SHEs Organized

Christmas Eve is 2 weeks from today. Join me in working smart, so that we can enjoy the holidays.

I was going to name this Hallelujah Wednesday.

Those of us celebrating Christmas have two weeks to finish preparing. Hallelujah!
Those of us not celebrating Christmas have only two weeks before things will return to normal. Hallelujah!
Those of who can't wait for Christmas have only to wait to more weeks. Hallelujah!

In the meantime, regardless of which category you are in, if you have 3 minutes to spend for a belly laugh, watch these silent monks perform the Hallelujah Chorus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCFCeJTEzNU

(this is from 2008 so you may have already seen it.)

I just called dm and she went into a panic asking why I was calling so early. I told her it was 7:30. She said her clock said 6:30 but she was wondering why it was so light out. She has an eye dr. appointment today at 8:30, so it is a good thing I called. I am sure the clock she was worried about was the clock on her ipad. I am betting that I will be glad that she has it while she is here, because it will keep her busy. She is still obsessed with that ipad after 7 months.

In a few minutes, I am going to start "working". After lunch I will color my hair, shower, etc. so I can go look at eyeglass frames. While I am out I need to drop off recycling and pickup a gift for dgs8s birthday on the 20th. Tonight is another rehearsal night. Dd2 may have to set in the balcony. She has signed up to set with dgd5s group on Saturday and dgd3s group on Sunday. She felt she couldn't do one without doing the other.

Dh told me this morning that his last day will be Jan. 2. I know why he is doing that day instead of the 5th, a lot guys are already off on Fridays and then others will take a vacation day. So he can casually walk out and drive into the sunset..............

Since I have company coming in 2 days, I better hit it!

Kathryn, I wish I would have patient, so that you could have opened. You are more than welcomed to change the topic. I loved the Hallelujah Chorus youtube video.

Gotta, gotta, gotta get busy.......................

Lilac I'm not going to change anything. I certainly need to work smart today, rather than be distracted by videos!

It is a raging snow storm here which is also distracting but it forces me to stay inside and not head off.

I'm slow moving today because I was up late last night.

The meeting was billed as an Advent feast of spiritual reflection and growth. You need to understand that our denomination is very liberal in general but runs the full range of theological views. Silence was a major part of the evening which didn't go over well with those of us who are social. Worship was led by a team of overtly evangelical brethren. But instead of standing up and speaking their hearts, they chose to use a US produced Evangelical recording. After the worship, we had dinner. Which was delicious but frustrating because I'm with 10 people I love to be with and we must eat in silence. Then more reflection (with no chance to respond) and finally the first of two sessions. My group took off and set up a place for ourselves in a hall and chatted (mostly about theology).

We did attend the second session being led by someone from our group and then went out to the pub after. It was a hoot because one of us (my Satan and Sin teacher, actually) was in his collar and the server couldn't figure out why we were having a church meeting in a pub. So late at night!

In general I had a blast through the evening. Unfortunately, a lot of that was no necessarily due to what the evening planners had wanted us to experience but due to us passing notes and generally treating the worst bits as satire.

I got home just before 11 and turned out the light before midnight.

Dh looked at the calendar and realized we have 9 days in a row of events (although one for today just got cancelled due to the weather but is put off until tomorrow night and we have the funeral in the day tomorrow.)

I need to get moving. I've been writing my thoughts on last evening but need to start taking some action. I'll start with breakfast because I'm hungry.

Good morning, villagers ~
Loved the video! And I certainly NEED to Work Smart all this week.

It's errand today today, but a fun one because I will be meeting df Z for lunch.

7x5:
* clip coupons
* write checks
* go to post office
* stop at 1 store to look for warmer gloves
* meet Z at new organic food mart in The Big City, look for fancy snacks to take to Christmas parties
* lunch w/ Z
* WM to trade soda stream co2 canister, and buy milk & groceries

Yesterday afternoon I slept for 3 hours, long enough that it was getting dark when I woke up. I didn't want to choose fabric colors for DMIL's gift under artificial lights, so I worked on other stuff to clear the way for being able to sew tonight and tommorrow.

I'm sewing a mat with pockets for DMIL's sewing table, to give her places to put her tools and also add some color to the room. I have the main fabric, a pre-quilted fabric with beautiful floral cotton prints on both sides. I need to match an accent color for the edge binding around the mat, which is why I didn't want to do it in artificial light. She has huge windows in her rooms that give her lots of natural light, and it will look really bad if I don't use the right colors.

Oops, time's flying, must get away from this machine and start moving!

Needing to work smart here as well! Today is also errand day here, Bookie. The neighborhood Christmas party is tonight also. Starting last night we have a string of evenings busy until next Sunday.

I spent some time researching Hanukah crafts for the temple dinner next week.

For right now, I need to get busy.

-brush teeth, get dressed
-walk ddogs
-refill meds containers and take vitamins
-reboot laundry (start a load earlier)
-make the bed

I will s2s later before the evening out and fluff my hair up and put on make up.

Ds called and asked to sleep here. It is fire inspection day at his building (remember he had fire drill last week.) For fire inspection, they turn on the PA system, play Christmas music over it and then enter every apartment to make sure the PA is working and inspect for fire hazards.

He knew about the inspection but didn't realize it meant having the PA play loud music into his unit all day long. They'll turn it off by 5 but he has to be to work as early at 7:30 (possibly midnight depends on if his shift gets changed) so he can't wait until then to get a good sleep (he got off shift at 7:30 this morning.

I've tucked him into bed. I had eaten before he phoned but still needed to shower. Now I have s2s and started laundry. I also organized the freezer (dh was upset at how overloaded it was but that's due to frozen water bottles which I've moved onto the balcony) and started a pork pot roast in the crock pot. So dinner is under control and the apartment will start smelling good soon. Ds can take leftovers to work with him, or eat dinner here, depending on what time he has to leave. Either way, dh and I will have eaten by then because dh has a 6:30 conference call.

I'm going to figure out what to bake today. I need squares for Friday, possibly tomorrow (although no-one asked) and my Boxing Day party.

I'm finally up, s2s, meds & breakfast done. Seemed to take me forever to put up 2 weeks' worth of meds for me. Did them sitting cross legged on the bed on top of the not so even topper (I'd stripped the sheets & they're in the washer). Kept dropping pills to the floor. At least it's done for a couple more weeks.

Slept most of the night in the recliner. Did sleep but quite lightly. Was up a few times for a bathroom break and a sip of something for my congested throat & chest. Kept coughing off and on to clear them. Got up at 7 when dh got up & crawled into bed until about 8:45.

Dh has now gone for a walk -it's only 45 out here. Too cool for me I'm afraid -you amaze me, Kathryn! Didn't go to our women's meeting at church yesterday because I didn't want to spread germs. Dh has a council meeting and then election of officers after that today. He asked if I was going -NOT. Then he talked with his db last night and made a breakfast date for Friday. Ugh! That's my morning to work at church. But he has Trustees tomorrow and can't make tomorrow or today. Think I'll simply call the church secretary tomorrow and tell her I won't be there on Friday. Easier than making other arrangements with dbil/dsisil.

Hopefully this cold is going to be fast moving. I do know they 'say' that if one receives the flu shot it doesn't 100% prevent colds but can make them milder. Think that's somewhat true. I've also recently read that this year's flu shot may not be as effective as usual and people may need a booster if flu is still prevalent later in March/April.

I'm thinking dh is going to have to visit his orthopedist again when he gets up north. He took an x-ray in October but said his knee looked pretty good. BUT if it kept giving him problems they'd do an MRI in the spring to really see what's in there. It's been buckling on him and he's having a difficult time with it. Said he spent most of the night with his leg bent up in the air. May just be arthritis rearing it's ugly head there, but the MRI will show that. Right now he's planning to work again this year but I really don't think he can keep it up for very much longer. He did say last fall that he didn't know how much longer he would work. But he has to do something -much too easily bored. Like your dh, Harmony, he just doesn't want to quit.

Just finishing my coffee. Then I'll put the sheets in the laundry twin and spruce up the kitchen.

I have searched and searched for a H allmark Ornament that I bought for dsonil to give dd. I hid it away in our room -SOMEWHERE!! I finally gave up the other day and ordered a second one -sure I'll come across it in a very sensible place now. I'll try to sell the 2nd one on ebay or something later next year.

I was totally amazed yesterday when I received our Nominating Committee's report for 2015. I NEVER get it much before I'm ready to go to print. Wrote a note to the sender to let him know how impressed I was.

Speaking of our church -I am also amazed at how the reconstruction has progressed. Tomorrow the crew is coming in early and doing their finishing work and at 7pm the new carpet is going in. They'll work alongside volunteers until it's done. Church is expected to resume there a week from Sunday. Seems like it's moved along so fast. Right now they're painting the inside walls. Figured they might as well do it while everything was out of the sanctuary instead of deciding it needed doing 2 years down the road. Plus the new ceiling -completely new design was all new paint. Can't wait to see it in person. That'll be one of my first trips in the spring.

I definitely need to 'work smart' today. Using what energy I do have to excellent use! No wasting that today. I too think it's a very good title.