TROUBLE US NOT, TUESDAY

[lucylee]

DH's truck is on charger... found out what the problem was. Someone tried to do a good deed and (at dh's request) had the oil changed last week. Someone left the lights on. So... yeah... didn't take long for the battery to run down. And of course we never noticed it in the sunlight and it was too late by the time we went out after dark. Attempts to jump start w/ds's truck did not work, but we are hopeful that a few hours on the charger will do the trick.

So... dh and I went to his parents' house to get the charger...
unloaded the cardboard boxes from Wmart...
took ds's truck back to him...
ate supper.
DS, DDIL, and DGS met me at dinlaws' house to start sorting dishes.
Our key didn't work.
Dbil is in next town w/the only other key.

More phone calls... dbil says he will call me when he gets home... ddil wants to go tonight. I do NOT know what the big deal is to them -- as dh said, I could do this much more quickly on my own... I think they just want to "window shop" and daydream at a time when they can be in the house w/out dh or dbil. So... that's the plan -- waiting on dbil to get back home.

Then dgs will spend the night again, as ds will be working early at dmom's & ddil is still on the early shift until Aug. 17.

Y'all don't have to worry about ddil & me -- she's acting as if nothing ever happened at all; she's not mad. She probably just had a little "reaction" when she saw it and then put it out of her mind. She's not holding a grudge or anything so far as I can tell, and ds says she's not mad at me, so it's all good. I'll just keep my good housekeeping hints to myself and just continue to try to get MYSELF on track. That is definitely NOT something I have mastered yet, which I do NOT need to tell any of you!!!

I did sort of FORCE them to take dgs w/them for lunch today AND to take them home when we left after the dry run at dmil's house. DGS was crying the second time to go with me... but I told him granddaddy was tired and needed to rest a little (he just about got dehydrated playing golf earlier) and that I would see him later. Firm, in-control-grandma. That's me.

[Lady Maverick]

We are settled into hotel room for the night. LO has had a good birthday even though it was a little unconvential.
Time with big city pediatric uriologist went okay. LO will has out patient surgery on Sept 15.

Tomorrow will continue birthday celebration activities in big city. On our way home we will pick up 100 pieces of fried chicken and the biggest cake I could order. LO will finish his birthday celebration with many of his mentors.

[FelineFriend]

Lucylee, I loved your post, especially the end where you said "Firm, in-control-grandma. That's me." That's good that you're that way! Sometimes grandparents "need" to be.

It's good that Ddil isn't angry with you, too!

LadyMaverick, We'll be Thinking of LO on the 15th of Sept. ♥ (((LO))) His celebration with his mentors sounds wonderful, too. Is he turning 5? Or am I hurrying up his age too fast?

The lights just blinked. DH and Dgs got gloves out for tomorrow. They're driving up the garbage can tomorrow, 1/4-mile to the curb, and they'll prune back vines, ferns, etc... all the way back home. Dgs seems excited to help, yet today, when I asked him if he could help me by dusting below my chair, inside the wooden circular stand, he refused. He said, "I don't LIKE to dust!" It was very comical, the way he said it. But he rinses out his dishes, keeps things picked up and is helpful, as long as he doesn't need to dust.

Twins' Mom, I hope dMacs gets better soon.

Kathryn, It sounds like you had a very busy day. I'm glad you have the other bed in the basement, too.

Harriet, I "hope" that your DD's friend does get a talking to. It sounds like her Dmom was surprised about it all. Too bad that this happened.

Nancy, WTG to get a day off and take yourself out for lunch, too! You're so hard-working, daily, so you deserve a little fun like this. How's the smokey skies today? Any better?

I took a little nap in the recliner. I was sleepy. The weather's been in the 70's today, which is nicer compared to 88* - 90*, like it has been. It'll be cloudier and cooler for the next few days, then increase in temps for awhile again. I finished the LOL, got an ARC box labeled for more donations, want DH to go through his clothes in the closet, as he has pullover sweaters he never wears, which are just hanging there getting dusty. Why not "bless" a man with some nice sweaters. He'll be busy tomorrow, with pruning and the Mariners are on tonight, so it might not get done until after Dgs goes home on Saturday. I have a down parka, which I could donate, but then I wouldn't have it for snowy times in the winter, so I'm keeping it. I put in several hats, scarves, and mittens. I cannot think of anything more to donate, but I'll go through the storage cupboards in the utility room to see if there are things in there. I need to wrap up the end of my story, by hand, and do a few more things before bedtime.

Have a nice evening, Everybody.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Off to bed now.

Ds will stay up until 3 and then go to bed and try and stay down until at least noon. He has a 12 hour shift tomorrow night, 19:30 to 07:30. Thank heavens the apartment is so soundproof between rooms. I'll be surprised if I even hear him go to bed.

Watched my tv show (Amazing Race Canada.) This is the first time I've watched it 'live' and so got things done during the commercials, including resewing my backpack that I'm using as a purse. It is just a sac with draw strings that form the straps but it holds tons, looks small, and I can toss it in my bike basket or on my back once I have groceries to go in the basket. I can't believe this bag (a conference give-away) has lasted over a month so far. All that was wrong was a seam that holds the drawstring in place had broken threads so I went over it with the machine.

I have to say that although my machine is now kept in a cupboard in the dining room, instead of set up all the time, I find myself pulling it out and sewing a seam. Before I would have to go to the basement so would put things aside until I had a pile of sewing to do. I'm not sure what that says about the basement. The rooms are bright and sunny, there's no reason not to want to be down there but I would avoid it.

[Nancy]

I tried to get the a1c test but it did not come in and they cannot get them. Sigh oh well. All the diabetics I have talked to do not get them quartly one is a nurse.

Deep cleaned the master bed room.

Tomorrow I need to work on the kitchen it is starting to show that I have not spiffed as scheduled like as it needed.

[FelineFriend]

Good Evening!

I fixed pills for the week, noted on the calendar when to call in my thyroid pills and statin pills, and got tomorrow's to do list out. I read some place, which may have been CEO's site, If you keep a few lines blank on your "to do" list, you can add more urgent things, when they come to mind, onto the blank lines. I try to write my lists ahead, so this keeping-a-few-lines-blank helps me a lot.

I set my dawn simulator, I don't know "WHY" because I wake up about 6 - 6:30 a.m. when a mouse in the main/guest bathroom is making racket in the walls/cabinet. My cat doesn't get up until I do, to get it. I got my clothes out for tomorrow, added a few items to the list, and put a wool herringbone tweed jacket into the ARC donation. It's a very nice jacket, but somehow, over the years, the sleeves became 2" shorter on my arms. Do arms grow as we age? The biceps on the sleeves are tighter, too. DD gave me a wonderful black double-breasted wool hooded coat, from Goodwill, which fits wonderfully, so I don't feel so bad about donating my herringbone tweed jacket. Tomorrow, is when DH said he'll try to go through his closet. ♥

I got out a red turtleneck pullover sweater and jeans for tomorrow, as our mornings and noontime are chilly with the on-shore flow cloud cover. This is a cotton sweater, so it breathes and I won't get too hot in it, like I would a wool sweater. Dgs is adorable. DH and he are watching "America's Got Talent," now. I'm on my way to watch it, too.

Have a good night, Everybody. Tomorrow's desk day and Anti-Procrastination Day for me. I've been meaning to call or write DD, so I can do that tomorrow. Take care and sleep tight.

[lucylee]

FF, you did see the "wink" on how firm and in-control I am, right? LOL... I'm kinda a pushover, really... but after our discussion in J&C the other day, I thought, I have got to let these two know that THEY need to start taking dgs with them more and including him in whatever they are doing. Wmart, restaurants, etc... and I like I told them this afternoon, dgdaddy and dnana needed a little time to rest, TOO!

But yes, all seems fine w/ddil... we worked together w/ds for 3 hours... packed up SIX sets of dishes... and there are still all the glasses to go and odd pieces. But the glassware is going to go much faster. I think she has 18 stems of really, really nice crystal (in three sizes, y'all know what I'm talking about? I don't know what each piece is called) and then there are six good every day glasses that match, and otherwise, I cannot find any "sets" -- just another half dozen mismatched glasses.

I'm afraid we made some of our boxes too heavy and we thought of reinforcing the bottoms w/duct tape only after we were about halfway through.

Ddil is also very happy w/me b/c I act like I like all her ideas... Painting the outside shutters and front door navy... putting a dividing wall between the formal dining room and living room (the rooms are really too small, IMHO, to do that, but * whatever * They want to use the living room as ds's "office." And they will ONLY need the dining room most likely on Christmas. The dining room will also look much larger when it is emptied out, b/c right now, there are TWO drop-leaf tables in there. Both have the leaves "dropped" at the time, and one is VERY small... but still. It's pretty crowded right now. I make suggestions -- such as using French doors between the dining and living room -- but I act like it will all be very nice, however they do it.

Ohhhh... definitely will be keeping LO in prayer for the 15th of Sept. Hope he has a FANTASTIC birthday, too!!!

Okay... must type up this list of dishes for the antique lady.

[FelineFriend]

Lucylee, Yes, I saw the wink. I agree about your dgs going with them more, too. They're his parents, after all. I know they may be trying to get alone time away from him, too, but they are still a family and it'll be nice that he's included with them.

I'm glad ddil isn't angry with you. If they want navy shutters and front door, what color is their house? The "office" idea sounds good, but smaller little rooms are so claustrophobic and difficult to deal with when there's a crowd of people, during celebrations and during the holidays. I hope it looks good when they're done. French doors sounded like a beautiful idea, to me.

I hope you all have good luck with the antique lady, too.

My 1 florescent light keeps blinking in my office. Hopefully, DH will have some in the garage yet. He usually buys extras when he gets them. They're in both offices and the utility room. The covers are what they call "cloud lighting" because the covers are curved on the corners, sides and ends, to give a more soft look, like a cloud. With sharp corners and edges, it's more sterile-looking. Like an office for a Dr. or dentist or clerical office has.

[lucylee]

The house is brick, pretty much a solid dark/medium red brick, and currently has dark green shutters and beige trim.

Amen to the idea of small rooms being claustrophobic AND -- that is what they are trying to get away from, remember. However, the den/kitchen/and back entry-extra sitting area, (which dmil used for extra table seating at family dinners but which ds/ddil want to make a reading "nook") is HUGE, with cathedral ceilings and large windows. The master bedroom is HUGE, w/2 walk-in closets. OTOH, the other three bedrooms, and this formal dining/living room area, are all pretty tight spaces. With small closets. But -- there still should be room for plenty of cabinets and shelves if need be, so MAYBE they can manage themselves better. * sigh *

There is also an additional building, which currently has a pool table and ping-pong table in it. DS hopes to get all his music stuff out there -- record collection, recording equipment, instruments, etc. Getting this stuff out of the house will be a great help to ddil.

Well, my list is typed. We packed up 348 pieces of china tonight. * whew *
Only two sets are what you would call "complete." One has 12 place settings and is very pretty, looks expensive, dniece MIGHT want it. The other has 8 place settings and, according to antique lady's first estimate, is likely to be much cheaper quality.
DS has his eye on the everyday china, which has 10 plates and 10 saucers, but only 5 cups! There are also 9 bowls, and ds remembers fondly his dgm making him oatmeal and serving it in those bowls. So I hope he can hang on to that.
If we are ALL together, right now, there are 7 of us, counting dgs. If ds/ddil want to host Christmas, it would probably be a good idea for them to try to hang on to one of the other larger sets, also -- but OTOH, so far as most of us are concerned, it would be perfectly fine to use paper plates, so that's no big deal.
DS and ddil have no really nice dishes, b/c they did not make selections of anything like that when they married. I have a 12-place setting of Noritake china that I absolutely LOVE, plus two sets of everyday dishes, so I really cannot justify wanting to take anything for myself. There is a nice incomplete set of Mikasa, white on white design, that I would like, b/c someday, I hope to have my mother's Russel Wright white dishes, and dmil's would mix nicely. Again, though, OTOH, a person who considers homemade spaghetti a gourmet meal is not really in a position to need a lot of dishes. LOL.

Oh well... now I must count and sort more silverware.