Wednesday PWYC

[OKay]

Lunch was squash. Supper was okra. I spend all winter dreaming of summer garden vegetables. I love this time of the year! DH & LO aren't as big vegetable eater as I am so they are happy to have other options available.

I've found LO birthday gift and got it ordered (fireman outfit). I've been email back/forth with DDIL this afternoon narrowing down DGS6 birthday gift. She sent me his hand written wish list. DGS6 knows exactly what he wants so I want to get the model/color if possible.

It is 107 this afternoon. That means church tonight is going be VERY warm. Last week it was 96 degrees where we sit even with the A/C blowing it's little heart out. Thankfully the heat isn't bothering me much now. My body moved into summer mode and has become almost used to the heat.

[BookSaver]

Hello, villagers ~

Yesterday's errands resulted in successful shopping adventures, but not without struggle. Within the same retail store I received wonderful customer service in the shoe department and no service at all in luggage. Had a 40% coupon for the used book store but could only find 1 item that I was interested in buying, and it was inexpensive. (Which doesn't sound like a problem, except that I never have a coupon that good when I run into something out of print and "expensive" that I've been searching for a long time. ) Found a pretty blouse at a good sale price, but had to wait in a long line at the cash register, while DH was texting me from the restaurant with friends waiting to eat.

It was really too hot and muggy to be running around so much, but I needed to be in that neighborhood for 1 thing so was being responsible about saving gas by combining errands. Very grateful that the a/c works in my car.

I cleaned up an old wheelie briefcase for library group notebooks (3-ring binders). They don't fit. I might have another old wheelie around here somewhere, will look for it tomorrow and hope it is taller. The tote bag I've been using is getting filthy from having to be set on the floor at meetings. Plus I'm looking for something that will be kinder on my back since I'm required to have the files with me at every meeting. If nothing else, I guess I could get some report covers to use instead of the 3-ring notebooks. Was just trying to use things I already had on hand because I will not be reimbursed for anything like that I buy.

The library group's meeting was rescheduled from tomorrow night to early this morning. I'm not used to being dressed for public and out of the house that early, but we had a good productive meeting brainstorming ideas for programs and fund raisers.

Afterward, half of us went out to brunch together and that was fun.

While I was gone, we lost power at home but it must have come right back on. The digital clock on the microwave was showing 0:00 but the analog clock on the stove still showed correct time. Blue skies and a light breeze today, no storms, so no reason for electrical power. Especially since there were no problems during the storms Monday or last night.

Found tomatoes at the grocery store, so it's tacos for supper. I learned there is a farmers market starting here in Tiny Town on Friday evenings, and I am hoping there will be some home-grown tomatoes soon. Many gardeners around here are having problems with rot because of so much rain. (Last summer the problem was drought.)

I've been writing this post for awhile between chores and cuop, think it's long enough. Supper is ready and this evening I think I'll watch a movie and crochet.

BBL.

PS: One of the ideas the library group has for an ongoing program is a Lego club, once a month after school for kids to come play for an hour or so. I think it sounds like a lot of fun but am not quite sure how to organize it and not end up with either a huge mess, disappointed kids, or parents expecting a babysitting service. Must research a variety of Lego projects for different ages!

[Twins' Mom]

Ah, Helia, my Macs takes Tramadol twice a day for pain. Good stuff but I don't see much of a tranquilizing effect for him...

Still working on those temple emails...

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Hee hee hee.... Tramadol is the effective ingredient in my tramaset so I appear to have gone to the dogs!

Power just went out for 5 seconds here. We didn't get a storm but there are winds so it might have been something happening elsewhere that triggered our flicker.

I slept for 2 solid hours before dinner and ended up taking my dilaudid after 7 hours instead of 6 and I'm still uncomfortable. My temperature remains at normal 'normal' (high for me but nothing to worry about) and my blood pressure bottom number is still stubbornly higher than normal but the upper number is dropping into the normal range.

I may end up staying up late in order to balance the timing of meds (plus I don't expect to be tired after the late nap.)

Ate 1/3 of the dinner dh made for me. He's visiting friends and I've committed to cleaning up the kitchen. Ideally, I'll be able to do my weekly kitchen chores as well.

I got a get well card from our church's member of the charge's pastoral care committee. When he volunteered for the committee, I didn't have high hopes but figured we are a small church that is great about taking care of each other so even if he was a disaster it wouldn't be a big deal. He still drives me nuts over 90% of the things we do together but he's excellent at pastoral care. Another lesson for me from God.

My senior friend called to chat. She's having a good time telling people about the baseball game and is sounding so much more optimistic than she was just 3 weeks ago.

[Twins' Mom]

LOL Kathryn! My mom tried Ultram for pain but it wasn't a good fit for her. Helia I'm glad Maia is on the mend, tell her that macs sends his regards.

Sent several emails, also talked to my mom who has decided to go with me tomorrow. Must remember to verify that her hearing aids are working before we hit the road. Hoping for some quiet and that she feel the need to talk/entertain.

Storms and rain again tonight.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Got the kitchen weekly chores done. The dishwasher was almost full on the top shelf but quite empty on the bottom so I took down the shades from the ceiling fan lights and popped them in to make a full load. Also emptied as many of the tupperware dishes I could in the fridge.

I still have to wipe down the kitchen table but got tired and without the ceiling fan light, the kitchen is a bit dark so I'll wait for the morning.

Dh has lined up a potential 6 weeks in Australia/NZ starting in October. I'm not sure I'll be up for travel by then but this may all end up being one of his 'big dreams' that doesn't come to fruition. At this point, I hate them because he talks as if they are all confirmed and they aren't. We need to find 10 students for Brisbane and the NZ government needs to confirm the training and consulting there. So it is far from a given that any of this will happen. He also has tacked on a tentative 2 weeks in The Netherlands. That's just what I need, to be away from home for 8 weeks before Christmas! (Not sure what dh is thinking but it means we can't be part of the annual community choir Christmas evening since we won't be here to practice (and probably won't be here first Sunday of Advent.)

[Elizabeth]

It seems I misread the email from the hardware company. My garage door opener part has not come in, it has shipped. The cats are vaccinated and Gravity is washed. The dishwasher and laundry are running, the catbox is dealt with, trash cans brought in, tomorrow's lunch dealt with, and shower is complete! I am about to put in some work on the database project. After that I will do some shredding and/or filing. Then, I will join BookSaver in crochet and video.

[Harriet]

I am still within the day and am able to please add my Happy Birthday to those for Mr. Emptynester. Always doing such interesting things - today, too. Hope the museums were fun.

Can't even explain my tiredness right now. Hours ago at visitation cousin's wife noticed I was "trembling" a little when she hugged me, then the orchid I took home from babysitter's was shaking for sure as I tried to keep the pot still in my hands, so by now I'm downright bainne clábair (bonny clabbered).

Long, long night. I only made 2 mistakes - one identity and one something else I may remember tomorrow. I think that's pretty good. Time to zonk. HRH was overcome by social obligation allergy long ago and fell asleep on top of the covers, poor thing. The children were all wonderful. No one cried until another young man told ds a story the rest of us didn't even hear and ds just dissolved into tears, causing a domino effect through the visitation line. I thought the woman I was greeting was somehow overcome talking to me so I comforted her - found out later she was just reacting to a kind of "wave" through the people.

Photographs were so well received. Everyone mentioned them. Dd33 did all the arranging on a round table in the middle of the round foyer, and dd14 took photos of the display.

Oldest cousin shared that 70 years ago ( ) my ddad took her to the circus and showed her the elephants.

Best thing was pulling differing people together to help them notice things I realized they had in common from their pasts. For instance, dfirstmil once shopped at the small grocery owned by the grandfather of ddad's friend who will speak tomorrow. One young cousin just couldn't seem to leave me and kept returning to hold my hand. He had to tell me he's moving away.

[lucylee]

Happy birthday, Mr. MT!!!

Thinking of all of you... especially Kathryn, healing... and dHarriet & family in time of loss... (So glad you could check in and let us know all went well at visitation. You will certainly be in my heart and in my prayers tomorrow.)
and helia & Maia!
Ooohhh... and Twins! I will say an extra prayer for you and your dmom as you travel tomorrow!

Sooo happy to hear LO's birthday plans are going well, OKay!!! Sooo happy!!! Continuing to keep all of you in prayer!!!

Today has not been my most productive day ever, but I'm feeling pretty good... forced into some bits of action by dh, took initiative myself on others.

Walked 3 miles w/ds & dgs in stroller * and it was VERY hot out there too, but nothing like 107, OKay. * whew *
Talked to dbro
s2s, etc. -- and s/s dh's shower stall (It could use deep cleaning but s/s of shower floor makes a HUGE improvement)
Made hotel reservations for October -- dh's request
Made hotel reservations for dmom's surgery night-before
Went to post office, drug store to get bday card for dmil to give ddil, got dmil's supper, went to dmil's
Ate out w/dh, ds, dgs
Typed administrative council minutes, emailed to church office secretary
Found other minutes that probably need to be shown to bank tomorrow

Prayer changes things.
Just out of the blue, dbro sent message last night to tell me he& his girlfriend are flying up here to spend the weekend of dmom's surgery. He said dmom told him she was coming back home Fri. after surgery -- but now if she changes her mind, I will have dbro to turn to. Also, I won't have to worry and decide whether to spend Fri. night with her. Dmom also told him she thought dh & I were going out of town on Saturday. I don't know where she got that idea. Called her this morning and asked if I was supposed to be in on some sort of scam to get dbro to come up here. She was just confused, but agreed that it would be good to have them up here for the extra hands that first night or two.
So... I've relaxed a bit. Still not looking forward to this, but it will be okay.
And once she gets this behind her, and the other foot as well, MAYBE she will be able to function more normally on her own. She has some dental work she needs to take care of, for sure... and she is still of course, very troubled by bladder & stomach issues, but I think she has decided in the case of the bladder, it is probably best left alone. More surgery in that area would likely do more harm than good.

I am also trying to pray & relax about future travel plans w/her & dh -- re: trip to Nashville later this month & another thing we're doing w/ds, ddil, dgs that she would like to do. She can't decide. I can't relax totally b/c -- y'all know this song -- dh is Mr. Punctuality, and unfortunately, we cannot blame my late ddad's inability to tell time entirely on him. Dmom is just as bad. * sigh *