1/7/2018
Definitely cold outside. Even the girls go outside, do their business and are back inside the house in a flash. I feel the same way. Be outside just long enough to get something done and then scurry back inside. How do you know if your dog has gone outside in the winter? Easy - their fur is cold!
Jeff is counting down the days until Friday, which will be his last day of work. He starts for the new company on Monday I think. I know he's looking forward to having no daily commute. Even though I stay at home 99.9% of the time, I am dressed every day and make the bed as well. I believe that it's important to get out of pajamas, if only for a mental boost. And, in the mental area, I need all the help I can get! (insert smiley face here).
Before we go out to Andrew's house this afternoon, we're going to make a stop at WalMart to get essentials only for the next week. The girls and I will wait in the car (heat running of course). At the present outdoor temperature, we could even buy ice cream and it wouldn't thaw out this afternoon while sitting in the car. I am, while writing this, also writing down a grocery list of things to buy as I remember them.
Spa day at Stacey's house. Pedicures and facials. I don't know any woman who doesn't enjoy a pedicure. Most men just don't understand how good a pedicure makes you feel. Looking forward to feeling pampered a bit.
This coming week, my calendar is empty. However, the week of the 15th, I have three doctor appointments. Stacey and Benjamin are taking me to see my doctor on Friday for a pre-op visit and then we're going to Bob Evans for breakfast. Who doesn't love eating breakfast in the afternoon? I would love to order waffles, but after I add syrup, the waffles just become a sugar bomb.
I hope you're having a wonderful day and if it's cold where you are, stay inside!
P
Sunday, January 7, 2018
Saturday, January 6, 2018
Saturday
12/6/2018
Weather update, as if you needed one: COLD but thankfully not windy. The fireplace is on and will probably stay on, all day. Both of the dogs are curled up as close to the fireplace as possible. For me, after I've sat in the room for awhile, I think it's just too hot, and I need to step outside for a bit.
Sitting near my desk, are four packages that are being returned to Amazon. It's tricky getting the right size, color or something when you buy clothes as presents. I, have however, become a master at returning stuff. After Christmas, I kept all the boxes and padded envelopes just in case I had to return something. And, it's a good thing that I did. I abhor the thought of giving gift cards or cash to the family, but may in the future, have to resort to that. I've always thought that gift cards represented a "I can't find anything for you, so here's this". Mind you, when I receive a gift card to say Amazon or Ebay, I'm really quite happy. At this point in my life, I don't need a lot of stuff. Wendy bought me the self-threading needle, or something like that, which should make mending, which I probably should leave to the pros, easier!
Tomorrow, Stacey is having some kind of facial/pedicure party. Jeff and I will go out and take the girls. They can play in the backyard, but can come in when they become cold and/or tired. I like pedicures, but because of my particular ills and aches, cannot easily reach my toes, (sigh), so maybe I'll just watch the other women.
Jeff is doing the countdown to next Friday, which will be his last day working for the county. On Monday, the 15th he will become a contractor working for a contractor to IBM. Maybe that made sense, or not. Anyway, we'll be hanging up the lunch box, at least for now. Jeff will no longer have to commute and will get 2 hours a day that he now spends commuting back. He'll be less tired I'm sure, and the girls will enjoy his company and the extra attention - not that they need any!
A bit of laundry today. I keep a towel on the bedroom floor, in the same spot every night. I don't know which one of the dogs, maybe they both do, pee on the towel (doubled up). Each day, I simply pick up the used towel and put down another one. While that may sound silly, it is saving the carpet!
Jeff made a good dinner last night. We had bought a bag of roast beef, rice and some kind of veggie. He added more roast beef, chilies and sour cream. Yummy. You have to love those one pot "wonders".
I hope it's warm where you are. Our temperatures are supposed to rise later in the week.
P
Weather update, as if you needed one: COLD but thankfully not windy. The fireplace is on and will probably stay on, all day. Both of the dogs are curled up as close to the fireplace as possible. For me, after I've sat in the room for awhile, I think it's just too hot, and I need to step outside for a bit.
Sitting near my desk, are four packages that are being returned to Amazon. It's tricky getting the right size, color or something when you buy clothes as presents. I, have however, become a master at returning stuff. After Christmas, I kept all the boxes and padded envelopes just in case I had to return something. And, it's a good thing that I did. I abhor the thought of giving gift cards or cash to the family, but may in the future, have to resort to that. I've always thought that gift cards represented a "I can't find anything for you, so here's this". Mind you, when I receive a gift card to say Amazon or Ebay, I'm really quite happy. At this point in my life, I don't need a lot of stuff. Wendy bought me the self-threading needle, or something like that, which should make mending, which I probably should leave to the pros, easier!
Tomorrow, Stacey is having some kind of facial/pedicure party. Jeff and I will go out and take the girls. They can play in the backyard, but can come in when they become cold and/or tired. I like pedicures, but because of my particular ills and aches, cannot easily reach my toes, (sigh), so maybe I'll just watch the other women.
Jeff is doing the countdown to next Friday, which will be his last day working for the county. On Monday, the 15th he will become a contractor working for a contractor to IBM. Maybe that made sense, or not. Anyway, we'll be hanging up the lunch box, at least for now. Jeff will no longer have to commute and will get 2 hours a day that he now spends commuting back. He'll be less tired I'm sure, and the girls will enjoy his company and the extra attention - not that they need any!
A bit of laundry today. I keep a towel on the bedroom floor, in the same spot every night. I don't know which one of the dogs, maybe they both do, pee on the towel (doubled up). Each day, I simply pick up the used towel and put down another one. While that may sound silly, it is saving the carpet!
Jeff made a good dinner last night. We had bought a bag of roast beef, rice and some kind of veggie. He added more roast beef, chilies and sour cream. Yummy. You have to love those one pot "wonders".
I hope it's warm where you are. Our temperatures are supposed to rise later in the week.
P
Friday, January 5, 2018
Offically Cold
1/5/2018
Jeff believes that it's not really cold until we're in single digits. Okay, happy to report that earlier this morning, the temperature was 8 degrees, which means it's COLD. At this temperature, I'm glad I'm home so that the dogs don't have to spend their days either outside or in the basement. They may be a "bit" pampered!
Before going to bed last night, Jeff and I put the duvet inside the cover, making the bed toasty, and the girls seemed to like the fluffy feeling they/we get when the duvet is put back on the bed. During the warmer months, it's just too warm to have on the bed, especially when you have two dogs with you.
Moving slow this morning. Didn't sleep well, so got up shortly after Jeff left. Then I found a mind-numbing show, watched a bit, slept a bit. Now it's time to get dressed and start by day - and it's noon, so I should do this soon.
Jeff is counting down the days until he leaves his job. Next Friday will be his last day and then he will be done with the morning and evening commutes, and he'll be done with packing up his lunch.
This is really short today - sorry. Have a great Thursday.
P
Jeff believes that it's not really cold until we're in single digits. Okay, happy to report that earlier this morning, the temperature was 8 degrees, which means it's COLD. At this temperature, I'm glad I'm home so that the dogs don't have to spend their days either outside or in the basement. They may be a "bit" pampered!
Before going to bed last night, Jeff and I put the duvet inside the cover, making the bed toasty, and the girls seemed to like the fluffy feeling they/we get when the duvet is put back on the bed. During the warmer months, it's just too warm to have on the bed, especially when you have two dogs with you.
Moving slow this morning. Didn't sleep well, so got up shortly after Jeff left. Then I found a mind-numbing show, watched a bit, slept a bit. Now it's time to get dressed and start by day - and it's noon, so I should do this soon.
Jeff is counting down the days until he leaves his job. Next Friday will be his last day and then he will be done with the morning and evening commutes, and he'll be done with packing up his lunch.
This is really short today - sorry. Have a great Thursday.
P
Thursday, January 4, 2018
Snow
1/4/2018
Yeppers, there is snow on the ground this morning. Mind you, it's not a lot of snow and there's no need to shovel, but it's snow just the same. Jeff took my car to work today and said that his commute was slow and that there were many crazy drivers on the road. Shocker! Snow or ice brings out the worst of people back here, but I don't know why.
I was supposed to go to the dentist today, but because of the threat of snow, Jeff asked me to cancel, which I did. It was a good decision. I'm not always steady on my feet and if I was out using my walker, my fear and his, is that I might slip and fall down. I don't know how many falls I have in me, before I break something. (smiley face here)
Jeff made a most excellent beef stew last night. It's going to make a very good lunch today. When it's cold outside, there's nothing better than stew or homemade soup. Jeff does both of these dishes very well. For the most part, I don't do much cooking anymore. The major reason is my inability to stand or walk for more than a few minutes. Having to sit down every 5 minutes, makes dish preparation last longer than it should.
I don't think I mentioned that the fireplace man was out this week and he brought 2 helpers so that the three of them could more easily take our gas log and blower out. The initial visit a few months cost $300, and yesterday, obviously, cost us more money. Whatever. The fireplace was working just fine before a new gas valve was put in, but now we know it will continue to work.
I put the new mini lights on my little tree yesterday, but I need a second string, because I have too much tree and not enough lights. Since I like Christmas lights all the time, this year will probably just stay up forever. At night, while watching television, the little Christmas tree is simply, pretty to look at.
I have a few pieces of clothing that I bought for the family as Christmas presents, that did not fit, and I have to return them to Amazon. This is not a particularly hard thing to do - after you find the right size box/envelope for shipping.
Have to run - need to get some things done. Like folding and putting away laundry (ugh).
P
Yeppers, there is snow on the ground this morning. Mind you, it's not a lot of snow and there's no need to shovel, but it's snow just the same. Jeff took my car to work today and said that his commute was slow and that there were many crazy drivers on the road. Shocker! Snow or ice brings out the worst of people back here, but I don't know why.
I was supposed to go to the dentist today, but because of the threat of snow, Jeff asked me to cancel, which I did. It was a good decision. I'm not always steady on my feet and if I was out using my walker, my fear and his, is that I might slip and fall down. I don't know how many falls I have in me, before I break something. (smiley face here)
Jeff made a most excellent beef stew last night. It's going to make a very good lunch today. When it's cold outside, there's nothing better than stew or homemade soup. Jeff does both of these dishes very well. For the most part, I don't do much cooking anymore. The major reason is my inability to stand or walk for more than a few minutes. Having to sit down every 5 minutes, makes dish preparation last longer than it should.
I don't think I mentioned that the fireplace man was out this week and he brought 2 helpers so that the three of them could more easily take our gas log and blower out. The initial visit a few months cost $300, and yesterday, obviously, cost us more money. Whatever. The fireplace was working just fine before a new gas valve was put in, but now we know it will continue to work.
I put the new mini lights on my little tree yesterday, but I need a second string, because I have too much tree and not enough lights. Since I like Christmas lights all the time, this year will probably just stay up forever. At night, while watching television, the little Christmas tree is simply, pretty to look at.
I have a few pieces of clothing that I bought for the family as Christmas presents, that did not fit, and I have to return them to Amazon. This is not a particularly hard thing to do - after you find the right size box/envelope for shipping.
Have to run - need to get some things done. Like folding and putting away laundry (ugh).
P
Wednesday, January 3, 2018
The Day After A Tornado (Benjamin)!
1/3/2018
Benjamin went home yesterday afternoon. While he was here, he played pretty much all over the house. But, before his mother came, he picked up most of his things. Before the cleaning lady comes, I'll do a double check.
After Benjamin left, Jeff and I went to WalMart, which because it was a work day, wasn't particularly crowded - a very good thing. I had made a partial list of things we needed, as well as a partial list of things we absolutely didn't need! We always go into the store telling ourselves that we don't need very much, and come out with more bags than I imagined.
I've scheduled my pre-op well-baby check ups for later this month and the early part of February. I'm hoping to get this nasty surgery over before the end of February. The longer I delay, the colder my feet get. I know it's the recovery that I'm actually dreading. Good news is that by then Jeff will be working remotely and will be around to help me out.
Cold today - 16 degrees. When we went shopping yesterday, the girls had to stay in the basement, and knowing that they were not able to come into the house to get warm, made us hurry to get back to the house. Luckily, for the girls, I'm going to be home the rest of the week. I'd love to be able to let them have the run of the house, but I am truly afraid of what damage we'd suffer if we did that. But, I know that eventually, we'll have to chance on Bella staying in the house.
I think there is some chance of us getting a light dusting of snow later this week. Jeff always takes my car if winter weather is predicted. My car is a beast and handles very well in the snow.
I'm keeping this short, because I really do have to get things before Ada shows up. I know she's here to clean the house, but there's no need for me to make it more difficult for her to do her job.
Happy Wednesday.
P
Benjamin went home yesterday afternoon. While he was here, he played pretty much all over the house. But, before his mother came, he picked up most of his things. Before the cleaning lady comes, I'll do a double check.
After Benjamin left, Jeff and I went to WalMart, which because it was a work day, wasn't particularly crowded - a very good thing. I had made a partial list of things we needed, as well as a partial list of things we absolutely didn't need! We always go into the store telling ourselves that we don't need very much, and come out with more bags than I imagined.
I've scheduled my pre-op well-baby check ups for later this month and the early part of February. I'm hoping to get this nasty surgery over before the end of February. The longer I delay, the colder my feet get. I know it's the recovery that I'm actually dreading. Good news is that by then Jeff will be working remotely and will be around to help me out.
Cold today - 16 degrees. When we went shopping yesterday, the girls had to stay in the basement, and knowing that they were not able to come into the house to get warm, made us hurry to get back to the house. Luckily, for the girls, I'm going to be home the rest of the week. I'd love to be able to let them have the run of the house, but I am truly afraid of what damage we'd suffer if we did that. But, I know that eventually, we'll have to chance on Bella staying in the house.
I think there is some chance of us getting a light dusting of snow later this week. Jeff always takes my car if winter weather is predicted. My car is a beast and handles very well in the snow.
I'm keeping this short, because I really do have to get things before Ada shows up. I know she's here to clean the house, but there's no need for me to make it more difficult for her to do her job.
Happy Wednesday.
P
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
Reality Check
1/2/2018
Ah, it's back to reality for most people today. Jeff took today off, so he has another day for R&R. Benjamin is going home this afternoon, but in the meantime, he is logging in to Netflex looking for children's movies. The trouble is, what Jeff wants to watch, isn't always age appropriate for Benjamin.
The fireplace man is coming today. When he was last here, maybe in October(?) he promised that he would expedite the ordering of a replacement part needed for said fireplace. He told me at the time, that our chances of the fireplace working with this faulty valve was 50/50. So far, the fireplace has turned on every time we wanted to use it. The service charge for coming out and cleaning the fireplace, was I think, $300.00. I didn't think gas fireplaces needed cleaning, but apparently they do. He cleaned the glass doors, vacuumed inside the fireplace, and stuff like that. I always thought that once you had a gas fireplace, you wouldn't need servicing, until the fireplace no longer worked. Also, apparently the service call for cleaning is cheaper in the summer. Duh, I didn't know that. But I'll remember it in the future.
When the fireplace man was here and took out the blower that projects a large amount of heat into the room, he told me that our fireplace was a "beast", and that he would bring someone else with him when he returned. I asked him about the "beast", and seems to have something to do with the blower. Most customers, he told me, just want the gas logs for beauty, and nothing else. Actually, I don't see the point of having a gas fireplace that just looks pretty. Jeff and I are, among other things, want and have surrounded ourselves with products that are useful.
In the last two days that Benjamin has been here, he has literally played all over the house. I will need him to start cleaning up some of the things he's dragged out for play. We have plastic bowling pins, and Benjamin loves setting up the pins in the hallway and rolling a ball down to knock the pins over.
After the fireplace has left, we will take Benjamin probably to Frederick, where Jeff does his weekly shopping, and drop him off. One of the things on our list is a new dog bed. The one that the girls use now, has some "issues" (i.e., a hole in the bottom of the bed which gets turned upside down, there is some brown fuzz on the floor. I'm not a huge fan of the girls doing this. It just requires more work for me and/or my cleaning lady who comes tomorrow.
Logging off, I've got a kitchen to clean and laundry to do (double blah).
Happy Tuesday
P
Ah, it's back to reality for most people today. Jeff took today off, so he has another day for R&R. Benjamin is going home this afternoon, but in the meantime, he is logging in to Netflex looking for children's movies. The trouble is, what Jeff wants to watch, isn't always age appropriate for Benjamin.
The fireplace man is coming today. When he was last here, maybe in October(?) he promised that he would expedite the ordering of a replacement part needed for said fireplace. He told me at the time, that our chances of the fireplace working with this faulty valve was 50/50. So far, the fireplace has turned on every time we wanted to use it. The service charge for coming out and cleaning the fireplace, was I think, $300.00. I didn't think gas fireplaces needed cleaning, but apparently they do. He cleaned the glass doors, vacuumed inside the fireplace, and stuff like that. I always thought that once you had a gas fireplace, you wouldn't need servicing, until the fireplace no longer worked. Also, apparently the service call for cleaning is cheaper in the summer. Duh, I didn't know that. But I'll remember it in the future.
When the fireplace man was here and took out the blower that projects a large amount of heat into the room, he told me that our fireplace was a "beast", and that he would bring someone else with him when he returned. I asked him about the "beast", and seems to have something to do with the blower. Most customers, he told me, just want the gas logs for beauty, and nothing else. Actually, I don't see the point of having a gas fireplace that just looks pretty. Jeff and I are, among other things, want and have surrounded ourselves with products that are useful.
In the last two days that Benjamin has been here, he has literally played all over the house. I will need him to start cleaning up some of the things he's dragged out for play. We have plastic bowling pins, and Benjamin loves setting up the pins in the hallway and rolling a ball down to knock the pins over.
After the fireplace has left, we will take Benjamin probably to Frederick, where Jeff does his weekly shopping, and drop him off. One of the things on our list is a new dog bed. The one that the girls use now, has some "issues" (i.e., a hole in the bottom of the bed which gets turned upside down, there is some brown fuzz on the floor. I'm not a huge fan of the girls doing this. It just requires more work for me and/or my cleaning lady who comes tomorrow.
Logging off, I've got a kitchen to clean and laundry to do (double blah).
Happy Tuesday
P
Monday, January 1, 2018
Getting Into Closets
1/1/2018
Certainly difficult to remember to write 2018. Guess it'll take me some amount of time before I stop writing 2017! Truth be told, I'm glad that 2017 is over, because it wasn't the best year for me. Sending positive thoughts to my brain that this year will be better.
Benjamin has been with us two days and he and I stayed up until midnight yesterday. Okay, big deal for both of us, then off to bed. I'm pretty sure there is a nap going to be scheduled for Benjamin and I later today.
When Benjamin is here, he plays all over the house. And, much like I was when I was young, he went into the closets in the two spare rooms, and the next thing he brings down is our slide projector. Where in heavens name did he find that? No worries, I simply put it on the dining room table, for Jeff to put away later.
As a little girl, I was looking for shoes in Grandma's closet, that I could put on and "walk" around - the word "walk" is overstating what I was actually doing! The neat part of being a Grandmother, at least for me, and my Grandmother as well, we have our the years built up a large tolerance for children playing. Benjamin pretty much plays all over the house, except for our bedroom, which is off limits to him. Right now, he has spread an afghan on the floor in the living room. There is an "office" by the front door as well as an assortment of toys, and things found, being played with in the dining room. Benjamin does know that my glass pieces are definitely off limits. Other than that, there isn't much that he can do to hurt our furniture. As a toddler, Benjamin used to take toys and bang on the coffee table in the living room, so a few more scratches doesn't bother me at all.
Benjamin, like myself as a child, has a vivid imagination and creates "worlds" for himself. I used to talk to myself while I played and to some extent Benjamin does as well.
Jeff made a wonderful sweet 'n sour one pot dish last night. There was rice, water chestnuts (which truthfully I could do without), chicken and pineapple. It was yummy. Benjamin didn't like the look of his dinner, so I scooped out the extra things, and left him with chicken and pineapple, which he enjoyed very much.
Today or tomorrow, Jeff is going to make beef stew. I am grateful to Jeff that he, for the most part, has taken over cooking dinner. I am, unfortunately, unable to stand or walk for more than a few minutes, which makes cooking a big deal for me, and I need to sit down in the middle of cooking.
It's a New Year, filled with endless possibilities. I don't have so much of a resolution, as I have a plan. Get the back surgery out of the way, put an implant where my tooth fell out, try to walk with Jeff around the neighborhood (I'll use my rollator so I can sit down), so that he builds up his endurance. Goal? Get Jeff to be able to walk 9 minutes on the dread mill, so that he can get meet the requirements to be able to fly again. If Jeff could get up in the air again, I know that would make him very happy.
Well, my friends, have a very Happy New Year. Also, happy birthday to my brother!
P
Certainly difficult to remember to write 2018. Guess it'll take me some amount of time before I stop writing 2017! Truth be told, I'm glad that 2017 is over, because it wasn't the best year for me. Sending positive thoughts to my brain that this year will be better.
Benjamin has been with us two days and he and I stayed up until midnight yesterday. Okay, big deal for both of us, then off to bed. I'm pretty sure there is a nap going to be scheduled for Benjamin and I later today.
When Benjamin is here, he plays all over the house. And, much like I was when I was young, he went into the closets in the two spare rooms, and the next thing he brings down is our slide projector. Where in heavens name did he find that? No worries, I simply put it on the dining room table, for Jeff to put away later.
As a little girl, I was looking for shoes in Grandma's closet, that I could put on and "walk" around - the word "walk" is overstating what I was actually doing! The neat part of being a Grandmother, at least for me, and my Grandmother as well, we have our the years built up a large tolerance for children playing. Benjamin pretty much plays all over the house, except for our bedroom, which is off limits to him. Right now, he has spread an afghan on the floor in the living room. There is an "office" by the front door as well as an assortment of toys, and things found, being played with in the dining room. Benjamin does know that my glass pieces are definitely off limits. Other than that, there isn't much that he can do to hurt our furniture. As a toddler, Benjamin used to take toys and bang on the coffee table in the living room, so a few more scratches doesn't bother me at all.
Benjamin, like myself as a child, has a vivid imagination and creates "worlds" for himself. I used to talk to myself while I played and to some extent Benjamin does as well.
Jeff made a wonderful sweet 'n sour one pot dish last night. There was rice, water chestnuts (which truthfully I could do without), chicken and pineapple. It was yummy. Benjamin didn't like the look of his dinner, so I scooped out the extra things, and left him with chicken and pineapple, which he enjoyed very much.
Today or tomorrow, Jeff is going to make beef stew. I am grateful to Jeff that he, for the most part, has taken over cooking dinner. I am, unfortunately, unable to stand or walk for more than a few minutes, which makes cooking a big deal for me, and I need to sit down in the middle of cooking.
It's a New Year, filled with endless possibilities. I don't have so much of a resolution, as I have a plan. Get the back surgery out of the way, put an implant where my tooth fell out, try to walk with Jeff around the neighborhood (I'll use my rollator so I can sit down), so that he builds up his endurance. Goal? Get Jeff to be able to walk 9 minutes on the dread mill, so that he can get meet the requirements to be able to fly again. If Jeff could get up in the air again, I know that would make him very happy.
Well, my friends, have a very Happy New Year. Also, happy birthday to my brother!
P
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