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

[easyas123]

ugh something set off a wicked sneezing fit for me today (I get them now & then) and I've been sneezing all day.

I am so glad to hear you and your DH will have something fun to look forward to in December

yeah well I spoke to soon and jinxed myself! No availability for any of the resorts we wanted, so we decided to table it. For us that means not working out now but if I find some availability later I'll grab it, and if not then we will just go another time. No worries!

Were they what we call spring peepers?

I don't think I've every heard that phrase before! We've always just said we can "hear the frogs" again at the onset of warmer weather. But sounds like we are talking about the same thing!

BP pills

My husband started BP pills in December and he went thru a much milder version, but his Dr. recommended a bit more potassium as well. Probably didn't help but he had to go and have the med amount adjusted twice before they hit the right amount.

THIS MONTH NEEDS TO END NOW

Indeed it does, what a rough few weeks for you. Good thoughts going out to your family at this time, you guys must be emotionally exhausted, I know I would be.

Welp youngest is on his way back to the western shore. We will probably see him in 2 or 3 weeks. He & his brother & dad went fishing twice while he was home so I'm sure they have future fishing trips in the works! Our less agreeable dog isn't exactly warming up to the foster, he tolerates her so long as she doesn't get near him but she lacks dog sense to pick up his vibes at this time, so we've had some snarling and growling situations. Will be keeping an eye on it over the next week and re evaluate then.

The rain continues to fall and I'm starting to think we might just float away ha ha!! Creek is high and muddy.

Nothing particular on tap for dinner this evening - we will just have to see where the afternoon & evening takes us in terms of food.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

A quiet day is a good one, Carol, especially on a rainy Sunday! I do hope you’re having a good one, my friend. I admit that I have never heard the term “spring peepers” either and might have thought of chicks instead of frogs! I am enjoying reading about signs of Spring that each of you are coming across.

I am so sorry, Apirateslifeforme. Many hugs and prayers, my friend. Please know we are all here and care! I think you (and your family) have been literally through the wringer this last month and your body is feeling it. PLEASE take care if even for half an hour lay down and close your eyes or read a familiar book or watch a pure fun TV show, something to invite some extra calm to you. Always know also God is with you all!

Happy birthday to your DGD, Snowysmom! I am so glad you got to go to her party

Very thankful you got to enjoy a change of scene, AuntieMe3. Continued prayer to your Mom. I am glad to hear she is improving and is being cared for!

Hooray for an extra birthday celebration yesterday, PollyannaMom.

Fast forwarding through commercials is such a Blessing, Lynn! I won’t watch anything On Demand where doing so is not available. More than enough commercials in just trying to watch live a few minutes of a Hallmark movie. Continued prayers for no flooding!

Hug, Easyas, it’ll work out indeed! I hope the dogs will settle down too!

Sunday Gratitude: I haven't yet watched worship but will shortly and am always grateful when I do (thanks, Carol). Dad is finally feeling better. Also thankful to have had a nice talk via Chatzy with a friend from paperbackswap this morning.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Apologies for the double post. Rescuing our thread from almost the middle of page two!

 

[lynxstch]

Good rainy Monday QUACK'ers. Still raining outside, they say we topped out at almost 2". We need a couple of days of sun to dry this all out. I still have a headache, so assuming it's the weather. Did nothing most of yesterday, don't plan on doing much more than that today. Going back to bed for an hour or so, will check in later to see what everyone is up to. Just wanted to get the thread back up on the page. Have a nice morning everyone.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Good morning! Just caught up, been working some long shifts. Was also helping DS get his resume updated and test prep materials and such for a test he’s taking in a few months. It was easier to help DD get started as I knew the field better. But DS has a good handle on things and I like his style of tackling it once he gets going, lol.

Sorry to read about all the heartache with illnesses and accidents. Hugs and prayers to all who need them.

Glad to hear the kitchen is coming along and you got to meet LJ, @TazDev

@easy The bulldog is cute, good for you for helping him out. Hope the dogs eventually get along!

I really missed All Creatures Great and Small last night, but Men in Kilts is becoming a favorite at home!

I had a very good friend killed by a drunk driver. Her car had broken down on the highway and she was walking to get help. In the courtroom her brothers had trouble restraining themselves from going after the driver. I think of her often as we shared a love of music and certain bands and songs, as well as quite a few other things. I had another very close friend die of AIDS from that same era. One day I saw two rainbows and the first thing that came to mind was the two of them. Not sure why I thought of them right then but it must’ve had meaning somehow. Along the same lines, I had a patient recently who had a near death experience and it was interesting to hear that perspective. I enjoy learning about the spiritual aspects of life.

QOTD: I have a lot of friends from different walks of life, and different age groups. I always liked older people beginning when I used to go into a local nursing home where my mother worked, and just sit and talk to patients when I was a child. I still enjoy talking to patients.

Still friends with my absolutely oldest friend. She was three years old when we moved to the neighborhood. I was just a baby. Her mother sent her to our house to get her out of her own hair, lol. And we’ve been friends ever since. She lives in another state but we stay in touch. I also still have another friend since Kindergarten. She lives near me and we are due to meet for coffee again soon. We are at the same life stage with kids and parent so we always have a lot to talk about, besides our history together. I also remain close to another friend at elementary. Last time we talked on the phone it was a good three hours, lol. I had a very large group of friends in late elementary through HS. I am still close to several. One was someone I mentioned here a couple of weeks ago, we’d met for dinner recently where we grew up and knew the owner of the restaurant, who we caught up with. That friend is one very close to my heart. We also live in different states, though, so we don‘t get to see eachother as much as we used to, with both of us still working and her helping out with her grandchildren, etc. But when we’re together it’s like we were never apart. With another of that group, we stay in touch more by text, but those can get quite long. Let’s see I also have a very close friend from college/nursing school. We meet for coffee or lunch every few months. Lots of nurse friends. Lots of neighborhood friends, including the elderly lady who we visit and help out when she needs things. Lots of friends from when kids were growing up, some of whom we remain close to. We did a Zoom thing for a birthday over the winter where everyone joined in. That was fun. Also fun watching the kids grow up together and seeing what they’re all doing now. We have some friends from son’s sport days that I still stay in touch with, as well as some special patients. One of the most interesting ways I met a friend was in a grocery store one day. We just got talking and had a lot in common so we remained friends. Our family are like friends, we do a lot together. DH and kids tease me because I like to talk to people and will often get snagged into a conversation wherever we go. They are different than I am that way. I have some friends from here. I will probably think of others later. People can have very full lives even if they don’t have many friends. I see that here in some of you. It just depends on how you are and what you like to do. We’re all unique!

Well have to prep for a Zoom meeting this morning. Have a good day, everyone! I think we’re having pastrami sandwiches with cole slaw for dinner tonight and I am looking forward to that. Normally I do the shopping but DD and DH did it this weekend since I was working. That tuna casserole sounded good, I have been craving that, too. Maybe later in the week.

 

[tazdev3225]

Morning everyone. I need to go back and read the posts from yesterday. I did fly bys as we were really busy here.

The cabinets are in. My grandson did an amazing job. Here is a sample of some of the midway done pics. My grandson is on the left. The recessed lights will be flush mount LEDS




This is the added cabinets and counter space. He had to build the platform for that but it is amazing how much it opens the kitchen up and all the added storage I will have.



The best part of my weekend was this though. Me and LJ



My mom and her first great-great grandchild


And LJ. He is such a sweet baby and so good. I was thrilled to finally hold him. I even let my mom have more time with him than I did. I will have more chances.



Well I have cleaned out the fridge and am now waiting anxiously for the new stove and fridge to get here. Hopefully soon as I don't need all the food to spoil but I did manage to get rid of some expired dates. We are moving along. The counter people will be here this afternoon to measure the countertops.

Have a great day everyone.

 

[lynxstch]

@tazdev3225--He is such a cutie! Thank you for sharing your pics of him. And I LOVE the color of your cabinets, I can't wait to see pictures of a finished kitchen!

 

[tazdev3225]

@tazdev3225--He is such a cutie! Thank you for sharing your pics of him. And I LOVE the color of your cabinets, I can't wait to see pictures of a finished kitchen!

Thanks he is a keeper and I see so much of my son and grandson in him. The cabinets were a little darker than I remembered but they really match up so well with the floor, backsplash and counter top. I am getting excited. I can't wait for the electrician to get here wednesday and add the new lighting. Pics will come after that.

 

[easyas123]

Taz - beautiful cabinets! and Handsome baby!

I think we are due a break from rain after this morning gets done dumping some more precipitation on us, so I'm looking forward to the yard and fields drying out a bit. I've got an appointment w/ hair gal this afternoon for the 'whole nine yards', which for me is wax, trip & a bit of color. I don't get anything crazy, I have a color recipe she worked up for me that is pretty much a dead on for my natural color, just covers up the white and I have that done every couple of months. I'm just not ready to have white hair yet! Someday, but today is not that day haha
Looks like my next two weeks will be somewhat busy. I have a Dr. appt on Wed., a in person safety meeting on Friday, next week I have an appt. on Monday afternoon, dog has an appt. on Tuesday and Thursday I have a virtual conference that was supposed to be taking place in Las Vegas. Between you & me I'm not terribly broken up about not going!

 

[lynxstch]

I think we are due a break from rain after this morning gets done dumping some more precipitation on us, so I'm looking forward to the yard and fields drying out a bit.


Our rain is done, those warnings are gone, but now we have a high wind warning for 25-35 mph winds and gusts up to 50 mph. That is not good after all the soaking rain,,trees will be falling and breaking , and elec lines might come down.


I've got an appointment w/ hair gal this afternoon for the 'whole nine yards', which for me is wax, trip & a bit of color. I don't get anything crazy, I have a color recipe she worked up for me that is pretty much a dead on for my natural color, just covers up the white and I have that done every couple of months. I'm just not ready to have white hair yet! Someday, but today is not that day haha

Hubby keeps telling me to just go all gray..not in my lifetime,,lol. I color it myself, but do need to make an appt for a cut very soon--
Looks like my next two weeks will be somewhat busy. I have a Dr. appt on Wed., a in person safety meeting on Friday, next week I have an appt. on Monday afternoon, dog has an appt. on Tuesday and Thursday I have a virtual conference that was supposed to be taking place in Las Vegas. Between you & me I'm not terribly broken up about not going!

 

[easyas123]

I tried coloring my hair once when I was 17...and being 17 had no idea what I was doing, and no idea how difficult red hair is to color. My parents weren't ones to coddle us for doing dumb things, but luckily for me my Mom got me into see some colorist that Monday, where I spent almost all day in the chair, first he stripped it, then had to re color it. I don't know what it cost, but I'm so glad they didn't make me go to school with grey streaked muddy hair. It was a disaster!

My mother, who will be turning 70 in a few weeks, was one of those women who never wore makeup or colored her hair. But she is still partially blond!

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Good morning.

Trying to get some phone calls done. Had to call the hospital to schedule a CT scan. Just some ongoing issues that I think and hope will turn out to be just a part of my anxiety. Have to get bloodwork done tomorrow. They wanted to schedule March 10 but that is my next COVID vaccine so decided to wait a couple of days after that. If anyone has had a CT scan and wants to reassure me about what the actual scan is like, I would love to hear.

Also trying to set up my Longwood Gardens membership. They gave me a temporary password but it didn't work so I think I'll have to call back. Giving it a few minutes first as maybe I was too quick trying it.

@tasdev3225, loved seeing your pictures, especially you and LJ. The kitchen is looking good. I am sure it will be lovely when done.

We also have high wind warnings. With all the rain and soft ground, I am afraid of trees coming down.

I have had my hair colored in the past but don't now. 40+ years ago I had henna done and something called a cellophane.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Good Morning and Happy March all

Precious pictures, Taz Dev! So happy both you and your Mom got to meet LJ! God Bless all of you. I also really like your cabinets.

Pea, on your friend. I am so sorry. I remember even at a young age not even understanding (Throughout my childhood I was a huge Dodgers fan--not anymore) how baseball stadiums even then could sell unlimited alcohol to folks they knew would be driving home after the game. Definitely did not ever agree with that.

Prayers Carol your CT scan will be an easy process!

to all.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

@tazdev3225, I just want to hold little LJ! He's so adorable! Thank you for sharing, I have a big smile on my face right now

Gee, look at this, I'm actually here two days in a row. It's been a while since that happened...

So last night, as we were finishing dinner, my uncle's stepdaughter-in-law called to tell us that he was gone. And then later we learned that he had left an entire handwritten letter with all of his wishes laid out. It really seems like he'd planned this. He just wanted to be with my aunt...they both said they were the love of each others' lives. Just...wow. It hit me that he didn't even live as long as my grandfather...they all died too young, IMO.

I guess there is a bright spot, though. My family is really dysfunctional and there is always someone who won't speak to someone else. Most recently, it's been another of my uncles (I have 3 of them) and a cousin who have refused to speak to my mother. Well, last night she reached out to both of them and had several nice chats with them since. I don't know that this will necessarily heal their relationships...I'm always optimistic, but then someone else gets offended over something and the silent treatment starts again. This is why I prefer DH's family to my own. My family is nuts.

So Mom's not going to Illinois; it doesn't sound like there will be a service, and my uncle's daughter from his first marriage is there and she wants to pack up his stuff. He doesn't have anything anyway, just clothes (and Mom says most of those need to go in the garbage...she was horrified last summer at the condition of his clothes. He just didn't care anymore). I will say, she's handling it quite well. I think the fact that he's with my aunt, just the way he wanted, kind of eases the grief.

We finally took a ride to Once Upon a Child this morning with a bin stuffed full of Josh's outgrown clothes. It's been a year since I tried selling anything, so I had a lot! And pleasantly, they took almost everything - they only rejected a few pairs of shorts and some t-shirts that were mostly all hand-me-downs anyway (and one shirt had a paint stain on it, I think). They don't give you very much per item, pretty much all around $1 each, but I like it because I sell more there than I would in a tag sale. I always find a few things on the racks, too, so I "trade" but still come out with a decent profit

First off, I'm so sorry about your uncle. So sad. That's a lot of loss to deal with at one time.

And I wanted to say about the vertigo. Did you mention before you were on blood pressure pills? When I first started taking my blood pressure meds, I got vertigo bad. Turned out my potassium levels were all out of whack from the BP pills and Dr said that could cause vertigo so I started taking potassium pills and it went away soon after. As soon as my levels evened out I was able to stop the potassium but every once in awhile I can feel the vertigo coming back a little bit and I just start eating bananas or take a potassium pill.

I'm not on BP meds just yet. I'm supposed to be monitoring 3x per week for 3 months and then she'll decide if I need help. I am much better at home than in the doctor's office - yesterday afternoon, despite the stress, I had a 134/79! That's great for me! Might still technically be elevated, but it's not bad.

The vertigo, though...I've had problems with my right ear for as long as I can remember. I remember a day when I was in 2nd or 3rd grade when I stayed home from school, lying on the sofa with a heating pad in my pillow, staying on that ear, watching The Jeffersons on TV So I suspect I have crystals in that ear and it lasted so long because they wouldn't move. Also suspect is that the weather in February starts to change and I'm VERY sensitive to the change in the barometer. I seem to have more headaches and vertigo in February. But maybe I should try eating bananas again. I like them, but I always feel nauseated after having one

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Apirateslifeforme. I'm so glad that it does bring you and your family comfort to know your uncle is at peace with your aunt. I also know that doesn't ease the immediate loss, hugs, my friend. I am glad you did well at Once Upon a Child. continued prayer always!

We have been a quieter bunch the last couple days overall. Sending an extra to each of you. I watched Love Takes Flight last night. I finally got to DVR it on Hallmark thanks to my new working so well (hooray) cable box. It was the touching story of a hospital administrator and her young daughter and how they came to love and find family and vice versa with an elderly man and his son. The son flies medical helicopters. Some pretty scenery, too.

Have a good afternoon, friends!

 

[PollyannaMom]

@apirateslifeforme, I'm not sure whether to sad face your post because of the news about your uncle, or like it because of the family reconnections and clothes success...so consider this both.


Today was one of those work days that was really fine looking back, but ended in a whirlwind of chaos, so it didn't feel like that at the time. Oh well.

Gratitudes anyway:

• car wasn't frosty this morning
• a good chat with DS
• cheese and crackers for snack

 

[lynxstch]

[B]@apirateslifeforme, I'm not sure whether to sad face your post because of the news about your uncle, or like it because of the family reconnections and clothes success...so consider this both.



That was exactly how I felt. It made me sad, then made me smile, and hope that some of the reconnections take hold and last[/B]


Today was one of those work days that was really fine looking back, but ended in a whirlwind of chaos, so it didn't feel like that at the time. Oh well.

Gratitudes anyway:

• car wasn't frosty this morning
• a good chat with DS
• cheese and crackers for snack

Winds have started to pick up, but not too bad yet. I got candles, emergency radio, and flashlights ready, just in case. I found out that several furniture stores here have power lift chairs in stock..and 2 of them have very good prices. Going to stop and look tomorrow. He wants me to pick out new living room furniture while there, but I refuse to pick it out myself. Even though he only sits in his power recliner now, and probably won't ever even sit on new furniture,,our tastes are far from the same, lol
Dinner is going to be leftover pork, french fries, and fruit. I just don't feel like cooking.

 

[easyas123]

Winds have started to pick up, but not too bad yet. I got candles, emergency radio, and flashlights ready, just in case

You’ve got me thinking that I should double check my flashlights & candles are where I think I last put them!
Not to windy in these parts but what you guys get we often get a few hours later. You ate so right- all that rain & snow melt over the last week combined w/ winds = trouble.

Grilled chicken legs with roasted potatoes for dinner tonight/

 

[flyingdumbo127]

I'm sorry to hear that, PollyannaMom.

Yikes, please stay safe Lynn! Thinking of you, my friend.

Prayers for your safety too, Easyas!

Dad and I now keep a flashlight right by the couch just to have on hand. We have two battery operated lanterns from Walmart that work really well. Lantern

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I did get my Longwood Gardens membership set up. We may try to go later this week.

Sun is out now and the wind is starting. Our neighborhood is called Everbreeze, which is a good name because it is often breezy here.

I am having spaghetti and salad for dinner. Then a worship team Zoom meeting.

My main birthday gift from DH and both kids was an internet connected digital picture frame. I so enjoy watching the it change as the kids can add pictures at any time.

@PollyannaMom, you are doing much better than I am at keeping up with gratitudes.

Today grateful for the sun shining.