Another lovely day in Oklahoma. . .

[NFLDERS]

Merry 'Almost!'

 

[NFLDERS]

A bit different content. Pictures of dgs's gecko. (sp?)

 

[chickapin parterre]

Wow.....geckos are like horses...they come in all different shapes and colors....our medditerian geckos are spotted white and brown and are small and look more like lizards and that dude on TV.

 

[leebee]

No lizards here for pets, but DD27 just got a hamster for her apartment. She can't have dogs or cats, and as much as she likes having her "own place" she also admits to being lonely sometimes. She's doing remarkably well, considering her now ex-husband took both of their cats and moved to CO in October for a big-time engineering job while she's been back here in Maine, starting over. Her hamster is cute, and she named her Mia... Mia HAMMster! Actually, DD is doing better than I had anticipated and is in the midst of applying for grad school for next fall, to get a Master's in Social Work. She is working with the social work group at a local nursing home and loves working with the geriatric population, just hates the pay that a "non-licensed" assistant makes. I am glad she has found a path that she likes. Her BA in English (summa, with a concentration and 2 minors) was qualifying her to be a paraprofessional in the elementary schools. I'm glad she is finding her way into a program that will lead to a profession, and not just a job.

We are finishing up the semester and getting ready for Christmas. It's finally feeling like winter here in Maine; we had about 2" of snow on Sunday and it's been cold ever since (upper 20s, low 30sF). DH and I were supposed to be leaving on Wednesday for a week in Florida but we decided to cancel. There's just too much to do to finish up the semester, and we realized we didn't want to spend vacation sitting around the villa, grading. Airfare was refundable (thank, Southwest) and the villa and rental car fully cancelable. I am glad we are staying home, although I had spent a goodly amount of time tracking down great deals which I was a little sad to give up. However, we are going to FL in January. A friend (from the DISboards) gifted us 3 nights at AKL during the time that another friend (also from the DISboards) will be down there with her hubby and DD22, so DH and I will join them at Epcot on one day and AK on another. Yes I know there's a pandemic; we are tested regularly through work and are really, really good at masking and distancing. And... early January in WDW, there should be just about nobody there. We will also spend 2 nights at my BIL/SIL's place, and then go see an elderly, unwell friend if he is comfortable having out of state guests. Seeing as we are coming from Maine, which is #2 for "best covid situation" in the nation, AND we are regularly tested, he should be safe. If he's not comfortable with any of this, we'll wait an go visit him in the summer- but he's 76 and in kidney failure and on oxygen 24/7, so we are hopeful we'll get to visit this January... but maybe not.

That's about it. No decorating has yet been done, but I have about half the shopping finished. Wrapping? HAHAHA- but with only 3 of us here, there won't be any big meals to prep or major housecleaning to be done before Christmas, at least!! I hope everyone is healthy and looking forward to the holidays.

 

[Micca]

Mia... Mia HAMMster!

 

[leebee]

First... someday I want to come here with happy, sun-shiney news, but apparently 2020 is going to segue into 2021 for me without much change. Based on my age and my daughter's health status, the doctor is advising that I isolate from her once school starts. That means from DH, too, so she can at least see one of us. I'm looking at 24 weeks of being isolated from my husband and daughter. I have to go back into the chemistry department and teach F2F. Even with alternating weeks, it means I'll be in contact with 100 kids a week and there'll be an additional 300 kids a week in and out of the building for the general chemistry labs. There are no one-way directional stairwells, no hand sanitizer stations at the stairwell exit on each floor (and I HAVE to hold the handrail). I'm going to mask and wear a face shield, but it's a lot of people in and out, around me every day, and they are of an age group that doesn't always think the rules pertain to them. This could change, as DD works in a nursing/long term care facility and her residents and she should be at the top of the vaccine list, but of course the state won't get nearly enough vaccine to go around. I'm smiling on the outside, but still trying to adjust to the thought of wearing a mask and distancing, as well as using a separate bedroom and bathroom, from my own family for 6 months. I am not freaking out yet, as the info is new and I haven't really digested what it means, and to what depth we'll take it so that I don't lose my ever-loving mind before July... but I am really NOT happy.

 

[Micca]

First... someday I want to come here with happy, sun-shiney news, but apparently 2020 is going to segue into 2021 for me without much change. Based on my age and my daughter's health status, the doctor is advising that I isolate from her once school starts. That means from DH, too, so she can at least see one of us. I'm looking at 24 weeks of being isolated from my husband and daughter. I have to go back into the chemistry department and teach F2F. Even with alternating weeks, it means I'll be in contact with 100 kids a week and there'll be an additional 300 kids a week in and out of the building for the general chemistry labs. There are no one-way directional stairwells, no hand sanitizer stations at the stairwell exit on each floor (and I HAVE to hold the handrail). I'm going to mask and wear a face shield, but it's a lot of people in and out, around me every day, and they are of an age group that doesn't always think the rules pertain to them. This could change, as DD works in a nursing/long term care facility and her residents and she should be at the top of the vaccine list, but of course the state won't get nearly enough vaccine to go around. I'm smiling on the outside, but still trying to adjust to the thought of wearing a mask and distancing, as well as using a separate bedroom and bathroom, from my own family for 6 months. I am not freaking out yet, as the info is new and I haven't really digested what it means, and to what depth we'll take it so that I don't lose my ever-loving mind before July... but I am really NOT happy.

Oh dear, this is extremely troubling Try to hang in there

 

[Micca]

Christmas just keeps getting better around here! Couple of weeks ago we bought DD a new washing machine, and this week DW and I have gifted ourselves a new garbage disposal and a new toilet! I feel some major automotive trouble is in the works--could it go any other way? The upside is our Disney Visa rewards are growing exponentially

 

[Kitty 34]

Christmas just keeps getting better around here! Couple of weeks ago we bought DD a new washing machine, and this week DW and I have gifted ourselves a new garbage disposal and a new toilet! I feel some major automotive trouble is in the works--could it go any other way? The upside is our Disney Visa rewards are growing exponentially

Can I just say, Micca......a fitting year to get a toilet. !!

 

[NFLDERS]

Tim's first snow day! Enjoying a game of keep away and Summer thought she'd come in 'outa the cold, but Timbor wasn't with her so she turned around and went back down into the backyard.

I stand corrected! Timbor's head can be seen in the bottom right corner, so it was Summer who did not want to come in!!

 

[ronandannette]

Tim's first snow day! Enjoying a game of keep away and Summer thought she'd come in 'outa the cold, but Timbor wasn't with her so she turned around and went back down into the backyard.View attachment 544445View attachment 544446View attachment 544447

I stand corrected! Timbor's head can be seen in the bottom right corner, so it was Summer who did not want to come in!!

Happy Week Before Christmas Eve everybody! It's been quite a while since we discussed anything as mundane as the weather. And FWIW, the weather is just another thing that's completely topsy-turvy this year. It's 5C today and the temps have been similar for the past 6 weeks or so. No snow to speak of and none forecast before Christmas. Funny how before Covid "wrecked us" we would be LOVING this but now it just seems spooky and slightly ominous.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Christmas just keeps getting better around here! Couple of weeks ago we bought DD a new washing machine, and this week DW and I have gifted ourselves a new garbage disposal and a new toilet! I feel some major automotive trouble is in the works--could it go any other way? The upside is our Disney Visa rewards are growing exponentially

Way to look on the bright side!

We've been having a "home repair" quarter as well. Started with a minor washing machine flood not too long ago, then we decided to order replacements for some windows, and now it has culminated (at least I hope this is the last thing!) with mold in the attic.

We saw it while getting some Christmas tree ornaments down. The remediation guys came Wednesday and everything is now bright and clean, but I have a dumpster full of the old insulation in my driveway during a snowstorm.

We lost some stuff that was in cardboard boxes, but we were able to save quite a bit because it was in plastic bins that could be wiped down with bleach. (My PSA for the day - it's worth it to buy the bins!) But now I have those piled in my craft room, because the snow today meant the guys couldn't get back to put the new insulation in. Wish me luck!

 

[NFLDERS]

Christmas just keeps getting better around here! Couple of weeks ago we bought DD a new washing machine, and this week DW and I have gifted ourselves a new garbage disposal and a new toilet! I feel some major automotive trouble is in the works--could it go any other way? The upside is our Disney Visa rewards are growing exponentially

By my count you're 3 in there^ and around here that would mean, you should be good for awhile!

No Disney Visa rewards here, but a ship load of RCCL Offers!

 

[NFLDERS]

Can I just say, Micca......a fitting year to get a toilet. !!

YOU, took a gamble.. ^right there plunged all in!

 

[NFLDERS]

Way to look on the bright side!

We've been having a "home repair" quarter as well. Started with a minor washing machine flood not too long ago, then we decided to order replacements for some windows, and now it has culminated (at least I hope this is the last thing!) with mold in the attic.

We saw it while getting some Christmas tree ornaments down. The remediation guys came Wednesday and everything is now bright and clean, but I have a dumpster full of the old insulation in my driveway during a snowstorm.

We lost some stuff that was in cardboard boxes, but we were able to save quite a bit because it was in plastic bins that could be wiped down with bleach. (My PSA for the day - it's worth it to buy the bins!) But now I have those piled in my craft room, because the snow today meant the guys couldn't get back to put the new insulation in. Wish me luck!

I lost a count! Best of luck from this Irish Canadian.

 

[Micca]

By my count you're 3 in there^ and around here that would mean, you should be good for awhile!

You're saying this is like the celebrity death thing...they come in threes???

 

[NFLDERS]

You're saying this is like the celebrity death thing...they come in threes???

The 3 C's Covid, Christmas, and Celebrity.

 

[leebee]

Christmas just keeps getting better around here! Couple of weeks ago we bought DD a new washing machine, and this week DW and I have gifted ourselves a new garbage disposal and a new toilet! I feel some major automotive trouble is in the works--could it go any other way? The upside is our Disney Visa rewards are growing exponentially

Ah, Micca, you know how to live!! This year we gifted ourselves with a new fence and driveway, as well as snow tires for me and new tires for DH AND DD, but nothing as exciting as a new potty!!

I'm up at the crack of dawn because I have somehow gotten myself onto an alternate sleep schedule where I fall asleep around 9pm watching TV. By the time 3:30am or so rolls around, I am WIDE awake. No matter, it gives me "alone" time to wrap DH's gifts! Our outside lights are up and the tree is decorated. STUPID TREE. This is the 3rd year we've had it, we finally bought a pre-lit tree as I am all about the lights and DH is tired of hauling a messy, dying tree out of the house at the end of January (I may or may not leave the tree up too long... it's debatable...). The first year was GREAT. Last year... it seemed like not as many lights were working. This year? There's a stretch around the bottom that goes about 1/4 way around the tree, and then another stretch mid-tree that goes about 1/3 of the way around. The rest are OUT. DH spent hours trying to loosen, wiggle, re-seat, and hunt down missing/burned out bulbs, but life is too short for that so we ended up putting our old lights on the tree. Of course half of them are not working for some reason (and I mean, the half of a strand closest to the plug does not work but the other half of the strand does, very odd indeed!) and there are no colored tree lights to be had around here, so I coiled up the non-working parts into little nests, stuck those in the back of the tree, and then wound the working parts around to the front of the tree. Yankee ingenuity, I tell ya! Anyhow, we now have a very acceptable Christmas tree with lotsa lights, so I'm a happy girl!

There is also better news at work. I think I have managed to convince "the powers that be" that the first week of lab should be taught remotely. This means the students return to campus on days 1-3 to move in and be tested, and they are asked to stay on campus for the week. Classes resume day 8, but the labs could be done remotely that week as not all students will have their testing results back. All we will be doing is reviewing the syllabus, going over the dreaded "how to write a lab report," etc. I have my fingers crossed; I'd feel so much better if the students have been in our "Local Bubble" for 2 weeks before I have to face them. Also good news is that the staff where DD works have scheduled vaccination appointments starting 12/28, so HOPEFULLY she will receive the vaccine and be protected before my semester starts.

SO... what are y'all having for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meals? I think I'll make something with shrimp for Christmas Eve. For Christmas dinner we are having stuffed shells with meatballs. I gave up on making the big family holiday celebration meal about 15 years ago, when I realized that while everyone else was having a relaxing day watching football and reading their Christmas books, I was on an endless cycle of cooking, doing dishes, and back to cooking. It was exhausting and No Fun For Me- and as they say, if Mama's not happy, NOBODY is happy, right? I will do the bulk of the prep work on Wed and Thur (so bake cake layers, make dips etc) to make Friday easier. Breakfast-which is always really late- will be bagels from our favorite bagel shop, then we'll graze on apps in the afternoon, and have supper around 6. Dessert will be red velvet cake (from scratch) and... either lemon meringue pie or maybe trifle. Still not sure on the 2nd dessert, but there's time!

OK, back to the wrapping. Hope everyone is safe and well. Happy holidays!!

 

[PollyannaMom]

I'm up at the crack of dawn because I have somehow gotten myself onto an alternate sleep schedule where I fall asleep around 9pm watching TV. By the time 3:30am or so rolls around, I am WIDE awake. No matter, it gives me "alone" time to wrap DH's gifts!

Weird sleep patterns happen to me this time of year as well. It just gets dark so early, my sense of time gets all messed up. Last night, I napped on the couch for an hour or two after dinner, then got up and did my usual chores and stuff, went to bed later than usual, and was up at 4:30 this morning.

I have my fingers crossed; I'd feel so much better if the students have been in our "Local Bubble" for 2 weeks before I have to face them. Also good news is that the staff where DD works have scheduled vaccination appointments starting 12/28, so HOPEFULLY she will receive the vaccine and be protected before my semester starts.

That's great news!

 

[Micca]

This is interesting about the altered sleep patterns. I too have been falling asleep early (usually in front of the tv) and wake up around 4am. It takes an hour or two to go back to sleep, but relaxing in a nice warm bed isn't the worst way to kill a couple of hours.

@leebee we had some adventures with our pre-lit tree so a couple of years back we tossed it and just bought a new one. Not sure if it will be different this year but you can usually snag great deals on Christmas trees and lights just after the 25th.

Don't think there are any major menu plans for Christmas eve. DD came in from Seattle over the weekend and she put together a huge turkey feast on Sunday night, we're still enjoying the leftovers from that. Christmas dinner will be beef tenderloin with some sides.