I worked in the basement.
I got the thing moved.

Three more things and two pots out plus some small trash and recycling.

Heading over to the tally thread.

Good afternoon!

Hi Messi! What subject(s) do you tutor?

I have not cleaned up the Halloween decorations yet because I realized I can't get to the bins because I put a thing on them. In keeping with the "everything that does not have a place must go on the left side of the basement" plan, the thing has to move there (or leave, but I can't choose leave. So I have been trying to clear a space for it. So far I have found ten small things to get rid of (four were Halloween decorations I didn't use this year). A couple of items have been relocated to an appropriate place, and others have just been stuffed in other locations on that side of the basement where they will be a problem for another day. Thinking about what Dd just went through has motivated me a little, but clearly not enough.

Also this morning I have run two loads of laundry and made myself an eye appointment - not exactly a rock star level of accomplishment. One foot in front of the other...

Good morning! a quick note. I am having trouble getting to posting, but you all have been busy! and the season marches on. I was surprised by the snow yesterday and it slowed things down. I was hoping for a little more clear weather for outside and weatherizing work.

SubC - i was sorry your Dd had house issues and glad that you were able to harbor them. It's great that everyone pitched in and you even managed some organizing! I hope Buddy is feeling better. I hope today's tasks go well.

Lila - Great work with the refrigerator. I hope to do some of that today. I'll be taking encouragement from your cleaning work and your creativity with food. I feel for you missing your dog. They are such loving additions to our lives.

It's Monday my day off so I of course plan too much to do, but lots of phone calls, some tutoring with a friend's granddaughter, I am starting with laundry and dog walking. Have great days!

Good morning.

My Dd is a force of nature and the kids went back to their house last night. They were able to turn the heat back on just in time because it froze last night and we have snow.

Unfortunately buddy came down with the stomach flu Saturday night.

Yesterday Dd went back to their house to finish making it habitable (they had a drywall guy and professional cleaners Saturday) it was cold and rainy all day. Dsil took care of buddy who couldn't keep food down or sleep- multiple baths and loads of laundry required, Dh cleaned the house! And made dinner! And I got the best job and spent my day in the basement playroom isolating with Bean!

We played puppets and felt board and Lego. His puppet story was the owl puppets had a nest and the nest blew out of the tree and the grandparent owls were babysitting while the parent owls made a new nest for the baby owls.

I sorted through an entire large Lego big - putting the basic bricks, wheels, and people into smaller containers so that hopefully the boys will be able to find parts to build the things they want to make. I also made a house on command and Bean built a truck with a trailer and a whole back story about the fire and rescue guy who lived in the house near the beach. Multiple structures were created, caught fire, put out, leveled and rebuilt. People were rescued from burning boats by helicopter, and at one point there was a forest fire (I made a tray of trees too.)

I found a few felt pieces that need to be thrown out, and a few plastic toys that are not Lego mixed in. Today I do not have the boys. My plan is to put away all the Halloween stuff and laundry, finish cleaning up the playroom (Bean was whisked home by surprise right after dinner),sketch out the rest of my year, do a general plan for the rest of November, and really get everything together for this week. I also need to clean off the counter of doom again. Dh put a lot of things there when he cleaned.

Yesterday really felt like a break and I feel energized!

Good morning!

Lila, I am sorry about your dog. So many hard pet experiences this year!

Good job on the freezer though! And on your house catching up. Your salad sounds yummy!

My house is a disaster. Buddy's family lives in a house where the garage is under the living room. This makes the living room very cold. On Thursday they had sprayed in insulation put in the ceiling of the garage. Somehow the installers managed to spray the insulation into their air return and the insulation got blown all over their house. It is fine and dusty and treated with flame retardant, so the kids could not be in the house at all and the grown ups need to take precautions, so they have all moved in with us. Dsil went back yesterday to wash some things and retrieve them. I took bean to school with me and Dd dropped buddy with a friend for the day.

Fortunately, the company agreed to cover all of the clean up costs (duct cleaning, furnace inspection, and professional cleaners) but they will be with us until it is done. Guess it's good that I stocked up on food!

Yesterday was the cross quarter, so we are now in the last part of the Solar year. 43 days to solstice with a focus on family, home, reflection, and gratitude. I didn't have five minutes to sit and think or plan yesterday, but I've got plenty of family!

Today bean is going to a work project at church with dsil and buddy has a play date. I need to go to the feed store, catch up on laundry, and make pigs for my holiday sale. Dh and I have a concert tonight, so the kids are on their own.

post 2 -

I got my laundry in. I was looking for a recipe to use my beets in a salad and it called for feta. I have a vague memory of freezing some cheese awhile ago so I decided to look.

The top shelf has been sorted before, but the bottom has been a year. I pulled everything out and found a LOT of leftovers that are still good that I forgot about: homemade tomato soup, a few slices of cranberry bread, half a bag of rhodes rolls. I did throw out a few things that were too old.

I have the rolls thawing so I can bake them tonight.
I reheated the corn fritters in the toaster oven, ate two, and decided they were too freezer burned to enjoy. Tossed them.
I put the soup in the fridge to thaw for lunches.

Then I found a raw beef bone in a baggie way in the back. With my dogs, I used to buy them, give them one frozen, and then it starts to get smaller I would re-freeze them in the bag to give another time. There were two, partially chewed bones in the back. There was soe hair stuck to them. It from from the beloved dog who passed away this spring.

It really hurt my heart. I started looking at the leftovers and thinking, the freezer is a time capsule. I remember cooking this, and that. I remember buying this. I have memories of processing the fruit last summer. All of that.

So, I am feeling a bit melancholy. When I put those bones in there, I never could have imagined that when I got them back out, he would be dead. He was only 4.

Hello!

messi, how scary about the fire!!! That would shake me too. How are you doing today?

SubC, your excavating is a good idea! I may try that on some areas, like the medicine cabinet. The mini trampoline will be good! The kids will enjoy it, and rebounding is very good for your health. Even a few minutes a day.

hi Tatoulia!

I worked a few ten hour days this week and got really wiped out! But today I have off, and am well rested, sleeping better, getting stuff done around the house. I have to work tomorrow.

So far I:
- took out the kitchen and bathroom trash
- sorted out one cucumber that was molding and some junk mail and took those out
- got out the leaf lettuce and soaked/washed it.
- washed the beets and they are in a pot boiling
- loaded the dishwasher
- went outside in the nice sunshine and picked up branches in the front yard and put them in the green bin

I also read for awhile and am relaxing. I am slightly annoyed that I took my laundry down to start it and Totsfam has loads started in the washer and dryer. They know my days to do wash are ALWAYS Friday and then if needed Saturday. I have asked them to do their wash on any other day of the week, or after I do my two loads Friday morning. Well, I need to give them grace because they have a new baby and they are trying to clean up downstairs. I am about to go down and see if I can get my wash started.

I will be enjoying a beet, pomegranate, leaf lettuce salad and probably adding some nuts and maybe half an orange.

I also plan to work on my bedroom and my supplements/meds today.

See ya later!

Good morning!

Messi, that is very scary. I'm glad the people were ok. Was the home badly damaged? It sounds like it. I hope they have somewhere to go.

Good job taking things to goodwill! And it sounds like you are making progress on fixing up your home.

I took the loom and yarn yesterday. Full day teaching, loaded the kiln, prepped some pots for today's class, and had dinner with dd1, heartdaughter, and her wife. It was fun, but it was a long day!

Today I have my class, then I am going swimming and doing the big grocery shop. No thrifting for me today. I still have not finished the ornaments I need to make for my sale in just over two weeks, and anything not drying by Sunday will not be ready. Sunday is pushing it. So hopefully I will find some motivation when I get home with the groceries!

Ay yi yi yi yi! It is late again.

Hello everyone. I was going to message last night, late again, let the dog out, went to let the dog back in and found the house across my small street was on fire. Very frightening. 7 fire trucks and numerous other safety vehicles. The woman and her two small children who live in the upstairs of the burning house made it out, the lower tenant was not home. He came back home from work at 2:30 am to find his home burned. Fire and safety personnel did not leave til after 3:00 am. I didn't go to bed til 4:00 am. This event has really shaken me today. I managed to go to work, walked dogs and got to the store but nothing else. I am whupped.

Monday I did manage to get glass in the window, mowed the lawn, worked on a downspout, did some laundry, took a bag and box to goodwill and dropped a humidifier off to a friend. Yay for a beautiful off-work day!

I decided to delay the big grocery shop until Thursday because the regular specials switch on Wednesdays and I don't need any more of those. The stock up deals are good until the 11th.

I dropped off a package, dropped my trash, went to my doctors appointment, finally finished the last steps in my sign up at the fitness center, and swam half a mile. Then I decided I deserved a reward and went to the giant thrift store near the fitness center.

I am now the happy owner of a mini trampoline, three smock shirts for school (three in, one out) a door hook and a shelf divider (I know exactly where both are going) and a gift for Buddy I think he will love. It's a quacking push duck. All told $21.28 after tax. One of the shirts was $3.79, but I really liked it. The trampoline was 7.50.

Voted on the way home and have now had a nice long break and need to get off my bum.

Good morning!

Messi, I'm sorry about your friend's husband.

Lila, I hate it when my neighbors burn garbage. It ruins the whole day. I hope you are getting more sleep.

Tatoulia, that was sweet about the coffee cake.

I have been working on pulling the things I am NOT moving out to the surface. If I have cupboards and closets and shelves with things piled in front of them, and I am not moving the things around to get at what is behind them, I need to excavate the behind thing and either be happy to have found it and give it a more accessible place, or realize that it's only function was to make my house smaller and get rid of it.

I had a very good thrifting trip! I found 5 nearly full jars of pottery glaze someone had donated. They were marked $1 each. It was senior day, so they cost me 75 cents each. They are good basic colors and would have cost me $15 a jar new! Since they are consumable, that is not an in. I also found a great lampshade to take apart and use to make my mushroom shade for my lamp ($1, also not calling a separate item) and a small, sturdy, attractive cedar and metal shelf. I am going to call the shelf in for now, but one of the little pressboard shelves will be leaving as soon as I move some stuff around, so there will be an out to balance it.

Dd1's friend joined us and we had a great time. The girls got a bunch of stuff and I was able to use my discount for them. Dd found a nice shelf for her bedroom (she's trying to replace her first apartment ikea furniture with grownup stuff) a ton of cards (which she actually uses) clothes for her and her Dh, Christmas gifts, and some camping chairs. Her friend got clothes and toys for her toddler.

Today I have a doctor appointment and voting. I also want to do a big grocery shop (my store has a bunch of discounts on nonperishable we use regularly) some clay work, and prep for tomorrow.

I better get moving!

Lila - I hope you got some rest. Trouble sleeping is so miserable and makes everything else so difficult.

Tatoulia - Thank you for voting!

SubC - hope you had a good brunch visit and fun and successful thrifting.

Yesterday was spent attending and helping out with a memorial for my good friend's husband. Bittersweet. I've distributed the leftover food and flowers.

Today I hope to get to the mowing and window-fixing I didn't get to last week. Also decluttering the fridge and dropping off composting. Also non-visiting phone calls...

aww, Tatoulia, you are so sweet with the coffee cake for the vet. How nice of you. Their jobs can be hard sometimes, and you are such a compassionate person. Prayers for peace for you. I am sorry for your loss.

SubC, I love the volunteer/food share thing! What a cool idea. I used to go to the food bank often. You don't have to do anything to get the food, just wait in line. But I got so much "junk" food there that I stopped going. If I get desperate enough I would go and ask if I can just have fresh produce.

I barely slept the last 2 nights and cannot figure out why. Last night I might have slept 2 hours total, split up. I felt like I had had caffeine in the evening but I did not. So the result is today I am really dragging.

I put in a load of laundry while TotsFam is out doing stuff. I did a few dishes and made myself lunch.

I am kinda mad that the air outside is super smokey smelling. Irritatingly so. Why it is making me mad is that it is GORGEOUS out, sunny, fall colors, really a beautiful day. We are on the edge of the weather turning cold and grey for months. I was hoping to go out, walk the dog or work in the yard etc but the smokey air is so bad, I can't even crack the windows. Bah. I wonder who is burning stuff, because the sky is clear and blue.

I want to work on my bedroom but am SO tired, and I want to take a nap but I think my brain is racing too much! So I am watching tv and thinking about what to cook for dinner.

I took my ballot to the library, I took a coffee cake to the emergency vet center, I did some grocery shopping, I made myself lunch. I'm now going to go to BF's former business to pick up packages. New owners still let me get my things delivered there.

Messi, thank you for your comforting words. Means a lot to me. SubC, your support lifts me up. Thank you.

SubC, the loom reminds me a little bit about something that Tillie taught me and that has stayed with me. If you have to move something to access the things you want you need to get rid of that thing you keep moving. So if I have to move a coffee cup to reach something else in the cupboard, then that means I need to get rid of that thing. Its sole purpose, no matter how purposeful it was in the past, is to be moved around by me. I've found that helps me when I'm trying to figure out what to get rid of.

I have to go run a few errands. I might cry during them but that's okay. I cried in the laundromat last night and came home with kitty's blankets nice and clean. Will see how many I actually need now that I have one cat. I might wait until the washer is replaced before making any decisions so that I have a better feel as to how many I need. My people towel count is holding steady at four for me and one for any guest who sleeps over.

Keep up the good work. I'll be back to report on my progress today.

Good morning!

Tatoulia, I'm glad you found someone compassionate and kind to walk you and your kitty through the end of her journey.

Yes, the loom is a difficult decision. But it was not exactly the right loom, and it takes up a lot of space. I emptied the closet it was in into a work space where I have to weave around all of the things several days a week. As I have been working on the playroom I have told myself that anything that does not have a place has to go in the part of the basement where I have my actual desk (which I use as storage/temporary work surface, not as a desk, but it is currently completely buried) some large bookshelves, my storage racks (which are full) and a bunch of other things.

As I try to move around in there to reach things I need, I encounter these "homeless" items over and over. It is slowly creating patterns of emotional response. I look at the thing and tell myself either "I really should get rid of this because." or "I really need to find a place for this because.."

My dd1 is helping me because she and her Dh are currently undertaking a thorough purge of their home to reflect "the life we have now, not the imaginary life we think we want to live someday" the loom was part of the imaginary life I think I want to live some day. Realistically, I did not see myself making time and space to learn to weave before Buddy starts kindergarten. Buddy starts kindergarten in fall of 2030.

Lila, your vegetable adventures remind me of when I was a young mom. We had a program where if you worked as a volunteer in an approved role in your community ten hours a week, you could buy a "share" of groceries at a deeply discounted price. One "share" was supposed to be enough to feed an adult for a month, but as we all know, most fresh fruits and veggies don't keep for a month, and donated/cheaply purchased food is rarely at peak freshness.

So every month I would get my hours validated and order my share of groceries. There was always meat - usually a big package of less desirable cuts, or a big fatty roast of something. other times it might be a small ham or a whole chicken. And there were frequently multiple packages a bread and pastries, sugared cereal, desserts and bags of snack food. Plus fresh and canned fruit and vegetables, pasta, rice or legumes, cheese, and soups. It was generally three full paper bags and a big plastic bag.

I tried really hard to make use of everything, but often ended up giving things away. Then one day I discovered that there was an unofficial barter zone in the parking lot next door! I could pick up my bags, take them over to the lot, and trade with other customers. And most people wanted the things I didn't want and were looking to trade away the things I wanted! Sometimes I felt guilty about the effect I was having on other people's nutrition, but not enough to keep me from happily swapping my processed food and the meat I was unlikely to use for their fruit, vegetables, lentils, rice, and uncut whole grain breads. Like the meat I didn't want, it wasn't going to do them any good if they weren't going to cook and eat it.

Then I would come home with 4-6 paper bags and half a big plastic bag and spend the rest of the day turning my loot into food that would keep in the fridge or freezer until the next month.

Hi Messi!

This morning I have brunch at the pottery studio and then thrifting with dd1. We are looking for Christmas gifts and a big flannel shirt for me. (I have one I need to replace)

Besides that I am going to try to do my list of things not being worse tomorrow plus a couple of "better"s

Tatoulia - I have been catching up just now this evening. My thoughts are with you. Thank you for the time you've spent with your cat these years and your compassion in finding her rest. I'm sorry for the struggle and separation you're dealing with right now. Holy cow, hand surgery and throwing up and losing a cat friend. Glad you could talk to your BF. Wishing you healing and comfort.

Wonderful choice on the loom and yarn. I can only,y imagine how hard that was, SubC. Well done.

I ended up leaving the unliked vet's office and taking the kitty to a nicer place. I'd forgotten how loathesome that vet is so I left with the kitty. We ended up at a place with great compassion.
Thank you all

The bag of produce sounds lovely, dear Lila.

Tatoulia, I am sorry you are struggling. And am praying for you as you lose your dear kitty. I hope she is at peace now.

SubC, I sure hope you don't get sick, and that the littles are well soon.

hi Messi, wherever you are, and the anonymous new person, did they come back?

I have today off. I was given 2 bags of produce yesterday! So today so far I

- sorted the wax beans and they are soaking in salt water in the sink - will cook for lunch
- sorted and cut up the broccoli, tossed it with avocado oil, salt, pepper, and garlic and put it in the oven to roast
- cut up an orange pepper which is roasting with the broccoli, plus one bulb of garlic

I also will sort some of the lettuce and make myself a salad.

I talked with a friend on the phone for awhile, did some reading, and washed a few dishes, but not much else yet today. I am tired!!

Tatoulia, I've been thinking of you today.

Dh was working on the electric train in the basement this morning, so I ended up down there sorting through yarn. I am taking a loom I have accepted I will never use and some bags of yarn to the new art teacher at school. She agreed to drive them to a charity arts thrift shop we both like because she lives in the city and it is too much for me to make a donation appointment, find and pay for parking, carry everything to the shop, and be on time. Plus, it would cost me at least 2 hours of my day, plus $10 gas and parking, and I might shop. She has some of her own things to take.

I did just eat lunch and turn on the heat in my studio (should have done that in the other order) so I will go out to make things soon.

Good morning, all!

Thank you, SubC! I have an appointment at 10 and I'll leave here around 930. I think the walk is under a mile.

Sorry to hear about the dreaded stomach bug and I'm sorry little Bean has it! Poor little fella.

Glad to hear your costume was a hit! There's someone in my office who is the happiest person I know. I adore him. If I had to guess he's in his 20s. He's a good worker and is a positive force. Yesterday he came to work in a very happy costume and wore it all day. He could have easily taken it off but he didn't think twice. He was the only one in costume. He made me so happy.

I will take all cat blankets to the laundromat today and then I'll see how many I need and which ones can go to the shelter. I'll tackle the donations tomorrow.

Meanwhile I'm enjoying a cup of coffee with my little baby cat. BF and I spent some time on the phone last night and then again this AM. We told some good stories about my dear little grandma cat.

I couldn't get the vet I wanted and in fact got the vet I don't want but I cannit have the cat suffer over the weekend.

A little scattered. Going to go pack some Kleenex in my purse.

Good morning!

Happy all souls day CM, wherever you are.

Tatoulia, I am so sorry about your cat. You know I understand. You gave her such a gift, taking her at the end when you knew her time would be short and making it a good life.

The throwing up is going around my school. I have dodged it so far, but poor little Bean woke up sick yesterday and didn't get to go trick or treating. They didn't take Buddy out either. Dh has also banned the boys from coming over today.

I'm sorry that you are feeling so poorly. It makes everything else harder. And I know you miss your BF.

Lila, it's funny, cooking for me is harder than cleaning up. Not that cleaning up is easy...

I did not clear the counter of doom yesterday. I also did not finish the "tomorrow not being worse/harder than today" list, but I did email the parent I needed to contact before I left school yesterday, so that is not hanging over my head. I hate having to contact parents.

This morning I have an unexpected "free" day, so I should be able to catch up and hopefully make some progress. I'm going to try focusing on creative work/pottery first. I have tendonitis in my thumb, so I don't know how much I can do. I also slept late and woke up with a migraine. On one hand I guess it's good the boys aren't coming, but otoh, I am sad about that, and I know I would rally and find the energy to enjoy them if they did.

My Druid costume was a hit at school yesterday.

I'm struggling these days. With everything.

Messi, as indicated by Subc, I live in Boston. Right in the city. And we have textile recycling. I agree with Subc that we need to reduce what we buy. I'm not a fan of new things and can tell you that other than couches and mattresses, everything else in my apartment was owned by someone else first. Well, my dresser is from my childhood but I think that counts. The sneakers I couldn't in good conscience donate since they were too slippery. And the company, upon refunding my money, asked me to recycle and not donate. I think they know they have a problem in their hands with those particular sneakers. I got some very good ones at LLBean that should be able to serve me well for many years. So you know, the pair that I couldn't wear is by Vessi. Never again but I do applaud their customer service.

I am struggling. My hand surgery and I have been throwing up and I'm being overly sensitive about stuff and I realized tonight that I need to put my 19 yo cat to sleep. I'm praying her vet is available tomorrow. We've had a good almost three years together. I adopted her at age 16. The shelter said she was an old looking 12 but I found her past medical and adoption records and she was 16. We've had a really good time together but it's time. She's still feisty and affectionate but her kidney failure is getting worse and now her pooping issues have escalated in the last three days. It's time. I'm very sad. But praying that they can help her tmr.

Everyone I am struggling in a lot of ways. Thank you for letting me stop by even though I'm not my usual engaged self. I miss my sweetheart (Messi, long story short: my sweetheart of two decades moved overseas for work in 2023. It was a joint decision but still painful. ). I will see him in a month's time when we meet overseas. But I wish he were here to help me with the kittycat. Thank you for being here for me

SubC, you are creating new and better habits for sure! My counter of doom has not been cleared in months. My bedroom is more of a priority right now but sheesh.

Today I made soup for the fam, plus a smaller pot for myself with Impossible meatballs in it instead of ground beef.

I also washed dishes, paid bills, did some good reading and am trying to decide what to do next. There is a lot to do and it gets overwhelming. But, I have a couple phone calls to make and then maybe I can work on something in the house.

With the food it is easier. You can see what foods need to be used, look up recipes, use them. Done.

With the bedroom and other spaces, it feels like it is never done. There is no completion point (well, maybe months/years in the future). I mean look, remember I JUST cleared off my desk a month or two ago, and now it is literally piled with stuff, unfindable things, plus stuff piled all around it on the floor so I can't find it. And I just this summer cleaned my master bathroom, but now it is a wreck again.

This is frustrating to me and I am not sure what to do with it although, maybe the answer is to just stop overthinking it and do what makes my life/space more liveable.

Good morning!

Happy Halloween!

Lila, nice job in the kitchen. And good for you keeping up with your clothes!

I have been very protective of my closet because it is so nice to have that one space that is orderly and not overwhelming!

Yesterday I did all the things I needed to do to keep today from being worse than yesterday, plus a few extra things.

The counter of doom has been completely clear at some point during the day everyday since Tuesday! And not just because I left it clear at night and then it was clear when I woke up but got cluttered. I have been actually decluttering it every 24 hours. I want to start working my way through Pugh the backlog in the bin.

Today is wear your Halloween costume to school day. I was still thinking about what to do, and the tech guy, who also runs a D&D group, told me he is going to be a Druid and I should also be a Druid. So I put my costume together last night. I am actually excited about it. I also realized that this is the first time this school year that I have been excited about the next school day, which is not so good. But it is a start.

Bean and Buddy are going trick or treating with friends tonight, but I will make an effort to see them at school.

wow, progress AND struggle. I think it is a good thing that all of us are still trying and working and making progress here and there IN the struggle and hard things.

Today is my day off because I have an event tomorrow. So far I:
- put in a load of laundry
- unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher
- hand washed some things

I also am proud of myself for fixing a cluttery space in my kitchen. I have a shelf in a cabinet that was a jumble or who knows what, hard to find anything, stuff always falling out on you, some of it remaining on the counter below it. This morning I took everything out of that shelf, threw away probably 8 -10 old expired things, consolidated a couple things, wiped out the shelf and put everything back neatly PLUS the stuff that was on the counter. It is so much better and I know what is there and can find things!

I also folded or hung and put away the few clean clothes that I had habitually tossed on a couple of chairs in my bedroom. Now it is all put away again. Trying to keep the new habit of having my clothing put away. It is much easier now with actual space and hangers ready!

I want to work on my bedroom today as well. It is pretty cluttered.

Good morning. Yes, rain, rain, rain. So no lawn mowing, lol, and probably no window. But laundry, dishes...
SubC, sorry your event got cancelled. After work I have another concert to attend this evening, so looking forward to seeing friends.
For now, on to walking dogs...

Good morning!

Messi, it is good to live your life as well. And driving around to see lights adds no things to your home.

It is raining here. Raining and raining and raining, and I feel like hibernating, but I have too many things on my schedule. I am really not feeling like going to my class today. But I am demonstrating, so..

I really need to work on not spending time on the internet. Last night I read "news" stories (mostly arts and events) for an hour. This is not good for me. (Also not good for me - real news!)

I had plans for this evening I was looking forward to, but they got cancelled.

Just going to try to make one better decision at a time today.

Well, fixing the window and mowing the lawn went by the wayside this evening. I did not get them done because I took my friend's boys driving around to see Halloween lights and displays. Their dad was not able to take them, their mom was working. O my gosh, so many skeletons! One display had over 100 skeletons attending a baseball game. Not quite as many lights and displays as Christmas, but maybe more interesting. My consolation prize was I fixed one of the leaks I created the other day.