ALL THINGS THURSDAY

[DeeClutter]

Tried to add some to my last post & it wouldn't let me "edit". Oh well. I feel a little better about myself. Just cleaned dh's 3 drawers beneath our closets, cleaned 4 of my dresser drawers, cleaned out the last plastic bin of clothing & put it away. Now I'm planning to take ALL of dh's socks & underwear and pack some away for FL (note to self: be sure to start writing down what's packed & the things I want to just plain leave here). My 2 top dresser drawers are pretty much 'junk' drawers at the moment so have to get at them in the next few days. Trying to focus for at least 30 minutes on 1 room a day -we have the living room, dining area, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. Then I can do the rest (deck, lawn, etc) on the weekend.

[Lilac]

I just talked to my dbs dw and she had received a text from my dh's dsis. They are not doing heart surgery until tomorrow because they need to do surgery tonight for kidney stones. Yikes. That is so scary having 2 surgeries so close together.

Dd2 talked to dd1 and dd1 told her that her dh has decided that his dm needs to go to the nursing home, sooner than later. His brothers are coming this weekend to discuss this and then talk to her about it.

Dd2 has a showing of her house tonight at 7. The couple coming to look at it, the man owns the flooring store that dd2 has purchased so much flooring from. Although he doesn't lay the flooring, he recognized the house on Z illow and called her. He was widowed about 10 years ago but has recently remarried. Him and the new wife are in their 40's. She is a the head of the mortgage dept at the bank she works at. So she probably has her ducks in a row. About 8 years ago, dh and I looked at her home when her and her ex had it for sale following the divorce. So she is used to a bigger home. I hope they make an offer so this can be behind dd2.

Guess that is all I know for now.......

[Ivy]

Lilac, Yes, that's scary about the 2 surgeries so close together, but hoping the Dr.'s all know what they're doing & he gets the best of care.

It's always hard when it comes time to put a loved one in a nursing home. Hope the talk goes well.

That's good news about Dd2 showing her house to that couple, too. Good luck to her on that.

Dee, You've been so productive. How did DH do at the Dr.'s? Good, I hope.

Harriet, I later got to feeling ill, after lunch, but 1 item on the anti-gastritis list was Pepto Bismol. I took a dose, then felt like a million bucks again.

I miss Lynlee, too. I hope it's good news, keeping her from us, & she's happy & everything.

I put the sheets on the bed, while DH was mowing, after we put groceries away. He was appreciative because running in for prescriptions/groceries/to get mail, then mow, after stacking wood yesterday- he's tired. It's quite a job to make a king-sized bed by myself, but I managed it all right. Could feel those muscles working again, since stacking firewood yesterday, too. I got an awful nice letter from my BFF. I'm answering it now. I'll try to answer the other 3 letters I owe, too. At least I sent a short story meant for Sept. or Oct. yesterday. Now I can allow myself some down time to pen pal & crochet. Today, surprisingly, I found an outline of a short story, which would also be good for Sept. or Oct., but I'm going to let it drift, along through Autumn into December & climax at Christmastime. It'll be a tear-jerker. It was in a basket, when I'd decluttered my small office, so while flipping through the basket, I re-discovered this story, which was planned about 3 years ago or earlier. It'll be such fun to write it & I look forward to it so much. I'm excited about it. Writing was starting to drag me down, especially when I had a month of no acceptances, so rehashed everything in my head & heart, to write for pleasure & if I don't make a deadline, there is always next year. I'm not going to let it get me down. I'll have fun with it. I think it shows in the writing, too. Also, it's the same way with writing letters. If it's a drudgery & you don't care for the pal, your letter can come over so unhappy & boring. But if you truly write your letters, when your responsibilities are over, you have truly free time, writing can be such a joy & the letters are happy, exciting, fun, & newsy. I guess it all boils down to attitude, but attitude is important in life with each & every thing we do.... even housework, dishes & laundry.

[helia]

Dfriend arrived! It is good to see him.

Done:
x dinner for 7
x kitchen cleaned up; dw running
x rinsed the shower
x did a quick YFU email

Dfriend left for his conference at 6:45. Dh and girls left for the musical at 7 pm. Ds and I were considering going to see Captain Americatonight, but it is over 2 hours long and there are other things I need to do tonight.

I'm now going to go bring the band notebook to the other band parent so she can create the correct spreadsheets for uniform returns, happening on Monday. We've split this job: she does the computer stuff, I do the in -person stuff. There are some cons to this, but in general, it works.

I have on my calendar that tomorrow, I am tutoring the Taiwanese guy I tutor Friday afternoons, but he hasn't let me know if he is back in the USA or not.

[DeeClutter]

Dh and I went to supper. I tried their spaghetti. It was just ok, but I probably wouldn't order it again. Of course the guy who recommended it -well there's just no spaghetti he doesn't like.

Came home & took 3 linen closet shelves full of dh's underwear, socks, hankies out. I just threw out 26 pairs of socks. He still has long work socks still in the package plus others in the box. Quite a few low socks. Did put 3 pair away with his nicer shorts to wear out. I'll buy more if we need to. Thought I'd put some undershorts in the suitcase, but there's 12 pair and sometimes I go about 10 days before doing 'whites'. Did pack away some hankies. Now I have room to put his tank tops (for work) in there. Threw away a few t-shirts as well. Trying to get rid of some things -either via the trash or Goodwill.

Think you're inspiring me, Kathryn.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Dh took me for a walk to the store. I agreed to come since my headache had abated but reserved the right to circle around and come home if the headache came back. It didn't.

Then we went grocery shopping. He made his dinner (stuff to go with his leftovers from Tuesday) while I worked on the pram. It has been in the shed for 20 years, waiting for dnephew to settle down and have kids (he's 34 now and no partner yet) so I could give it back to him (it was his.) It is rusty and very dirty so I'm working on seeing if I can get it cleaned up enough that dd would allow a baby in it. If so, I'll move it, otherwise it will be given away. I'm already moving other furniture of dnephew's so no point offering the pram too.

It is a Perego and the big English-style pram. I know it was used when dsis bought it for dnephew so it is at least 40 years old. Parts are cleaning up beautifully, others not so much. The worst is the lining which is padded vinyl. The 'mattress' pad isn't cleaning up perfectly and that I could get into the laundry sink. The inner sides of the pram aren't removable so will have to be cleaned in the driveway so no hot, hot, water as I used on the mattress and cover.

After dinner I rested until dh left to visit a friend. I then cleaned up the kitchen and enjoyed a call from ds as well.

Now I should be writing a sermon but words fail me. It is very hot here and I'm suffering hot flashes as well (or I'm running a fever.) I have not felt well much today but I suspect (hope) it is just stress.

Dee I'm glad I could inspire you. I'm paused right now because I have to focus on services, accounting, and getting the house sold, not the move.

[Lilac]

It would have been nice of that guy to tell dd2 that they had already shot a lowball offer on another house and are waiting to see if it is accepted before he looked at her house. At least she has an open house ad coming out in the paper on Saturday. She is getting really antsy, but she hasn't even advertised in the paper until now, so having shown it 5 times isn't bad.

[lucylee]

~~~ Warning -- this is going to be long ~~~
All things Thursday… hmmm… this is like old times, isn’t it? Me trying to cuop at the end of the day.

My Thursday included a LONG, rather chilly, -- no nothing chilly about it – it was COLD and WINDY and CLOUDY -- day at the festival, and for some reason, it seems important to dh that dgs and I return tomorrow. * sheesh * I am certainly hoping for better weather. I think I was just in a real mood… annoyed by all the little kids running around and even by the people I had to make pleasant conversation with, and I’m usually not like that.

If I am not going through the Change, this is Aunt Flo's week... but I think Aunt Flo has left the building. OTOH, I'm terrified to stop taking birth control pills, b/c when I change my estrogen/etc intake, what in the world is going to happen to my moods/anxiety, AND my weight???

Plus, I’m trying to keep up w/my calories and exercise on a phone app and so far, I’m over today’s allowed calories by about a thousand calories.* sheesh *
I have a dcousin who is doing some sort of doctor-sanctioned program where she gets a shot every week and takes Lasix and vitamins, etc… and SHE has lost 6 pounds this week.
Please, somebody tell me this is NOT the way to go. She wants to lose 30 pounds in three months. Is that reasonable?
I set my goal, on the app, for 17 pounds by Labor Day. (That’s approx.. 17 weeks.) However, at the rate I was going on Tuesday & today, the app says I’ll gain 3 pounds a month.
Dcousin weighs 10 pounds LESS than me and is about my height, but she looks a LOT skinner than me. DH says she does NOT need to lose 30 pounds. I think she is crazy.
Need to check H&F thread, I guess, for OKay's tips. I hate to even go there. I hate to even tell y’all I’m TRYING again… b/c seems like every time I “try,” I just gain more.


Well… other than this grumble, the day has gone pretty well.
Dmom called me again tonight, another hour and a half on the phone, and I couldn’t tell you a thing we talked about that made any difference about anything… but at least she sounded fairly upbeat.
Made appts for haircuts for dh & me before our weekend trip next weekend.
And – nice happening of the day – dfriends just insisted today that we keep their unused jogging stroller for dgs. Their grandchildren are all school age now and they assured us it was just collecting dust in their garage. They brought it for us b/c they said the festival grounds would be muddy and messy and the bigger wheels would be easier to manage. Very nice. It will come in handy at some of these outdoor festivals where we have to do a lot of up and down hills and uneven surfaces.
DS is so blessed by his friendships with some musicians, men my ddad’s age, who have sorta stepped into that “grandfather” role for him.

Thanks for reassuarance re: dmom, Kathryn, Ivy, and the rest of you who commented yesterday. Anniversaries of difficult days ARE tough; I guess dmom is allowed to have a mood, too.

Hope the septic tank woes are solved soon, Kathryn!
AND – hope you feel lots better after a good night’s sleep!

Hope your cough gets better soon, too, Nancy! Sooo much pollen in the air, everywhere, I imagine. Caregiver said dmil was bothered a lot by coughing last night, and I went through half a dozen peppermints trying to sooth my itchy throat.

Glad you’re feeling better, too, Okay! And WTG w/teaching LO about money. I am so impressed with all you are able to teach him. I know dgs doesn’t live with us, but I hope I can make some strong positive impressions on him as he grows older.

(Right now, the big thing just seems to be making sure he knows that “throwing a temper fit” doesn’t get him his way. He is a very stubborn little boy and he can become very emotional when he doesn’t get his way. For example, “Let’s put the colors away and go outside.” Screaming fit ensues. We just pick him up and go outside anyway. – Are we doing that right? Since he won’t TALK, it’s hard to know what message is getting through to him.)

I see Lilac’s dd is having similar problems…
Thinking of Lilac’s dbil…
And happy birthday to Lilac’s dd!
Big decision re: ROTC commitment for dd2. Hope that all works out for the best.
(((BIG HUGS))) to you, Lilac, re: dmom!!!
AND (((BIG HUGS))) to dd, re: her dmil. IKWYM – or what SHE means, rather – re: finally having children independent, and now being tied down by dmil. That is such a huge fear of dh’s, AND mine, as we see our moms in poor health.

Oh – and on that same subject -- I’ve told y’all before about how dmil has a horror of the nursing home. And when dfil was home, bedridden, she was really antsy about having people in the house. However, NOW, since she has become bedridden, it seems she is very reassured knowing that someone is there with her all the time, and thank goodness, she seems to like both the ladies who stay with her.

Hope the weather has calmed down in Harriet’s neighborhood…

I did NOT know the cat’s name was Tara, Harriet! How neat! I saw the story on the internet, but never watched the video or anything.

DH’s office sounds sooo nice, Harriet. I love blue anything.

And another day enfolds in which our heroine sits on her tuchas!

-- Love it, Twins!

So interesting you said that about almonds, Ivy. I love almonds, but I don’t eat them a lot. However, the other night, I was feeling especially hungry, feeling a low blood sugar fit coming on right at bedtime, and I ate about 20 almonds. I was afraid they would cause indigestion but I was pleasantly surprised, so I believe what you said about coating the stomach and absorbing acid!

Kathryn… interesting about the bulletins. When I was growing up in the Baptist church, we ALWAYS had those seasonal bulletin fronts – and there was a little inspirational story/devotional on the back. When I started going to the Methodist church, I think the bulletin had a drawing of the church on the front – drawn by a former church member. We kept that for years and years. Now we have a more modern looking picture, usually it will have some sort of “keyword” or Bible verse on it – JOY, for example, or a verse that relates to the sermon or the season. I’ve noticed my old church also has a more generic front, too, and both of the bulletins are much more packed with announcements and information. Ours also has space for notes, and I’ve started actually taking notes b/c I was sorta shocked at myself to realize recently how much my mind wandered during the service.

I love West Side Story, helia. I’ve only seen the movie, though, never a Broadway production.
(I did see a traveling Broadway production of Camelot once, with Richard Harris as King Arthur. It was sooo good!)

Helia has inspired me to make a swipe at dh’s shower to keep up my Thursday habit there.

Hmmm… yes -- missing Lynlee… and missing MT!!! Is she still having computer difficulties? I am terrified this computer is going to die and I’ll have to go to Windows8. Isn’t that what everyone is having trouble with?

WTG w/all that decluttering, Dee! And sending lots of good wishes and prayers for lots of good news for dh from medical appointments.

* WHEW * Sorry that was so long, but finally – I feel like I’m sorta caught up on what’s going on around here.

I’m going to
-- give that shower a quick clean
-- exercise
-- do bedtime routine
-- get in bed and read some more in Gone Girl -- It is good, but you know something? I'm intrigued w/finding out what happened to her, but so far, I don't really like the girl OR her husband. Kinda odd to be reading a book like this where I'm not "rooting for" either character. But that may change, I'm not even halfway into it yet.

Hope you all have a good night's sleep and a GREAT day tomorrow!

[Elizabeth]

Hi everyone! Kind of a late check in for me, but I have been gone for quite a bit of the day. DD12's dance recital and promotion to middle school was held within 0.5 miles of my house, so I walked there this morning. They made an announcement that we could take our students home or they could ride the bus back to school for the rest of the day. Guess which DD wanted to do? I warned her that I would be very boring, completely hogging the computer for job search activities. She still wanted to go with me. However, when her friends' mom, who was sitting beside me, suggested my DD come play with her DD, she liked that better. We and the friend's family went to lunch and they went to her house. I picked up the girls' things from school and delivered them, then did job search stuff until the knit/crochet group. Came home to not one, but two animal org crises! A dog had torn his ACL and will need surgery. (The question was WHERE to have it done, not whether or not to do it). And my own dFosterCat14 had thrown up a bloody hairball. Because she was alert and eating, we decided she will go to the vet tomorrow rather than the ER tonight. Consequently, tomorrow has become jam packed. Instead of the usual knit/crochet morning, I will be at the vet. If that is finished in time, I will have lunch with friends, followed by a phone interview, followed by volunteer work for the animal org! After that, I must fling a few resumes to the world and get some studying in.

My LOL of area rugs has just finished washing, so I must clear the drying rack and put the new load on it. Cats have been fed, but cat box still needs doing. I should take a shower too. Need to return a library eBook and get a snack, too.