SHEs Organized

Good afternoon! Well apparently I can't even remember just when I last posted. I've tried to at least read here, but I have a lot to catch up on. This last week has been a blurr; We've had dr. appointments for dh, school runs with dgd12, I've wakened in the morning with headache a couple of days and have been sneezing the last few days.

We spent three days last week decorating trees and putting a few other things out. One morning during breakfast dh informed me he was going to try to get the big totes down off the shelves in laundry room himself and not wait for ds#2. So between us we got them down and into the house. He asked me which tree did I want up and I told him whichever was the easiest for him to get down. We started with the small 4 ft tree and both agreed it looked kind of puny on the lamp table. So we got the 6 ft. tree out, went through the decorations. Both trees are pre lit with white lights, but dh likes lots of color so he added a couple of strings of colored lights, then we got everything else on. Then dh suggested that instead of the 18 in. tree I usually put on the buffet in the dining room I decorate the 4 ft. tree since it was already out. So I have that up also. I have a lighted evergreen garland across the top of the entertainment cabinet and a few ceramic houses. They do hold tea light candles in them for some nice fragrance. I also took the opportunity to move the furniture and do the baseboards, windows and windowsill and sweep carpet before dh moved the tree in. I went through the decorations quickly and discarded some things that were very worn or broken and will reorganize the bins when we put it all away again. So all this took three days and I was a little tired, but dh was totally worn out. I finally finished up by Saturday evening, but it looks nice now.

Ds#2 called Thurs evening to see how we were and ask if we could take dgd12 to school on Fri. It seems dgd19 came home from work sick on Wed and was still sick in bed with fever and sick stomach. We dropped her off at school at 9 am and went right down to dr. office for dh's inr check. It was up too high so he had another check this morning, again after taking dgd12 to school. Dgd19 finally felt good enough to go to work today. Dh goes to oncologist on Wed. and back for an inr check on Fri. Dgd12's winter concert is Fri. evening and we plan on going there.

I talked with ds#3 Friday evening. Dh and I are on his family's phone plan with them and we are all due for an upgrade so he was calling to say my phone won't work from that time until I get my new phone which they were mailing on Sat - the next day. He said we all will have a data plan and, if I understood right, wifi so it won't use the data time unless needed. I am so not informed about all that techie stuff; now I guess is the time to learn about it all! Dh says he's just getting used to my old phone from four years ago --- he'll be learning too! I didn't ask what kind of phone it is, these are our Christmas gifts; so we'll be surprised when we get them. We will have to take them to the Verizon store to have contact info transferred.

Dh couldn't decide if he wanted to bother putting lights outside or not and thought about it all weekend. In the end he decided to do it and is outside working now. It will be just across the front of the house on the ground and on the two bushes at either end of the house. I think we have one of those Santa outline forms with lights he will put up also.

I spent a while at my desk today and got the bills caught up that needed paid. I pulled out the boxes of cards left from the last couple of years and will start getting them addressed tomorrow so they can be mailed Wed. when we are out. I have a grocery list started for shopping then also.

I hope all are feeling well and holiday prep is going good for everyone. Sending good wishes and (((hugs))) if you are feeling stressed or not feeling 100% healthy. I'm going now to check on dh and get mail in, I just heard the mail truck go up the street.

Still no time to cuop. This is the first time that I have set down at my computer without being closely supervised. That is dm is sitting next to me with her ipad, watching every thing I look at.

I woke up yesterday with a cold.

Tonight dgd18 has her last choir concert. Tomorrow dgs10 has his first intermediate school concert.

Yesterday we received the shocking news that dh's bf from HS had died of a heart attack. This is the bf that was dating my bf and the guys picked us up after the Veteran's Day Parade in 1969. They only lasted a few months. The service's are still pending, so we are wondering if the delay is because of an autopsy. Dh plans to go back the day before the funeral and come back after the funeral. He may stay a second night, but the weather and other things will be the deciding factor.

Yesterday we had more drama due to dd1's dd. She decided not to go to The Nutcracker because she felt the other dgd had been rude to her the night before, when they came over here to play games. I went to dd2's to help them get ready and I told them. So that dgd took it upon herself to text her cousin, that she didn't mean to be rude. But dgd was there with her girlfriend and they were eating carryout food and talking, so she didn't want to interrupt. That made me so proud of her. Anyway the other dgd decided to go after all.

After the performance we went out to eat and came back to do stocking stuffers, etc. Dgs20 had used his parents car to go home and get his Catch Phrase game. Well lo and behold, he backed straight out and crushed in dgd18's car door. When he came back, he looked funny. He didn't say anything until dd2 got here and he told her. No one seemed too upset and it can be fixed.

Dm and I ran some errands this afternoon. When we got back I fixed mini meatloaves, cheesy potatoes and a broccoli casserole. They are all in the oven and the mess is cleaned up.

Dm is just glued to that ipad, especially FB.

Better go..............

My daughter is going to make me crazy to the point I send her back to K-town. Now the issue isn't her rude brother but the fact that I'm trying desperately not to get drawn into her drama so that obviously means her brother is my favorite. I am so edgy now I can hardly do anything. I just dumped a second batch of challah out of the bread machine because I forgot to put the stir-thingy in it. She was talking the whole time I was trying to put it together.

I still haven't gotten together my head for the last email of the three I need to send. I did get on Itunes and download Hanukkah music to make a Hanukkah playlist for the temple for Friday night's dinner.

I am going to do a couple more things....

-list for tomorrow
-start another batch of challah
-put together holiday cards with cash for Macs Ptherapist and my massage therapist
-finish emptying dishwasher (started during tirade with dd)
-kitchen clean up

Successful dinner. That's the second time the faux 'fried fish' coating has worked. It is panko crumbs and whipped egg white (along with a bit of flour.) Complicated and messy to prep but the results are worth it. Dh had trouble getting the deep fryer for the fries working but eventually (with the manual) figured out the reset button and it worked. I'm wondering if the uneven amperage here is what upset the electronics on it.

I washed up the prep dishes by hand while waiting for dinner to cook. Hopefully, dh will wash up the deep fryer when he's done his conference call. I'll start the dishwasher now so that it is finished by the time he gets to the kitchen.

I did strip and remake the bed. Now to vacuum and dust the bedrooms.

Hello, villagers ~
I am socialized out and am glad that I have nothing on my calendar for tomorrow so I can spend the day by myself.

Yesterday's abbreviated version of a Christmas party with the ILs was fun and stressful at the same time, you know? It was nice to see family, but I miss the parties with the younger generations. Lunch was a buffet at the restaurant in the building where DMIL lives now. Then the group moved to another public space in the building where DMIL opened her gifts. There is a pool table and the brothers played a few games. DMIL was struggling to hear in the noise of the public room, though, so we ended up in her small apartment where there weren't enough chairs and it was uncomfortably warm.

(Just received an Email from DSisIL with results from hearing aid appointment today. They have been adjusted and DMIL is doing better now. A shame the appointment couldn't have been before the party, DMIL would have had a better time.)

The pretty mat with pockets that I made for her sewing table was a hit.

This morning first thing I had a committee meeting to plan the library's Fancy Nancy tea party. Since we were meeting at a restaurant, I went early and ate breakfast there. We have the event mostly planned out, enough to start publicity and look around for cheap and easy ways to make the room look pretty. The party will be January 31st.

After the meeting, 1 of the ladies and I stopped by the library to talk to the director and children's librarian, count dishes, and search for craft supplies. That took over an hour, so in total it was over 3 hours of volunteer time plus a bunch of phone calls and Emails throughout the day to answer questions and updates.

DH and I went out to the truck stop for lunch. By the time we got home, I needed a short nap! Thankfully, the calico cat was available to purr me to sleep.

Tonight I'm heating some vegetarian minestrone for supper, and my plan is to sew the rest of the evening.

Hello, Villagers!

Got up, s2s, etc... Got an appt. with the G. I. Dr., will get scheduled for my colonoscopy then, and after the procedure's done, will go back for follow-up. Colon cancer runs in the family, along with other G. I. "issues," so want this done, as it's 5 years/4.5 months overdue. I've been so patient for so many months now. It was so nice to be able to talk to the right person today, with the correct info, so now I've gotten some progress.

I received 2 cards, totally unexpected, so have 2 cards to mail tomorrow. Received 1 nice letter, have been watching movies with DH, while I take breaks to do housework, exercise, and crochet. My book arrived 1 day early, so I'll start reading on it tonight, too. I did some stretches this evening, because of stiffness. I feel a LOT better, since I did them, too, and I continue to build up pedometer steps.

We're having lobster cakes, mashed potatoes for dinner, and I'll eat, either a baby kale salad or baby leaf spinach salad. Haven't decided which to have yet. Might have some sugar-free applesauce, too.

Have a great Monday Moving Night, Everybody! I didn't come on-line until 4:45 p.m. today. Been too busy.

Didn't get to the dusting and vacuuming. Might do it now. My knees were terribly sore after dinner so I was just sitting at my desk, trying to get one of the three services I have to write this week, done. Ended up picking Christmas but haven't had a lot of success with the service. Sermon is barely 1/3 done and I don't really know where I'm going with it.

Decided to do some exegesis so ended up on the treadmill, going slow. My legs may have stiffened up and just need to be worked out a bit. They are feeling stronger now so I might yet get that vacuuming and dusting done. I'd like to so I can hang up the load of laundry I did.

I invited ds to come sleep here tomorrow so he'll be here when the tree trimming starts. We'll see what he says. I even offered to wash his duvet cover (he has only one so I couldn't wash it yesterday - he was still using it.)

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Did get the vacuuming done and the load of laundry hung up. Dusting is a quiet chore that can wait until tomorrow (in case ds is sleeping here.)

I think we're receiving fewer cards this year as well.

Busy busy here, b/c dgs spent the night and will be here till late into the night tonight, and he has been going full speed all day. Of course, he only slept, sporadically, between 4:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. I think I told y'all, he really has his days and nights mixed up b/c he had great sleep difficulties beginning with last visit to his other grandparents. Probably the change of location/etc? But ever since, ds says he has crying fits when he's put in his bed, and only falls asleep when he lays in recliner w/one of them. That's how he and I spent the time between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. actually, today.

Wmart, finally changed sheets, (that was Saturday's task, you know) washed 2 loads of clothes, and responded to many many many calls of "Nana, come here!!!"
* sigh * I wouldn't take a million trillion billion dollars for the joy of being Nana...

Plus dbil called and suddenly, he is getting all fired up to "discuss" w/dh the property values of the various parcels of estate. Here we are, 9 days from Christmas, time getting precious... and NOW he's ready to talk about all this. BUT... at least he IS ready. So... they set a time for next week, and sometime while dniece is home, we need to go to dmil's and look at stuff again... dniece may want some dishes, dbil wants some more furniture. Baby steps, baby steps.
And dbil offered to host Christmas, if we'd pick up the bar-b-que in next town and split the cost with him. So that's good.
Some question/confusion re: dxsisil's attendance. I think she wants to spend Christmas Eve w/him and their kids, but I asked him if she was doing gifts with us, b/c I had not bought her a gift, didn't exchange w/her last year & didn't expect to this year... and he agreed that HE certainly had not planned on getting her a gift. He said, "I'll talk to her again, but I'm thinking we can eat and do our gifts and stuff around 5:00 pm, and then I'll tell her to come around 8:00 pm." I thought that sounded like a good plan, so I hope it works out that way.

I don't really mind getting her a gift, but I am running out of TIME. Still need to finish up -- need to get dmom and ds/ddil's ornaments & need to spend about $35 more on dniece to "even" her up w/dnephew. Although it will look like she is receiving much more anyway. His Under Armour shorts and t-shirt were the only things that were not on sale, and ended up costing more actually than dbil's Ralph Lauren shirt (which WAS on sale!) * sheesh *

Dmom called... oh my she's so excited and overwhelmed and naming off dozens of things to do and "I've only got two weeks," she said. I informed her she only had 9 days.
* sigh *
I hate for her to be using my dcousins and her neighbors, etc. etc. to do this heavy lifting and moving, but dh's time is being booked more and more. He and ds are going shopping Wed. and will be late getting in Wed. night from ballgame in college town... and then Sat. dh & I are going to Nashville, so dh wants some "down" time in between those two drives. Maybe ds can help her.
DS also has a Fisher Price Corvette he has to put together... Not sure ds is managing time any better than dmom.

TMI alert:
And for those who are following my latest series, As the Stomach Turns...
Well, today, I thought it was not going to turn at all... until after supper... and since then it has turned twice... but I have felt better most all day (cough is better also) (especially for someone who slept two hours on the couch and 5 hours in a recliner with a two-year-old) so I'm just holding my own. I had a salad and some Triscuits along w/my chicken & rice soup for supper, but overall, I have eaten very mild foods today, I think. Also got some Probiotic capsules today -- Phillips Colon Health. It was the only one that specifically mentioned helping to prevent both problems (constipation & diahrhea).
Dmom told me to realize that I was her child and I should just back my ears and prepare myself to have a colonoscopy eventually, but she felt our family doctor would try other stuff before sending me for that, and she said no way would her specialist, which I would definitely want to use, be able to schedule me before Christmas, so this was not something that was going to happen in the next day or two.
Dmom has been battling that h pylori infection, and most likely still has it, b/c she was not able to complete the antibiotic prescribed for it... so she said I possibly could have picked that up from her. She said I should call the doctor and tell him we suspect this, and he could do a blood test to confirm or eliminate that.
Anyway, if I continue to improve w/MORE WATER, less caffiene, and the probiotic pills... maybe this will finally blow over.

LOL Harriet, yes that was my sentiment, but you should try typing that once. Incredibly hard. I had to keep backing up to remove spaces!

Blessed, I am so sorry about your cat. I hope she is ok now.

I wasted the day. And I don't have days to waste. Got up and DH had living room all toasty warm with the fireplace going, and I snuggled in my flannel pj's under an afghan for a while. After some list-making with him and some paper shuffling I got dressed and out the door.

2 bank chores and post office to drop off all those cards. When I came back I had breakfast, nothing much but plain cereal, and I sat on the hearth warming up. All of a sudden this incredible sleepiness came over me and I had to fight the urge to stretch out on the rug. Tried the couch and went straight to sleep for a couple hours. Woke up and DH is sleeping in his chair. I asked him if the wood was off-gassing something bad. No, I guess we were just very tired.

Tonight was computer maintenance. Scans and an incredibly scary fix I had to do. Did a lot of reading before I had the courage to try, and thankfully everything worked and I was sure relieved. Phone calls and texts back and forth with DD and DGSon who are working on our website tonight. Crossing fingers...

Elizabeth, I hope your DB is doing ok now.

Man, the news today was grim. Oh, tonight I got lesson in repairing Christmas light strings. Now I know how to deal with those tiny bulbs that come out of their socket parts and the new tiny wires on the new bulb, etc. And now all the sections of our icicle lights across the porch are lighted. I feel victorious!

Hugs for (Lucylee).