Fabulous Friday

[Nancy]

Tis windy here today leaves are finally coming out of the tree so I am dealing with them. No toddlerN here today, h is off so it does not feel like a normal day to me.

[Sunny]

Today feels like a Monday to me, so it is a fabulously normal routine day. I have done desk chores, balanced checkbook etc., put away a lol. I swept the driveway to chase away the leaves and twigs that fell during the wind we had the last couple of days.

We talked to ds#2 and they had a nice Thanksgiving Day with ddil's dmom & ddad, who came from their little town north of us to spend the day with them.

We're not doing any shopping today either. Dh really has not much patience dealing with the crowds, trying to find parking places etc. and we don't really have any ideas for the dgrkids yet. We will have to shop some time this weekend for something for dgs13 whose birthday was on Wednesday. We tried for ideas when we talked to him, but that didn't work so we'll have to get it from ds when we talk to him this weekend.

I think I will put my feet up with a cup of tea and read for a while. Waving hello to everyone!

[helia]

More done:
- a.m. routine
- ds went this a.m to take care of the cats - I forgot to say that
- reservations made for hotel over Cmas
- emailed small group re: movie night tomorrow night
- brunch with the family
- picked up redbox rental - success this time!
- groc. store - we decided to eat at home and I didn't have everything we needed for jambalaya
- everything put away
- laundry: 2 lols folded and put away; lol #3 in dryer, lol #4 in washing machine
- 1/2 the brussel sprouts trimmed and cut for roasting for dinner tonight

I'm waiting for dh to finish discussing dd19's woodworking project with her. Then, we're going to the gym. Dd16 has a friend coming over at 7 pm, so we need to eat fairly early. I'll make the rice before we leave.

[Lilac]

Dh came in, just as I hit submit. The tree was together in minutes. We had one section of lights that hooks to another on the same section. For some reason I had unplugged them and it took at least 5 minutes to find the other end. In the meantime, dm had called. I could tell by her voice that something was wrong and she kept saying nothing is wrong. Then she finally told me that when she is at db's for any kind of dinner, if his dmil or dsisil are there, then his wife (my dsisil) spends all her time talking to them and making plans with them. Then she can't have any kind of conversation and feels left out. So she had left after they ate and went to her niece's and felt left out there, too. Then she said she had to go and was sobbing like I have never heard her do. I felt absolutely helpless.

So dd2 calls and we go to the sports themed store and bought a few things. We went back to her house so that we could eat lunch. I called dh and he came down. After lunch he wanted to go take pictures of the motorhome. So he dropped me off. I wanted to get some containers to take to dd2s. While I was here dm called again and apologized for upsetting me and then started in again. Part of her problem is that she has gotten where she says what she thinks, whether you want to hear it or not. It has caused some problems and she can't see it. She has a 29 old friend that she works with and they have been very close since dstepdad died. She was complaining to me that this gal just says whatever she wants and if it hurts your feelings, oh well. Well recently dm had told me something she has said to this gal and I knew right then that it would come back and bite dm. She has the same issues with her 2 sisters. Then she can't figure out why they are acting so mad.

I drove back to dd2s to get one serving of the 9 x 13 dessert I was leaving there. After talking a few minutes I headed home.

It is 64, sunny, beautiful with a gentle breeze. Suppose to be the same tomorrow. I intend to wash the dining room window before the sun hits it. Then I need to do the kitchen window also.

I am overcome with tiredness so better try to take a nap.

[lucylee]

Hello!!!
Enjoying reading about everyone's holiday happenings. We had a very nice time at daunt's, most all the family there, plus three girlfriends of dcousins', and minus ds & family. Bittersweet, b/c this was dcousin's house, too -- dcousin who had cancer and passed away last summer -- but although we spoke of her naturally and easily, there was no sadness about the day. Daunt seems to do so well. I'm sure she cries when no one sees. But the only tears yesterday were from 5-year-old dcousin, the granddaughter of the cousin who passed away. She had a couple of meltdowns. Once when she had to put her shoes on to go across the street to visit with her other grandparents, and once when her 8-year-old boy first cousin told her SHE would die when she got old. When she told him she was "going to tell Mammaw on him," he told her Mammaw would die someday too. * shaking my head * Bless her heart... she really had a come apart at that point, and it took "Mammaw" some time to convince her that was not going to happen for a long long time. * shaking my head * Life's hard sometimes when you're five.

Some of my cousins' wives went shopping, but not me! Came home, told dh this was the best part of the holiday -- snuggling up under my blanket and taking a nap.
However, ddil called to report success in their Fisher Price Corvette buying, and after I talked to her a while, I got up and decided to do some online shopping myself.
* Woo hoo * Scored Thomas the Train play table and starter track/train sets for less than the table alone would cost normally, and without standing in line! Did a good bit of other shopping as well, and felt quite good about it all... EXCEPT...
I inadvertently bid on TWO of the same Christmas ornaments on eBay. * sheesh * I was looking for a Cozy Coupe ornament for myself, so I'd have one like I gave dgs last year... and * sheesh * forgot I had already bid and bid on another one. Maybe I'll lose one of them. If not, I only have $6 maximum in it anyway. Maybe I can give one to dcousin.

Today, we went to graveside service for dfriend's mother. This lady was one of my dmil's lifelong best friends... she had been bedridden for five years, and pretty much unable to talk to dmil on the phone for quite some time. As I told her family today, I couldn't help but smile to think how they must be having such fun catching up with each other today.

MY dmom had completely and truly planned to go to the service as well -- long-time friends of the family on my side as well -- but dmom's housekeeper had been there this morning and dmom had overdone it again... down with her back, lying on the heating pad. * sigh * Dmom is going to HAVE TO get some pain relief, somehow, someway.
Then MAYBE we can get her brain back together.
Yesterday, she woke me up to tell me I might go get another pint of brocolli salad from Wmart; she had only been able to get one pint. And she would probably not be there at 11:00 -- at which point I interrupted to tell her she wasn't supposed to be there at 11:00, we were supposed to be at daunt's at noon, but would probably not eat until 1:00. And I told her I was not going to have time to stop at Wmart, what she had would be fine.
* BIG SIGH *
She finally came rolling in around 1:30, 1:45... last one to arrive, of course... and she had forgotten her brocolli salad. She did have her mashed potatoes and macaroni & cheese, at least.
And of course, much talk about how bad she felt, and much rambling conversation w/lost trains of thought...
I told dh... she just drives me crazy. I feel bad that she drives me crazy, but it drives me crazy. I know I react to her Just Like my ddad would, too, and THAT drives me crazy.
* LOL * I was telling dh, after we left, that I should NEVER have said, "noon, eat around 1:00" to dmom, I should have just let her think 11:00 a.m. was correct. DH said, "That is exactly right. You should have said, 'No! We're supposed to be there RIGHT NOW and you better get your ___ down there!'" ROFLOL, b/c dh would NEVER NEVER NEVER talk to my dmom that way, but he enjoyed laughing with me about how I "should have" handled her.

Her doctor assures her that there is nothing physically wrong with her brain, that this is all stress and pain related and it WILL pass.
NOW would be a good time.

(((BIG HUGS))) for you, ((((((Lilac))))))... at least I can comfort myself that at least my dmom isn't making people mad by saying what she thinks. I worry that she is boring them to death or driving them crazy with the constant litany of her ailments... but there is always something to be thankful for, I guess.

I'm kinda stuck on my shopping till I get some info from the lady doing the monograms, and from dxsisil re: dniece/dnephew... but I have a lot of work I need to do on the computer with some photo downloading for Christmas cards and at least one photo gift... so... I better sign off and get busy with that.
I also want to start getting the house cleaned up a little, at least dusted, before starting in on the Christmas tree and stuff.
Hope you all have a bright and cheery and Fabulous Black Friday!

And speaking of getting one's brain back -- I had to edit myself b/c I just typed and submitted w/dh's actual first name in this post. Y'all try to look after me...

[Twins' Mom]

I am home again - visited dmom and then took a drive to p/u stampin up goodies I ordered at stamp camp a couple of weeks ago. I had to get on the interstate to get there and didn't dare do it earlier in the week.

I tried to call dmom to let them know I was on the way but when she answered the phone she couldn't hear me, or couldn't operate the phone. Some of both. Then she tried to call me back several times and couldn't hear when I answered. I keep thinking that I don't know how much longer dbro can do this or she can safely stay at home.

DH is home early. I'm going to try for a short nap.


And......I didn't get this posted earlier....

Helia....this link says the whipping cream only took a minute: http://www.thekitchn.com/can-you-really ... chn-204588

and Lucylee, I know exactly what you mean about how frustrating these mothers can be...

[Nancy]

I have been getting leaves out to the coop & run.
Good news dstepgson is moving back in with dd &sil and other grands. He will work with his dad and work on getting his ekectrical permit. His friend just signed up to go in the marines for 8 yrs.

[Lilac]

Yes, lucylee, there is always something to be thankful for. I have been meaning to tell you, when you were talking about your dm having a dinner for Thanksgiving but now will be Christmas, at least your dm is attempting to have a dinner. The last time my dm had Christmas at her house was in 1985. We weren't able to go because we had just been there at Thanksgiving for my maternal grandparents 50th Anniversary party. My dm told me today that she just quit having dinners when we moved away because it just wasn't the same. More denial.

Db has called twice to discuss her behavior yesterday. He said when she got there dsisil and her dm had dinner under control, but dm put on her apron and proceeded to run around washing every dish or cup in sight. He said he called her last night and she started crying and telling him he had such a wonderful family. He said she should be thankful he does, not weepy. I finally told him what her problem was with his wife, dmil and dsisil. He told me that he will be surprised if his dmil is around this time next year. He doesn't understand dm at all. I think the hardest part for him is that she is turning into her dm. My dgm just waited for us to do something wrong so that she could correct us. She could be really hateful. My dm has always had a "look" that you knew she meant business. She also has a tone in her voice that had the same effect.

Still haven't started on the tree but got a second wind and didn't take a nap.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

I'm back home after being out over 4 hours. I'm tired.

Have a banking mess that is only partly cleared up. The teller entered 19722 instead of 19772 and because this was a bill being paid in US$ from a Canadian account, the amount I signed for wasn't anywhere near either amount, not that I would have caught it anyway (it took the teller at the bank today to figure out what the problem was I can't see the difference between those numbers.) Anyway, I had a stamped bill showing $19772 was paid so the bank is paying all the interest and the extra $50. On the other hand, I still have to phone the credit card company and get them to reverse the interest that has been accruing this month. The bank also reversed the credit card annual fee since I'm not ever supposed to be charged it. I'm pretty frustrated with the bank at the moment.

Then I went to the Christian supply shop and just wandered around. They are closing in February.

I also shopped for suction cups. Ended up buying all of Walmarts stock - $12 for 12 of them compared to $1.25 for 12. Haven't tried them yet. I had tried moistening the others. I will try them again after cleaning the window and the suction cups themselves but I think they are just too cheap. Since I need about 36 suction cups (and currently have 17) I also bought white duck tape and might just duct tape the lights up. I have Goo-Gone to remove the adhesive in January and the role of tape was just $5. I can't use command hooks because the windows are too cold for them. For that matter, I'm not sure the duct tape will hold either.

I've had my dinner and ds is coming over in a little bit but he'll mostly be sleeping before his shift.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

I finally finished the bulletin. I had to design a cover for it because the church supply shop didn't have any Christmas bulletins left.

Ds came and has gone to bed. He had two loads of laundry so I told him I'd take care of it.

Now to write a sermon.