlier this week. I've just been so exhausted lately I can't stand it.
I blame it partly on this cold/allergy trouble that is driving me crazy!

The rest of the game plan for TODAY:
[ ] allergy shots
[ ] write check for paper delivery man
[ ] check grocery list
[ ] go to grocery store (Wmart) w/dh
[ ] visit dmil
[ ] check dparents' mail
[ ] call dparents
[ ] finish grading journals & reading class work
[ ] record grades
[ ] reconcile checkbook/statement
[ ] type administrative council minutes
* YES. Those last two have been hanging on for quite some time now. Don't judge. Vacuum, dust, & clean bathrooms has also been haning on my list for some time, too, and I don't know WHEN they will get done. Just glad dbil's bday isn't being celebrated HERE.
[ ] finish laundry (dh's stuff -- tomorrow is ironing lady day)
[ ] put sheets back on bed
[ ] exercise
[ ] watch Killing Lincoln on History channel

Yeah... it's a big list. But maybe letting y'all in on it may help motivate me a little bit.

Snow in Florida! That is so amazing, Sunny!

LOVE the traffic rule, Harriet! Somehow missed the situation w/blessed's dd's school rules.
Sometimes it does seem that administrators are just creating problems for themselves where none existed before...
Was that school or church for blessed's dd?
* sigh * 13 more weeks for me.

Stay safe w/the icy roads, Harriet & all in the storm path! Flurries were predicted here yesterday, but we never saw any.
So sorry about the loss of the hen, too, Harriet.

(((HUGS))) for (((Mr. Elly))) & (((Elizabeth))) & (((Sadie's daunt)))

That is really a tough situation, Elizabeth. And it sounds so similar to the situation w/Dee's dgd. How does your dd treat XDH's girlfriend? Is family counseling an option? Or just counseling for you and dd? There has to be some solution to this.

I have to say, I cannot imagine life w/out ds... and now dgs. Of course we went through those times of spankings b/c his room was a mess or something like that, but he truly has been a joy to us. Of course, it's early to say for dgs... at 7 months, he hasn't developed any "issues" -- but he certainly seems a happy baby, and we hope & pray he will have his parents' laidback disposition.
It IS sad when things don't go well w/children & parents, and believe me, after teaching over 300 children -- I know it doesn't always go well. There have certainly been those students in my classes over the years that I just think, WHAT on earth WOULD I do if I had the responsibility of raising this child??

BIG WTG on the potty training, Lilac's dgd!!!

I am enjoying the quotes so much, Lynlee! Thank you!

Waving to everyone!!! I feel like I've missed a month with you ladies. Time has just been non-existent around here.

[Twins' Mom]

I decided to walk the ddogs while it was still light and sunny outside and dh got home in time to walk with us. So now....

-reboot laundry
-start chili
-refill meds
-make the bed (I know I sleep better when the bed has been made)
-clean up the dog droppings in the yard

Nodding along with Lucylee, now that we've napped...

Waving to everyone!!! I feel like I've missed a month with you ladies. Time has just been non-existent around here.

[helia]

Hello! I'm actually trying to spend less time here - nothing wrong with you ladies. It can just feed my own negative habit tendencies.

((Elizabeth)) I don't know what to say, though I feel concerned for you. As lucylee mentioned, maybe counseling or other professional evaluation for your dd would be helpful. She does remind me of Dee's dgd. Maybe something more serious, like a personality disorder, is playing out? --I'm certainly no expert on this sort of thing. Most moms I know who are honest with themselves (and others) do say that parenting is very hard; there is joy in it but it doesn't always feel joyful, for sure, not even with the best of kids, whomever they may be. There is also a lot of hard work, exhaustion (esp. with little ones), some guesswork, some mistakes made, and some ugly/painful moments too. Motherhood is not easy. I'll pray for you and your DD.

I'm having a lazy Sunday, which is wonderful, though I may pay for it tomorrow. I enjoyed chatting with my friend B and the Sr. Pastor's wife (also one of the moms group teachers) after church today. Then, dgirls and I skipped SS and went to a favorite S. American restaurant for lunch. I spent this afternoon napping, sudoku-ing, and then chatting a bit with ds who is here now. He is working on letters and thank yous for his short term "mission" trip to Guyana in a couple weeks.

I'm gong to check on my hens in a minute, and then take ds back to his dorm and then go get bread from WF for our Sunday low-key dinner. We think S and R are joining us this evening.

I still don't know if out of town friends are stopping by for lunch tomorrow - and I don't know when I'll know but dd17 and I need to leave around 12:15 for her appt. with the U's school of art & design. I've told dfriends of our time constraints via email, so hopefully they've gotten that info. I'm also on deck to take dh's exams to campus tomorrow when I take dd17 to her meetings, unless one of his grad students decides to pick them up tonight. . . .. Book club tomorrow night has been moved to the following Monday since not many of us are available/have read the book.

[Twins' Mom]

Coming back through. I let the bottom of the chili burn a bit while I was scooping outside, but all is well. Ddogs have enjoyed us being home so much today - two daylight walks and unlimited trips outside. They came out and sat in the sun while I was out and looked very contented. Dh is napping on the couch. This has been such a relaxing day.

I realized late this morning that I needed a trip to my dmom's today, but I just couldn't do it. I think I'll try for a lunchtime trip tomorrow or Tuesday. She needs help checking her meds and I want to be sure she's taking everything she's supposed to. Also, she said she's "locked out" of her Medco account so I need to reset the password for her.

I need to continue with laundry and I'm feeling so much better about the state of my home.
-go out to car and unload empty water bottles for recycling
-reboot laundry, also put away the load that is folded in laundry room
-check the calendar for the week
-move over to-do lists from my Jan planner and update
-clean out my purse