Top Sheets, Plastic Bags and Other Unnecessary Stuff

1/19/2017

Today is logical Friday because Jeff has tomorrow off.  I know that you're thinking it must be hard to keep track of all of these "special" days, but remember that my brain generally works illogically!

I did some math and realize that over the course of 42 years of marriage, I have made the bed approximately over 15,000 times.  That's a lot of bed making.  I could probably get a career in the hotel industry!

Recently, I washed the top sheet to our bed and after it was dry, didn't put it back on the bed.  I can't speak for Jeff, but I don't miss it.  It always seems like we spend a lot of time wrestling with the top sheet.  It pulls out from the bottom and gets all tangled up.  Blankets and bedspreads seem to stay in place.  Maybe because they're heavier?   For the moment, I'm leaving the sheet off.  We have a duvet that will have to be put on our bed, if really cold weather ever comes.  For now, it's hard to be cold when there are three dogs vying for the best spot on the bed.  More nights than not, I fall asleep to Bella on my feet.  She feels like a 10 pound bag of potatoes!

The other thing that makes little or no sense is plastic bags.  You get them when you shop, unless you're really green and bring a bag of your own.  Why do we save these plastic bags?  I have bags tucked (i.e., stuffed) in the basement in a box.  I have never actually used any of these bags, yet I don't throw them out.  This is really stupid.  I think you should keep some bags, but keeping them all doesn't make sense.  And yet we continue to hoard plastic bags.  I don't think of myself as a hoarder, but more of a keeper!

And I keep plastic and glass jars when they are empty.  Again, keeping some jars or bottles makes sense.  Keeping them all is nonsense!  Certain plastic containers emit a smell even after being washed.  And maybe that's because they weren't really intended to be reused.  What I should do is take stock of my jars and bottles, and keep some, but not all of them.

Plastic bottles of water.  I think we should obviously keep some, because drinking water is now officially a thing.  Growing up, we didn't drink water like we do today.  But, how many bottles of water in the refrigerator is too many?  I save the empty bottles, or at least some of them to refill.  The water in our house tastes (I don't think that's the right word) good.  When we were in the Bahamas, good drinking water was at a premium.  If you wanted a bottle of water, because the water in the hotel room was so awful, you paid dearly.

I have a random assortment of plastic boxes and bowls for leftovers or for carrying lunch.  That sounds great all right, but I seldom can actually find the right lid to fit the right bowl.  I tried a numbering system once, where I wrote on the bottom of the container a number and assigned that same number to the lid.  Sounds fabulous I know.  Trouble is that eventually the numbers begin to fade and I'm left with going on a scavenger hunt to get tops and bottoms together.

I keep hotel soaps and shampoos.  I actually don't believe you can have too many of these, because they do come in handy when traveling.  Jeff and I don't do a lot of traveling, but when we do, I open the drawer and voila I have products that I can pack.  I know that there probably isn't a hotel anywhere, that now doesn't offer their guests soap and shampoo, but I still keep these products just in case.  In case of what?  I don't have the answer to that question, just believe that I need to save them!  Again, not a hoarder, just a keeper.

Have a great Thursday or Friday.

P




 

Now It's Really Wednesday

1/18/2017

It's Wednesday and I know this because it's also recycling day.  Gone are the days when you put all your trash in a trash can.  Now you have to separate paper/boxes from glass and plastic. Good for the environment I know.

Last night was book club.  I read, more or less, the book.  It was about Germany and the Holocaust and for me wasn't an easy book to read, nor was it enjoyable.  When I buy or borrow a book, they are generally easy to read books and I don't have to worry about what the plot was/is.  I don't retain things the way I used to, so at last night's discussion, brought very little to the table.  But, after we'd finished mostly our book discussion, then the evening became quite fun.  We entertained each other with stories and it's always good to end an evening with a laugh.

This morning it's beautiful outside.  Nice and sunny and probably could get away with opening up a window or two this afternoon.  The backyard is still muddy and I have evidence of that on my kitchen floor.  I have no grass now in the yard and they have done a wonderful job of "trimming" my ornamental grass!

I'm trying to learn how to transfer ebooks from the library onto my Kindle.  Since I'm having trouble, I'm off to the library this morning for help.  I know better than to go to the library during the weekend, when the library is at it's busiest.  That's also why I don't go shopping on the weekends,  just too many people.

I'm watching the HBO show "The Young Pope" and Jude Law is doing a great job of portraying a Pope.  Just not a traditional Pope, but one that is from America (which is okay), but is arrogant and moody.  Not sure yet whether I'm going to stick with the show.  Guess I'll have to watch another episode or two to see if the story line improves.

Stacey (DIL) is joining the march on Washington on Saturday.  I applaud her as well as all the other females that will participate.  I hope is that the weather is good, i.e., not raining, on Saturday.  Rain seems to soak right into your body.  And, I suppose wearing clothes in layers makes sense.  I wish her the best.

Nothing else new on the home front.  I have some frozen spaghetti sauce that I'm going to thaw and make spaghetti tonight.  Jeff has Friday off, so I don't have to worry so much about what to make for dinner on Thursday.  Basically, my options are: hamburger, pork, fish and chicken.  And, truthfully I get bored making the same old thing time after time.  But to his credit, Jeff never complains about what I make.  I do the complaining to myself when I can't think of some new dish to try.

Have a beautiful day.

P




 

Logical Monday

1/17/2017

I know the calendar says it's Tuesday, but somehow in my mind, it's Monday.  Jeff had yesterday off, so he had an extra day to rest.  Notice I say rest, because somewhere around 7:00 in the morning, the puppies internal alarm goes off.  Once they are awake, all bets are off as to how long you can actually keep sleeping.  I appreciate that for the past three days, Jeff has taken the on the early morning business of feeding the dogs.

The weather is dreary today.  It looks like a winter day and I suppose that's natural considering that it is in fact winter.  And, so far we haven't had much of a winter, if you consider that we've only had a dusting of snow so far.  I am well aware that our weather can and often does turn on a dime.

Tonight is my book club and I feel very unprepared to discuss the book.  The book was good, but after reading the questions for tonight's discussion, I am feeling inadequate to say the least.  I'm going for the company of the women as well as a glass of wine.  

Jeff processed a lot of paper yesterday in his office.  My task?  Find an appropriate home for said paper.  After years of holding onto paid utility bills, etc., we have come to the conclusion that doing so isn't really necessary.  I mean do you think you'll have a need to look at your electric bill from three years ago?  The answer is no.  I still have folders for cars we once owned and why I keep them is anybody's guess.  It's not like the cars are going to be returned to us.  

It does take time to purge file folders.  My folder for the car insurance folder is bursting at the seams.  I should toss out the old policy when a new one arrives.  And yet I don't.  Could be that I'm just lazy, or I don't really see the benefit of being that efficient.

Because of the time we live in, anything and everything with our name on it, has to be shredded.  So when I do get around to cleaning out file folders, then I will have a super large shred pile.  When Jeff and I got married, which was eons ago, I promised to take care of the paper.  But, in 1974, the paper that we generated was small potatoes to what is generated now.  And back then, when your mail came and/or you paid a bill, you simply tossed it into the garbage.  Identity theft wasn't a thing back in the 70's.  

In the beginning of identity theft, the criminals not only took your identity, but your life as well.  Criminals started using telephones to glean personal, financial information from a victim.  With the promise of a cash prize, a trip or anything else that sounded too good to be true, was just that.  The criminals managed to get people to tell them all about themselves, giving out valuable information such as social security numbers and bank account information.

Then picking through a person's trash was another way for criminals to find bank and credit card statements.  During the 80's, most people didn't give a thought to what they were throwing away.  And, then the paper shredder came into play.

Finally, we have computer fraud.  Apparently, 62% of identity frauds occur through email.  I have learned over the years, that when I get an email from someone I don't know, to be wary.  Those kind of emails I forward to Jeff to handle.  Most of the time they are nothing more than a scam.  If you open up the emails, you stand a good chance of a virus gloaming onto your computer.  This is not good.

Make it a habit going forward to pay careful attention to the mail you casually toss into the trash.  You know what they say "one man's trash is another man's treasure"!

P

Sunny Sunday

1/15/2016

After yesterday's horribly gray and gloomy weather, today it's all about sunshine.  It's still cold, but a bit warmer than yesterday.

Jeff left early this morning to meet with the men who lease our plane and pay their share of all expenses.  Today's work is to change the oil in the plane first and foremost and who knows what kind of nonsense they'll get into after that.

Jeff will do the Costco/WalMart run after he's done with the plane.  Me?  I'm baby "dog" sitting and perhaps finish up the laundry, which is boring always.  Since Jeff has tomorrow off, I'm not in my usual frenzy about trying to think up something to cook for dinner.  But, that will be my dilemma tomorrow evening!

I only have a few days left to finish reading the book before Tuesday's night gathering to discuss said book.  Normally, I can run through a book quickly, so I don't know what's causing me to drag my feet.  Is it because it feels somewhat like homework?  The book is a good read, so I don't understand what's taking me so long.

Scott came by yesterday after being at a client's house.  He can chat with Jeff while enjoying scrambled eggs prepared wonderfully by Jeff.  Other than fixing an egg for dinner last night, I don't very often make eggs.  After you've eaten Jeff's eggs, everything else pales in comparison.

Jeff and I have been watching the television show "24" on Amazon.  I know it's an old show, but we didn't watch it when it was on TV.  Now where there is a lull in shows to watch, or a difference in what shows to watch, we tune into Amazon.  Long gone is the time where you had only network channels and very few of those to watch.  And without the help of a Tivo, you still have to sit through commercials! 

I've set the Tivo for Friday's inauguration.  Once it's recorded, I can fast forward through the proceedings when and if I want.  

Have a great Sunday and for most of you a wonderful day off tomorrow.

P 

Gloomy and Glum

1/14/2017

It's a dark, wet day outside.  I need sunshine to help me battle my depression in winter.  I saw my psychiatrist yesterday, and she has increased one of my medications.  I sit at my computer with my "SAD" light on, which helps some.

After Jeff got home last night, I told him that my depression was, at the moment, winning.  I am bereft at the thought/possibility that I will suffer from this unseen disease until the end of my days.  I do have some good days, but don't have any great ones.  At times, it feels as if I'm on an escalator going down and down.  And, depression isn't one of those "pull yourself up by your boot straps" or "just be happy" kind of thing.  No, it's more like a soaking wet wool blanket pulled up and over your body.  The weight of it at times is very hard to bear and it's a burden that I didn't ask for and don't want.  But, it's here and settled in apparently for the long haul.  I, at least, get dressed every day.  I don't sit around in sweat pants, which is such a lovely look on everyone!

I joined a book club a few months ago with my friend Auntie Kim.  Yesterday, I told my psychiatrist that I wanted to drop out of the club, because I couldn't remember what I'd read, i.e., have nothing to lend to the book's discussion.  She has encouraged (okay maybe almost insisted) that I continue to go if for no other reason than to have wine and nibbles.  I know she's right, but it doesn't seem fair to the other members of the club if I can't/don't lend anything to the discussion.

I have been rearranging my cupboards to put the super heavy dishes and pans on the bottom of the cupboards.  The upper shelf, which can't hold a lot of weight, now holds plastic lids and boxes.  Of course, good luck in finding the right box and lid at the same time!

It's not particularly cold outside, and I haven't turned the furnace on and likely won't for the next couple of days as the temperature is going to warm up.  Perhaps even in the 60's!

Have a great Saturday.

P

 

It's Friday!!

1/13/2017

Not only is it Friday, but it's also "Friday the 13th", which for years has given rise to suspicions that on this particular day, you may have bad luck.  I know that's not true, because Jeff and I have had bad luck, such as not having any winning numbers on a lottery ticket!  We try and parse out our bad, or not quite so good, luck throughout the year.  Why wait around and have the world come crashing down on you, on one specific day?

This morning, I'm going to have my head "shrunk" by my psychiatrist.  I only see her monthly now, so that's good progress.  Will I need her forever?  Odds are I will.  Depression and anxiety for some people are not things that just magically go away and never return.  It's hard to say when I had my first bout of depression, but I know it was many years ago.  Depression can either (a) stick around indefinitely; or (b) just when I think I'm "out of the woods" (so to speak), and feeling good, the darkness descends once again.  And, please don't tell me to pull myself up by my boot straps.

Today is a bright sunny day and when Jeff comes home tonight, he'll have a three day weekend.  When he has three days off, it gives him much more time for relaxation, which he badly needs.  And, on a purely selfish note, I have someone to help me wrangle the girls during the day.  (Smiley face here)!!

I made and Jeff finished making gumbo last night.  We like spicy food and the gumbo certainly delivered.  Jeff does a couple of things really well, and that is: scrambled eggs, soups and stews.  I'm not suggesting that he's not good at other things.  I started the gumbo but when Jeff go home, he turned the gumbo into something spicy that tasted great.  I made a double batch, so today I'll take some out of the pan, and put in a container to freeze for later on.

Even when a dish is good, after so many times eating it, it's no longer as delicious as it once was.  Reminds of turkey after Thanksgiving.  How many times and ways can you eat leftover turkey before you want to bite into a juicy steak?

No plans for the weekend.  I think we're going to have some kind of weather event tomorrow.  Today the high is supposed to be in the 40's, turning cold tomorrow and then by Tuesday back in the 50's.  Sweater?  No sweater?  I have no idea how to dress right now.  Last night we slept with both bedroom windows open, because we like our bedroom to be cool/cold.  Unless there's a blizzard outside that would blow snow into the bedroom, one window is open all year by an inch or so.  We try to keep the blinds down low enough so that the girls can't peek outside and find things to bark about - i.e., like a leaf blowing in the wind!

There are times during the day, when I think we've turned a corner with the girls and that they're maturing.  And, then I go into the den and find something like pillow stuffing all over the floor.  Everything, and I mean that literally, is fair game.  Socks, shoes, tissues, paper plates, you name it and they've destroyed it.  They are not chewing constantly now so the once weekly package of bones from Amazon has stopped.  The girls have so many bones and antlers in the den, that we could likely pass for a boneyard!

Happy Friday and for most of you happy three day weekend.

P





 

 

Staying Up Late, Waking Up Early!

1/12/2017

Each night, I dread going to bed.  I take my nighttime pills, which ultimately make me sleepy, but still I stay up.  I went to bed last night at midnight.  The girls woke me up at 7:00.  Actually, the girls didn't wake me up as much as the rattling of paper did.  They had found an envelope on a low shelf and were gearing up to tear it to pieces.  So now I'm up but not raring to go.  A nap sounds good now, and will sound even better this afternoon!

I watched the movie "The Reader" which came out in 2008.  It is a compelling story about a young boy (teens) who is seduced by an older woman.  The movie weaves around the aging of the young boy, who becomes a lawyer.  Many years pass but while in law school, his class sits in on a trial of the woman who seduced him.  The woman is charged with war crimes and was a Nazi guard at one of the concentration camps.  It is a highly compelling story and the ending, which I won't give away, wasn't what I was expecting. Kate Winslet plays the woman, and sat every day of filming for 7 1/2 hrs for make-up and prosthetic prep.

It's warm enough outside today, that I turned the furnace off.  It's supposed to be 64 today, 46 tomorrow and 32 on Saturday.  I don't know whether to put a sweater on, or take it off.  The backyard is still wet from rain and unfortunately, thanks to the girls, is also muddy.  The good news about that is I KNOW if they have gone outside.  Muddy paw prints give them away each time they come back in the house!

Jeff has a three day weekend coming up and I'm happy for him.  He gets an extra day to rest, relax and do what he wants (more or less)!  I don't know if he's supposed to work on the 20th but since he's not a Federal employee, it's likely that he is.

I'm planning on recording the inauguration on the Tivo.  If I record it, I can fast forward through any bits that are boring.

P