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

[Bianca and Bernard]

Yes you did it perfectly! I would love to see Hamilton live. I would love to see any show live these days. My bucket list is Phantom, Wicked, Lion King, and Hamilton..maybe some day

Glad to have you posting with us on this thread. If noone told you,,we call ourselves the Quacker Family, and all are welcome!

Morning all...

I have only seen one live show...Spamalot. It was funny, but not really my thing. I took DH for Father's day while we lived in Vegas.
I would love to see all 4 of those. Our country has a small playhouse at the local college that puts on plays/musicals, has speakers and comedians. I always forget to look up whose coming. We used to live right up the road from it, so I could see the billboard when driving down to the post office, lol. There's also a big playhouse in Jax, but I am not sure if it's open again.

My right shoulder and arm are still feeling a bit stiff. The bruise really came out on the palm of my right hand and on the inside of my left foot. I do have some things I have to get done today (move 4 boxes from DS's room and sweep/mop in there; wipe down his desk so Dh can set up his new monitors and computer this weekend; clean litter boxes; take out trash; and pick up/sweep/mop the dining area).

I still have so much stuff that I have to find places for, lol; and I STILL cannot find the bolts to put the mirror on our dresser. I had them in the bag with the bolts/instructions for the bed, but DH pulled them out, and has no idea where he put them. And of course, he is saying he didn't pull them out...well, I remember him doing it, and me telling him to put them back in the bag until he was ready to put the mirror on, and him saying "but I will need these" and I threw my hands up and went "whatever! you do what you want" and I walked away. We were huffing and puffing at each other all day that day.

For lunch yesterday, I had a pastrami and swiss sandwich; DH had his usual sickbed meal: tomato soup and grilled cheese. We didn't have burgers last night, because DH's tummy was still bothering him a bit; he had a turkey and swiss sandwich, and I had junk mini tacos w/sour cream and salsa. Tonight we are having the burgers I keep putting off, oven fried onion rings, and salad.

Was up late watching the AVs TAKE IT IN OT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One down, three to go! Last time they won the Stanley Cup was 21 years ago; I got to see them play the Coyotes that season; they lost that game though, but I was ok, because the Coyotes are my 2nd fav hockey team. Patrick Roy (pronounced wah) and Joe Sakic are my fav players of all time. (Funny story: there was a grocery store in Elko NV, called Roy's. DH and I would call it Wah's, and confuse the heck out of everyone.)


Anyways, I need to get moving or nothing will get done. Y'all have a good day!

 

[lynxstch]

Good morning everyone. Cloudy and very humid outside right now..temp is already 73 going to 94 or higher. Yesterday they called for storms..not one drop. They said we would have storms today, now says only 10%--sometimes they really have no clue. I just hoe'd the weeds at the edges of the rows in the garden. I can't get as close as I want using the tiller,,it just tears up the sides of the landscape stuff I put down the rows and plant in. Keeps the weeds down to a minimum around the plants. Going to weedwack a couple of spots the riding mower couldn't get yesterday (and that I forgot). Today will be vacuuming day since it will be too hot to do anything outside.

I need some opinions on this please--Mr L wants to send a dish garden to the funeral home for SIL and BIL. But they do NOT take care of things like plants,, (they aren't big cleaners in general) and they would be dead within a week. He says he can't see sending flowers, when they will only last a few days. Anyone have any other suggestions? They certainly don't need one more thing just sitting around in their house like I know the plant would until it died. TIA

@frog3101 I am still so sorry you are going through this. It's even harder when there are kids involved. Mine were adults when I got divorced (27 and 23), so they were much better able to understand it. Still hard, but they survived. You are right in that your kids should have their own say in whether they want to spend much time with their Dad right now. I understand he has the right to see them, for now, but their feelings should still be taken into consideration by him and the GF. Like I said, been there, done that. Off my soapbox now

Off to weedwack before it gets any warmer--Have a great day everyone..stay cool!

 

[footballmouse]

Good Thursday morning!

Went to Petsmart and got some goldfish to add to the pond out back. I forgot the stuff to put in to shock the water back to clear so I need to go back. That's fine, I want to pick up a sympathy card for my friend for the loss of her sister's dog. I know that kinda sounds weird but her and her son were pretty attached to the dog.

Too hot outside to do anything. I would have liked to cut the grass but not in this heat. I'll try to cut it tomorrow morning since I'll be working from home. I work nights all weekend so I'll be sleeping by 8 am, so that's not an option.

The Reds had an afternoon game out in Arizona yesterday so it was on when I got home from work . Watched that until they blew it in the 9th inning and then watched a couple of episodes of Bosch on Amazon. Ended up finishing the night watching Top Gun.

Didn't feel like making the chicken I had thawed out last night for dinner so that's my lunch today. I'll run down to the cafeteria and grab a couple of vegetables to put with it. I'm just so lazy after work, I don't feel like doing anything, not even cooking.

I think that about all that I have going on. Hope everyone has a great day!

 

[footballmouse]

I need some opinions on this please--Mr L wants to send a dish garden to the funeral home for SIL and BIL. But they do NOT take care of things like plants,, (they aren't big cleaners in general) and they would be dead within a week. He says he can't see sending flowers, when they will only last a few days. Anyone have any other suggestions? They certainly don't need one more thing just sitting around in their house like I know the plant would until it died.

Since the dish garden would die anyway, I would go ahead and just send flowers. If your concern isn't to necessarily have something at the funeral home, I would make a donation in his name to a charity. That way it won't go to waste like the flowers will. However, if the idea is to have something at the funeral "representing" your family then flowers are the best choice.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Good morning, all!

And welcome, @KingLlama!

Have a wonderful week - I hope you all find those moments that make life beautiful.

I love this sentiment!

Lots of peanut butter on the shelves this week,,but I happened to pass by the sanitary products for women section on my way to the garden shop, and there now seems to be a shortage of tampons? Yikes! Glad I am way way way past that stage!

Yikes, me too!

So far this morning, the only productive thing I've done is descale the coffee maker, but it really needed it. I have an appointment at 10:00, and then I might do some laundry.

It was nice here yesterday but is supposed to get hot again today.

 

[KingLlama]

The Reds had an afternoon game out in Arizona yesterday so it was on when I got home from work . Watched that until they blew it in the 9th inning and then watched a couple of episodes of Bosch on Amazon. Ended up finishing the night watching Top Gun.

- That's what you get for following the Reds! I'm a Cleveland Guardians (still weird to say) fan, so I always like to get in little digs at my friends who are Reds fans. I'm an hour from Cincy, so the Reds are the "home" team around here, and I usually make it to a game or two each season. But yeah...they're struggling.

- Had to put my dad in assisted living around six weeks ago. He had been falling and unable to get himself up. He had also been suffering from major day/time confusion, and was leaving the house at odd hours of the night (this was unbeknownst to me). When I found him on the floor one night, he said he was ready to move to assisted living. But since moving into the place, he's fallen twice more, had a minor heart episode (which landed him back in the hospital), and now is in isolation because of COVID. None of this is the fault of the facility, they're wonderful. But man...it's just been a LOT to deal with. Add to that the stress of trying to get his house cleaned up and sold quickly (so that he can use the money for his assisted living stay), and it's been pretty overwhelming. My mom died from ALZ a year ago, and my brother died unexpectedly five years ago, so it's all falling on me to get this stuff done.

- One of the things he and my mom collected are those Department 56 Dickens Village houses. They have literally a hundred different pieces, and I'm sure they envisioned me and my brother taking them someday. But I just don't think I want them. I love looking at displays, but I have neither the time, the energy, or the space for setting them up. I don't even know how to go about selling them. I don't want to mess with shipping them, so eBay is out. They're too "good" to include in a garage sale. I know I won't get anywhere near their stated value, because the packaging is either beaten up or missing altogether. I guess Facebook Marketplace would be the way to go?

- Hosting a couple of webinars today. I've perfected the art of wearing a t-shirt all day (I work from home), then throwing on a special "webinar shirt" over it before the call. I don't even have to button it all the way down. It's a pretty ingenious set-up I've got going here, if I do say so myself.

- Was hoping the reviews for the new "Jurassic Park" movie would be better. I've always had a special attachment to that franchise, so I'll go see it just to "close the loop". But my hopes are low. On the flip side, I thought a "Top Gun" sequel sounded ridiculous, but everyone is saying it's amazing, so if I can break free from my dad's house at all, I may slip off to catch an IMAX showing. That movie should NOT be watched for the first time on a TV.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

I need some opinions on this please--Mr L wants to send a dish garden to the funeral home for SIL and BIL. But they do NOT take care of things like plants,, (they aren't big cleaners in general) and they would be dead within a week. He says he can't see sending flowers, when they will only last a few days. Anyone have any other suggestions? They certainly don't need one more thing just sitting around in their house like I know the plant would until it died. TIA


Fruit basket or snack basket.
Plant a tree in their name.
Donation in their name

 

[footballmouse]

I'm an hour from Cincy, so the Reds are the "home" team around here, and I usually make it to a game or two each season.

I have a sister that lives in Springboro and a nephew in Miamisburg. You any where close to that?

My mom died from ALZ a year ago

I lost my mom to Alz also, she was 64. She's been gone for 22 years.

On the flip side, I thought a "Top Gun" sequel sounded ridiculous, but everyone is saying it's amazing, so if I can break free from my dad's house at all, I may slip off to catch an IMAX showing. That movie should NOT be watched for the first time on a TV.

Top Gun Maverick is excellent! Definitely a movie you need to see in a theater or a drive-in. Hope you're able to get a chance soon.

 

[KingLlama]

I have a sister that lives in Springboro and a nephew in Miamisburg. You any where close to that?

I'm down I-75, south of Cincy....but I get up to Cincy every once in a while. I love going to Jungle Jim's, and I need to get to TopGolf out by IKEA soon (but when it's not quite as hot).

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I agree with @footballmouse on the flowers, I guess it depends if you want to have something at the funeral home. We sent flowers for that for BIL last year (which we later took home and enjoyed; people were grabbing them when they were told to take them home as there was no cemetery service), but also brought over a nice outdoor plant for both her and my niece (who has her own home). I wanted something cheery for them for the rest of the summer. A pretty hanging plant is nice. When Mom passed I had a lot of different plants and things around the house that people sent. They were nice, but there were so many, I didn’t have room for all of them and it started to look messy. Granted, it was winter, so indoor was the only option.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

- Had to put my dad in assisted living around six weeks ago. He had been falling and unable to get himself up. He had also been suffering from major day/time confusion, and was leaving the house at odd hours of the night (this was unbeknownst to me). When I found him on the floor one night, he said he was ready to move to assisted living. But since moving into the place, he's fallen twice more, had a minor heart episode (which landed him back in the hospital), and now is in isolation because of COVID. None of this is the fault of the facility, they're wonderful. But man...it's just been a LOT to deal with. Add to that the stress of trying to get his house cleaned up and sold quickly (so that he can use the money for his assisted living stay), and it's been pretty overwhelming. My mom died from ALZ a year ago, and my brother died unexpectedly five years ago, so it's all falling on me to get this stuff done.

- One of the things he and my mom collected are those Department 56 Dickens Village houses. They have literally a hundred different pieces, and I'm sure they envisioned me and my brother taking them someday. But I just don't think I want them. I love looking at displays, but I have neither the time, the energy, or the space for setting them up. I don't even know how to go about selling them. I don't want to mess with shipping them, so eBay is out. They're too "good" to include in a garage sale. I know I won't get anywhere near their stated value, because the packaging is either beaten up or missing altogether. I guess Facebook Marketplace would be the way to go?

That’s so hard. But you’re in the right place, so many here have been through this type of thing with our parents and their homes. There have been lots of threads on the subject if you do a Search. But hugs, it’s a tough place to be.

 

[tazdev3225]

Good morning. Woke up to thunderstorms this morning. It was raining so hard that the dog refused to go out for a walk.

The last graduation is done. Still wound up with an issue with my one granddaughter. I truly hate teenage years with girls. The 13 year old is a good kid, straight A student for the past 4 years, kind and has 2 BFF's. Unfortunately a former friend has turned Mean Girl and has been spreading rumors and lies about my granddaughter. Deja Vu because we went through this with her sister and it ruined Crystal's trust in people. Ella is a little tougher but she is struggling a bit. The former friend is slated to be in her class next year and she wants her class changed. Of course I called the school and we have to wait til August to request the change, they won't guarantee it, depends on the new incoming principal, etc. I will need to go into protective Grandmom mode if they don't act. I don't want to see her grades drop because of the stress. Now she has to worry about it all summer. Ella literally called me all morning yesterday to see if I could do anything. We did email the Dean of Students which the office advised.

My husband finally got measured for his new shoes. Unfortunately the older pair started giving him ulcers across several toes. I called the doctor who basically said he told my husband NO shoe on that foot until the new ones come in. Now my husband is angry at me, angry at himself and threatening not to go on the cruise. I told him I would cancel it in a heartbeat if he didn't knock it off. I understand his frustration but if he doesn't heed the doctors words the next time he can lose a foot, not just a toe. Diabetes is no joke. Of course he insists his A1C is fine, it's not. He had a decent number 2 years ago so that is all he hears.

@Kirby - I can't imagine a 42 day visit. My son had a 2 week/2 week visitation with his oldest. He got the 1st 2 weeks of July and August. When his ex withheld my grandson we got a pitbull of an attorney who was actually an assistant DA. She was good friends with my husband and came fairly cheap thankfully. I also did a lot of legwork for her which helped. The agreement was modified so my son could have a couple of hours on my grandson's birthday since it fell during her 2 weeks. I think all that he went through has made my grandson such a wonderful father. The ex actually was told she came very close to losing custody by her attorney and she became much more co-operative. We actually get along very well now. We were lucky, sadly to many parents use their children as weapons. Your daughter's ex sounds like he is one of them.

@frog3101 - I can't even begin to imagine what you and your kids are going through. I don't know where you are located but will your kids wishes be taken into consideration by the courts? That was the only reason my son's ex retained custody - my grandson didn't want to leave her. He adored his dad but was afraid for his mom. Your soon to be ex sounds like a real loser. And his family acting like that is horrible. Sounds like no one but you is concerned about those kids. Take things one day at a time.

Hope you all have a good day

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Lots to comment on since I posted earlier.

Anyone have any other suggestions?

I really disliked getting live plants when my parents each passed. I can kill anything. What I did really appreciate the bakery basket I received. It had muffins, cookies, an apple pie. When my out of town brother was here, I had some treats. Or maybe a restaurant gift card for a treat. I tended to skip meals.

Too hot outside to do anything.

It was hot yesterday and is supposed to be tomorrow but is 64 now. And we had another line of thunder storms.

Had to put my dad in assisted living around six weeks ago.

That is so hard, especially with all your other losses. And cleaning out a house is hard too. DH and I have been through this multiple times.

, I thought a "Top Gun" sequel sounded ridiculous, but everyone is saying it's amazing, so if I can break free from my dad's house at all, I may slip off to catch an IMAX showing.

I want to see the new Top Gun at IMAX if I don’t miss it.

I lost my mom to Alz also, she was 64

So young.

 

[lynxstch]

I appreciate all the ideas, I am still not sold on a plant, even though Mr L is. He wants something that can be at the funeral home. I'm thinking that a fruit basket or bakery treat basket wouldn't hold up well there. They live fairly out in the boondocks in WV and most people can't even find their house, so I doubting that asking for something to be delivered there wouldn't work well. I have seen quilts and wall hangings displayed at some funerals, even saw some kind of lantern one time. But I don't know if something like that would be something feasible either. Its just one more thing to have laying around the house, and now they really need to start cleaning out stuff. Back to the 'thinking board'

 

[Pea-n-Me]

DD was at Epcot yesterday. They had fun and got a lot done, but temps were brutal: low to mid 90s but felt like high 100s. A lot of rides were down on opening (Test Track, Soarin), and when they wanted to leave, lol (Remy). They waited for Remy as that was the one ride DD (hamster girl) really wanted to do. Oh, and they finally got to ride Guardians of the Galaxy using Genie+ (it was a 360 minute wait). She said that was amazing, especially the pre-show! They munched around the World. And enjoyed a few drinks. Today, after back to back days at the parks in those (weather) conditions, her legs are shaky. (And that’s with working in a job where walking 5-7 miles in a 12 hr shift isn’t unusual.) So she’s pushing hydration (even thought she thought she did), replenishing electrolytes and resting her legs today a bit. Nice to be young! This is the type of weather where older folks are taken out in ambulances. Saw that a few times when we were there last June, not just at the parks, but at Disney Springs. I know I would not have been able to tolerate it. Cannot stand when it’s that hot, I get like a lobster. Anyway, with DD’s permission, some pics for your enjoyment, in no particular order:

 

[lynxstch]

@Pea-n-Me Thank your daughter for letting you share pictures with us. Those who aren't going anytime soon (or maybe ever again), are enjoying the vacation along with her. Sorry to hear it's just too hot!

 

[KingLlama]

Great report/pics, @Pea-n-Me. That schoolbread from Norway has been pretty hit-or-miss for me on my last few visits. But it's still one of my go-to snacks in Epcot, along with the caramel corn from Germany.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Will do, Lynn, thanks! She knows how we are! (Who here doesn’t love Disney pics?) She loves taking pics and has been entertaining us all week on our group chat, lol. She’s not complaining about the heat, but I was a little worried about her, especially when she said her legs were shaky today. (They originally booked this trip for January but moved it up when Covid picked up then.) But they’re having a great time and they’ve been all over the place! They were so hot and sweaty last night when they got back to their room, they were like omg, their door wouldn’t open! So they had to call to get them to reset it. I guess they just cranked down the AC, flopped on the bed and let the fan cool them down! I don’t think they even made it to the pool, they were beat!











Check out the horse’s name!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Oh, and btw, her phone really overheated yest at Epcot it was so hot, to the point she was having difficulty using it. For anyone going this summer, or when it’s super hot like this, I’d say bring a little lunchbag sized cooler with some ice for your bag/backpack/whatever, with ziploc bags, to maybe keep your camera safely in there if you use it a lot. Should be fine as long as the bag is shut tightly, OR they do sell the waterproof phone cases at WalMart.

 

[Canadisney Fly]

DD was at Epcot yesterday. They had fun and got a lot done, but temps were brutal: low to mid 90s but felt like high 100s.

You're scaring me!!! Going in August this year and I'm doing everything I can to plan for the heat. Booking lunchtime buffets in air conditioned table service restaurants, having considerable downtime (we're there for nine days), making sure everyone has a good waterbottle and some electrolyte powder... but still, it will be HOT.

We have spent quite a bit of time in the heat in Brazil (including my 80 year old aunt, who came with us one year to meet the in-laws ), and we're actually better with it than my Brazilian ex-husband! But I'm quite fair, and my son is REALLY fair, so sun protection and getting under cover in the heat of the day is crucial. The last visit was in Sept 2016, and it was hot but certainly not unbearable.

... but the photos are also making me VERY excited!!! And hungry...