@MusicCandy @SadMe70 New place to communicate
@MusicCandy Hi! I decided it was easier to just start a new thread. I can't figure out the old one.
I am headed to my mom's tomorrow until Sunday night. Today is the fifth anniversary of dad's death. I couldn't get up there today, so it's the first time I won't be with her on the actual day. I won't be on here this weekend, so I'm writing this on Wednesday.
Yesterday I made my first trip to the mountains in a long time. I hiked to Mary's Rock. It was not crowded and was great weather. It was kind of funny hiking in a t-shirt with snow on the ground!
Today we are celebrating my DIL's birthday. The actual day is Saturday but I'll be at mom's. I am going to make the Korean dessert that I made for New Year's, since their dog ate all the leftovers and she didn't get to try much of it. Then I have some cleaning to do, and some errands to run, and then pick her up 45 min away because my son is here at work near our house. I'm going early enough to drop by my other son's house first to meet his new dog. He and his fiancee are adopting a 2 year old. I need to do laundry to prepare for my trip, and need to write detailed instructions for my pet sitters. I have an old note to work from, but I have a new lady coming one day and I need to make it extra-detailed for her. She is a pet sitting company, so it will cost me, but I need another person in my rotation of feeders. So it's a busy day today!
I am grateful for my spring break this week that allows me to do all these things. I spent the weekend doing very little because I knew the rest of the week would be very busy! I don't like getting home the evening before I have to go back to work, since I won't get laundry, shopping, or cooking done, but it couldn't be helped!
I hope the new thread works out, and that I tagged you correctly so you will see it!
I hope your week has gone well, and here's to five more years of messages to come!
Hello my friend, my son and his family flew home last Saturday, and I moved back into my house after spending most of eight weeks away in the various places with my grandchildren. The rest of the visit was also great. We were down here for the last three weeks, staying in a rental place in Colonial Beach. We went to the beach most days. Except for the first day, there were a lot of jellyfish so we couldn’t get in the water, but we sat in the surf and played, and had a lot of fun that way.
I was able to have three of my friends come by to meet them down here, and it was nice to get to show them off a little. My mom was down here the whole three weeks, and my two sisters were each here for about a week, so they all got a lot of baby time between Pennsylvania and Virginia.We went to my other son’s house three or four times, so they got to visit with their aunt and uncle too. My son was here from Korea for the last two weeks of the visit, and it was nice to spend so much time with him. Her behavior was worse once my son got here, which led to a little bit worse behavior in the kids as well.
I went back to work on Wednesday, then had to take the second day of work off to take my husband for his first cataract surgery. He’ll have the second one done in two weeks. I hate taking off right at the beginning of school, but glad he is able to get some things taken care of. He’s very happy with how much better he can see in the eyes that they did already. He’s lost so much weight that he was able to discover that he has a hernia. They did a CT scan and it’s a big one, so he has a surgery consult on Friday, and that will be even more days off work.
My team has lost the classroom that we use as our office because it’s needed for an actual class now. They have set aside too storage rooms, that were previously used for offices, for us to use for small groups. It’s good to have quiet spots for that, but now my group does not have our own space where we can be together at lunch, during our planning time, and other times when classes get canceled. Until I know where I’m going to actually be doing my groups, I can’t even unpack my boxes, and I don’t have a desk to unpack them too anyway. It’s unsettling not to have my own space, and I’m really going to miss the camaraderie of my group. They are all women close to my age, so we talked a lot about menopausal issues, and about things going on at school, and that was very good for my mental health. Kindergarten starts back on Tuesday, and everyone else comes Wednesday, so I am excited about meeting the new student students.
I’m hoping to do some cooking this weekend and get my freezer a little bit more stocked than it is. I usually do that over the summer, but of course I was busy this summer! Please let me know how everything is with you, and I will get back to being a much better correspondent now that I’m settling back into my real life.
@SadMe70
My goodness, you packed in a lot the past few weeks, it makes me dizzy just reading it! I don't know how you organized it all and then pulled it off without too much trauma. The best part was the grandkids, I'm sure. I know you got a ton pf videos and pictures. It doesn't look like the Korea DIL is going to change much overall. I think other people can see her rudeness as well as you do. Even if she was that way in front of your friends, that's on her. I think it was brave of you to invite them to meet the littles. I wouldn't turn down a beach visit either.*
It must be more of a challenge after the letdown of them gone and you have work and husband's medical stuff. Losing weight had to be a good thing for him in any case, but surgery is no fun and more days off for you which I'm sure you don't need starting off the year. Seeing better has to help his overall outlook on life though, which is better for you to live day by day. I hope all that goes as well as it can. Praying for strength for you.
School back already and adjustments that seem like they just cut out more and more from what is needed. I hope you manage to get some time with your work friends because its so important to vent and share. My coworkers do that too, and we have a LOT to say about our so called boss. She is worthless and does basically nothing and just ran off a very good tech with needless rude comments. Too bad for us, but I wish her well-- there are plenty of jobs for us and she got a new one the next day. I work the off shifts when she is not here and that's the only way I'd keep working. 73 next month. I thought I might retire this year but honestly, I'm worried about T. cutting Medicaid benefits to states with democratic governors like he did already in 2 states. Rachael and her Dad both would be out of medical benefits which would be devastating. However, my job would get us through it if that happens. I cant wait for him to be out of office before he tears up something else or ruins many other lives.
Septic= still in progress. We have to have an Onsite soil evaluator first according to the county and that alone is 500, plus county fees, plus the work itself. At least I'm working so it won't cut into savings but its more of an ordeal that it should be. Everyone doing OK , also a blessing. I didn't expect to hear from you until you got back and started settling back in, but it wasn't a real break. No worries ever, you are a good friend.
Hello my friend, a pretty good first week of school here. I’m getting to know the kids in my homebase kindergarten class. We always just do general support for the first two weeks in K-2. And then all the crazy testing will start and will be covering classrooms for a couple of weeks. By the end of September, I should have my final schedule and my first set of groups for the year.
Instead of my usual morning exercise videos, I am trying to do physical therapy exercises in the mornings for my knee and my shoulder. I stuck to that pretty well this week, took walks on three days, plus my first yoga class since May.
I have seen administrations in my school run off good people over the years as well. It’s really sad. I’m glad that you worked with found a good job right away, good for her! I hope there are no more cuts of Medicaid. The future is scary enough without worrying about whether we willbe able to afford healthcare.Even with insurance, the costs can be devastating. We struggled with medical bills the whole time my kids were growing up. We were unable to save any money towards college for either of them. If my husband didn’t have free healthcare through the VA now, with all of his problems, we would be completely broke all the time.
Any plans yet for your birthday?
That seems like a lot of money for a soil evaluation! Especially since you are replacing a septic system and not trying to put a new one where there wasn’t one before. I hope that keeps moving along so it will be done as soon as possible, and you’ll have one less thing to be dealing with!
i’m glad everyone is well there, and I’m glad you’re still out there even though I was uncommunicative for two months. I definitely value our conversations!
@SadMe70
Its nice that your school year has started off OK. I know you hate that testing, and its so meaningless. I finished up the research Tai Cho exercise classes and they sent me a check for 120.00. I did hate the 3 tests they had to do too, but then I looked up the Montreal cognitive test and it was just that and some walking and chair stuff which was not hard for me, so I think I aced it this last time! I hope the next few weeks goes smoothly. /Its always better when you can interact with the kids.
Septic, still stalled. I havent heard back from the soil guy after 2 weeks, its just ridiculous. I don't know how long i should wait to ask, hey, are you going to set up something soon? Tempted to just get the county hook up but that would be a lot more money. I'll call him next week. Geez.
I'm glad you got your exercise done one thing or another. I have worked extra shifts the last 2 weeks and it was a challenge getting in my 4 20 min. workouts at the gym, but I did do it. Rachael is the main reason to go in the afternoon, but it doesnt work out timewise some days. She has fun with the racquet ball with Fiance when he goes in the court. I tried to get her to do it one day when he wasnt there, but that was not fun for her. He is at least good for that. This morning I came home from work, 16 hrs busy shift and swept the kitchen floor, finished washing the dishes, microwaved his breakfast, emptied the cat box, and mopped the floor. I asked him to bring up the dehumidifier water container from the basement- one thing, and it wasnt done when I got back up at 2. I swear.
I am planning an overnight in Va Beach oceanfront hotel in September with Abi, we share a Sept b-day. Rates are down in Sept and hotels.com has great deals. But I'm not scrimping on a nice seafood dinner. Thats about it for now. enjoy your chai and I'll catch you later .
Hello my friend,
School was good this week. Testing has started so I covered a first grade class for two days, and second grade one day. Next week will be one more day of second, and two days of third. I knew the classes and teachers for first and second. I've never worked with this third grade teacher, so I don't know her classroom management style (I'm hoping on the strict side!) or whether she has any difficult kids. I'll find out Monday! Kindergarten testing is later in September.
I walked four days this week, once with my friends and three times alone. My yoga class was canceled two weeks in a row - the teacher has some health issues - so this week I walked on yoga day. In the mornings I'm still mostly doing alternating knee and shoulder PT exercises. My knee has not been bothering me much lately; the shoulder hurts all the time and bothers me at night too. I miss my old videos so I might treat myself to one this week!
Do you think you will continue to do Tai Chi on your own? Did you feel like it was good for you? It's nice to get money for exercising! It sounds like the tests were definitely things you could do since you are sharp mentally and exercise a lot anyway.
Ugh on the septic! I'm sorry that is taking so long, and it's so annoying not to hear back from someone when you are wanting to give them some work! If he's too busy now, he could at least say that. My husband got a one-time rehab grant approved from the VA to change out his tub for a no-step entry shower that just has a low ledge at the bottom, plus a built in seat. He has to get two estimates. He's had one guy so far and really likes him. This is our "guest" bathroom but that is the one he has used for years. I use the one in the master bedroom so I will still have a tub.
I tried racquet ball once at my mom's gym years ago, with my son I think. I already had a bad knee so I was afraid to really go at it, but it seemed like it could be really fun and a great workout. I'm glad your fiancee can do that with her!
Sorry to hear that he is not pulling his weight otherwise. My husband does a lot more activity now that he has lost so much weight using shots, where he used to lie in bed a lot of the day, but he is not making a dent on getting rid of any of the stuff sitting around here. He is gardening, and also trying to get rid of vines and scrubby trees that are making the woods encroach too close to the house. These are good things, but I still get anxious about how I will ever get rid of all his junk if he doesn't do it while he still can. Plus he still uses the living room as a storage area for tools that he is using, etc. but the stuff sits there for weeks, and then he puts different stuff there. And the extra bedroom that we had fixed up last year for my DIL is now full of junk too.
I'm glad you will get to go on a trip for your birthday, and oceanfront no less! I used to go to the beach growing up, and again later to my in-laws' place when my boys were little, but never oceanfront! You deserve that treat for sure. Plus with kids back to school, it should be less crowded. That sounds like a great trip, and you should definitely eat all the seafood you want!!
I'm off to make chai. I hope you have a great week! Looks like we will be back to hot summer temps.
@SadMe70
Hello my friend,
I'm glad school is off to a good start for you. 3 elementary schools in Richmond have mold issues, I feel for those parents. Everything is so hard to manage anyway. My piano students have not reached out to me yet about starting back. I usually encourage them to wait until they get their after school activities lined up first in case they need to change the afternoon. I feel like summer was not long enough.
My little patch of cherry tomatoes got tobacco and tomato worms this last week. I did have a nice crop going until then. I tried to pick them off but too many now and its the end of the season anyway. I see on FB, Im not alone. I'll have to rotate something in that spot next year, they burrow and come back I hear. My herbs are fine though, I made a jar of pesto and keep it in the frig, so good.
I hope your shower project goes well. We will likely get that done one day . So far, we go to the gym and its great for Rachael to step in and out there, plus we go anyway. The septic still ongoing, but I did get the papers e-mailed to the right personal finally.
Good for you with your exercise, its not easy sometimes and hard to stay motivated. A lot of afternoons, I'm SO tired, but I go for Rachael and feel better after my 20 minutes upstairs with the weights. The tai chi was a good intro to the practice, but I don't have time to go to another class right now and the gym doesnt offer it. I wanted to see what it is like, and we did learn 8 forms which will be more familiar if I can do again-- one day.
Thats about all going on with me. I hope your weekend is restful and you enjoy your chai. Back to work now.
Hello my friend, pretty good week here. I did my exercise and walks. Still no yoga class due to the teacher’s health issues, but she plans to start back this week. Last week I managed to drink very little, but that only lasted a week. I’m half-heartedly trying to do the no drinking for one week a month plan that I did for a while last spring.
Yesterday I made a recipe that I had not made in a few years, and it was really delicious. Tuna with lentils, peppers, cherry tomatoes, fresh, parsley, Kalamata olives, and dressing of olive oil, red vinegar, and oregano. I have managed to make a few meals to put in the freezer this past month, so I feel better than I did when school first started.
Today we did a yard sale over at my neighbors house. We had done one on Mother’s Day, and only three people stopped all day and we made five dollars. She kept all my junk, and today we actually made just over $100. We had to stop early because of the rain. I’m going to go back over in the morning for a couple of hours, but then I have to take my cats to a vaccination clinic.
Have you heard from your piano students yet? I’ve decided not to tutor this fall. I really want to do it and I miss it, and I know the student I was going to work with, and I like her. But, I’ve been trying to rehab my knee and shoulder on my own, and the shoulder is just getting worse, so I’m going to have to go back to PT AGAIN. I can’t even get an eval until the beginning of November, so I’ll just keep on working working on it myself with some exercises that the orthopedist gave me. With the knee, basically all I can do is improve the “mechanics” as he called them, by building up the muscles that are weaker and trying to stretch them out better.
Did they have to close those schools in Richmond with the mold?That could be pretty dangerous for some people.
I’m sorry about your tomatoes! My husband is getting some cherry tomatoes, but not a whole lot. Squash, okra, and spinach are doing pretty well.
My husband has to get two estimates for the bathroom work, and the second guy came today. We haven’t gotten the actual estimates from either one yet. I hope it won’t cost too much more than what the VA is paying, because I don’t want to spend money on it.
I hope things are going well with you. The rain has started here, so I’m going to just sit here and read a book for a while.
@SadMe70
Hello my friend, always nice to catch up with you. My week was OK too. I have not even tried to manage the wine every night, other than thinking I could have wine every other night and sleepytime tea the other. By the time I feel like I'm exhausted and just want the wine, its too late to resist. I do mix it up with the low cal low carb brand, but the taste is not the same. I gained a pound or 2 and that doesnt want to budge. Exercise was the same and that is one thing I feel good about - sounds like the same for you - just do the best you can.
It must be harder to do the PT on your own and I think you are doing the right thing not taking on the tutoring even though you enjoy it. I'm sure a full school day is enough. My 2 students in one family want to start back next week. There is another in the neighborhood that is so sweet, but I havent heard from her family yet. Its always a bit exciting to see them after all summer and get them back on track with playing. Their school was not affected by the mold, but some in Richmond are still cleaning up and repairing. I'm sure the buildings are old and not well maintained to start with.
I'm glad the *** sale went a little better this time. I hate to say that Fiance responded to our plumber /friend to pick up some "free" stuff from a house he was working on. He is taking things to auction however and I hope those items will bring him some cash that way, but still a mountain to clean out from my house/ yard. I try not to worry too much about it all.
Septic- I emailed the forms last week to the Soil guy and havent heard back so just like before, another week goes by and at least he could txt me that the forms are OK and what next. I will have to calll again I guess after the Hioliday. I hope your bathroom work can move along.
Your recipe does sound delicious. I can still salvage a handful of cherry tomatoes each day, but they are about really gone now. I think they are better roasted and added to most anything else I'm fixing.
Abi and Mark surprised me at work last night with spanakopita ( I ate the whole plate) and key lime pie, also mostly gone now plus roses, a bottle of wine, snacks and FINALLY the wedding pictures on a digital frame. I love seeing it all again and some of the pics I don't even remember seeing that part at all. They are going to LA for her birthday for 3 days, she loves Marilyn Monroe and there is an exhibit with all her life panned out including the dresses. They will do some other Hollywood things too since this is a one-time adventure. I love them both so much and I'm so proud of what they have come through. After that, Abi and I will have a night in Va Beach to relax.
Sounds like you are relaxing too with rain and a good book, and then chai. We had so many hot days, the rain has made it cooler. I'm working Sunday night for the Holiday and then Tuesday too- some emergency from a coworker. Ill check back in with you next week-end.
Hello my friend,
This past week was pretty similar to the previous one, but I did something actually fun this weekend. About a month ago I saw a notice that our county was having its second annual county fair. I don’t remember if I saw anything about the first one last year, but I looked into it because I love the state fair and really enjoyed the Fredericksburg County fair that we took the babies to this summer. We don’t have a fairgrounds here, so they couldn’t have any live animal competitions, rides, or midway. It was held just at our citizens center, so they just had one building which they used as the exhibit hall for all the craft related things, and some food trucks and a few other demonstrations in the lawn outside. It was just for one day, yesterday.
What they did add this year that they did not have last year, was the poultry egg competition. I have never participated in a county fair, so I entered a clutch of eggs, which they define as three eggs. The eggs have to come from the same breed, and I have six young hens of the same breed as each other who just started laying a couple of months ago, so their eggs are smaller than my adult hens who are of a different breed, so I am able to tell the eggs apart. The judging is based on a scoring rubric of up to 100 points, and if you scored above 90 you got a blue ribbon. I scored 97! I am going to try and hang the ribbon out by the chicken coop since they are the ones who actually earned it!
I feel like I am making progress with my knee on my own, but my shoulder is hurting even worse, so I broke down and called PT to set up my evaluation. It is not until the first week of November 🙁
My neighbors held the yard sale for two more days, and we only sold $20 more of items. All the rest of it is back at my house now. The stuff that I had chosen to take over, I’m taking to drop off to the local charity shop. Wish my husband would do like your fiancé and start selling stuff online. He does have some stuff that’s actually worth something.
Have you heard back from the soil guy yet regarding your septic system? We are required to get two estimates for the bathroom work, so my husband had a second guy come last weekend to look it over. I don’t think he has received estimates from either of them yet.
I love spanakopita! What a great surprise! Your whole birthday meal sounds amazing and of course the present of the wedding pictures is perfect! I’m so glad you had such a nice birthday celebration!!
I have never been to California. That sounds like an exciting trip! I hope they have a wonderful time! I’m sure it’s hard to choose what to do since there is so much interesting about California. When are you heading to Virginia Beach? I have never been there either.
Time to go make the chai! Since I got nothing done at home yesterday, I have a lot to do today! I don’t think I will get any cooking done, so luckily I have some things built up in the freezer now.
I hope your week has gone well!
Hello my friend,
Well, this was quite a week. On Monday night, my husband started throwing up, and after throwing up through Wednesday afternoon, he called the VA nurse line. A VA ER doctor called him back, and told him to go to the hospital via ambulance so that he could get some meds on the way. He has a large hernia that was scheduled for repair, and he took his Zepbound shot on Monday, which always makes him nauseous, so he thought maybe it was a combination of the two of those. If I understand correctly, the hernia had caused a blockage in the intestines, and that’s why everything was coming back up - because it could not get through. So, they did the surgery on Thursday. It turned out to be the surgeon who was going to do it anyway. It was robotic, so no giant incision, so they released him Thursday night.
I have done no exercise, walks, or yoga since Wednesday morning. I ate a bunch of junk on Thursday, and some on Friday. I should be able to get back to my regular schedule this coming week.
That’s about it for me, since my week was taken up by a sick husband and trips to the hospital. I hope your week has been calmer than mine!
@SadMe70I
I thank you for caring enough about our friendship to even take time to drop a line. That sounds like a truly terrible situation and I hope this ends up solving the main issue. Surgery these days is a lot simpler than it used to be with robotics, and I'm sure better for everyone. Good to get it out of the way anyway. Take some deep breaths!
I had a sort of OK week, but nothing really special except Rachael started acting not like herself on Thursday but I couldn't tell what it might be. She was holding her head, rubbing her ear, crying off and on and wouldn't eat, but no fever. I met her Dad at the Dr. Friday and the only thing he could see was impacted ear wax. They tried the water flush, but she was having none of it. I don't like to do mine either and she is pretty hard to hold still. Her Dad got some debrox, but I doubt he will have much luck with that either. We have a referral to ENT so likely that's the only way to clear that up. I called him a few minutes ago and she still isn't eating. I wonder if that is the only thing, but she can't tell us exactly where she hurts. I did get her to eat some applesauce and pudding, and I told him to try that. It doesn't seem serious, but still worrisome when she is not acting normal.
Abi and Mark are coming back from her birthday trip to LA tomorrow and she said they had a great time. The stupid septic situation - the soil guy said he would send something last week, but no word or show of him. Fiance's older friend was here a lot of the week, supposedly helping but mostly he ate meals I fixed and sat on the couch. Every day. I did get another set of tinsel in my hair, but Fiance called me from his truck as I was coming home and made it seem he was about to run out of gas and asked me to meet him with a card which he forgot to take with him. So hot afternoon, rush hour traffic, Rachael riding along. I drove way out of my way to meet him and turns out he had 30 dollars in his pocket. He said he didn't want to use the cash.. WHAT! It took me a long time to cool down after that. I gave him a 20 and said hide this somewhere in your truck and use it next time instead of calling me. I still don't get it.
We did get most of our exercise in and I don't remember what I ate. I just remember cooking for everyone else. I know the guy has no other friends, but its getting a little old for me every day.
Still, I can count my blessings. Church with anointing tomorrow so I will get my prayer ready. Folks always say thank you. Our Interim priest is done at the end of this month- he has been wonderful. I wrote him a poem and had it framed. Just wanted to do something personal. I hope you get some much-needed rest before start back to school. I will take some deep breaths too.
Hello my friend. My husband is on the mend, pain not too bad, nausea debating. He is still spending most of each day in bed, but hopefully that will get better. I was feeling completely exhausted Saturday through Monday, then I started getting bloated, then my chest started hurting, and sure enough, my first period in 6 1/2 months arrived yesterday morning. There, I was thinking I was halfway to being “post”. Ugh, ugh,ugh.
I did my yoga class and two afternoon walks this week, and exercised each day, though several of them were very unenergetic because I was so tired.I’m sitting outside by the chicken pen right now, feeling no motivation whatsoever to do anything. My older son told me last night that my younger son has had a bad week, and that I should call him. I tried a video call and he didn’t answer, and he hasn’t been back on Messenger since. So now I am worrying about him even more than usual.
How is Rachael doing? Did you go into the ENT? I hope she is feeling better and back to eating. It must be so frustrating for her and for you when something is wrong and she can’t tell you what it is.
I’m so glad that Abby and Mark had a good trip! Have you seen pictures yet?
Sorry to hear your septic situation is not progressing! How annoying that your fiancé’s friend came to help and mostly sat around eating food that you cooked. And I would also be super upset about having to go take a credit card to him when he had the cash to pay for the gas!! what is wrong with men??this past week my husband took some oranges into his bedroom along with a little tool we have that helps you peel the orange. He lost the tool, and instead of looking for it he ordered a three pack of new ones. This is a small thing, but typical of how he solves things. Just buy more and more stuff to cram into this house.
What a lovely gift you gave to the interim priest! I’m sure he was very touched by that. Do you write poetry often? I think that’s wonderful!
@SadMe70
I am sad to hear that you are hurting- physically and emotionally over your son. I hope that he at least responded to his brother. Sometimes talking to your parent can seem judgmental. I know you are not like that however. Sorry about the curse! Pre and menopause was extremely debilitating for me. Maybe that will be the last one. fingers crossed. At least you did get in some exercise, good for you doing it even when you didn't feel like it. That's me too most evenings when we go to the gym and I just keep telling myself, its just 20 minutes, We did get our gym and shower times in all last week. Rachael was back to her normal self. Monday- I'm pretty sure it was a virus and not ear wax causing her symptoms. I have not taken her to ENT yet and not sure if / when I will. It will be traumatic for her. The dentist is bad enough and that;s coming up soon.
I know what you mean about men- so frustrating. I wish I had not made the move on Fiance as soon as I did, but I was desperate for help... with Rachael's Dad in jail and everything I had to do to survive, and he did that. and he was sexy. We live with our choices . Anyway, I'm back at work tonight and church tomorrow- emotional with our Interim Rector last day. There is a reading for a release of Ministry- we will all cry. As for poetry, I've written since I was very young. My grandmother was a writer in the Norfolk newspaper when women didn't usually work. She covered the society pages. I have some of her writing and recipes.
Abi and I are going to Va Beach this coming week-end. Right now, the area is flooded and my Neice is in Norfolk with her new 3 month baby- we hope to see her on the way back. It should be OK driving by then. I am not even sure what is coming up next week. But I do think it is perfectly OK to sit by the chicken coop and do nothing and not worry about it. They say some boredom is good for you!
Hello my friend, today I am heading to my mom‘s for her weekend birthday celebration. I usually have a three day weekend to travel there and back, but I’m having to do it just in two days this time around. Add to that that it’s going to be raining the whole time I’m driving, ugh. I will be very glad to see my mom and sisters.
This past week at school was three days of kindergarten testing, so I was in my kindergarten classroom all day. I always like being in that class because the teacher is so wonderful and has clear expectations for the kids’ behaviors, which makes it a lot easier to be in there. Plus, I know how she does everything, so I am able to keep as close to their normal schedule as possible. On Thursday we finally started our first grade and fifth grade groups. We had already been doing third and fourth grade. Friday was supposed to add in second grade, to finally launch our full final schedule for the year. However, so many people were out, that my entire team got pulled to substitute. I was working with special ed kids all afternoon. Luckily they were mostly ones I knew, and all ones who did not have behavior problems, only academic challenges.
I have yet to take off any of the weight that I gained over the summer, and now I am heading into a birthday cake filled weekend!. Usually I can drop three or 4 pounds easily once I stop gorging myself, but that has not happened this time. I did do my exercise every morning, my yoga class, and three walks.
Our son did call us last night, and unburdened himself to some extent. He has been sick for six weeks, first with active pneumonia, and then with walking pneumonia ever since. He’s on multiple medications now, one of which gives him diarrhea. He is also back on asthma medication for the first time in years. He did apply to another job, which he does not have high hopes of getting, but I will cross my fingers for him. The people being so nasty to him at work has progressed to active sabotage. Someone deleted some of his files this past week.The manager does nothing about it.
I am so glad to hear that Rachael is feeling better! I am with her on the dentist. I find even a cleaning extremely stressful. How long have you been with your fiancé now? I have been with my husband for 37 years. It is very hard for me to believe.I was only 19 when we got together.
How did the event at your church go? It does sound very emotional. How special that you have some of your grandmother’s writings! I have a couple of notes from my one of my grandmothers, from when she would send me checks for birthdays. I don’t have anything from any of my other three grandparents.
I am excited about your upcoming trip! I hope the flooding subsides and you don’t have any issues with that.Bonus to get to see the new baby. Three months old is such a sweet age.
I am actually on the road right now, taking a break for the bathroom and to stretch my legs. I hope your week goes well!
@SadMe70
I can relate to driving in bad weather - if it rains hard I just don't do it. I pray you will arrive safely and have a lovely time. No matter what- you have to eat cake! Abi and I had a very nice time at the beach even with a short time frame. The weather was hot, just like summer and we walked on the beach, had sushi and then branzillo fish for dinner - it was delicious and fun to share. The Marriott was deluxe and we got the room half price off season. We just relaxed and watch a movie . We did get to see my niece and the baby for a few minutes. She is very protective since the birth was traumatic and she still hasn't healed totally, and the usual colic and not sleeping. We got her chick fila and a couple gifts. We re the only family that has seen him so far and only grandparents have held him.
I did a 3 day fast before we went and I did drop a few lbs and didn't worry about gaining a couple with the rich food and dessert and wine I don't normally eat and drink. It was a program in a box that gives you the electrolytes and fiber shakes , bone broth and a step by step guide. It really wasnt hard and I have extra packets so I'll probably do that a couple more days next week.
School sounds like it starting out OK. My piano students are playing some fun songs and their grandparents will be there next week. I've met them before and I'm happy that they get to hear them play. The parents are going to Europe so they are lucky to have family taking care of the kids and house.
Fiance and I have been together since I bought my house, 16 years now, but it doesn't seem like that long. I will also say prayers for your son. It must be nerve wracking with feeling helpless as he is so far away. Back at work now - last night I came right back with no sleep and it was busy all night. Just this Dr. makes it more than it should be. Anyway, off tomorrow and back to routine. Check with you later my friend.
Hello my friend, a pretty routine week here. I got my exercise in, my yoga, and a couple of walks. I didn’t eat too badly, and although I’m still drinking every day, I am managing to keep it less per day than before. I had a wonderful time at my mom‘s. We had a nice lunch out, cake back at her house, and games all evening. It was good to see her and my sisters and my aunt.
I’m so glad you had such a good time at the beach! It’s great that the weather cooperated, and that you had a nice room.I’ve never had that kind of fish. It sounds good! I definitely like sushi. It sounds like a wonderful, relaxing birthday trip. I’m glad you got to see the baby too. I don’t think I will ever get tired of holding a baby!
I have never tried to fast.I’m not sure I could motivate myself to do it, although that might be the thing I need to start dropping a few pounds, since the summer pounds are just refusing to come off.
It is nice that your students’ grandparents will get to hear them play! My parents were able to come to some of my kids’ band concerts, and they loved it. My older son was very into his music, and had a good friend who lived nearby that was into it also. They used to go to each other’s houses and hang out and play their instruments. I really miss having that around my house.
Thank you for the prayers for my son. I pray for him every day. He is still not feeling well, and is having to suspend some of his medication because he has to go to a conference and doesn’t want to have diarrhea at the conference. I think that may delay his full recovery. I really worry about his long term health, both mental and physical.
I hope you have had a good week, and caught up on some sleep. Until next week!
@SadMe70
Hello, to you my friend. Im glad you had a pretty good week. I have fasted before, but I need a plan to actually start. I ordered the "burnbox, " about 40 dollars and its everything you need, step by step so once you start you just dont think about it and follow what is in the box to do next. I could have got everything in it separately, but having it sll laid out ( the box is pretty too) made it easier. I lost about 3 lbs and next week I'll try another set and that 3 gets me to where I like to be. They give you an extra 2 days worth in the box too so its worth it- you would spend that on food anyway. Its electrolyte powder,, which I added to my sparkling water flavored, 2 shakes mix packets which I added some protein chocolate drink and the bone broth which is soothing at night. I was hungry only a couple of times, but it passed after a few minutes. I also had a small glass of low cal, low carb wine which is not recommended, but I still lost and feel a flatter tummy.
The septic saga continues, but there is progress. Fiance took the forms to the county, paid their fee, 250. so its 750 so far and they send the paperwork to the inspector who , I guess, contacts us to start work. I never knew it was so complicated.
Then a serious blow, church wise. A leader who I worked with on Vestry and other activities -- was not seen at church for 3 0r 4 weeks, very unusual. I asked the women in Daughters, also leaders if they knew anything and they said no. So I went to the church administrator who should know, but she didn't either so we looked up his work number since no response by e-mail when a couple of members reached out. We thought we might find a work number online. He is(was) an attorney and not at work. He is in jail. The very first thing that popped up was he was disbarred, a year ago- in VA for fraud and then in March also in West VA, mor fraud with clients. . The rap sheet is right there and he admitted to lying, stealing, for a long time. All the while presenting in church as a leader, for awhile even for the children. He has a wife, little kids. I went to the head of the Vestry and he said he wanted to keep it quiet which is even more disturbing to me. It's common knowledge! Anyone can find out and be shocked and devastated and angry as we were. I suggested he at least let Leaders know and tell them what to say if others ask. The family is very active in the church and many members will be concerned. We don't have a priest right now, a small church ( coming in January) so the only priest we in Daughters have is just in our group. I do want to talk to her and we may or may not have a meeting tomorrow afternoon depending on the weather, but I cant take Eucharist until i get counseling- I'm boiling over angry and the Vestry head didn't even seem to know if the family was still in town or maybe moved to her parent's , not in Richmond. I'm sure she is embarrassed but I'm so worried for the kids. And mad how he lied, stolen, and deceived all of us too. I know somewhat what the wife is going through with Rachael's Dad and it is something we in the church want to help with if we can.
Got a patient so, by for now. Prayers for your son and I hope things get better for him in some way.
Hello my friend, I’m sorry to have missed writing last week. On Friday afternoon I started feeling bad, and my body just crashed all weekend. I spent the whole weekend either sitting at the kitchen table reading, or lying in bed. By Monday, I was feeling better. I don’t know if I had a very mild cold, or I just needed rest.
I did not get any walks this week, but I did my yoga class, and my morning exercises. We had to use up two afternoons taking two vehicles for inspections, and yesterday I had to drive to Fredericksburg to pick up my estrogen patch refill. Because of the nationwide shortage of patches, I’m having to drive farther afield every month to fill it.
How is your fasting going, and is the burn box helping? Is it something you do a certain number of days per week? Are you down more pounds? I still can’t manage to lose anything.
I hope your septic issue is progressing along a little bit more. How frustrating for it to take so long!
Wow, what a terrible thing about your church leader! It’s bad enough for someone to commit crimes like that, but to pretend to be a good churchgoer is beyond me. I feel so bad for his family. I wonder how much his wife knew. She must have known he was disbarred at the very least. Do you know how the family is doing now? How are you doing?
My son is finally feeling better with regard to the pneumonia. I haven’t been able to talk to him, so I don’t know how everything else is going, but at least his body is stronger. Thank you so much for the prayers for him.
I’m sure you’re not feeling completely recovered from the church leader, but I hope otherwise things are going well for you.
@SadMe70
You are the sweetest friend. I notice when you ask me how IM doing, inspite of ther terrible injustice to another family that is not even my own. I cant remember what I last told you, but I did get a session with the priest in our Daughter's chapter and she helped me by NOT telling me what to do, but asking me to find my own way. I did say to myself and to her that I had to turn it over to Jesus and that wasnt easy to do- but over the last week I did and I felt a big weight off my shoulders. I went to the family home and found out that both her parents and his are taking turns staying and helping with the children and the household. I didn't see her, but I did speak to her father and said to csll us if we can help and I sent her a card offering to listen. I since learned that her is getting early release in January, but I don't know what he will do for money- he can't be in law of course. That's all I know I think they will go to another church in the end, and I hope they do get support.
I did see that we missed a week and I'm glad that you are better from whatever it was. It is really hard to have to drive way out to get your patches- that seems ridiculous in this country. I'm glad you got in some exercise. We did our usual gym and walks. The fast was 3 days and so far I've kept off the 3 pounds I lost. I want to do another one - 3 days to get to where I have some wiggle room. Maybe Monday? Ill see how I feel then. Septic- finally got all the paperwork approved and sent in .Now Fiance has to move some of his building materials from where they need to work. My part was just getting it this far, and paying for it of course. But I saved and have more than enough. Leaves and acorns too are his job and he does some of it every day, but its still painfully slow. I try not to let it worry me. I hope you have a worry-free week-end and that you get to talk to your son- in my prayers as you are. Till next time.