SHEs Organized

I'm back from lunch. Thank goodness I have a usual order because I was on the phone with the travel agent when the waitress came by. I had gone to the airline web page to confirm which airport I am flying into and could not get confirmation that I actually had a flight! It was a web error on their part that will be fixed in 48 hours. My flights to London have been the constant stressor for my upcoming trip. If I can just actually get to the cruise, that part should go ok. We still have to book the rest of our shore excursions.

Harriet: Thanks for the info. I had tried B complex supplements (on the advice of my doctor), but had not heard about zinc. Definitely worth a try. Also, I should try exercise. Even if it does not help the tiredness, the side effect would be a healthier me!

CUOP from Friday:

Happy belated birthday wishes to LurkyLou!

Ill as a hornet/mad as a hornet. Thanks, Harriet, for clearing up Southernism in my absence. Yes -- before our departure, dh was not exactly MAD... just ILL -- not physically sick, but as Harriet said, VERY IRRITATED. Everything seemed to get on his nerves and aggravate him; I felt like he expected me to be reading his mind.
Now... after the van broke down for the second time and the repair shop was closed on Saturday and and and... yep... THEN he was definitely MAD as a hornet.

CUOP from Saturday now...

Thank you for your input on dgd15. What upsets me the most is the child has been raised in a Christian home and she has missed very few Sundays at church, then she talks like that. Dm called and I told her because she thinks this dgd15 is an angel because when my dm is around, she is on her best behavior. I just remembered why, a few years ago, she said something mean about her dm in front of my dm and she jumped all over her. My dm commented today that I would have been looking for my head, had I ever said that. My maternal dgm still had 3 young kids at home when I was born. As my brothers and I grew up she always had a flyswatter or a wooden paddle minus the attached elastic and rubber ball. If we were naughty, she had us spanked before dm could move or open her mouth. When my brothers were old enough, we would pull up in grandma and grandpas driveway and they would jump out and head north. Our paternal grandparents lived straight north of them with a block size field between them. Our paternal grandparents were the exact opposite. They loved being grandparents to 11 grandkids. Anyway maternal dgp always said that the boys wore a path to our other grandparents house. Those boys would go there and not come back. I grew up thinking that when I had kids, I would let them discipline their own kids. So here we are! Dd1 told me today that dgd15 has unfriended all the adults from church and most of the kids from FB. This is going to bite her and I warned her. The cheerleading coaches watch FB because they don't want anyone from their squads acting bad. The other dgd15 who had already been a cheerleader says that they will call you out, if necessary. That dgd15 closed her FB account because she doesn't want it to cause her any problems. Todays mouthy granddaughter is the one who has been so mean to the other dgd15 and caused so much drama.

Dee, I am on Vitamin D3. When I was diagnosed with diabetes I was low on Vitamin D and also Vitamin B12, so I am suppose to stay on them.

Nancy, we are watching the Hatfield and McCoy mini-series also. We really liked it. In fact I sat down to watch it and didn't budge from the recliner until it was over.

Today dgd15 and her boyfriend started drivers ed. This is the daughter of dd2. She flunked the eye test, so dd2 was able to get her in this morning at 11:30. I went out there to watch the 2 little girls while they gone. When they came home, dd2 invited me to stay for lunch. Dgd15 needs glasses but the eye dr. made the mistake of telling her that they weren't that bad. She is always excited about new glasses and then doesn't wear them. Hopefully the 3rd time will be the charm. After lunch I came home and regrouped before heading out on errands. I had forgot my list, so thankfully there only 4 things from W almart and I remembered them.

Dgs6 has a ball game tonight. After this only 1 more, then dgs8 will start having games.

(((Lilac))) for all the trouble & drama w/dgd...

* Whew * I'm getting kinda nervous about becoming a grandmother. Went today & ordered a t-shirt for him, though -- got the name of ds's band on the front & baby's name on the back. Then went to check on child-sized guitar, but didn't buy one b/c (1) our cousin, who owns the shop, was not in and (2) I want to look for a child-sized banjo before I buy a guitar. DS would love either one.
I realize it is going to be a LONG, LONG time before dgs will be playing either one of these, but as I told man @ the store -- I have a picture of ds "playing" guitar w/his dad when he was just barely old enough to sit up... so I guess I think dgs has to start out life with a guitar, also, LOL.
I also think it will make cute baby shower gift/display. I'm just trying to gather up a basket of odds & ends, otherwise, b/c we did already buy the baby bedding, and I don't know what other large items she may get from hostesses or family.

Saw where Harriet had car trouble over the weekend, too. (((HUGS)))

I have also been to get oil changed in the van; we're about to take it back to dmil. Wonder what her thinking about this will be? Dbil & his family use the van a lot, too... but I'm getting really nervous about going out of town in it again. DS wanted to borrow it after the baby comes, so they can visit ddil's family. That's about six hours away. I don't know what I'd advise them to do, either! DS said if they don't use the van, they will need to rent one, b/c there is no way they can fit baby, dog, and baby paraphernalia in either of their vehicles.

I s2s, washed hair, shaved legs, touched up nail polish on toes, & used facial masque this morning, so I was feeling much better this afternoon by the time I went out. Besides the errands mentioned above, I also went to the post office.
DH & I will go to Wmart after the Braves game.
* We stopped in West Memphis last night @ Wmart & got breakfast stuff. Then we got home around 2:30 this morning! Slept till about 11:00. Both dh & I had some stomach upset over the last 24 hours -- not really all that unusual when traveling -- but probably made worse by the stress & the heat.

I've washed sheets, underwear, and one other load. Need to go flip loads in the laundry room.

BBL. I've got to tell y'all about our Titanic experience, as well.

Titanic, Lucylee? I can't wait to hear.

Talking about wanting to run away, we've been tackling a much-needed project around here. Float pump switch in the septic system has failed (3rd time since we're in this house) and we're trying to replace. New switch is fine, plug on the end is now bigger and won't fit through the pipe. So DH is replacing the pipe (conduit) - he's off to store to purchase what he needs. He's been down in the tank on a ladder...you just have to imagine what this chore is.

All because he didn't want to build the house 2-3 feet higher and have a hill of a driveway. We have nice level drive and house now, but a pump in the system because of that. I would not do this again.

Akkkk! Homeownership is not for sissies.

Well now I know I don't want Ken booking my trips and I am pretty sure I don't want to travel with lucylee.

and I am pretty sure I don't want to travel with lucylee.

I definitely understand, Indiana.

(((Harmony))) AND (((Mr. Harmony))) -- but Mr. Harmony's hug is definitely the just-barely, at-a-distance kind of hug.
* ugh * I'd rather have my trip than his chore.

Well... this is what happened @ Titanic.
I mean at the Titanic museum exhibit in Branson -- we didn't almost drown or something like that!
Okay... Friday night was just shot, you know. By the time we got to the (first) garage & ds picked us up & took us to our hotel, we were just ready to go to bed! We were supposed to have dinner & visit w/some friends in the area that night, but that wasn't happening. More on that later.
Saturday, we get to the second garage, then rented a car, finally got out to the festival where ds was playing... then left to go check on the van & go to the Titanic. DS had TOLD me he would let me know if he decided he wanted to go w/us... DH said, "No, don't call him, we don't have time to wait on him, and he told me plainly he did NOT want to go to Titanic; he wanted to go to Ripley's museum w/us."
I KNEW I should call ds anyway... and I KNEW I should turn off my phone like they said when I went in the museum... but I didn't -- on both counts.
Sooo... we had made it through ALMOST all the exhibit and we were in the room where they show pictures of how the ship sank... ALMOST the end of the tour... when ds called.
When I told him where I was, whispering b/c I wasn't supposed to have my phone on...
He said, "Oh. I thought you were going to call me after you checked on the van. I wanted to go to the Titanic with y'all." Much apologizing by me. "No, that's okay... it's fine... I just thought y'all would call me. I've been having to call y'all all the time since y'all got here..."
* sigh * BIG SIGH * I tried to explain to ds that we were pressed for time, we were frazzled beyond belief, that his daddy was CERTAIN he did not want to go to this exhibit b/c he had seen the one in Pigeon Forge... etc. And ds was obviously disappointed and a little aggravated with us, but he tried to be nice.
DH on the other hand, had had all he could take. He got so irritated when he found out ds was disappointed w/us that he said, "I'm through. I'm going outside. Stay as long as you like."
Well, of course, I could not stay & enjoy the tour at that point, so I went on out with him,
and I never got to put my hand in the 28 degree water!!!!!
At the end of the tour, for those of you who have never been, apparently there is a mock-lifeboat, and you're sitting there, and you can put your hand in water that is chilled to exactly the supposed temperature where the Titanic sank. DS, ddil, and my dparents were all very impressed w/this part of the tour. We missed that part entirely.
* sigh *
So for the rest of our weekend, whenever dh complained about anything, I would reply -- it got to be a joke --
Well, I never got to put my hand in 28 degree water.

Anyway, we left there, picked up the van, ate supper -- invited ds to supper w/us; he was eating w/the band -- but all was well. He invited us to go play putt-putt golf w/them. We declined, went back to the hotel, went to bed.

Sunday... another full day of music, then we returned the rental car, and then, we had to make up the visit w/the friends.
WELL... that was quite an adventure too, b/c what was supposed to be a 15-20 minute drive to the restaurant turned out to be over 30 minutes... and then the supposed to be 15-20 minute drive to the friend's house was another 30 minutes... and we were just totally EXHAUSTED, b/c this meant about an hour back to our hotel. * BIG SIGH * DS tried very diligently to get friends to meet us near our hotel, but nooo... that just wasn't going to happen, apparently.
Then dh stayed awake all night w/stomach cramps. I don't think it was the food, though; I think it was just the accumulation of everything.

Monday, I had a REALLY hard time staying awake @ the music festival, but we did enjoy the festival. That was about all we enjoyed, and we are definitely glad to be home.

DH kept apologizing to me. He said I had worked hard all year, and I deserved a vacation, and this was what I got.
Then he started fretting b/c "the baby will probably come early and we'll miss out on our Atlanta Braves trip, too, and we'll have no vacation this summer."

Good things about this trip, however:
1. The good Samaritan, who offered to drive us approx 150 miles to Branson, from the place we first broke down.
2. The very nice, friendly, clean-cut, polite tow truck driver & cab driver we met in the midst of all this.
3. All our troubles happened during "safe" hours and at relatively safe places where we never lost cell service.
4. DS, who was extremely helpful in getting us to our hotel, and his band members who offered all sorts of assistance.
5. Safe return.
6. DS rode home w/us and helped w/driving.
-- And last but not least, I am VERY thankful that
7. Ddil did NOT choose to accompany us on this little jaunt.

Lucylee: Excellent summary of the good that can come in the midst of the bad.

I had a full day and am just getting back here to post.

Worked until 2:30 at Presbytery, went to the jeweler, got stuck there waiting out a downpour, came home (driving through rain/sun/rain), gave thanks for my attached garage and quickly wiped all the dead bugs off my car since they had been soaked so well and were soft. Came inside, connected my computer and found dh online. Chatted with him until the storm passed, picked up my senior friend and we ran errands, had dinner at Five Guys, did groceries and then I helped her unload and came home myself.

Here's the update from dh:

So I checked into my Modena hotel last night around 23:45 after a crazy two days. After a full day at home on Sunday, I took an overnight itinerary to get to Modena, Italy. After a missed connection (due to headwinds) and then a cancelled flight (due to who knows what) I got to my room 4 hours later than expected. Except for napping on the flights I was awake for 36 hours.

Lights out at 00:30. Changed room for sleeping at 01:30 due to noisy fuse box (hopefully it is now fixed). Clock alarm at 03:50 in order to take 04:10 taxi to 04:40 train to Rome for 08:30 walk to the 7th PEPPOL Conference at 09:00.

Which means I'm walking through downtown Rome at 09:03 when the Modena earthquake happens with the epicenter 22.6km from my hotel room. We in Rome knew nothing of any of the three quakes and 30 aftershocks (so far) except what we read in the online news.

Coincidentally, I was my taxi driver's final overnight fare last night and his first overnight fare tonight. Of the 20 taxis at the train station rank he just happened to be at the head of the line. He told me he was in bed for three earthquakes around 09:00, 11:00 and 13:00 (the last he said felt like the strongest but the news says the first at 5.8 was the strongest).

I couldn't see any damage in the city on the taxi ride to the hotel. The hotel has shut down the elevators "just in case". I'm only on Floor 3 (of 10) so it isn't onerous for me. It is a "modern" hotel, so I'm not worried about damage.

I've been back in my room for 90 minutes with no aftershocks being felt yet ... I'll see how it goes through the night.

The biggest quake I've been in is a 5.7 in Yokohama many years ago.

It is not yet 9 but pitch dark here, more rain is on its way and I'm going to go to bed because I'm exhausted.

See you all tomorrow!

Cuop. My goodness, our villagers have been having some wild adventures over the past couple of days!

I've been home all day working on that newsletter and being diligent about taking a break every 45 minutes or so to get up, walk around, and do at least 1 chore. My knees finally loosened up late afternoon, and hopefully the frequent breaks will prevent further problems.

I almost couldn't walk down stairs when I first got up this morning. I deduce a bad combination of being chained to the desk yesterday for too many hours, the wrong shoes, and not enough sleep. I was even desperate enough this morning to strap an ice pack on my left knee for awhile.

I finished the layout and 1st proofreading of the newsletter about an hour before DH came home. That gave me time to eat a little supper and clean up enough to be seen in public. I also cleared more stuff out of my car with the flat tire. Then final proofread of the pages, and gathered a water bottle and some other necessities into a tote bag because I assumed/hoped I'd have to wait for the print job.

I chatted with DH for a few minutes when he got home from work, then borrowed his car to run to the copy shop. The first time I went in, the young man at the counter didn't know how to tell the machine to do what I wanted. He asked me to come back in half an hour. It was so pleasant outdoors and I'd been stuck inside all day, so I rolled down the windows in the car and read a magazine. A nice break.

Went back into the copy shop and the young woman (back from her supper break) originally asked me to come back tomorrow. The machine that would print the 11x17 paper was not working right. After some discussion, we agreed on 8.5x11 pages and she did not charge me for stapling. Then I sat a table there and read my book until the printing was done.

Stopped to pay a bill and pick up mail on the way home. Then I reheated some leftovers because I'd only had half a bowl of soup for supper. Another half bowl of soup and a little pudding cup fixed me up fine.

While I was gone, DH put the spare tire on my car. If I go out tomorrow and the spare is holding air, then I will at least be able to drive around Tiny Town. I still need to call the garage to ask about buying tires. Postponing the call until I find out whether or not I need a tow truck.

Before the newsletters can go to the post office tomorrow, they still need to be folded, taped, labeled, and stamped. In fact, the address labels still need to be formatted and printed.

OK, I'm too tired to face all of that tonight. I will do some of the folding while I watch enough tv to relax.

I'm grateful that my "adventures" have not been as crazy as some of yours.

Third load of laundry done -- hanging to dry
Everything that was dry is put away
EXCEPT -- still no sheets on the bed
Went to Wmart
Talked to dcousin re: baby shower
Sent e-mail to church secretary for open invitation in newsletter & bulletin
Also today, talked to dmom, dmil, got dmil a corndog for supper, visited for a little while

Tomorrow, I may have an adventure w/our own vehicle.
Tahoe clock resets itself to 12:00 a.m. Jan. 1, 2004 at random times.
Today, while driving down the road, door locks clicked on/off for no reason. Tonight, while dh & I were sitting in the house, alarm went off. Either we have a ghost or an electrical problem, right?
Worrisome thing... just checked & this appears to be a relatively common problem w/Tahoes & Suburbans... and many internet posters are having trouble getting satisfaction from dealers. * sigh *

Tried to record Hatfields & McCoys on dvd tonight. Missed first 5 minutes or so, b/c for some reason, dvd timer didn't start.
I hate my dvd player.

I guess I should get those sheets on the bed.