SHEs Organized

Posting in J&C

I don't have much Christmas spirit either. Kathryn, if you go ahead with this and very few people come, will that make you feel worse? Maybe take a poll to see how many are going to attend before you go ahead with it. I understand the disappointment. After you've planned and everything gets turned upside down, it's a sorry feeling.

DH ruined Christmas here by taking this work. I spent so many years doing Christmas and Thanksgiving all by myself and if I was lucky he'd be around for the food. I thought those days were over. If we made a trip, I had to do all the packing and planning. Once he came home so tired from the work that we couldn't go for Thanksgiving the evening before and had to wait till that day. Now he's back at it and the work is frustrating him too and he's mad at me for not helping him a lot.

This morning he went down to his job but he took the car because he has the truck loaded up with concrete blocks. I was planning to go to the resort and do some shopping and then join my group for our lunch together. I had to call him to bring the car back so I could go and I was just there in time for the lunch and had to start shopping after. All because he's taken this job.

Anyway, I did have lunch and that was pleasant. As with any big group, the 3 grouped closest talked together and those at the other end talked. After that I did some shopping there, drove off to the post office which was mobbed, went way out by the interstate to another place to look there. Tonight I've wrapped a few things. I suppose the rest will have to be gift cards. I think it's all I can manage. There are no youngsters anymore, youngest is a 12 yr old girl and I did get her a gift. I'm not going overboard with anybody this year. Just not feeling it. Driving around in different area today, looking at all the damage everywhere, I feel very sad. Like you'd feel riding through a very depressed area. The pickup trucks/trailers leave a lot of messes behind and I'm just surprised people aren't ouy raking stuff up neatly into another pile... but stuff is scattered everywhere. Sigh...

I did not succeed in getting out before 8 pm. I called it done and checked in the document at 8:15 pm, then decided to check in here and look at something in google maps. I still need to look at the document as a whole rather than the bits and pieces and there are comments I need to address. There are a couple of graph labels to fix and I forgot to add one of the references, but that will not effect content.

I still don't know what to do for dinner, though I am hungry now. I could go out, but it would take so much time and I can't have tea because late night caffeine is becoming a problem for me.

Gotta pick up Christmas cards and a nice treat beverage on the way home.

For better or for worse, next week is a three day work week.

Knowing oneself is important. I know that through all this, when I do things for others I get more energy. There's one disabled guy I've been running errands for since August 2020 and it is only about 2x per month now but he needs me to come by 8 in the morning because as the day goes on, any energy he has goes and he can't get to his door. In my depression I won't get up and dressed for myself but I'll do it for him and then reap the benefit of having done so. I get fresh air, and step outside the apartment, something that often doesn't happen for days on end. So, I know doing things for others is a good thing.

It was the same with the online concerts for the seniors. I hated doing all the practice (at that point it was every 3 weeks) but I liked seeing their smiles on our screen. Now we are back in person which is even better, but more work because of the long drive and yet, as much as I hate the effort, I feel better when I do it because I get energy from doing things for others.

So, I put out a call for volunteers for the party on the FB page. I now have 6 helpers. Just because the exec members don't want to do it doesn't mean the membership won't help.

In the meantime, I did a walk around the building to get steps in and chatted with the Super who will open the room at 7 in the morning on Sunday so I can set up at my convenience (he was watching the FB group and saw that I needed help and when we talked only 1 person had offered to help and that made him mad but I told him I could do it all with dh if necessary and having the room open would be great.)


With access to the room first thing in the morning if I go to the store before church, I can put the food in the fridge down there. That makes things a lot easier. The bins with the supplies are in my apartment so I can see what other things we need.

Dd has asked to come over first thing tomorrow (which means by 10) but they'll probably leave not too late in the afternoon. I'll make the mulled cider tomorrow so dd can have a mug of it and then heat it up again on Sunday for the party.

This afternoon, dh and I got the wrapping done. I still need an unbirthday gift for dgs6 because I was short a gift for him at Christmas. I have 3 weeks to get that. Dgd's birthday present is wrapped as well.

Dh finally finished up the Christmas newsletter with my help on the photos so that is being sent to the printer tonight.

I'll send dh to the bank early next week to get the cash for tips and gifts. I can't lose sight of that.

Christmas Eve church service needs to be done; I'll start on Sunday night, at least getting the bulletin done in order to make it easier on whatever volunteer is doing that work. The sermon is starting to form in my mind.

I spent a while tidying the apartment this evening.

I cooked a decent dinner tonight since going out for fast food wasn't an option (due to the 12" of snow we have so far and another 4 - 6 over tomorrow.)

There's a good chance we'll get another foot on the 23/24th which could make our drive deep into the country for Christmas Eve service tricky. But I can't think about that for now.

This Christmas party will bring me joy. I'm not letting anyone take that away from me.

I say, you go, girl! Sounds like you have a good group of helpers on board now, Kathryn, so you know there will be at least some participation. If it's a smaller group than usual, well, everyone will have more time to pay attention to each other.

I posted in J&C to catch up on the health of everyone around here. Long story short -- dgd and dh are still under the weather but trip to Nashville is still on for tomorrow. DH & me, DS, dgrands. DDIL will be working.

I have been admiring LadyM's walking 250 steps per hour. I realized I have done NOTHING re: exercise this entire month. Then I started looking at my planner, and yes, dmom has been in the hospital/rehab this entire month. She went to the emergency room the last day of November and I have been running to/fro for her ever since. Plus dh and myself having the flu and whatever he has now. And unfortunately, when he is sick like this, it just really drains me of all energy and motivation. He and I both slept most of the day today.
I also have * TMI ALERT * realized that I have chronic diarrhea and fiber supplements (suggested by gastroenterologist who did my colonoscopy years ago) are not helping so far. Of course, I am NOT taking the suggested 24 pills per day. I am going to get some Metamucil powder and try that. My dbro swears it helps and is not so bad at all if you drink it fast. (Before it thickens up.) I am pretty sure artificial sweeteners are adding to this problem. Sooo... it is my plan to drink regular cokes and at least alternate a bottle of water with each bottle of coke. Maybe ONE diet drink a day? But I do worry about the extra calories if I give up diet cokes entirely. OTOH -- I have heard for many many years that diet drinks/artificial sweeteners tend to INCREASE one's appetite. So, I guess I'll put it to the test. I am definitely tired of the bathroom problem.

House is decorated but in desperate need of a WHB.
Laundry is all in order but I will have to iron some clothes for dh Monday.
Sink is empty of dirty dishes.
Gifts are NOT wrapped and there is quite a list of those NOT EVEN BOUGHT yet. And mind is fairly blank on this point.
Cookies need to be baked.
Order needs to be phoned in for Christmas Eve meal. (We do take-out bar-b-que.)
Dgrands need to be taken to see the Christmas trees on "Christmas on the Square." (Yes, their parents could take them, but I want to see the trees, too. And really want to go twice, to view in daytime and nighttime.)
Calgon take me away...

Hope you all have great weekend!