CM, I hope that you get that taken care of as quickly and easily as possible.

I hate that we as a country don't provide basic medical, dental, and mental health care for everyone.

Tillie,

Thank you. Seeing it written out like that and having someone else acknowledge that it is a heavy load means a lot. I tend to feel like much of it "doesn't count" because it is things that hold value for me but very little to other people. Even when the kids were little, I felt like I couldn't complain or ask for help because I *chose* to have three kids.

The larger world pays me (not well) for my knowledge and skills, but my family has always been "that's nice. I need socks."

Off to seize the day and beat it into submission....

Hi

Quilt Bingo was fun today. I didn't win anything but I just go to have fun and don't need anything either.

**** Caution: if you are squeamish about dental stuff do not read further ****

While I was there, I noticed that my half molar tooth, which lost another bit of filling a couple days ago, is doing this weird shifting thing that makes me wonder if the piece of filling caused it. Or maybe the shifting was what made the filling piece fall out. In any case, it feels unstable, a miniature San Andreas Fault in my mouth.

So, much as I dread it, I'm going to have to call oral surgeons tomorrow and ask about prices. Then probably go in further debt to my roommate and lose some days of productivity recuperating. But then it'll be OVER - the dread and uncertainty. This tooth is a ticking time bomb. If it breaks apart in some ghastly way when I haven't had the chance to be proactive, I would be faced with the prospect of the Needle From Hell.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Hi Subclinical

WTG! for 23 of 25 pieces done!!!

With school, pottery, garden, bunnies and goats plus eating, sleeping and just life in general all going on right now
it's no wonder the counter and desk have been put on the back burner.
So many of the main activities are very time sensitive too.
You are only one woman, there are only 24 hours in a day.
To have it all done all the time would be impossible and we know you will deal with it when you have the time. ((((HUG))))

Good luck with the boy goats tomorrow.

Tatoulia,

I hope you found your ice cream.

Tillie,

I hope you get any kind of wet. It is supposed to rain all day here.

I got 23 of 25 pieces on the firing carts. Not bad.

I also gave boy bunny a "full soda" grooming. Girl bunny needs one too.

Tomorrow I need to do the baby goats' horns. Not my favorite job, but important. I will try to get it over with early in the morning.

I have my last class session in the afternoon - glaze week. I am hoping to get all of my plates glazed tomorrow. Plus maybe a few of the other things that are fired. I'll have to go back outside of class time this week. The things that went up today, I have a week to glaze after they come back, but I also start a Saturday sculpting class in not quite two weeks. Plus it is time to start making things for the spring sale.

No garden today, so I need to hit that tomorrow. Must start seeds!

Dh has started to complain about me not cleaning my counter off anymore. He has a point. It is getting very bad. Also my "desk", which is piled and shoved to the side of the room. My intentions are good.

Good Afternoon Everyone

Hi Tatoulia
Your yesterday sounds relaxing and fun! ;)

WTG! for walking and pizza!

I only ever see peppermint stick ice cream here around XMas time.
Good luck locating some in your big city.

I guess we all have hard candy wrappers on the floors of our cars.
It's sort of like being in a club. ;)


No new snow but the sky is full of big snow clouds.
The snow has turned into slush and will probably turn into ice tonight.
So relieved I don't have to drive anywhere.

Hello everyone! I'm lazing around and will shower and wash my hair soon. Bright and sunny here. It's been pretty cold so I'll see what it's like outside.

Lots of good walking yesterday. I brought take-out pizza to mom last night and we had a nice visit. Yesterday I walked around the city including shopping for a new dress for my birthday. I had great success. I also bought new underthings since that is a birthday tradition for me. I had the whole day to myself and it was lovely.

Today I may take the car out (candy wrappers and napkins on the floor!) and look for peppermint stick ice cream. There wasn't any in the store near me.

It's hard not to have stuff in our cars, Cm. a lot of us are guilty of that. When I drove luxury cars, there wasn't one piece of trash in them. I kept them nice. No eating in the car, etc. people could have a beverage but if they left their coffee cup or water bottle, then they'd lost their beverage privileges. When Mom would ask, can I leave my coffee cup here? I'd answer, sure if you don't ever want to have coffee in my car again.

When I bought the car I have now, I said, I'm going to run it into the ground. So here I sit.

SubC your evening sounds so lovely! What a nice evening with your husband!!

I haven't see BF since Thursday. I've been busy taking care of mom and it's been cold and then yesterday was about me and wandering around Charles Street.

Tillie I get the snow us pretty! I'd love to see the little kitty tracks in it!

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Subclinical
Good luck with the pottery today.

Your evening out sounds so wonderful!
Beethoven and dinner.

Had to chuckle ;)
Thought I was the only one who has hard candy wrappers on the car floor.
Honestly though, they really do help with the stress fidgeting while driving. (((hug)))


Woke up this morning to find the world covered in
SNOW!!!
So pretty and welcome watching the sun rising on this clean white world today.

Wow! Twelve bags is a lot of manure!

Had a great time downtown with dh yesterday, but was out until midnight - three part Beethoven concert with choir, opera, and piano soloist sections. Dinner included in the second "intermission". I brought home my plastic fork to wash and take to school.

Today is the deadline to get my pottery on the firing cart for class, so I'll be working on that this morning and driving down in the afternoon.

It was 24 yesterday, but supposed to get up to 55 today. We are finally getting some sunshine, but I almost wish it would stay cold so the snow would sublimate instead of melting.

CM, you are doing fine. Just keep doing the best you can. Priests are supposed to support you, not judge you. Yours sounds nice and there is a big difference between a piece of furniture you haven't had time to unload and boxes of stuff!

The floor of my car is currently covered in hard candy wrappers because I have been stressed and trying not to bite my nails or eat too much.

Alright...
The dishes are all washed and the kitchen is all wiped up/down, whatever. ;P

Then I decided to try getting some more fertilizer bags out of the car trunk.
Figured I am dirty already so went for it and they are all out of the trunk and stacked along side the house in the carport just in case it rains.
Sure doesn't look like rain. :(

Plan now is to rest (my poor aching back) and shower soon.
Done for the day...

Hi Everyone

Hi CriticalMass
Your weather is just like mine today.
Warm & windy.

Very good to hear the med adjusting is coming along well.

OK, the new vehicle has stuff in it temporarily.
Last one had the stuff always in there
So you are doing so much better! :D

Wishing you lots & lots of time to get the fabric sorted out and started with the doll clothes and quilt squares. (((hug)))


Baked corn muffins, made avocado salad, cleaned up veggies for macaroni salad for later in the week.
Raked lilac hedge clippings off the grass.
Removed from the car trunk 6 bags of steer manure and stacked them where they go.
Must rest my back before the next 6 bags, maybe tomorrow?
Still need to wash dishes. :(
That will be soon as I rest up here. ;P

Sunny warm day here, predicted high of 73 (!) and 69 for tomorrow. Beats some years we have had Quilt Bingo with snow and frigid temps. Today is quite windy; we rarely get a warm day without wind on the Great Plains.

Tatoulia, send me cybercake as well - white cake with vanilla is my favorite. :) My birthday this year is the day before Easter. I usually get myself cake. If not a whole cake, a slice or cupcakes.

Tillie and SubC, keep on taking life at the pace you need rather than a driven pace.

I'm coming along with my medication reduction. Sometimes doing 2 days at the lower dose then 1 at the former. My system seems to be adjusting fine. I think I did retrain my brain in more positive ways these last few years, with the meds as "training wheels" so to speak. Now I feel like pedaling and balancing without them - or for now anyway, relying on them less and less.

Clutter goals are nagging at me... Tuesday, when I had the flat tire, I hope Father didn't pay attention to the stuff in the back of my van. The most prominent was the partly assembled chrome wire shelving which my roommate and I had put together a few weeks back. The former priest saw my old beater van full of hoarding and heard me bang on about how I'd had a spiritual awakening and wasn't going to be materialistic anymore... *gulp* anyway, this week's happenings made me feel some embarrassment.

I knew it was a gamble to put those shelves in there before I could actually put them into the storage unit (and pull out and divest myself of old rickety ones). I'd said when I got this pretty van that was NOT going to fill it with stuff. I've done better but not kept to what my goal was.

But I can get it better. And I can STILL achieve the goal of being more spiritual and less materialistic!

My sewing is another pile-up area. I have those T-shirts to cut up for doll clothes. Going to take a set of patterns to the copy shop to get xeroxed (which it gives permission for as they're superimposed; I need 2 sets made to be able to cut all the pieces out). One is a pattern for knit leggings; that should work great to use fabric fast for the 18" doll size, then the smaller pieces can be for Barbie sized.

And quilting - I've got a list started for easy and quick stash busting block patterns. So I hope to be cutting and piecing assembly line fashion soon. Just hope my wrists and heels of my hands, neck, and back can take the cutting part.

Well, best be signing off to do stuff and go to Mass this eve.

Good Morning Everybody
"Clink!"

Hi Subclinical
Thanks :)

Glad you got a lot of sleep. Sleep is important too.
Great List of priorities!
Yes, those transition times are the hardest.
Spring and fall are always a too busy.
All that basement work you did last Summer was fantastic and has made it easier in the long run for you being able to find things and keep things from any damage down there.

Hi Tatoulia
Your Mom is going to enjoy another party!
Your plans sound lovely and I will be there cyberly. ;)
WAY TO Go! for getting back to walking distances!!!
Remember to measure your health, weight and physical fitness from where you were before the walking and nutritionist.
You are so much healthier now than back then. (((hug)))


Got lots of sleep.
Trying to plan out what I should do first, so much catching up to do.
Plus now I need to start on the yard/garden area.
In-accu weather is teasing/lying there is an 80 to 90 percent chance it will rain here tonight into tomorrow.
Anyways... will wash dishes today if nothing else.

Coffee clinks! I am having a cup of coffee and catching up on everyone's lives, good and bad.

Moon pies-snort. Ice cream and pizza. I'll confess it sounds delicious.

I had been taking the train to work and the subway home during the last few weeks (maybe longer). Well yesterday I walked to and from work, so I'm feeling better about myself. I see dr on Monday and I am not excited about my weight. I did make appts with my original nutritionist and those will start March 23. I told her I'd like about five sessions. Money well spent.

I have completely planned out my birthday party at mom's. It'll be a bit like what I did for her when she turned 90, but. It as fancy. I ordered beautiful napkins and plates and bought the forks and I've also ordered a platter of sandwiches and my cake. I am mainly doing this for mom, not me. There will be sweet potatoes sandwiches in case anyone wants to stop by....

Bf will take me out for my birthday and again I'm doing the thing at mom's for mom. I have a couple of friends stopping by and a young law student and then whoever my BF steers toward us. The residents and staff are invited to have cake but the sandwiches aren't for residents. Those are for my people first, then my people in ziplock bags for later. Cake (white cake with vanilla buttercream) and peppermint ice cream are for all.

I did two loads of laundry last night. I'd skipped out of work at 5 ( very early for me) and walked partway home with a friend, then straight up to mom's.

I have things to take care of here today but for now I'm going to relax while my load of delicates washes. Bright sunny day.

Tillie,

You definitely deserve to slack off.

I actually slept ten hours last night! I'm still feeling a bit tired.

Lots to do today, although my plans with my friend for tomorrow got cancelled (his wife is ill) so I will drive my pots down tomorrow and have just a bit more time today (although I pretty much spent it sleeping)

I am working on my priorities.
Survival (animals fed, clean underwear, nothing growing in the dirty dishes)
People - taking care of and spending time with the ones who are important to me.
School - prep and teaching.
And then we have pottery and the garden/barn which are vying for the little time I have left.

In winter it is school/pottery/barn/garden
And in summer it is garden/barn/pottery/school
And where I run into trouble is spring and fall when I need to start shifting things around and can't manage.

The house is always last, except last summer I got a bee in my bonnet about the basement.....

HI

Got groceries this morning.
He has his meds from the pharmacy.
I am so tired and exhausted and my body has lots of aches.
Just been slacking off all day, I deserve to.
Chores will still be waiting for me tomorrow and will get done then.

Steven is right back to his regular diet.
Moon Pies, It's-It's ice cream and take out "meat lover's" pizza.

Can you hear me rolling my eyes?

Good Morning Everyone

Hi Subclinical
You sure have been busy!
WAY TO GO! getting your seeds home.
Really great progress on your pottery too!
So happy that the school schedule is almost exactly what you want.
But what a shame those two classes are scheduled at the same time. They both seem like very popular choices for the students.


Today I need to buy cat food and a few things for me.

Critical Mass, what a difficult few days!
I'm glad your priest took care of you.

My ex boyfriend lost his father not too long ago, which I found out because our parents still live in the same small town. I think it was probably a similar feeling, of wanting to reach out in some way on behalf of a closeness that is far away now. I sent his mother a card, which I Hope was appropriate.

Tillie,

I am glad you are back home safely! Hurrah for steer manure!

So busy here! I did do some pottery yesterday and my seeds arrived for my garden. The part I "did" for the seeds was to stop at the mailbox and get them so they didn't sit out in the freezing cold all night. Some of the pots will not be done in time to be fired with my class work, but I guess that is ok. I always seem to have some things that don't make it, but far fewer this session. I actually got 14 out of 25 allowed things on the firing cart in time, and will be able to drop off three more on the way to an event Dh and I are attending tomorrow. Maybe more than three depending on how my evening goes.... that is much better than I did for my last class.

Schedules came out at school yesterday. I have a few small disappointments, but in general mine looks good. I have started talking my classes up with kids who I hope will take them. One of my students overheard me talking earlier with a popular and good teacher about putting a bunch of kids in a hat and drawing names with him, and then the student saw the schedule and told me "oh! I want to take this (that I'm teaching), but, oh no! It's at the same time as that (other teacher). Pause. That's what you guys were talking about, isn't it?" Yep. It's hard because we are competing for the same group of kids whom we both like a lot.

Anyway, the kids can hardly focus on anything except the classes for next year right now. By Tuesday it will be better. My English students did give me a bit of a guilt trip for abandoning them next year, but I think they will forgive me.

Not ready for the classes I teach today, so gotta run!

HELLO EVERYBODY

Hi CriticalMass
You sure have had a busy week.
So glad that the bad things had happy endings.
Hope you don't have any issues getting the right spare tire rim.
WTG! on the glaucoma test and cataracts holding steady (((HUG)))


Well............
I am back home.
He complained & beotched the whole way.
So he's back to normal.

On the way back he wanted to stop in a town that has a store he likes because they have a wide variety of cheese.
So we did.
Plus I stopped by an other store in that town and bought 12 bags of steer manure since I was right there anyways.

On the drive into Reno this morning I saw 6 mustang walking beside the river. :D

One nice thing when you are away from towns/cities is the speed limits are 65-70-75-80 mph.
You get to where you are going a lot faster.

He keeps saying he has type2 diabetes.
The discharge RN told me no, he is headed that way but can bring the numbers down with diet/lifestyle changes.
He is officially classified as "on the fence".

Thank you all for being here and listening to me over the last few days.
Couldn't have held it together without you all.
((((((HUG))))))

This week just started out fragmentary - on Monday I had eye dr. appt - came out well on my glaucoma test, yay, cataracts mainly holding steady.

I was on the other side of town so worked my way back stopping here and there. Then at home, I had a nearly 2-hour chat with my friend who last year was in ICU. She has had 4 hospitalizations this year, in one she almost died again. I want to stay in touch better just in case. She is definitely a fighter, but faces an uphill battle.

The phone call meant putting aside the loose ends I needed to attend to, then being too tired to attend to them then. So they got carried over into Tuesday...

alas, Tuesday included a flat tire when I came out of quilting at church around noontime. :( I got out the spare and then Father saw me and called AAA. They came out, went to try to put on the spare only to discover the rim I'd purchased some months back & had the tire mounted onto was not the right one. It wouldn't let the tire go back all the way.

The flat one, I had a big screw in and it was a quite rapid leak. But the AAA guy aired it up and I was able to drive to this place nearby where Father goes and he called ahead that I was coming, he knew a guy working there. Tire got repaired, I called another gal to take my holy hour, after I got the van back I did some errands but was really tired. Took a 3-hr nap at home.

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday so I went to Mass at noon, at our downtown cathedral and got my ashes from the Bishop! That was nice. I love our Bishop, he seems like an honest and good one, unlike some who have caused so much damage in recent times. I didn't do too much yesterday even though I had a million loose ends still.

Took care of a few of those today, but wow has the afternoon flown by. I did my haircolor earlier. Am so wanting to take care of so many things, projects, etc. including the decluttering.

Our church quilt Bingo is this Sunday. I may get a baked good if I have time. I wish I could make something, but that has not worked out for years with this different kitchen, temperamental oven, and other factors. So it's bakery or nothing. And no guilt. It is what it is.

I may be sitting with the older lady most every Wednesday starting next week, as they are short on people that day. Should work out fine, and I'll enjoy seeing her.

Found out via Facebook that my ex boyfriend of a long time ago almost died last summer. He had sudden cardiac arrest but just happened to be found by someone, cop was doing CPR until firemen arrived with defibrillator.

He lives far away and I've had no contact with him or his people for decades. I don't still carry a torch or anything (did for awhile but got over it), but this is rather surreal nonetheless. I guess just as a Christian I feel like I should still pray for him, that's all. He was super fit, didn't smoke, drink, etc.

It's a reminder, for one thing, of how much time has passed since we were an "item." But our life trajectories and goals are quite different, that's why it was never meant to be. I'm just trying to make my life the best it can be for whatever time I've got left.

I've been reading the posts - glad for every good thing or at least coping that everyone has been able to experience with various upheavals. And the calm moments in between.

Good Morning Everybody
Those are some very good goals for March. :)

Hi Subclinical
Thank you
When I fill the outside big garbage can he takes the trash in it to the dump.
In his bedroom he has a trash can that was overflowing so I dumped it all into a medium size bag and put it outside in the can, he may be angry about this and feel the need to search that garbage bag.
Anything not in the bedroom trash can is off limits to me, except food that's obviously inedible.
I can not make decisions to toss anything because he will accuse me of throwing out all his valuable and important possessions.
I also have to remain "hands off" with anything in the garage/carport/yard areas or face his wrath.
He also gets very angry when I throw away things that are mine to throw away and pulls them from the trash and adds them to his hoard, think pickle jar etc...
I believe this is why he refuses to allow us to have trash pick up. Worried I will dispose of perfectly good garbage behind his back.
"heavy sigh" :/

Hi Tatoulia
You have been doing a very good job dealing with finances and planning for the future. :)

He just called so I am off to Reno to fetch him home.
Wish me luck with the crazy traffic.

Tillie,

I am so glad your house is better.

I wonder if you might be able to throw away a few bags of trash before he comes back. I can't remember if your trash is hauled or collected, but it seems like even a few little plastic grocery bags - easy to toss out at a rest stop or gas station on the way to Reno) might be satisfying. I'm sure you could find a place to take from that he wouldn't notice.

Goals. I have too many goals and I always fall short. I want to say do xyz everyday. Then I miss a day and the goal is over. Or x# times, but then I get too far behind and the goal is unreachable.

So, to be realistic - I want to work on my pottery and/or my garden as many days as I can. And I want to go to bed feeling like I gained ground or was caught up on my house/schoolwork as many days as I can. Even if things go really badly, I can still accomplish something on March 31.

Job well done! I hope you had a good night's sleep, Tillie!

Well I don't think it's pouring but I refuse to look out. I'd rather be surprised.

I didn't follow through with my challenge in February but as we all know, that's okay too. I want to continue to reduce, which I am good at, but I want more out of myself in March. For starters, I've set up appointments with my original nutritionist starting March 23 and I'm hoping to do five appointments. I'm so pleased that I've set up a savings account away from my bank, and I got my tax return this week (wow!) and I put all but $113 of it in my savings account. My money is a bit out of control due to taking care of mom but that is the way it goes. Her phone bill will be done in another month and I'll have that off my back.

I think one thing I haven't done and needs to be done is I need a new hot water heater. I also need help with a faucet handle in the bathroom. So I will put these maintenance items on my list for March. Will make a big difference for me. If I have to use part of my March bonus to do so, then I will. I found out what day the bonuses are being paid and now I've forgotten. They are in a formula and typically right around 7% of our yearly income. Nothing to sneeze at!

I also want to put any purchases I've decided not to make onto my loan. I'd like to see what I can do when I'm not buying junk.

So that's what will work for me in March.

Good Evening Everybody
Time to start thinking about what we might want to challenge on or set goals for next month. ;)

Hi Tatoulia
what a lovely evening you had.
Misting heavily sounds almost as enchanting as thick fog.

I think putting some sorts of things into containers/boxes looks a lot neater than just setting the items on a shelf.
You do not ever have to be ready to get rid of your camera or anything, honest. (((HUG)))
There are just some things that are not negotiable.

You really used to do way too much!!!
I only go to the hospital when it's necessary for me to be there.
Usually just during surgery.
With the brain surgery I was there most all day and night for 5 days in a row.
I am the medical power of attorney and patient advocate. :P
I really hate being in a hospital, even when I used to work in this same hospital in the OR and ER at times.
So he is stuck there until they release him, then I will drive all the way there.
Over 150 miles round trip. :/

Well, the laundry therapy worked well.
I am tired physically and mentally and have a good feeling about a job well done.
And the house smells good without having to burn incense.

I remember those hospital days with my brother, Tillie. And then the staff would start to insist that I be there, in order to keep him calm. They'd put a chair bed and pillows and I'd try to explain that I don't want to be there. One time I spent nearly a month in the hospital with him and even brought my own quilt. I used to do too much; I see it now.

Then the calls screaming he needs to leave, now.

Wishing you strength and peace, Tillie.

As you know, I'm not big on organizing baskets and boxes, etc, as I they are meaningless in a sea of too much stuff. But I've had great success with my linen closet and my bedroom closet, so I felt I could trust the situation and buy the two decorative boxes. The Japan stuff has been in a large square gold jeweler's box together with a gold embroidered fabric box I'd gotten at Filene's Basement, back in the day. I had two; I must've gotten rid of one. The one I do have will go in my closet. It has my camera, etc, and even though I don't use it; I'm not ready and I don't feel that I have to be ready.

I need to work on a donation bag.

Tonight we heard Peter Diamandas speak at Symphony Hall. Fascinating. On the way to Symphony we stopped by mom's. I felt completely comfortable, as did mom, in having my friends come right up and into her room. There was no mess to apologize for. Yes done clutter and too many nooks, but on the whole, pretty good. One of my friends is a nurse so she checked the pulses in her arms and feet.

Ok off to bed. It was misting heavily (if that's possible) on the walk home from symphony and I told BF if there were snow on the ground it would feel like February.

Hi Tatoulia

Sorry the inconsiderate laundry hog is home today.

Have a great time at dinner tonight!!! :D

WAY TO GO! for organizing.
Sounds like the boxes look nice and make the places look tidier.
Organizing is really good for putting stuff away in a way that makes it easier to get out and to put away.

YEA! for a squeaky clean dish washer.
I need to sanitize my clothes washer now after doing all this filthy laundry.

Try not to get too wet tomorrow getting to work. (((hug)))


The 6th and last load for today is on the rinse cycle.
Saved another bleach load to do last.
His bed is made with all fresh clean bedding.
The clothesline is still full of clothing.
But I am done.
The house smells so much better without that 11 loads of stinky laundry festering around in his bedroom.
Sort of swept the carpeted walkway through to the bed and to the closet.
Left everything else alone.
So the edges of the room and tops of the desk/dresser/night stand are still heaped and hideously filthy.
There are still massive cotton candy like cobwebs lining the ceiling & walls.

When he called this afternoon he said he might come home tomorrow.
Nobody told him he was being discharged tomorrow.
He was complaining about everything and everyone there today when yesterday he loved everything and the people too.
Anyways, I will be prepared for tomorrow just in case they do release him.

You are good to do his laundry, Tillie. I am sure it is an arduous task, seeing that it isn't washed regularly.

I only got two loads done today. My towels then one of my throw blankets. My piggy neighbor is home and he overstuffs the washer then leaves everything in it so it becomes my job to put it in the dryer. So I did the two this AM and will take care of the rest over the weekend. Simple.

I've changed my sheets and I've done some actual organizing. I generally don't organize, per se. I bought two lovely boxes to go under mom's new tv stand and in the process, I bought two for myself. Mine are different from mom's and my two do not match each other. I replaced a box holding my Japan photographs and diaries and I put my year's worth of laundry sheets in the other. The laundry sheets box is on the shelf under my tv table and looks very unobtrusive. The other box is on the lower shelf of an end table. I'm pleased.

Ok I've wiped down the kitchen counters and I have run the dishwasher, empty, with a product that cleans dishwashers, any lime or mineral build-up, etc. meeting friends for dinner at 6 and I'm wondering if I can do so without being late. These are friends I dine with before theatre. I used to skip due to cost then one friend said, it's worth the extra $20 to have you with us, so now she just pays for me.

Ok that's my news!

I regret making plans to go into office tmr. We will be having a very rainy day.

Good Morning Everybody

Just show me the way to your washing machine Subclinical. ;D

Hi CriticalMass (waving enthusiastically) :)

Hi Tatoulia
Sounds like you are keeping up with all the things in your life. :)


No news is good news.
His hospital stay will take as long as it takes.
Last time he was there almost an entire month.

Laundry is taking time, which I have plenty of.
Lots of stuff needs to soak.
Some stuff has to be washed twice and lots of it needs to be rinsed twice, probably should be rinsed even more.
I estimate there are 5 more loads to do in there.

The bedding is all still out on the line from yesterday.
Will make up his bed today and put away the dry clothing.
Hard part is his dresser and closet are already stuffed full of all kinds of assorted miscellaneous stuff that doesn't belong in there.
I will cram the clothing in as best I can.

Excellent drug choice ladies! Wish you could come by here for a fix. I'm barely keeping us in clean underwear.

Tillie, I'm glad things don't look urgent.
Also glad you could get a bit more order in the house.

Cm you know we are always here! Grateful for your drive by!

Tillie laundry is my drug of choice, too, although I do miss smoking cigarettes!!

You did a lot today, getting the car serviced and gassed up and "attending" the doctor's rounds!

I am home and running dishwasher. Stopped by mom's on my way home. Both she and the cat are doing well.

I'll talk to you all later.

Tillie I'll be praying for you and everybody. I'm having loose ends and glitches and am brain fried. I know you have big things on your mind.

When I'm calmer myself I promise I'll be back.

Hello :)

All quiet around here.
Should take a nap since I hardly slept last night.

But I am doing laundry.

Every time he goes into the hospital I go into his bedroom and toss out trash and wash whatever I want and he can not complain.
Because when he is back home I will be doing home nursing while he recovers and I insist on a bit of cleanliness.
Last time we had visiting nurses in about every other day too.

Plus doing laundry is my drug of choice. ;P

Hello

Went at 8am and got the car all taken care of.
Filled the gas tank too.
All set for a trip into Reno now.

Just spoke with Steven and while on the phone the doctor made his rounds so I got to listen in on the conversation.

They are stabilizing him.
Getting his heart, BP, blood, etc. all regulated.
Steven says he is feeling a lot better today than he was yesterday.

His main complaint right now is he doesn't have his cell phone charger and the one he is borrowing there isn't working right.
So that's good news that he is complaining about something so trivial.

He wants to eat but they have him on liquids and diuretics only since yesterday.

No need for me to drive into Reno today.
Will wait and see how he continues to do as to when he may be released.
I am NOT driving all that way just to give him his phone charger.

Just 10:30am here.
When it warms up I will get out and wash the car windows.

Thank you Tatoulia
Thank you Subclinical

No news yet.
Getting ready to take the car for servicing.

Tillie there is so much to be upset about I don't know where to start. I am outraged about the fact you don't qualify for benefits. That is extremely upsetting to me. I am really upset. I used to advocate for my brother and others to get them benefits and it is absolutely frustrating and disheartening and deeply disturbing. I am so sorry.

I'm sorry about the car and the situation with Steven. You have so much to deal with and all I can do is send you support and let you know that I am praying for you and shoring you up from afar.

I wish I drank alcohol.
I wish I took mind and mood altering drugs, illegal or prescription.
But since I am always straight and sober
I am doing laundry.

This is how my day has gone so far...
Earlier in the day a woman called to do a phone interview about my benefits.
I was on the phone for well over an hour, mostly on hold.
Then she informed me that I will not receive anything.
I am a sickly 66 year old woman with absolutely no income or assets so I get nothing.

Then
well you know what happened .
Haven't heard from him or anybody.

Told Steven this last week the "check engine" light was on in the car again and the front left tire was looking low again and since he would be taking it in it needed more gas, only a bit less than half a tank in it and we always need it full in case I have to drive to Reno if he's hospitalized again.

Last time I spoke to him he said for me to take the car to a certain place and ask for a certain guy.
Explain to the guy why he isn't bringing in the car and ask him to check why the "check engine" light is on and to check the tire pressure.
So I will do that first thing in the morning.
Right after I hang out all this wet laundry.

:/

Well today I got my recycling and my garbage out. I cleaned the cat box. I visited mom and I got a walk in. I did a little bit of laundry and a little bit of paper shredding.

Mom's place looks so nice and so light. We are both very happy with it. I have one decorative box and we started to put things in it tonight. I want her place to be pretty and I want to respect her need to hang onto papers.

She did some sorting today and used her new trash can! Great idea, Tillie!

I'm getting ready for bed. During my walk, partly outdoors and partly in the mall, I was looking at some shoes at Lord and Taylor that I do not need and the price was so perfect. I did not buy them. So I came home and transferred the $21 toward my loan so I can pay it off sooner. Have decided that is smarter than putting the money in my savings, where I can retrieve it easily.

I also started an online savings account (maybe I'm repeating myself) and so far I've put two expense checks and my cashed -in vacation days in it. I'm pleased with my small but definite steps in the right direction.

I also spoke with my nutritionist and we've scheduled two of five appointments. I need to get back on track and I'm excited to get this started. She can't see me til the end of March but I'm okay with it.

Goodnight all. CM I just noticed the pictures of your beautiful honey cat today. What an absolute beauty!!!! Sending love and strength to all.

Tillie I am so sorry. Sending you my prayers. If you need anything money-wise please tell me and I'll arrange through Cory.

Oh Tillie,

I'm sorry! I hope Steven is ok.

Steven went to the clinic.
They sent him to the small county hospital.
Right now he is in an ambulance on his way to the big hospital in Reno.
Heart attack.

Will try to write more when I know more.
He is trying to contact his friend to ask him to help me retrieve his truck and to get the car road worthy so I can drive to Reno.

Tillie, how is Steven after his fall? How are you? I hope you didn't hurt yourself.

SubC you are phenomenal! Pleased for your daughter's move!

Beautiful today! Sunny and 57F! I've got the back window open and might do the front window next. Just to aid our a bit.

Yes lots of sleep is helping me immeasurably. That and more sunlight.

I have cleaned kitty's box and am washing her bedding. I've put a piece of fleece on her chair (next to my desk) and it and she look pretty.

Good Morning Everybody

HI CRITICALMASS ;)

Hi Subclinical
So happy you are doing your pottery and it's coming along so nicely for you. :)

We should find a way to more evenly spread out the rain and snow across the country.
Then that would end the droughts and flooding.
But having read a lot of science fiction something else would always go terribly wrong from tampering with nature. ;P

Sorry about your chicken.
So true that they really do learn survival skills when raised by their own kind.
But I also love the falcons, hawks and owls that visit my yard. Just wish they didn't always eat here too.

Sounds like next weekend will be busy and fun for your DD2.
What a wonderful time in her life this is. (((hug)))

Tatoulia,

You were amazing this weekend! I have such a cute image of you carrying your chair down the sidewalk and stopping to sit in it.

Dd2 is moving next weekend. We talked about coming to help her, but she decided she could do ok with her friend's big car instead of the truck. "The only thing I'm not sure about is the mattress, and it's only 4 blocks. I have a bunch of friends coming to help me, so if it doesn't fit, we can just carry it."

It sounds like things are going much better at your mom's. I'm very happy for you both! I only drink bottled water when it is medically necessary. I declare your mom's water so! Hydration is critically important as we get older.

Tillie,

I'm glad they got the fire out! Everything is sodden and waterlogged here. We had a couple of sunny days this weekend - for which I am grateful, but they just thawed the mud without really drying anything.

I am very amused about scooter and his piggy. I hope this gives poor mousie a break.

A hawk got one of my new chickens yesterday. They have poor instincts. Hen raised chicks are much smarter than these silly incubator hatched creatures.

I have my pottery class again today. I'm pleased with a couple of the pieces I worked on this week.

LOL :D
Only 4 rest stops would have been great!

Hope she likes and uses her trash basket.
If she will grab a bottle of water to drink more readily than taking a glass to the sink/water cooler then I feel bottles of water are a necessity and will keep her hydrated.
You did a lot this weekend getting things moved around.
WTG! :D
See what happens when you get enough sleep?
Plus it sounds like you are happy (((HUG)))

So cute about the pig!!

Well we took the chair over to mom's. We are both really happy. Me, because it's out of my house AND I found a way to let it go and Mom because she likes having it in the house and it is a breath of fresh air from the big upholstered chair.

I took her garbage out, etc and I also brought over her document box and her trash basket. So it all went well. BF helped me with the chair and I was actually able to get it down my stairs myself do I bet I would've only had to stop and sit four times had I carried it!

We then ran errands and just got back from a particularly tasty dinner. He joked its past my bedtime since I've been going to sleep so early this weekend.

I may still try to get a walk in. Mom needs water and I too could use a few things. Right now it is easiest to have bottled water at her disposal.

Just 12 noon here now

Since there was no breeze/wind this morning I went out and lit the burn barrel.
Wind is starting to slowly pick up now but the burn barrel is finished burning and has a cover on it.

Two days ago there was a "control" burn that got out of control near here and they did not mess around dealing with it.
They sent out every fire truck they have along with many Sheriff's Deputies.

Still not a single drop of rain since I last reported any rain here.

The kitchen sinks have been scoured all ready for dish washing.
But first I had to cook some asparagus and chicken nuggets so I now have some food ready to eat today. :)

Mousie is still drying where I tossed it and tiny pink plastic pig is still cheerfully floating in the water bowl.

Hi Tatoulia
WAY TO GO! Getting stuff out and getting things organized for their new locations!

I suppose you could carry the chair and take frequent breaks resting by sitting on it.
JK LOL ;D

YEA! for getting that well deserved and needed sleep you got!

So great to hear Mom is doing better now with the new arrangements.
Easier for her to get her necessities and a relief for you. (((HUG)))


Well, I called Scooter over to the water bowl
Plucked soggy mousie out and plopped the tiny pink plastic pig into the bowl.
He was fascinated!!!
Piggie floats beautifully.
He watched Piggie for a while, drank some water and now seems very satisfied.
The plastic pig is more sanitary than the cloth mouse and not as big so Twinkles might drink now too without always complaining about mousie.

Wow! SubC! Congrats on finding what you lost! So happy for you!!!! And yay for the newborns! SubC you do so much. I am in awe of you. I truly am.

Tillie, I can hear Scooter from here! Crying and carrying on.

I took my bags to goodwill-the big bag in the house and some of the things in my car that I'd taken from mom's house. I got her one pretty box to put her papers and to put on the bottom shelf of the new tv table and bought her a small trash can for by her chair! Thank you TIllie for that idea! I basically took yesterday for myself. I stopped by mom's with BF, which helped to keep the visit short. We brought her some more bottled water as she is doing very well drinking water now that she largely chair-bound. She has just enough strength in her to get to the bathroom and back to the chair. She seems brighter and more together. We attribute this to the meals in her room (she frequently refuses to go downstairs and then she skips meals, then things get rough for her personality wise) and the fact that she's drinking so much water. The cleanliness must help, too.

I didn't bring her new things over yet. for the chair, I'm going to need BF's help. We probably need to take in a car. I can't see myself carrying it all that way. I am excited. To get it out and get it to mom's! very comfortable chair.

Okay that's the news for now. I got a lot of sleep again last night and I'm feeling so much better! Two long sleeps in a row and the stressors have abated.

Coffee clinks!

YEA!!!
For finding that small important paper thing!!! :D

Okay, got it, thanks for the sire info. ;)

Good idea.
Maybe I should try putting a toy in the water bowl.
He has some small plastic farm animals he's fond of and I thing the tiny pink pig would float too.
LOL ;P

Maybe you should get scooter some toy fish. My kids used to have a little windup one that swam in the bathtub. I wonder what svooter would do if you made a fish swim in his water bowl!

These are (probably) the last babies from my old buck. The new buck wasn't ready yet when Annie was bred. I needed an early kidding for milk. I bred a second doe to him, but she would be due in a week if it took, and doesn't look like it. Also, she appeared to go back into heat and was rebred a month later.

I don't think the new buck has any kids coming for a month.

The exciting thing I came to tell you guys though, is that I found the small, important paper thing! So I can just take the recycling to drop off this week.

Good Morning Everybody


Yea! for two baby goats!!!
Now these are from that new Buck you got, right?
Fingers crossed they are genetically strong (((HUG)))

Sounds like you have several Nanny goats ready to be put out to pasture.
Wishing you healthy new girl kids to take their place. :)

Good luck making a little more progress today.
But I would be spending a lot of time just watching the new babies 'cause they are just so darn cute.


Steven fell this morning on the back porch
so my day has already started off badly.
Took him a long time to get back up and there is no way I could physically help him get up.

I really must clean the kitchen today.
If I had a dish washer there aren't even enough dishes to fill it half full.
But since they are on the counter it looks very messy.
And since you can see the kitchen area from the front door it makes the whole place look messy.

Scooter is still putting his toy mouse and penguin in the water bowl.
Tried taking the toys away from him permanently but he sings a very sad little song calling to them as he searches for them. :/