Conga Friday the 13th

[Twins' Mom]

This is the traditional SHE-conga day to get us ready for the weekend, in this case Valentine's day!

Where is your conga going today? Around the house? Out to run your conga-errands? Getting ready for Valentine conga activities?

Share all the village activities today!

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

We are heading out into the mega-cold. The wind chill was -40 this morning.

First to the lawyer for business paperwork signing.

Then drop off a document at an investment house.

Then pick up some USB cables from dfs's boss.

Finally, despite the cold, the car wash. Then the car will be tucked into the garage.

Ds is coming over this afternoon and going for a very long hike with dh in order to test their cold weather gear. They are walking from our place along the river to his neighbourhood (but still many blocks from his apartment because they'll be on the river paths), then back and over onto the islands in the river, then home. The idea is to test their clothing for hours at a time. They will experience at least 36 hours of below freezing weather with the last 10+ hours (the climb to the top and back down) at below 0 temperatures when on Kilimanjaro.

I will be refraining from this walk (unless I join them at the beginning and turn around and come home after about 40 minutes.)

I will be congaing through paperwork today.

Tonight is a the reel of winning international commercials. That's at 7, so hopefully early bed.

The theatre last night was enjoyable but long. A large portion of the audience left at the 90 minute mark, when the intermission started. In total, it was 3 hours and 10 minutes. We took 20 minutes from starting the car to being in our seats at the theatre which was amazing. On the way home it took 25 minutes because we hit almost every light red, and there was bad blowing snow making the parkway difficult to drive along.

The play was Stuff Happens, about the political machinations leading to the invasion of Iraq. It was extremely well staged and the actors all played multiple roles effectively only by changing their voice and mannerisms. But it was a lot of talking, despite their efforts at movement, and we all knew how it ended so it was a matter of 'hurry up and get this over with', I want be going home. Which might have affected decision making during the actual events, except in that case they wanted to be going to war.

[Twins' Mom]

First conga activity is to get house ready for dcleaning lady. I need to do some catch up today for this (crazy) week and I'm hoping I don't just loose steam entirely after she leaves today.

Really want to stamp some, or organize stamps, or look for a family photo that I want to scan and send to cousins, or work on genealogy. Need to carve out some time for those things and then I think I won't feel so deprived about doing what I "must" do.

Yesterday was successful so will share ta-das:
-picked up meals for dmom
-visited dmom
-ck to dd's bank account
-deposited a ck at my bank that has been around here for weeks
-talked to dd's adviser at school about proposed trip to Jordan
-stamp camp last night
-reported for jury duty and finished!
-can't remember what else because ddogs are making me crazy

Anyway, need to get moving here. Back later.

[helia]

Dfriends S and R left around 9:20 pm last night. It was good to see them. Baby J is becoming such a character! She is 16 months old. . .I was exhausted when they left. I don't even know if I posted here yesterday. Between moms group all morning, payroll, and hosting family C here in the evening, my day was pretty much scripted for me.

Today will be spent getting ready for our ski trip. We had a short discussion last night re: whether or not we go b/c temps are forecast to be extremely cold up there. The temps tomorrow are forecast to be between -14 and 2 F (-26 to -17 C) with winds up to 26 mph. I'm not sure what that will make the windchill, but it is going to be VERY COLD on top of the ski slopes. I guess we'll be testing our warm gear too, Kathryn! Not for hours at a time, though. At least that is not my plan. Sunday, the temps are forecast to be between -6 and 0 F with wind, but less wind than Saturday. I don't think we want to be outside all day in those temps. OTOH, we have already paid for a ski in ski out condo, so we decided to go and enjoy it as much as possible. My plan is to ski for about an hour at a time on Saturday, coming inside to warm up in between ski outings. We likely won't ski at all on Sunday, but it will be fun to hang out together as a family.

I am up, have found the work file folder which I forgot to bring to work yesterday, have updated attendance sheets and posted attendance online, had tea, said good bye to dd16, s2s-ed w/ some self- care (still need to take care of my teeth), and have emptied the dw.

Before I head out the door here in a few minutes, I will:
- do teeth care
- work on groc. list

ToDos:
- a.m. routine
- laundry, mostly dd16's
- WW at 9:30
- groc. store
- Walgreens
- pack clothes
- pack food
- pack up dogs
- pack things to do: books, Hebrew, games for the family
- drop off dogs at dfriends' home in neighboring village
- pick up pants from dycleaners
- can I get to other things on my weekly list?
- cat OK for weekend
- hens OK for weekend
- g. pig OK for weekend
- pick up dd19 and ds
- leave by 4 pm, hopefully
- drive 4.5 hours
- stop for dinner along the way
- settle into our weekend place

[helia]

Glad for the successful day yesterday, Twins! Also glad for jury duty being over! Thanks for starting us off today!

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

I'm s2s, bedroom is tidied, load of laundry is started.

Time to put on makeup and then leave for the appointment. We aren't sure where in the building the office is so we should leave very soon.

[Nancy]

Today is a Happy Day for me found $300 in a special pouch with some old purses I had tucked away for saving! I had totally forgotten about it!

I am enjoying the sunrise it is lovely today!

Did the floor last night in the main part of the house to get a head start on the conja-ing today! Oh Yea! Bedrooms still need attn.

Laundry is going now in the washer twins I need to check on the chicks let the hens & roo out it is cold here this a 39* - 62* today's temp range.

[Harriet]

Oh, Nancy SMILES for you. (the smilie face just wouldn't do it)

I have timed my errands for 1 through 2:00, watching temperature expectations. Although I won't be going into mega-cold as Kathryn said, I recognize it as intense.

More weather chat - Trash was flying out of my bins when I arrived home yesterday. The garbage pickup is way behind and I had allowed some vent air filters to remain on top. The lids of the cans went kafluey, so away went the filters, like kites caught
up, down,
up, down,
up, but no strings!!!
I caught up with them and my ears were really reacting to the cold wind last night. Today ears seem fine.

Lilac, how is your dh doing? My ear pain yesterday reminded me of his concerns.

Dd is out of school for teacher workday on this Conga Friday. So far, no work out of her because she is dealing with some computer issue. Time to stop nagging and start announcing my plans to clean her room FIRST myself if she doesn't pitch in with me.

[blessedw2]

I am so so happy for you d Nancy!

Hello all... enjoy your conga Friday.
My house ... well lets say this is the type of day someone would visit.

Yesterday d brother (he drove in) and I took d uncle out of the hospital rehabilitation center and is officially home. He knows that his cancer will get the better of him but he seems at a deeper peace than I have ever seen him.. plus no bologna - just straight forward. Dbrother spent much of the day doing some repairs at the house and I did errands for him that were necessary. I had to pick up 12 meds for him. He has a lovely man staying with him for now; which I am so grateful to my brother and my mom for, especially w dd younger really struggling.

re: dd - she is in horrible pain most of the time now as the doctors are trying to push her past her limits - I am sure in her best interests - even though they should be gradual. I am still praying that she keeps her spirit because the treatments and dealing with some very depressed/angry patients is pushing her to her limits.

I drove her downtown today because she didn't sleep until about 2 am. She slept in an extra hour. Plus it may be cold outside but the sunshine downtown is amazing!

I met another neat young person. He told me he is grad school in Chicago but is from Chili and this weather is something else. His mom called him the other day and said that it was cold at her house... 77 degrees... he laughed and said she has no idea what cold is. especially after last year.

[lucylee]

* shiver *
We will be doing the conga on the road... headed out to a show w/ds. Brrrrr... it is sooo cold!
Actually, the high here is supposed to be 40 today, but last night we were out when it was 24 and very, very windy, which made me not look forward to today's outing.

Yesterday, I lined up time w/dh's cousin, one of dfil's former caregiver, and dmil's former housekeeper to come over to dmil's house and go through dmil's clothes, small household items that they might want to have as keepsakes. Also made plans w/my dmom to go get her and take her out there with me too, b/c she thinks she would like to have a curio cabinet that will be sold if she doesn't want it. HOWEVER... we are planning to do this on Tuesday, b/c that is the first day ddil will be able to join us, and now the weather reports are predicting snow & rain on Tuesday!!! I'm afraid these ladies are not going to want to get out and deal with all this if the weather is bad.
But... weather reports can change hour to hour here, it seems, so I will just hope for the best. If dmom feels like riding tomorrow, I may just take her out there then.

Oh well... must s2s and get busy.

Y'all say a prayer for us, btw. DH is determined that we ARE going inside to give dgs his Valentine this morning when we go by ds's house. For some strange reason, we have not been inside their house in over a month... maybe a couple of months. Wait -- maybe since THANKSGIVING. DH says it is b/c I made a critical remark the last time we were there, while ddil was out of town. (I did NOT say ANYTHING negative in front of HER!) Since then, they are always waiting outside for us if we pick them up to go somewhere. * shaking my head * This IS kinda weird. I want to tell ds there were PLENTY of times I did not want my parents or inlaws in my house, but I never made excuses to prevent it. (Makes me think of your dmom, Lilac, but dh said to tell ds he had seen messy houses before; he worked w/his dad in furniture & appliance delivery for years.)

LOL... looking at blessed's comment now...

My house ... well lets say this is the type of day someone would visit.

(((BIG HUGS))) for dd, blessed. And so glad to hear things are going somewhat better for your duncle.

WTG, Nancy! Which reminds me -- that IS a major concern at dmil's and I totally FORGOT to inspect pockets when I threw out all those raggedy clothes the other day. DH was VERY disappointed in me. Told about a man at our church who gave a coat belonging to his deceased wife recently, and the coat had $1000 in the pocket. People who got the coat RETURNED it to him. But... if dmil had any $$$ in those clothes, they have long since begun their journey to the landfill. I promise to be more conscientious next week.

So glad jury duty is over for you, Twins!

Oh my goodness, Kathryn! 40 BELOW??? Oh. My. Goodness.

Waving to all!!!