Will be going soon to the garage sale pricing party. Roommate should be on her way back with her new car soon.

Last night I drove to the grocery store and the sun was very low and bright, so I went down a different street, only to have to stop and wait for a vehicle with extremely bright headlights to pass. In the store, by the frozen pizza case, I suddenly got one of my ocular migraines.

So I had to scrub the mission of taking a few more garage sale items over, fumble my way to checkout, sit in my van till the visual disturbances cleared, then slowly drive home.

I wonder if pre-migraine factors were already at play in my ragey mood of the morning, and then the light triggers were the final straw. Anyway, I'm more rested now and am going to take the advice of the security guy I almost walked into because I couldn't see. Carrots and blueberries he said, for migraines. Can't hurt to try. He may have meant because they're good for the eyes.

De-stressing is what I need the most, obviously. And going to work on that. The garage sale will keep me busy, but after that hopefully I'm free awhile. Have some things to do next week like get flu shot, spare tire, try to resolve computer conundrum, and other misc. Plus keep at the storage unit project. But can decide when to do what, no set schedule.

It'll be nice with roommate having her new car, too - she will be more free to come and go. Her old one was still driveable some, but she didn't like to go too far in it. So I was chauffeur which I didn't mind but her having the new wheels will give us greater flexibility.

I have just a few of everyone's prior posts to catch up on but thought I'd better fly by and post this - with the sale I may be busier but who knows.

Good Evening Everybody

Hi CriticalMass
I am doing the "Happy Dance" that you had that tarp down and the oil only ruined the tarp!!! :D

WAY TO GO! on getting out donations for the sale!

Good luck with getting in all the tasks you need to get to.
Bunny playtime sounds important. :)

Hi Tatoulia
For crying out loud!!! Get the bathroom painted already.
🦡🦨🦡🦡🦡🦡🦡

WTG! for walking and YEA! for cleaning Fairies tomorrow. ;)

Hi Subclinical
Yes, this all must be extra hard for the littlest ones.
How would you ever know when one needs their nose wiped. :(

So happy they all looked happy, healthy and growing (((HUG)))

Hope you ae able to rest and relax in the evenings.
Be kind and forgiving of yourself for all the household chores you fall behind on.

Cm, I am also sorry about your mishap - we crossed. But you did a lit!

Tatoulia,

I am too tired to fully process all of it.

I can't hear or understand my little ones half the time, they fidget with their masks and some don't fit right, they get too close to each other. Half of them didn't have their materials. They are tired by my class and their attention spans are short. Some of them are hungry and they can't eat snacks in class anymore. I did have one hit with them with a game.

Half of my STUDIO kids showed up without tools today. This is not their first rodeo. I actually looked at one and asked "what did you think you were going to do today?"

The internet crashed and I lost class time to trying to fix it so that my online kids could participate. I had to call tech support in three times. I don't think the poor guy got to sit down all day. One guy, 22 classrooms.

I had to tape my webcam to a broomstick.

One student got locked out and couldn't attend at all.

But they look good. They look happy and healthy and growing and it was so good to see them. I will learn to read their eyes.

Good to hear you were feeling ok today, Tillie! Keep taking it slowly.

SubC, I'd like to hear more about your day. Is it hard to keep the kids focused, is it hard with masks, etc? I'm sure with the school year changing so abruptly earlier this year must have resulted in some kids being behind. I am praying it all goes well for you.

Cm sorry about the tarp and the mess. You did great getting stuff over for the sale! You will, in time, weather these storms better.

I did get some walking in today. I've got my ladies coming tmr so I'm pretty happy about that. I only got one load of laundry done. someone was waiting for the machine.

I wish the humidity would hurry up and leave. I'm ready for some true autumn weather.

I worked really hard today, thinking it was the 30th and therefore the end of the Quarter. Then I found out it's the 29th.

I need to measure my bathroom. I need to get it painted already.

Tillie, I am glad you have food and Flowers!

Found book and papers.

Today could have gone worse, could have gone better.

I don't know if I have the stamina for this. We shall see.

So good to see my kids again, but the little ones are hard. And I have them at the end of the day.

1 day down, 127 to go.

Holding down the fort

Roommate off to buy a car hopefully. Her sis came and picked her up.

I was planning to get right over to the garage sale site with another load, but things got aggravating when I discovered car stuff in a bucket had tipped over and there was an oily mess in the back of my van.

Should've just been grateful I'd put a tarp down just yesterday and the carpeting and upholstery were spared. Instead I went full-on toddler mode and had a meltdown over the stupid oil product loss and having to buy another tarp. Not my finest moment.

Somehow still gotta work on dealing with stupid things without losing it.

Well, I pulled myself together but by then had lost at least a couple hours - but I got over to the storage unit eventually. That had its lesser frustrations but I got out two card tables, that big picture frame I'd taken a painting out of, and a few books and Halloween items.

Took that stuff over and helped the gal whose house we're using for the sale to unload several dog crates and bunny cages (empty). The bunny club gets stuff donated and some of it doesn't suit our needs but someone will love to get it.

Got the new tarp in, and am getting ready to make one last run. Taking vintage push mower that my roommate can't push, old vacuum cleaner needing some tinkering, worm composting bin. I think that's all. Tomorrow we have a pricing party at 1:00.

I did mention Covid precautions and was reassured by the response that they will be taken. I can print some simple signs re social distancing etc. And I'll have my mask, gloves, sanitizer, and whatever else.

After I drop stuff off, I'm going to stop at the grocery for a frozen pizza! I can't make regular pizza unless I'm alone due to roommate's oregano allergy. I'd make pasta but I'm going to be tired. Another time perhaps.

This is another crazy week of coordinating things together. Trying to get the garage sale stuff and remember the schedule for the cats and her bunnies' playtime - sometimes I end up running really late when out of routine on those. I have trouble not being too loosey-goosey and distractible.

Well, burning daylight, so I best get going on that final run.

Hello

I did one wash load of washcloths & towels and I washed the few dishes and wiped up the counter.
Soon I will water the garden flowers.
The white Chrysanthemums are slowly blooming.
They have very pale yellow centers. :)

Good Morning Everyone

(((((HUGS))))) Subclinical
Our fingers are crossed and we are holding our breath that everything goes smoothly and safely for you and all students & faculty.
❤

Good luck locating the missing book & papers.


So happy I went shopping yesterday!!!
I moved as gently as possible and am not suffering any bad consequences!
If I still feel alright tomorrow I plan to drive to the water depot where you park right next to the water dispenser, fill bottles and place them right back into the car.
I only ever put in 3 gallons because water is heavy.
Wishing he did not bury my little red wagon under a huge pile of hoard.
I would like to use that to tote the water from the car to the pumphouse where I store it.
But I believe that I would be able to slowly carry one bottle at a time over and take lots of breaks before the next bottles get carted in.

Hi.
Following and caring, hoping Tillie feels ok today and both sad and proud for CM, and wishing Tatoulia luck with the badger, but a little self centered at the moment.

First day of school. Excited and terrified. I start with a half day since I only teach afternoons tu/th.

Stopped by my room for "a few last minute things" that ended up taking two hours last night. Laid down a book and some copies somewhere and hope I can find them when I go in at lunch. (Didn't realize I didn't have them until I got home)

Cried when I left Bean yesterday.

I hope this will feel better once I have kids in the room.

Congratulations CM and Tillie for your accomplishments today!

I shredded and I got the trash out, cleaned the kitty box, etc.

I need to put the day's dishes in the DW and run it.

I would've loved a decent walk today but just too humid. I did drop off TP and paper towels at mom's. Last night an aide let me up. She pretended she needed help with the groceries. So I got to play with my little sister. I love her. I'm absolutely obsessed with her.

I was very focused at work today and that is a satisfying feeling. I've showered and washed my hair. I'm going to log off my computer and get ready for the night.

Cm I don't understand any of your computer talk but I do understand the frustration.

AC on again tonight.

We got the aquarium, stand, equipment, two bird cages, a dog crate, and misc. to the garage sale location.

I'm making a sign for donations at this time. Enjoying playing graphic designer with cutout letters from the Dollar Tree - old school compared to computer but kind of relaxing and fun. And no worries about a computer freezing up on me at just the worst moment!

Good Afternoon Everybody
Just 1pm here now.

Hi Tatoulia
WTG! shredding papers!
Hope the humidity settles down there.
You could send it to California, you don't need it and they do. ;D

I remember Summers in Michigan where I would have to take a bath just to dry off from all the humidity.

Well...
I DID IT!
Few times where I thought I might have made a mistake but just stopped & rested leaning on the cart and concentrated on my breathing.
Got lots of my absolutely must haves and spent 130.00.
Really hurt sitting down to drive home.
Have everything inside, freezer & fridge stuff put away, pantry stuff just placed willie/nillie in the pantry, will get to that later.
Resting on my bed now with Scooter.
Might take a nap.
Will see how I feel tonight and tomorrow morning.
But now me & the cats will eat well.
Got 200 ibuprofen 200mg pills for 1.97 so I'm set for a while.
Also discovered they finally have cotton cloth face masks for sale in the clothing department.
They have special Halloween designed ones too.
Maybe next grocery trip I will buy one of the pretty floral designs.

Tillie I know this is a huge undertaking and you'll have to draw on both mental and physical strength. Yes, the cats need their cereal.

Miserably humid here. Really awful. Will shower and run out to get BF's lunch. I'm shredding papers. Cleaners will be here on Wednesday; they just confirmed.

Good Morning Everyone

Hi CriticalMass
Hoping there is an easy solution to your computer problems.
You are not asking for too much.
A 30-something computer geek could most probably get you all set up with easy work arounds.


Well, I have to do this...
After so long I really need to get to the grocery store.
Took a shower & washed my hair last evening.
Have a very long list all made up.
Just took 2 ibuprofen and am drinking my tea.
I plan to only get the smaller items. I think I will be able to walk through the store and check out and get the stuff into the car.
Biggest/heaviest thing I plan to pick up will be a 16 pound bag of cat food. The cats need their cereal.
My refrigerator/freezer is so empty.
I have one little sad looking lemon and no other fresh produce.
Almost all out of body wash and lotion. Will buy a bottle of ibuprofen too.
So scared my back & legs will seize up, but I will have the cart to hang onto.
Monday morning the store should be relatively empty of people.
Hope to report back later of my success.

Just wanted to follow up and say the situation for my roommate's sis and bil is resolved - 2 officers were shot but no serious injuries, and suspect is in custody. 👮🏼‍♂️🚓

That is good news.

I think I may go take a chill period, perhaps a nap, 🛌🏼 as we worked pretty hard yesterday. Roommate is already taking a nap.

It's grey here and we had a little rain. 🌧️

Trying to figure out what to do about my computer but without stressing over it or rushing to do anything too impulsively. There may be options I am still needing to learn about. I guess I just never foresaw how quickly everything would change in personal tech.

I just want to be creative - write, do graphics and digital art, etc. - without a ton of hassle! Is that too much to ask? 😩

Tillie, keep on recovering and limbering up. SubC, enjoy Bean! Tatoulia, be safe and take things at a comfortable pace. Hugs all. 💞🤗

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Subclinical
Hoping you two had a most wonderful date night! :D
Happy Bean day!. :D

Hi CriticalMass
So nice you were with relatives.
WAY TO GO! for EVERYTHING!
Yep, some fishes just don't do well with changes (((hug)))
Prayers for peace in your areas and the world.

Hi Tatoulia
Best wishes for all your health and dieting plans.
You CAN do it!!!
🦡 Here's Badger!


Been having a hard time finding a comfortable position to sit at the computer.
But doing better mobility wise with moving about.
Yesterday I managed to run the vacuum.
Just the main areas, no moving furniture or anything, just kicked cat toys out of the way.
Little by little, slowly, I think I will get there someday.

Cm, I van picture the image of your uncle at the funeral. Very, very sweet and sad image.

Good for you to have the nativity set go to someone else. You are amazing. Your hard work is paying off handsomely.

I hope that your roommate can find a vehicle.

We had protests here on Friday and thank goodness stayed peaceful. I got nervous and could only walk for about 45 minutes before heading home. BF was okay; I'd offered to work with him that night.

It's humid here today. Not what I signed up for. I'll try to walk later in the day. Late afternoon should work.

I'm running the dishwasher and doing a load of laundry. Anyone see the badger? I could use some help.

Saturday eve -

"Breaking news" my roommate just gave me about 10:45 a cop was shot in Peculiar, MO where her sister and brother-in-law and his father are, ongoing emergency situation. BIL is a trained Natl Guardsman and has his gun ready if needed.

End of a long day and end of an eventful week... and now:

The post I was working on, which is already a second draft and which I'm doing offline with frequent saves because...

I had about half a post written an hour or so ago, and my laptop locked up again when I tried to go to Emojicopy to get an emoji. I'm getting pretty disillusioned with this Linux operating system.

And about ready to take the nuclear option, aka going to the computer store and having them reload Windows 7 - yes, 7, on it. I'll have to disconnect from the internet while working on my own work, I guess, because of the security risks, but I don't care. Well, I do care, but the computer industry is leaving me few other choices that I feel comfortable with.

Yesterday of course I went to the funeral of my aunt. Hit me right in the feels, seeing my frail 96-year-old uncle leaning over the casket, saying final goodbyes to his wife of 72 years. This is the couple who buried 3 out of their 4 children.

I got to meet several extended family members for the first time in person. I knew some of them on Facebook, and others just vaguely as "one of cousin So-and-So's kids." Took several pictures of the group on the church steps so I can remember.

Talked to my cousin, the youngest and surviving, who with her daughter has been going thru and working on decluttering grandmas house where my two aunts who passed earlier this year had lived until they went into the care home. They had gotten it pretty badly hoarded by that time because I guess it was just too much for them as they aged.

She asked me about some items including a Nativity stable that my dad had made and I'd painted the figurines for, for my Grandma in the 70s. We had one of our own and I still have that one, and my cousin said she'd take Grandma's set. I was very happy that she wanted it and told her my Dad would no doubt love for her to have it.

This morning my roommate and I went to do errands. She got her letter of pre-qualification for a car loan. She'll probably go to KC on Tuesday with her sister, as there are a couple prospective cars her brothers-in-law have found for her to look at. (Assuming of course this situation in the greater KC area doesn't turn into another violent s---show.)

Then this afternoon we bailed out and disassembled the 29-gallon aquarium and fixins. And managed to get it all cleaned and loaded into my van. Sadly, fish stick didn't survive - he had been in his smaller aquarium but he died early this evening.

We were both rather tired, achy, and cranky but also with a sense of accomplishment after all we've done today. I pray the situation in her sister's area resolves without further trouble.

Weather has been in the 90s last 2-3 days but is set to change to 70s-60s tomorrow. But should be sunny for the garage sale next week.

That's all I have for now.

Hello everyone! SubC enjoy your date night!

Tillie my absolute favorite character is Mary Richards of the Mary Tyler Moore Show. And she would sleep on the foldout and put it back together in the AM. So now I picture you doing that.

I am sorry about your back. I have not had a back or neck injury and I understand that they are completely debilitating. I know you are taking good care of yourself. Wish I could help.

I am glad he got the cat litter for you. That is a heavy bucket!

I've been keeping my dining table neat and nice. Work is very busy. I'm not sure if I checked in or not but my presentation on the company-wide meeting went well. There were nearly 500 people on the zoom. My favorite moment was before it was my turn, someone texted me and told me that my hair looks fantastic. I replied, thanks, I washed it. And she wrote back, I can tell. Such a hoot.

Taking care of my body is going well. I'm walking and eating better. My buddy in Pennsylvania is doing this with me. So it's great. I weigh 30 more lbs than I did in June 2019. I've got this. I can do this and I feel great. My hair is growing out pretty nicely. I figure if we go back to the office in January, I can lose at least some of the 30 I've put on and I'll feel better. With no Christmas parties this year, that will help too.

I need to get rid of more stuff. I'm getting there. I have two bags I'm working on.

I have a few more clues that someone might be leaving the company, which would leave the door open for my promotion. I'm hoping so.

I have t slept well the last two nights, either. One night because I didn't take my pills and last night I don't know why.

It was a fairly cool and pretty day today. I met a girlfriend for a walk. I last saw her in March. It was nice to see her.

BF and I were going to run errands tonight but the battery was dead on his car. We jumped it with my car. But then the battery was dead on his remote alarm, and we could t get the car's alarm to stop. By the time we got that sorted, we couldn't really run errands as his second employee had to leave at eight. So we just walked around. I was glad for the exercise.

Tomorrow I'll have to use my car to get mom's groceries. I need to do a proper shopping for her.

It's humid here. I may have to put my AC back together if I want a decent night's sleep.

I am happy I am taking care of my body. I have a really good yoga session I've been doing in fridays during lunch. It's making a huge difference in how I feel about myself.

I see that I am rambling.

I need the badger to get me to measure my bathroom and order the paint.

So

I didn't clean stalls or prep for school.

I built a temporary rooster pen and I cut up tomatoes and I emailed with my boss and a student and i did a load of dishes and a load of laundry.

Dh and I have a date tonight! Live stream concert to project on the big sheet screen we set up and surround sound with his speakers.

Also he got a very nice bottle of whiskey from work last week for the successful completion of something big, So we will be opening that.

Best of all, he talked to dd about his event and she is still bringing Bean over to see him tomorrow. Which I think means I get to go over one more time on Monday.

Good Morning

Tossed & turned in bed last night but finally fell sound asleep and slept until almost 11:00am.

He's taken off to yard and rummage sales. >:(
He got a 35 pound plastic bucket of "Tidy Cats" kitty litter.
He was just going to leave it out by the back porch and got angry when I begged him to please set it inside the door, he did set it just inside the door.
No way could I carry it anywhere.
So I will use a cup or bowl to ladle some into the litter boxes.
So YEA! the cats have their litter! :D

Smoke hazy today and will be warm 80s.
Scooter has done his "scarf&barf" twice this morning.
He just eats too much too fast.
Fears from when he was a starving baby and never knew if he would have food ever again.

Good Evening Everyone

You accomplished a LOT Subclinical
So ok, tomorrow muck out the stalls and work on lesson prepping.

Today I did a whole lot of pencil puzzles while laying in bed.

You have lots of lovely tomatoes put up and cheeses too.
So many tasty dishes you will have.

Noticed today the Apricot tree has small patches of gold leaves now.

5:15pm going out now to water my flowers.
Chrysanthemum all have so many flower buds.

Tillie, I'm glad your weather is getting better!

I think I would have given up on the bed a long time ago. You are a good example.

Ok, I am feeling overwhelmed and underaccomplished.

I did my morning chores.

I made Dh breakfast

I emailed my boss (unsatisfactory reply)

I canned three pints of tomato sauce because that was how much tomatoes I had cut up.

I picked the tomatoes in the garden

and put the dehydrating tomatoes in the dehydrator (running half full) and left the cutting up tomatoes on the counter.

I made two wheels of mozzarella and a pint of ricotta

I ran a load through the wash and dryer and started another load of wash

I put away two baskets of previously washed laundry

I cleaned up the kitchen and ran the dishwasher but not all the dishes fit.

I did not do those things in order because they can overlap.

Dh is bringing home dinner, and there will be chores and bedtime and I did not get any lesson prep done.

Or stall cleaning - which is high on tomorrow's list.

Good Morning Everybody
"Clink!"

Hi Subclinical
Good luck with your tomato, milk and lesson plans today.

I have seen seating layouts for other classrooms and they do look so strange.
Tape on the floor and desks all placed 6 feet apart.
Knowing kids, it will be hard for them to not go hang over a fellow student's shoulder and talk.

Good plan to have a "wait and see" as to how things are going at school.
In one month you should know if the virus is there and spreading even with all the precautions in place.

Sure do understand your Dh's predicament with his back.
Laying here we see all the things we would be doing.
Then the pain eases up a little one day and we are able to do a little thing now.
But next day we are almost back at square one again.
So disheartening. :(


With the weather not getting any higher than the 80s I can now stop watering the grass every other day.
Really helps with that one day off from watering, gives my back the break it needs.
The garden flowers still show stress if they don't get water every other day.
But they have shallow roots, not like the grass and lilacs or trees.

I sleep on the sofa bed.
Every single day for years I would fold up my bedding and remake up the couch.
Have not been able to do this for many weeks now.
So I just have my bed here to lay in all the time since it's impossible for me to do the movements necessary to redo it morning and night.
Scooter loves this arrangement and I still can't do a sitting position anyways...

Cm, wishing you peace and for good luck on the sale.

Tillie, keep resting and taking it slow. Dh keeps taking two steps forward, one step back because He tries to do too much when he feels better.

Twinkles can stand a few brambles.

Hi Tatoulia!

My classroom is set up for my first class. I even put materials out on the tables. It looks so strange. I had to swap out my colorful group tables for rows of individual white squares, and there is tape on the floor showing where your chair goes.

Dh has a "socially distanced" work event tonight, so Dd is waiting to decide if I can come on Monday after she talks to him after it. Once school starts, we are going to wait two weeks and have a discussion about visits.

Today is going to be about tomatoes and milk and lesson prep.

Good Evening Everyone

Hi Pib and Fish stick🐈🐟

Hi CriticalMass
What kind of pie?
Was the cinnamon roll iced?

Glad you are getting a handle on the scheduling anxiety.
Wishing you smooth sailing from here on. ⛵

Nice you have relatives there. :)


I got the grass watered today.
Asked him to buy kitty litter, he didn't.
Nice gentle breeze today kept the smoke away from me.
Twinkles was really begging/suffering to go outside so I let him.
He was so happy and took a nap under the sage brush and got sticks & stuff all caught in his fur.
Still can't brush him or bend or a lot of things.

Went to the funeral home for visitation, then stopped by my cousin's business and talked awhile, saw Pib the office cat (pic on IG). Pib is a chubby gal and so sweet.

Stopped at an Amish restaurant for pie, bought a cinnamon roll to bring back for my roommate. Things are going smoothly. Anxiety about All The Stuff I Have To Do is lessening. I'm thankful!

Roommate is pursuing pre-qualification for buying a different car. My cousin gave me some kitchenware for the bunny club garage sale. We will prepare to drain the aquarium and relocate Fish Stick (that's what my roommate calls him, LOL) over the weekend. And pull out stuff for the garage sale of hers and mine.

Keep recovering slowly and steadily, Tillie!

Good Morning

I'm still here.
House needs lots of cleaning like vacuuming and dusting.

Cats are still getting food & water but not brushings or bending over pettings.

Chrysanthemums have lots of flower buds and will be blooming soon. :)

Good Evening Everyone

Hi CriticalMass
YEA! the oil has been changed!!!
That was so very kind of them :)

WTG! getting somethings from storage for the sale!

Yes, needle biopsies are very minimally invasive procedures and the sedation will have her pretty well floating on a soft cloud.

Best wishes & good luck with scheduling and coordinating all you have to do.

Take comfort in the service for your Aunt (((HUG)))


Today I brewed a batch of cranberry apple tea and added the juice of a lemon.
Also toasted an english muffin, put spaghetti sauce on both halves and then some pepper jack cheese.
Stuck it under the broiler till the cheese melted.

Thanks everyone for the condolences on my aunt. Looks like I'll be riding over tomorrow for the visitation as well as Friday for the funeral, since the funeral starts 9:00 a.m. Friday. This way will get to see family - I plan on wearing my mask and keeping social distancing whether the others do or not.

My friends from MO came to town, the ones who gave me the van, and the husband changed my oil today. So that is a relief. And he got me a new dipstick because the old one was messed up. Bless them.

I got some stuff for the bunny club garage sale out of storage. It is stuff I've been wanting to donate at one of our events with raffle but since we're not having those, this is an opportunity to get that done.

I'm a bit stressed again with coordinating things - travel and garage sale prep but some things are falling into place. Roommate found out she can have sedative for kidney biopsy. Less squeamish and scary for us both.

Going to get supper now, more soon.

Good Morning Everyone

Hi Tatoulia
Thanks for checking in and hope you are getting rested.

I don't know why but last few days I have really been craving a donut.
Thought about all the different kinds of donuts and I would seriously eat any kind.
Even a simple plain donut dipped into a hot cup of tea would be lovely.

Checking in. Cm I am sorry for your loss.

I am not up to date. Thinking of you all. I'm doing well, just a bit exhausted.

Good Evening Everybody

Very glad Dh's back is a little better and he is cooking again.

Happy the open houses had more people in there!
YEA! getting to hang out with S and G!

WTG! getting the dishes almost caught up !


I got all the dishes done.
Did the glasses then rested.
Did the plates then rested.
Did the bowls then rested.
Did the silverware then rested.
Got it all dried and put away.
Then washed all the Kitty dishes and they are filled with food & fresh water.

Supposed to water grass this evening but decided not to.
It has only been high 80s not all those 100+ days any more.
The smoke was moderate today, not light but not as thick as before.

He will be the 4th of our kids to drive this truck.

Today I almost caught up on the dishes.

I also had my open houses. These were better attended. The other day when I was feeling sad and stressed, Dh told me to name three things I was looking forward to at school. I named three students, r, s, and g.

I came into the kitchen at lunch time and he said "hey, you look happy!" And I said "I just got done hanging out with s and g at my open house."

Dh work has eased up and his back is a little better and he is cooking again.

I am hoping for a better autumn for you as well tillie.

Good morning

So nice you have the old truck to give to him.
That all really sucks about no longer being able to hold Bean once school starts.
Everything about covid19 sucks (((HUG)))


Going to try to wash dishes today.
Not many to do since I'm not eating regularly or cooking.
So many things I have been wanting to do but can't right now.
Really hoping Autumn will be better than Summer was.

Good morning. Happy equinox.

CM, I am very sorry for your loss. You have faced a lot this year, and you are handling things amazingly well.

I wish that you could just not worry about the sister. But I know your roommate's feelings have to come into account too.

There are always too many things to do in a day. Corona virus came and cut things out of my life, and there are still too many things!

I agree that a chart or a list might help, But then, I am always starting and then losing/abandoning lists and schedules.

It's hard. I think sleep is the most important, and sometimes it just doesn't work. sleep, then hydration, then nutrition.

I spent yesterday with Bean. I get to go back on Thursday and then Monday, and then after school starts I will be "an outside cat" who can only visit with him on the porch at a distance, with a mask. This will be very hard. I don't know how long it will last, but it could be a very long time. The whole idea of me watching him on Mondays will be on hold indefinitely. I am trying to accept that he may be a toddler before I can hold him again.

Today I have virtual open houses and a virtual parent conference. I am also trying to catch up on dishes and laundry and make progress anywhere. And do something about all these tomatoes!

I think tomorrow I will need to set up my classroom.

Balance. Today is supposed to be about contemplating balance.

I saw my extra son briefly yesterday. We are giving him our old truck because he doesn't have a working car. He has been driving his mom's old work truck which she needs back and which is in worse shape than ours. He's a good kid. He looked good and it was nice to see him.

I will probably be less present soon. First day of school us in one week. But I will try to check in.

Hi CriticalMass
You have enough to work on daily don't you?
Do you have a place to jot down days like toe nail clipping and other scheduled things?
Even just a piece of paper taped where you can easily see it.

Work on the things that are at hand and try not to worry about the future things.
Yeah, things always come up to make things harder but worrying too far ahead just drives us crazy.

You have my most sincere condolences.
You have lost so many relatives recently (((HUG)))

Tillie, I hope you feel better soon!

It's really quiet here on the Chat today. I even checked to make sure you hadn't had to start a Phase 15.

My aunt's funeral will be Friday morning.

There are a lot of things suddenly converging on this time frame of the next couple of weeks, and I'm starting to stress. Late last week for whatever reason (possibly sleep deprivation) I had a bunch of brain glitches and kept forgetting really stupid things, even things that before I had known, causing confusion and upset. Like which days the bunny toenail trimming, board meeting, garage sale, etc. were scheduled.

And now there are more new things to track, such as thta my roommate has placed a call to schedule that biopsy but we don't know when it'll be because they haven't called her back (phone tag is SO frustrating). Also her sister may come next week to take her to KC to look for a car.

This sister is one who it may be scary to have see the house looking cluttered (by her way more exacting standards), so that may require frenetic preparations, which will have to be fitted in around getting the things for the garage sale out. And if roommate has to be gone on the days they're accepting donations, I'll have to get stuff over there by myself. Plus be doing all the extra cat and bunny care.

Getting the things for the garage sale is not all just putting a few tchotchkes in a box. Roommate is planning to donate her aquarium - 39 gallon I think it is. There is only one goldfish in it, he will be relocated to a smaller aquarium, we'll have to bail the big one, get the fixtures and gravel out of it, etc.

There's a utility cart hopefully it can go on but we'll have to get it down to the porch and down the porch steps, slide the tank off the cart and into my van, which I'll have had to get some stuff out of prior and put down a tarp. Then when I get it to the house where the sale will be, getting it back out. And pray it sells there, or we'll get to do the whole shebang again to get it to a thrift store.

Once the big aquarium successfully gets gone, we will gain a bit of room in the living room. No major change, just enough to make walking through the door into the hallway easier without bumping a table that's by the doorway now. But still nice. So I want it to happen, but it's going to be a big and nerve wracking job. Trying to think of ways to make it easier.

And I still want to be working in my storage unit because definitely there will be things to go to the garage sale from there.

It's like everything has to get worse before it gets better, but can I keep from going mad in the meantime? This morning I was so irritated... the reason I've had sleep deprivation is that the whacko dreams returned for awhile. The ones my antidepressant had given me. Even though I'm at half the dose as before. But I think the way the ADs produce those dreams in the first place is they do something to sleep rhythms. So sometimes it's hard to tell what's from what.

I had envisioned this smooth rest of September effort with my decluttering in the storage. September is going by way too fast for my liking already. Then I figure October the weather will still be decent. November gets dicey - could stay good but maybe not.

But if there are going to be a gazillion happenings to coordinate, I fear mental fragmentation and difficulty organizing. So many times, so many seasons and years, this "too busy, too many fires to put out" issue has ruined it for getting things done over there.

Sorry for the fear and negativity; maybe something will put my mind at rest and I'll think how silly I'm being. But this is our chat, our place to vent, so I'm venting!

So sorry, SubC; I hope it will work out in a way that won't cause lingering upset for you or anyone else.

We had bunny board meeting today, and are planning for a garage sale in a couple weeks. I hope it can be okay and with proper distancing - everybody seems on board with wearing masks at the board mtg and stuff.

We'll probably have to be careful how we position tables so that customers observe precautions. I should probably bring up these concerns; we were more preoccupied with the fundraising aspects earlier and didn't get to that.

I clipped bunny toenails yesterday and dropped off a baby scale that I'd had in my storage that I used to weigh my own bunnies on. They will get more use out of it now. Today we got to hold baby bunnies.

A larger piece of news - my aunt passed away a little after 5:00 a.m. but I didn't find out till after we got home from the bunny house. (I don't do the Messenger app on my phone so I would've had to have thought to login again to Facebook to see the message there.)

So another funeral - perhaps not limited to 10 people but even if not the church should be big enough for social distancing.

Found out I can get my regular flu shot at the pharmacy which is not crowded at all in the daytime, rather than going to my doctor's office where there are a lot of sick children sometimes. That feels a lot safer.

It's late, it's been eventful, it will be eventful. More soon.

Good Afternoon Everyone

Hi Tatoulia
That's nice you two gave virtual house tours to each other.
Was her home picture perfect or a real place where she lives?

Good luck with your coffee table project.
But all that happened because you actually live at home.

Hope that infection goes away easy enough.


I think it all comes down to all of us making a million decisions daily as to what we feel safe with.
I would be safe at home if Steven did not believe the virus/pandemic was a conspiracy/lies and that the virus was only like having a mild cold.
And nobody has died from it.
Fortunately since his friend died he's been staying home in his garage except for his food shopping trips.
He can't go to thrift shops because they require masks and he refuses to wear one.
For some reason safeway allows him to lie and say he can't wear a mask due to medical conditions.
He refuses to go to appointments at the clinic for bloodwork because they require masks.
No bloodwork = no prescription refills.
No coumadin/warfarin = blood clots/strokes/TIAs.
The doctor at the hospital agreed with me that should he get the virus he would not survive.

Oh well...
Just as long as he doesn't infect me.
I can't fix stupid.

SubC! We are all friends with you! I truly had written a long supportive post yesterday.

Trust me, my heart is breaking for the choice you had to make. Safety is a very personal issue. My health comes before anything else right now. I was suffering with either allergies or a sinus on Friday night into Saturday, so I cancelled my plans to visit with my friend. She's the one I had dinner with on Thursday night. I've been to her house a few times since the pandemic. I know that riding in the car with her and with my BF seems scary. The trips are under 10 minutes, so I don't know if that makes a difference or not. And we wear masks. It is a terrifying time and just as your daughter felt safe to go to a wedding, you need to feel safe by limiting your contact with people. I try to maintain a "no judgment, until it infringes on my health." I had cancelled a lunch with a friend a few weeks back because she just lives with too many people. Husband, children, parents, siblings and their significant others, etc. I felt the risk was too great for me. The one friend I see lives alone and she works at my company to she's working from home. My friends with the kids stay six feet apart from us. It's tricky and it's personal, I think. I am absolutely terrified of getting sick. This sinus over the weekend has me panicking.

Cm you are amazing! Do you see how much your thought process has evolved? You are applying it to all areas of your life, including, the mechanic is a good friend but unreliable. So keep him as a friend, and rely on others! You are so great!

Tillie I am so sorry about your continued pain. Slow down. Just slow it down. I know it's tough.

I did two loads of laundry yesterday.

On Friday I had a zoom meeting and afterward, the woman said, can I have a tour of your house? Do I took her on a tour of my humble abode. Then she took me on a tour of hers. And yes, she did see my messy coffee table. I should get back on that.

It seems like a lovely autumn day. It is nearly five. I've showered and will head out for a walk. Yesterday I was dizzy and lightheaded and had swollen glands etc. today I'm feeling good. Just drinking lots of juices.
I'm going for a walk soon.

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Subclinical
Glad you are doing better today.

Doing just those few loads of laundry yesterday rudely threw me into a whole new world of pain and exhaustion.
Doing better this morning.

I feel like I killed this thread.

Carry on.

Really.

I am doing better today.

I finished posting all my class information.

Two virtual open houses and a parent meeting Tuesday
Set up my classroom
Buy some supplies
Lesson plans

Good Afternoon Everyone

OK Tatoulia :D

I washed 4 sheets and got them out on the line.
They were dry by the time I got all the towels & washcloths & pillow cases washed.
Brought in the sheets, folded & put away.
The other stuff is out on the line now.

Now my hamper only contains some of my clothes.

I foolishly mistakenly deleted my long and supportive post. I'll start again later. I was using my phone so I couldn't hit back to retrieve it

Good Morning Everyone

I am so very sorry Subclinical.
But you need to keep doing what you know is the correct thing during this pandemic, even though it is often the hardest things. (((HUG)))

All the misinformation (lies) circulating make me so very angry.
Steven believes all of them.
This is what is helping the virus spread.

The truth is we must not gather in groups.
Isolate into small groups.
Wear face masks and practice proper hygiene (hand washing).
Until EVERYBODY does this we will never get a handle on this virus.
It's worse than the wildfires and is killing so many more.

We must all do what we know we should be doing.
Yes, it really sucks.
We must protect the vulnerable people who don't stand a chance against this virus.


Clear blue skies this morning but it's very cold.
Will wash some laundry and hang it out.
Been weeks since I could do that. :D

Tillie,

I'm glad you have your ibuprofen now. And a break of lovely fresh air.

CM, we cross posted, I am very glad for the found books and continue to be amazed by all the progress.

I am hurting.

My dd2 slept in the barn last night - she came in to town fir a friend's wedding. Afterward she came up to the porch and I cracked the window and talked with her. She is sad. And she just wants to come in and curl up on the couch with her mom and be hugged. And I can't. And I feel like I am failing her again.

If I let her in, I would have to stay away from Bean's family for two weeks. I can do that, Bean doesn't need me. And maybe she does. But I am also about to go into a school full of other children. In less than two weeks. And I feel like the whole thing is crazy, but there is no way they will have a teacher who is more careful than I am. I have spent my whole teaching career basically assuming every student has the stomach flu, and I almost never get sick. (Once. I got sick once. It was so bad that year they asked me to come teach with no voice once my fever was gone because we were combining classes because we were out of subs. The front desk was unattended because we had pulled everyone.)

I don't know how Tatoulia gets in a car with another person. - (Tatoulia, that is not me judging you, that is me saying I don't know where you find the ability to do that) I am not afraid of being sick. I am afraid of being sick and not knowing I am sick and making someone else sick and continuing this thing that is killing people.

I don't know how a child I raised can go to a wedding right now. But I understand that she needs people. She needs her life to be more normal. She wore her mask and she "kept her distance" but there was a dance floor. She spends a lot of time with her bfs family. They don't wear masks. They are a big family. Her bf told her more people die of the flu. I said "that is not true." She said, "well, more people who get the flu die if it." And I said "that is not true."

I feel like I am not protecting her, that I am not taking care of her. Because I cannot be enough for her and so I have to let her go to get the things she needs. She is my changeling child and I have felt like this her whole life. I don't understand the things she needs.

The world is broken and I can't fix it and I don't even know if I am making the right choices to help. And school - I don't know if I'm going to be able to do this. What if I have made a huge mistake?

Good Evening Everybody

Subclinical you had me laughing out loud with
"Perfectly reasonable day, but what did she do with the carrots from the garden and when does she weed and do the pie dishes and wash her underwear?!"
So so true. 🤣

That's right, I have my (40+ years old) Tupperware that is doing good for what I use it for so tossing it out to buy the "Newest/Latest" craze is illogical.

Good luck getting your classes set up/knocked out.
That's sad that so few students tuned in.
And at that age I blame the parents for that.

Buckwheat pancakes sound wonderful.
At my house if you want pancakes or French toast it's always a dinner food.

Will you be freezing some of those garden veggies?
Most frozen veggies are great for soups & stews.


Hi CriticalMass
That darned Squirrel!

YEA! you finally found those missing books.
I remember you looking for them. :D

WAY TO GO!!! for your continuing work at the storage! (((HUG)))


I got even more drizzle rain.
The windows were all open and the air was clean & fresh & cool and smelled like rain. :D
Later this afternoon the SUNSHINE broke through the rain clouds.
It had been days since I last saw sunshine.
No trace of smoke all day and I hope it stays away.

I could see he was going to go to the grocery store.
He has not spoken to me for days.
I put a yellow piece of paper on the back door that read "IBUPROFEN 200mg".
Many hours later he returned and then there was a tiny bottle of ibuprofen laying on the back porch, 30 pills, from the dollar store.
Generic ibuprofen from WallyWorld costs 1.50 for 100 pills.

The aspirin was not working well and made my ears ring.
And this has set my recovery back at least another week.

He has done NOTHING to help out around the house. Not even take the trash out.
And I don't speak to him because he will expose me to a nasty ugly rant.
I don't need that.