SHEs Organized

Went out to Staples for returns and to post office for HOA mail. There's rarely anything of importance in the mailbox but I check it at least every other week.

List of 5 "must dos", several "want to dos" before trip. I can not motivate myself to get moving. I think I'll start with an easy "must do." I estimated it at 15 minutes.

No, setting a timer and going for 45 minutes.

Dh is out for a massage tonight at 6:30. We're dealing with leftovers or sandwiches.

Eh, didn't get this posted. Coming back through. One task took less time, one took more. Partly through the third task but I'm breaking.

Dh update in MO.

LucyLee I'm so sorry... I knew it was your calendar, but my fingers didn't remember when I sat down and posted this morning.

I'm late arriving but finally stopped to come to my favorite place online.

What a morning. Nothing horrible happened but I am ready to take a break.

We meet a stranger that DS16 arranged online to meet & test drive each other pickups in a possible trade. Within 2 minutes of the other pickup arriving, I was already voting No. There were 5 of us there to give our opinions about the stranger's pickup. Everyone voted NO except for DS16. He wanted to do the trade but was out voted.

We ran into a lifelong DFriend that is building a laundry mat and apartment in our tiny town. He wanted us to come tour the inside of the new construction, so we got to chat for a while.

We picked up the stuffed & smoked Cajun Turkey from another DFriend BBQ place. OH MY. i am so very glad I trusted his cooking prowess. What I thought was going to be weird and awful turned out to be one of the best things I have ever tasted.

DS50 and DDIL called and chatted for a while. It was good to catch up with their doings.

The city clerk called with a complaint about DS16 driving. She stated that she would have had DS16 ticketed for reckless driving but there wasn't a cop on duty when it happened. DS16 has had his license for 114 days and this is the 5th time he has either been stopped by police and/or a complaint about his driving. I have revoked his driving privileges other than going to/from work.

I have the table decorated & ready for tomorrow's meal. It makes me smile to look at it each time I walk through the house.

Coming back through. I'm doing a very long procrastinated item. When I fell in Amsterdam we paid some bill there and later received bills at home. About 600 euros remain on ER bill. I'm submitting info for hopeful reimbursement for our payments and payment of remaining ER bill. Dh "meant" to do it but turned it over to me end of the summer. I hope I'm not too late. He gave me a pile of bills and info to sort out and make sense of and send.

Finished our walk.
Got some ca poppy starts I wanted wished it would have been before this late.
Got em in the ground.
One friend hurt her knee at not real bad but it was as exercise class.

Had a nap.
Had veg. for dinner this evening.

hello again! yay on work being done here by all of you!

pulling card file - I didn't touch it this morning.
I need to make carrot prep - green bean casserole, Swiss medley - I am making plain green beans without all the fat stuff as well.
step off to the first thing. flip laundry

hi everyone!
finished the lights and decorations in kitchen - dd younger is making her asian type chicken - I must be one of the only ones that doesn't like spicy or sesame oil.

now to put the Christmas box away after dd is done.
flip flop the laundry

mom called twice. - once when she tried to break open her pill box and couldn't (thank goodness) She is a smart cookie so I am surprised that the pill box really worked! - she thought it was later than it was and second to call to say hi which was nice. - I will call her at 8 to see how her meds went -

I hope you all will have a nice evening!

Oh, Cathy, no problem. It's not like you don't have enough to think about. (((HUGS))) I'm certainly glad it was NOT my wallet... oh my... I would have truly been a basket case at that point.
As it was, DS has certainly enjoyed ribbing me a little about it, since I've always been so "superior" re: his and ddil's use of calendar and planning and keeping up with appointments, etc.
BTW -- I'm not going to discuss what the rest of the house looked like today, but ddil was very proud to show me their newly cleaned out and reorganized refrigerator. She and dgd had also made cake and cookies and dgd was very excited to bring some to me. DGD said "I did 99% of it by myself!" but I'm sure ddil did a lot of supervising and helping. Things over there will never meet Martha Stewart standards, but they are doing okay.
DDIL is considering applying for a M-F day job. She said dgd really wants her to stop working nights, and she thinks it would be better for her, to have a more regular sleep schedule. I was kinda concerned, because she has always worked nights, but who knows, it might be the perfect thing for the whole household.

Well, TA-DA -- my tables are set (have to use two tables, 6 at dining room, 5 at the kitchen, but rooms are connected and have a pass-through over the stove. I have the serving dishes I need to use in the morning, everything that can be done in advance is done. Dressing in refrigerator, ready to bake in the morning. We will eat at 1:00 pm. I made sure the guest bath is s/s, and if some things aren't perfect -- nothing got dusted -- but it will be okay.

I'm a little aggravated re: dbro. SOme of this in J&C... but also, he is leaving early Friday. I'm thinking, why bother? I really doubt he will be back for Christmas. After his bad experience with flight delays, etc, a few years ago, he has sworn off Christmas travel, I think.
It is really sad the way he spends so little time with our mother. As dh always said, (and basically everyone in the family agrees) -- he is going to regret this someday. (I think -- maybe he won't?) Dmom will be 80 in less than 4 months. She has never been in good health, and she could definitely use some of help for him in things that are NOT my area of expertise. Not to mention that he has an aunt who has just turned 81, and likewise is not in good health, who has always treated us like we were her own children. Plus Duncle, in memory care now. Dbro likely will not see any family except us, his immediate family, tomorrow, and it does make the rest of us wonder what goes on in his mind. Dmom said he was really short with her when trying to give advice/info re: getting her cell phone back online a few weeks ago (they were talking on the phone) and then she said he got mad today, and she doesn't even know what she said. Just shaking my head.

Seems like lots of (((BIG HUGS))) are needed around our little village tonight. A lot of us are struggling against things that get in the way of the jolly holiday mood we think we should be experiencing.
Harriet...
LadyM -- I definitely agree with Harriet, you are doing the right thing, but that doesn't make it easy. Raising teenagers is not easy.
Blessed...
Twins...
Cathy...
and I'm sure I'm leaving out someone who needs prayer and a hug. I hope you ALL have a peaceful day with with people you love tomorrow.
I'm sad about my first gathering without dh, but I'm so thankful for the family I do have with me, and so thankful for my extended family. Even if we are not together, I think they love me and if I needed them, I believe they would come through for me. I am so thankful Dcousin found a place for our uncle and we will not have to worry about him being alone and possibly confused about his medicines or other aspects of his daily routines.