Friendly Friday

[Harmony]

Wow, still on page one. Maybe my post will turn the page.

Feeling friendly to all of you who are so super busy and have travels upcoming and reorganizing everything from travels gone by.

DH and I are slowly changing our mindset about our living situation. I've noticed he's been cleaning out his lumber racks and bins, taking what he can to jobs to use up. Sometimes it's easier when he's out to pick up what he needs.. but now he's using stuff that's here more. His racks are much barer than they were.

I am watching this little house we are building for his sister who has downsized everything and planning to stay in this little house as long as she can. She has gotten rid of just about everything she doesn't need.

When I look around here I wonder where we would put things when we downsize.

Sooooo, today I reorganized, cleaned, threw out stuff in several cabinets we have in the garage, then I tackled the laundry room. I washed all the rubber mats on top of the washer/dryer and freezer; hosed the floor mat and washed and reorganized all the bins on the shelves. Every sq. inch has been re-done, including the w/d platform drawers. I managed to get the fallen wall clock from in back of the washer, reset with new battery and hung up.

Right now I'm waiting for the bleach on the floor to work and I'll rinse that a couple times.

1/4 our recycle bin of plastic, a couple things for GW, some in the garbage can.

I was on the top step of ladder, twisted to the left and lost my balance and hung on and managed to get my feet under me as I came down. Fortunately did not get hurt except muscles a little sore. Makes me think more about getting into an easier house.

[Nancy]

Wtg Harmony!

[DeeClutter]

I assume that my 'namesake' is still working away at the Ralph Wilson stadium, Harriet. Though the Bills will not be playing there, that snow has to be moved out. Wouldn't do to wait for it to melt and what a mess that would make. Dniece posted a picture on FB of my DB finally starting to clean out their drive -with a tractor (not shoveling). Praying for people up that way as all that snow becomes water laden, heavy and posing threats to roofs and walls. Can't even imagine that much snow all at once, especially so early.

My great niece has been quite worried that their new baby girl (who has same name as dd16, Harriet) might appear before all this snow quit. My db/dsisil had gone north to be there for the blessed event. Think she's going to wait now.

I've accomplished nothing today -except to go buy a couple of jacket type tops. One for dress and a lighthouse sweatshirt jacket similar to one I've had for several years. I could spend a lot of money in this particular store.

[FelineFriend]

I was friendly to DD today, wrote her a nice letter, and I was friendly to my editor, because she accepted a story and sent me a contract to sign. I'm REAL NICE to my editor! ♥

I also was nice to 2 tech people, because I was trying to get their program off my laptop, as I downloaded a Windows 7 Upgrade yesterday, taking HOURS! I got frustrated, after 12 hours back and forth to my office, so we went with a different anti-virus software system, for my laptop instead. I told the old company, "You'll never know! I may come back in 1 years." I wished them both nice days, too.

Also, I was friendly, last night, with Dson, who taught me quickly over the phone, a different method to sending attachments, because I no longer had Windows emails. I learned something new, am delighted he was "there" for me, and explains things in normal down-to-earth English language, too. He doesn't get too "techy" on me! So I was friendly to him, too.

Also, I was very friendly with 2 pen pals last night, by writing them letters, and giving them poems, etc... as enclosures inside my envelopes to them. They're absolute dolls, for pen pals, I'm so lucky and enjoy them so much.

I received a long letter today, printed in red ink, from my Dear Friend, who's had eye surgery today. She stated she wrote in red computer printed ink, so her letter would match my festive Christmas decorations, which I put up on 11-15-14. I wanted to get it done early, so DD and DGS can see them, on Thanksgiving. I was like a tornado, had such fun, and it was hard to turn off my energy that evening. I love the colors of red, burgundy, gold, etc.... Silver and others.

I was busy downloading the new anti-virus program, updating it, and running a several-hour scan. I'll be friendly and write my Dear Friend, a long letter, today, to go out tomorrow or on Saturday or Monday. She asked my advice on something, which she needed a title for, and I came up with 2 great ones for her. She's a retired teacher, is working on a book, about her deceased DH's life, and the last pages will have a letter by him in it. She's undertaken a wonderfully remarkable time-consuming projects, with text, photos, etc... of his life. She's saved up for a publisher, to do 4 books, for her and Dfamily, too. It's a work of love, which she has done. What a wonderful warm gift of love, she's giving to herself and her kids. I really admire her, for her thoughtfulness and love of others. So I'll be friendly back, to my friend.

I washed 1 LOL, put everything away, made the bed, s2s,shampooed, sorted the mail and watched a movie with DH this afternoon. He's leaving now, to mail my contract back to my editor.

It's very, very gusty and wet here. I don't know if we'll manage to keep our power, throughout this storm, too, or not.

Have a wonderful later afternoon - evening, Everybody, and have a great weekend, too! Waving to you all, am thinking of you, too. I missed posting, but the laptop "stuff" kept me tied up for hours, both days, yesterday, as well as today.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Had a nice lunch out with ds although it was busy at IKEA because there is no school due to parent-teacher interviews today.

Then choir, which went ok but not great. Need to learn my part with more confidence, I keep getting distracted by the sopranos (I sit next to them because for half the pieces I'm a sop and the other half I'm an alto.)

Came home and ds was already here watching a movie with dh.

We had an early dinner (very good - I just defrosted a pork tenderloin, seared it, covered it with bacon and roasted it for 30 minutes - service with easy stuffing, mashed potatoes and carrots.) Ds has headed home to sleep until work. Dh is back at work now.

Almost a month ago he got a request-for-proposal to do for the Canadian Senate what he's doing for the New Zealand Parliament. He didn't want to respond but I made him. The deadline to respond was October 31 and work was to begin November 3. So obviously, someone else was up for the job but they had to send it out for quotes.

Today, dh gets an email that says that since he technically qualifies, he has to be interviewed. It is really funny how upset they sound that dh has made it past the first round. He's not cheap, he's charging them just under what NZ is paying (and pointed to the publicly available document for the contract to prove he's getting that much since it is more that most people earn.) In his bid he had said that until May he's only available on Fridays so they'll have to wait for him before starting the project but that he'll finish it on time. The interview is for Dec. 1, 2 or 3. None of those days are a Friday. None of those days dh is even in the country. So he may lose this due to the fact that he can't attend the interview! He really doesn't want the work so we'll see what happens but at this point he's not trying very hard.

On my way out this morning, I got off the elevator in the basement and went towards the door leading to the car when something caught my eye. I thought it was a child standing still at the other end of the hall. Looked more closely and realized it was a plastic Santa! Someone was obviously digging out their Christmas decorations. I need to do the same thing. My 'outdoor' lights (hung inside since there's no electricity on the balcony) go on Advent 1 and I still have to figure out how to hang them in the transom windows. Or if they'll even work (I find that Christmas lights don't last as long as they used to.)

[Emptynester]

WOW!! what a week. Sorry I haven't checked in - just been super busy.

Last Sunday was our Thanksgiving meal at church. I spent a couple hours on my feet and was really stove up on Monday. Called Dr. and was able to get in on Tuesday. Ended up with a boot and 6 weeks of PT. A combo of tendinitis, Uncle Arthur, flat feet and poor shoes. Today we drove over an hour to a special shoe store where they spent about 1 hour fitting me including taking videos of how I walk. Cost a bundle - but better than not being able to walk because of pain in my ankle.

Also Tuesday was my book club in the morning and I spent the evening writing reports for the Session meeting on Wed. morning.

Wednesday afternoon was Kidney Dr. and we found out there is no disease or anything we have done. DH's problem is from the low BP from before they installed the pacemaker. Mine is from multiple medical tests when they use a contrast solution and from taking Advil and Aleve vs non-aspirin medications. So we know it won't get worse if we change some habits and watch our BP.

Thursday we had our friends visit from NM. He had a stroke a few weeks ago and came up to the Phoenix Mayo clinic for followup. It was really great to see them as we hadn't been able to get together for about a year.

Today, DH had an ultra sound of his kidneys and then we went to big town for my shoes.

All of this for a week that was clear except for the Wed. kidney dr. We will see about next week as I start PT on Tuesday.

[Nancy]

I was friendly to neighbors that gave use pumpkins and squash for the chichens. I hauled the last two home in a bucket on my hand cart thing. I cut them open and de-seeded on the outdoor kitchen. I gave hens some of the seeds and some of the squash.
48* this evening so I got my walk in while dinner was in the oven.

I have the last of the laundry in the dryer now.
Dinner is in the oven beef meat pies won out.
ToddlerN was good today.
Steelhead derby starts today.
H. Is working tomorrow this will help with not working on the holiday hrs. Lost.

Toddlern took some cookies with her that we made this week.

[Harmony]

MT, I'm sorry you've had so many health issues to deal with. Hope your feet clear up quickly. Is the PT for your feet? What can they do for them?

Um, Kathryn, I thought you two were retired?

I washed and rinsed the laundry room floor a couple times. Finally got the grout pretty clean, used a skinny brush in the joints too. Turned out pretty nice.

Another sinkful of dishes done. I don't know how we get so many dishes. Dinner done. DH went right to bed, he was out on jobsite 9 1/2 hours. It was tough, said he was on his feet whole time and up and down onto short scaffolding. I told him how I lost my balance and fell. He said to wait for him next time. Yeah, like he'd stay there for all the hours I put in in that room today!

Brought in all the laundry hanging up. Going off to the bathtub. I'm going to work on my feet. They're past due.

[Lilac]

Dh went to the dr. yesterday and his ears were still full of fungus. One ear, he had been unable to hear anything from it for weeks. The other ear he could hear somewhat. She called an ENT in the neighboring town. He had just had a cancellation for this morning at 9:10. We went and he doesn't mess around. He came in diagnosed it as a fungus and said that he would remove it. He put peroxide in dh's ear and had him turn his head to the side, so it wouldn't drain out. He was laying down. He then left the room to see another patient. He came in and suctioned that ear and then repeated the process with the other ear. Once he was done with both ears, he put something in them and then swabbed them. He then put a solution in them and then cotton balls. He gave dh a RX for a solution that he will put in his ears, twice a day for a week. Then he is suppose to wait one week and then see the dr. Who will look in his ears and exclaim that "everything is cleared up". That was the drs. words. Dh has had a lot of congestion, so the dr. put something in his nostrils and it made a big difference. I had to pick up an OTC product for his nasal passages, that is kept behind the counter at the pharmacy. The best part is, dh can now hear from both ears. I keep talking way too loud and he keeps reminding me that he can hear again.

Tuesday afternoon, I ended up in the ER after having dd1 listen to my lungs. They were clear but I had this pain behind the bone/bones that are above the breasts. It was uncomfortable, more than painful. Dd1 took my blood pressure and it was 150/97. Yikes. So I headed to the ER, which was a few blocks away. Dd1 called dh to tell him what was going on. Also, my breathing felt weird. I was afraid it was a heart attack. I had to wait for a little while in the waiting room but they told me if I felt worse to let them know. By the time I did get back there, my blood pressure was 187/111. They did bloodwork, xrays, EKG and a UA. Everything came back fine and by the time I left, my blood pressure was normal. They told me to make an appt with my dr. for a recheck. Well I don't know when or if he will return to his practice after losing his ddaughter last week. Dh's oldest dsis said that it sounds like her hiatal hernia. Db's dw wonders if it's acid reflux. I have had what I thought was acid reflux in the past and this is different. I will just keep track of what is going on and if I have no further troubles, I have a drs. appt for mid January. If I hear he isn't returning, I will have to find a new dr. I haven't had that sensation at all today. I told dh that this is what our life will be like when he retires, we will be going to appts together. We hope not, we're not ready for that, if it can be avoided.

So health issues have been at the forefront around here this week.

Dh thinks I need to get more sleep. I hate to sleep and wish it was optional. Since it is not, I went to bed 3 nights in a row by 10:20. This morning I awoke at 2:18 to go the bathroom and I was never able to get back to sleep. I haven't napped today, so hope I can get squared away again on my sleep.

Speaking of sleep, I better get ready and head to bed, whether I want to or not!

[lucylee]

Oh, (((Lilac))) -- that is so scary!!! Glad they got your bp back down to normal, and yes -- do keep a watch on everything and take good care of yourself! Also, I was sooo glad to hear that Mr. Lilac can HEAR again! Hooray!!! Sorry it took this long to get to a doctor who knew exactly what to do. I've had my ears suctioned out like that. It feels kinda good/kinda strange. (DH thinks I need to have it done again, LOL! He says I can't hear -- and maybe he's right -- but I'm not making an appt just for that at this point. I'll need to see my allergy doctor soon enough, I imagine.
* shaking my head * at your comment: I hate to sleep and wish it was optional. LOL... I wish I could sleep 16 hours a day... And I think I probably COULD, if people would leave me alone! Dmom says I should enjoy it, b/c she is like you -- she will wake up too early and not be able to go back to sleep. And she says there is a very small "window of opportunity" around 9:00 pm, and if she doesn't get in bed then, the night is shot altogether.

MT -- also was very glad to hear things are (relatively) okay with you and Mr. MT, but I'm so sorry you've had all these problems to deal with. I hope you get some relief for your foot pain. I think my dmom should go to one of those stores like you're talking about, and be fitted for shoes.

Waving to Nancy... Harmony... FelineFriend... Cathy... BookSaver...

Kathryn, y'all do sound waaay too busy to be even "semi-" retired.

Dee -- the pictures of the snow in Buffalo and surrounding areas is just amazing to me. I cannot imagine. That would be terrifying to think you might have so much snow on your roof that the roof could collapse! And I know people must be awfully nervous about where all the water is going to go when it melts. I certainly will be praying that roads are cleared and things are a little easier to handle by the time your dgniece goes into labor!

Hope HRH can get out of this dental situation without needing a root canal -- I still have never had one and it is one of my great fears. Along w/kidney stones... colonoscopy/endoscopy... eye surgery... (I have a lot of great fears, as y'all know.
BIG -- HUGE -- WTG, Harriet, on clearing out those clothes. Oh my goodness, we've got to get started on that kind of stuff at dmil's... and dmom still has a HUGE amount of stuff to deal with at her house and in at least one (possibly two) storage spaces.

Speaking of planners, cards, etc.
I have another "ta-da" re: my cards. I have in my Christmas planning cards, a note to "remind dmom to order ham." It's supposed to go on Nov. 1, but my Christmas planning never really goes according to schedule -- so what should be Week One is not usually happening that soon... but anyway, I did remind her today, and I said, "This seems a little early for Christmas planning for ham, but that's when you said to remind you..." and she said, "OH! Thank you!!! You are supposed to remind me b/c I need to call (daunt) and see if I need to do the ham for Thanksgiving!"
So again, 3x5s to the rescue!

Now... friendliness...
I have been friendly to --
dmom... who told me twice in the same (long) conversation, ALL ABOUT the two men who used to work for ddad, who came out and cleaned gutters at both her houses... and who seemed to go off on some lengthy tangent with every question I asked her...
dbro & his dgfriend... who I enjoyed very much talking to to vent about dmom & discussing Christmas gift ideas...
daunt... who returned my call and told me that she was doing the ham and my other daunt would do turkey/dressing so the rest of us would just need to do side dishes, as directed by my dcousin... and who also told me that OF COURSE it would be FINE to invite dbil to our Thanksgiving dinner... (so now I have to decide if I want to be friendly enough to dbil to make the invitation, b/c I fully expect I will go into a total meltdown panic attack should he accept -- but I don't really expect him to accept, and as dh and ds said, I will have done the right thing and it will all work out fine anyway.)
two people at two different businesses... which I called to check on prices in re: to possible Christmas gifts...
dh, ds, ddil... who left around 1:00 pm for college town and will be back late tomorrow night...
dgs... who has been a perfect angel 95% of the day, but who probably should have had a nap, and who had a complete come-apart at CVS...
elderly lady, long-time friend of family... who dgs & I talked to in CVS before dgs had his come-apart...
worker at CVS...
worker at Taco Bell...
dniece... who I messaged with re: Christmas gifts.
* whew * No wonder I'm tired. But all these people were extremely friendly to me, as well!

I also have a terrible pain in my neck, no joke, and I suspect it may have something to do with iPhone Addiction, you know? I am taking, alternately, Aleve and Tylenol, and periodically using vibrating/heated massager on it. And trying not to keep my eyes on that phone screen so much.

Aside from all the above, which somewhat speaks for itself, I think, I also managed to wash a load of clothes and hang it to dry, sort another load to wash in the morning, and reconcile bank statement without making any errors on the first try! I have also colored a perfect masterpiece in the Dick Tracy coloring book, and read several books, one of which elicited LOL giggles from dgs -- so I'd say this day has been close enough to perfect for me.