Quarantine and chill and kindness chatty clubhouse: Jump in and join the conversation! All is welcome!

[lynxstch]

Good morning. Going to be sunny and 48 today, so we'll take it.

Nothing on my agenda. They brought me yesterdays paper, along with one of today's to make up for yesterday, and took the newspaper box away. Between when he started getting it and today, Don got the morning paper for 40 years. He would only look at the print version for the crossword lately, and read the news online at 3 in the morning. I have 3 big boxes full of newspapers that I am dropping off at the animal shelter later this morning.

For some reason Summer has been very quiet. No calls, no texts, no bothering me about ashes. I'm expecting it at any minute. Once again she's going to get the same answer. No, I'm not ready yet. This is being done on my time table, not hers.

I watched the finale of Big Brother Reindeer Games last night. I enjoyed it so much more than the normal seasons. It was fun and very colorful.

I think I'm going to go down and clean off the workbench and start getting rid of some stuff on there that never gets used. It will be one more clean spot down there.

Have a great Friday

 

[flyingdumbo127]

extra!

 

[lynxstch]

I spoke too soon. At exactly the same time Don passed away 6 weeks ago she texted me asking if I was going to be home. I said yes I'm home, but we are not doing anything with the ashes. How many times do I have to tell you? I said give them the crosses, we'll add the ashes when I'm good and ready to do it. She said "I'll sit at the kitchen table. You don't even have to be in the room." I said "I am not letting you do it alone, no matter when we do it, but my answer isn't going to change today." So I guess she won't be speaking to me for awhile and I won't see the kids for Christmas. I'll just have to take the bad with the good.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Oh dear Lynn

 

[PollyannaMom]

@lynxstch

Glad the kids are on the mend, @Snowysmom.

Ran a few errands today and did some wrapping. Have a little more to do tomorrow, but it looks like I'll have time. - Sadly, niece is sick, so they aren't coming over.

I should be able to finish wrapping and cookies tomorrow, then I'll just need to do the pie and cheese balls Sunday afternoon.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

for your niece dear PollyannaMom. Extra XO to all.

 

[lynxstch]

Good morning. Gray outside, calling for a chance of rain. Temps near 50. At least it's not freezing or snowing.

Summer came over last night to bring me a Christmas present. A wind chime with a nice saying about a husband but it made me cry. Then she says 'I have the crosses in the car, can we please do them for the kids for Christmas?" I felt like the Grinch, but I wasn't letting her guilt me into doing it. She wasn't happy, but said she understood. I'm guessing I won't hear from her again until after Christmas.
My brother in law and sister in law will be here sometime this afternoon to bring me a plate from their Christmas Dinner. It's not necessary, but I won't have to cook dinner tonight anyhow. Then my other sister in law called last night and told me they were coming over to take me to Rocky Gap to see the light display. I said I didn't feel like going. She says then we'll wait and go tomorrow. I said I just didn't want to go at all. I appreciate what they are trying to do, but what part of I don't feel like celebrating at all don't they get?

I'll really be glad when it's over, so I don't have to keep telling everyone that.

I'm going to go wash the kitchen floor and then color my hair. I'll clean the bathrooms after I wash the color out. Then find something else to get into

Have a nice Saturday

 

[Snowysmom]

Lynn Family tries so hard to make us feel better. They don't understand grieving is on our time table, not theirs. They mean well. You need to just do what is best for you. This is the time to take care of yourself and let everything and everyone else wait. I colored my hair yesterday too I feel like it was something to do for the holiday. I hope you have some calm and peace over the holidays.

@PollyannaMom Get well wishes for you niece.

So far today I have been at Wegman's (6:14 am) and got what I needed. Not too busy but getting busier as I left. I got coffee at Dunkin. I made toll house cookie bars and chocolate cream pie. I treated myself to an everything bagel, I have not had one in ages. It tasted so good. Now I need to clean up but taking a break. Then I need to vacuum and pack up what I am bringing to Kenny's today for the holiday. His GF is on her way to her cruise with her sister and brother. We are going to look for backsplash tile this afternoon. I may go over to his house earlier, drop off the food and gifts, and then walk in his neighborhood for a change of scenery. Then tomorrow I need to go back to Kenny's with Jeff's family gifts and food. Plus I will be staying the night at his house so I need my suitcase. I will probably be there a couple of nights. Owen wanted me to have a Nana sleepover sometime. My brain is so busy thinking of things to do and work stuff with my laptop at Kenny's and how to connect it etc. I worry too much. Just let it be!

Have a good day.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We are at home, doing somethings that need doing. Tom will be walking Gus as no one was available for today and tomorrow. He‘ll take it easy.

Yesterday we watched the Dick Van Dyke birthday special, the Graceland special and Dolly’s Christmas special that had aired last year.

I’ve called a few friends….

Thinking of you all, and wish you a good day. Grey here, 48°.

 

[SpaceMan5]

Good morning. Gray outside, calling for a chance of rain. Temps near 50. At least it's not freezing or snowing.

Summer came over last night to bring me a Christmas present. A wind chime with a nice saying about a husband but it made me cry. Then she says 'I have the crosses in the car, can we please do them for the kids for Christmas?" I felt like the Grinch, but I wasn't letting her guilt me into doing it. She wasn't happy, but said she understood. I'm guessing I won't hear from her again until after Christmas.
My brother in law and sister in law will be here sometime this afternoon to bring me a plate from their Christmas Dinner. It's not necessary, but I won't have to cook dinner tonight anyhow. Then my other sister in law called last night and told me they were coming over to take me to Rocky Gap to see the light display. I said I didn't feel like going. She says then we'll wait and go tomorrow. I said I just didn't want to go at all. I appreciate what they are trying to do, but what part of I don't feel like celebrating at all don't they get?

I'll really be glad when it's over, so I don't have to keep telling everyone that.

I'm going to go wash the kitchen floor and then color my hair. I'll clean the bathrooms after I wash the color out. Then find something else to get into

Have a nice Saturday

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Thinking about you and the family struggles that you are dealing with right now.

I agree with what @Snowysmom posted about how family means well but they really don't understand. It's not quite fair for them to put their feelings or wants ahead of yours.

You do you and take care of yourself.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

In the midst of work shifts. Survived the first one. Still not feeling great but better than I was (and not contagious; all just sequelae for me, same for DD). We have a fairly young patient who is on CMO, I felt bad for her (young adult) child dealing with that this week and offered what I could to help.

Thinking of all of you experiencing difficulty. So hard. It wasn’t much of a holiday season for me being sick, but I’m looking forward to seeing family tomorrow evening, especially my nephew who lost his Dad back in Sept who is in college out of state. We got him a special gift with the family name. Lynn, I hope things settle down and your family just lets you be.

DD had an interesting experience. I think I mentioned a couple of weeks ago she took care of someone even younger than her who was dying. It was hard for her but she continued to talk to her while she cared for her, even though she was barely conscious, and she saw a small head nod once. That patient later went elsewhere so DD didn’t know what ended up happening with her. But the other morning DD was sleeping and had a very vivid dream of her. In the dream she was whole, and thanked DD for all she did for her. She remembered everything about the dream, related it all to me when she woke up. I told her I thought that was a special message she received and to cherish it.

DH had some extra ricotta cheese from the cannolis so he made some Italian cookies with it for us to bring into work. I made a candy basket to share yesterday and DD and I also made some other pretzel candy thingies. I would’ve preferred to bring in real food but I had all I could do to shop for what we needed!

I hope everyone has a good Saturday!

PS DS got to do his first solo flight the other day. He was so happy! I was worried but it all went well. (I have to let it go.)

 

[flyingdumbo127]

What a blessing God extra gave your daughter, dear Pea! Thank you for sharing. Prayers she is feeling much better by now, too.

Snowysmom, all of your treats sound so tasty--yum! a ton you have a peaceful Christmas.

Bobbi, always prayers of health for you and Tom. So glad you talked with some friends. Thinking extra of you

Dear Lynn, just and love.

SpaceMan

To all always

Footballmouse, PollyannaMom, Easyas, Dazed, Kirby, thinking extra of each of you and AuntieMe3, Frog, and of course, Tina, too.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Got all the necessary wrapping done today (have a couple left for my cousins little girls, but we don't see them until after Christmas, so they'll still get done in time.)

Made my mom's cookies (they definitely brought me back - Yum!) and some Cheerio clusters as well. Watched a Hallmark movie and two episodes of Jeopardy (we're still way behind ) and now I need to walk on the treadmill and do the mountain of dishes.

...and of course, Tina, too.

I often wonder what became of our wise founder.

@Pea-n-Me, what a neat bit of closure for your DD! I hope both of you continue to feel better, and that everyone who's missing someone has moments of peace this holiday weekend ~

 

[flyingdumbo127]

PollyannaMom and thank you.

 

[Judique]

Good morning all!

Had a nice early Xmas dinner with older DD and grandchildren last night. Having the holiday essentially fall over a weekend opened up an extra day to be with family. We exchanged some gifts and enjoyed 'charcuterie' and then dinner.

The girls all loved my Xmas tree as it holds many memories. They had fun looking at many of the ornaments which were sentimental to me and saved for many years, such as a stocking and a gingerbread man made of felt that my DD age 45 in a few days made when she was almost 6, in school in Newport, RI. Thanks to the patient teacher who did some crafts with her class, these have survived for 39 years now.

Another was a little wad of Monopoly money with a tiny bow and a note on the back saying, 'this is in payment for all the money you spent on me this year'. My DD was 10 then and we spent Xmas in West Palm Beach with her Grandma who had moved there earlier that spring. We also did our first 1 day Disney trip on that visit, in 1988. We went on DD's actual birthday. Still have those first visit pins.

I've filled the bird feeders and I'm waiting for the birds to fly in. I can see them watching from my neighbor's roof so there must be a cat nearby. I'll have to go out and have a talk with him or her.

 

[lynxstch]

Good morning. Sunny and heading for 55-60 today, not Christmassy weather, but I'll take it.

My sister in law and brother in law brought me a full dinner yesterday afternoon and stayed and visited for half an hour. The dinner was really good. Turkey, with all the trimmings. One of my nieces made some kind of sweet potato thing with brown sugar and pecans and it was delicious, and I don't like sweet potatoes. I don't know where my brother in law learned to bake, but there were some baked to perfection chocolate chip cookies (which didn't make it till dinnertime, lol), and apple pie with the flakiest crust I've ever had. There was also a piece of pecan pie, but it's not my thing, so I won't be eating it. It was all in a big fancy divided tray, except the desserts, and she told me to just heat it up and then throw it away. So the only thing I had to wash was 1 fork

I'm in a weepy mood today, which I expected to hit one of these days, but I'm going to get myself out of it. I decided the only tradition I'm not changing is Christmas Eve dinner. We always did a smorgasboard type thing and I'm going to do that. Shrimp with cocktail sauce, devilled eggs, loaded baked potato skins, garlic bologna, crackers, and grapes. I'll skip the dessert. My duck for tomorrow is out of the freezer and defrosting. I haven't had it in more than 23 years and I'm really looking forward to it.

I hope my DIS family has a lovely Christmas Eve, sent with love and thanks

 

[Snowysmom]

Lynn Enjoy your Christmas Eve dinner. And being weepy is fine and doing something to get out of it is great too.

Pea Your DD is such a kind nurse. She did get a message from her young patient.

@PollyannaMom Thank you for the holiday wishes. I take that to heart.

I stayed the night at Kenny's even though I didn't think I would. I am staying with him until at least Tues maybe Wed. We got backsplash tile for my condo. He is going to install it later this week. We walked the dog at a local Lake. Then I took him out for dinner. This is probably the last holiday I will have with him and the kids alone. His GF will be with us from now on. I am cherishing this time. Today I am back at the condo to pack up gifts, food, and anything I need. I need to bring my work laptop to Kenny's and set it up for my 2 days of work at his house. I am getting new tires on my car on Tuesday. I will feel better doing the drive to my office once a week. Merry Christmas to me!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.

 

[lynxstch]

I forgot to say thank you to @PollyannaMom I too, took that message you put up to heart, it made me tear up. Thank you so very much!

 

[PollyannaMom]

Good morning, all Baked the chocolate chip cookies this morning (a few for us, but mostly for DS's friend, as they're his favorite) and made the cheeseballs. I still have to do a Jello pudding pie later, but right now I'm outside with a kitty. DH asked for quesadillas and appetizers for tonight's dinner, so that will be fairly easy, and then tomorrow we'll be at MIL's for ham.

In case I don't pop on later, Merry Quacker Christmas!!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Thank you again PollyannaMom indeed for the truly beautiful message and always, YOU. You are so dear indeed.

Merry Christmas Eve Day to all. Remember always the MIRACLE of so long ago that will occur anew within each of us tonight. Give thanks and know He loves you! So proud of each of you, your courage and faithful kind spirit. What a blessing to be a Quacker.