@MusicCandy @SadMe70 A place to communicate

I am so very sorry about your daughter's situation! I remember you told me when they bought the house. I hope that level of commitment will help them patch things up. I would have been with you, about delaying telling him, or even never saying anything at all, as long as it was really over. I will pray for her and for you as well. I do know how very hard it is to see your child in such distress. I really hope things work out for them.

I am glad to hear you got your mom settled without too much hassle. You have enough to deal with right now! I have been plodding along in my usual patterns, nothing new. I don't feel great today, sinus headache and very tired. Tons of stuff going around at school, so no surprise that I caught something. No drama on this end though, thank goodness.

I will keep you in my thoughts, my friend. I hope your daughter and her bf will smooth things over.

Hello there, I went back to work today, so only missed one day. The meds I took for my sinuses and to help me sleep did not agree with my finicky stomach, so I skipped yoga today. My headache did not come back though, so I think I'm good. I am going to try and sleep with no meds tonight, so we'll see!

It will be tough for your daughter whichever way things go. She is lucky to have you there for support, and food, and all you are doing for her. I will keep you both in my prayers!

Hi, Just a quick note - I got called in to work tonight- that is Wednesday night though it is 2 AM Thursday technically. I'm not on call anymore after this, and that is fine with me. I'm glad you didn't get too sick- missing work is no fun.

More drama with daughter 0 some good, some just crazy/like a soap opera. But no one was hurt! I'll fill you in this weekend.

Have a great end to the week, with no drama.

Hello,

I am sorry to hear there was more drama. I hope you are all holding up through it. I know it won't be something that is over quickly, and I continue to pray for you.

My week ended ok. On Friday I had to sub for a special ed teacher. I was pretty scared, but it was a small group, I knew most of them, and they behaved fine. Plus I had her para for most of the day, who is wonderful and knows their routine. The only problem came when I had to walk a K kid to the bus loop. She had been fine earlier in the day when I took her for a break she gets, but threw a tantrum going to the bus. A guidance counselor tried to help, but finally her classroom teacher came and calmed her down. It was also our monthly birthday celebrations day when everyone brings food. I have steered clear of most of the junk this year, but that day I had a small slice of Boston creme pie and 2 mini crullers.

My son and his wife came up to go on a short hike with me after work. They are trying to get out walking more now that they have the puppy, and are both trying to lose weight (they both need it). The walk was nice, about an hour. Then we went to our Indian place for dinner, and I had 2 chocolate martinis. Those were yummy!! I have not been on the scale since my multiple binges on Friday!

On Saturday, my husband and I drove pretty far out the Northern Neck to buy a used milking stand, as mine is falling to pieces. It was a lovely drive through a pretty area, pretty fall trees, no traffic. We have not done something like that in a long time, so it was nice. I have not installed my new stand yet. I need to move the other one and clean up some hay. When we got home, a friend and her family helped me bring a buck over here to start the new breeding cycle. I haven't been out to check on everybody yet. The friend's dad has a herd of bucks who keeps 70 acres clear for him, and they are never tame, so that presents challenges at feeding time.

I felt great on Wednesday, and then sick again Thurs-Fri, a little better yesterday. Hopefully I am done with that bug.

Please let me know how you are doing. I'm thinking about you!

Hello,

I love the tales of your farm life. Keeping animals is something I grew up with in N.C., and it brings back memories. We didn't keep goats but I always think they are so cute and playful when I see them. I am glad you had a drive up the Northern Neck. It is a lovely time of year. Fiance and I went to Dutch Gap /Henricus park along the James today and hiked about 5 miles. Last week, he took me to his old Boy Scout camp which was a longer drive (to Goochland) It was fun for him, but too much driving/ not enough walking for me. so he made up for it this week. I like to walk in the Fall, but I don't care much for being out in the cold.It's supposed to get down to the twenties this week-end, so he better get busy covering some shrubs and strawberry plants.

Daughter is doing OK. she says she is getting the silent treatment from BF, and he won't talk at all. so she decided since it has been 3 weeks now, she will stop making his meals and doing his laundry. I can't do anything aboiut it really - just be there and pray for the whole situation. Other family is OK - we are planning our Thanksgiving week at Shenandoah Crossing at the yurt for Thanksgiving . What are your plans? I am not cooking anymore for T-giving and that's that.... too much time and work for one meal. At the resort they have a nice festive dinner and they clean up too! I used to enjoy doing it when my Dad was alive and we went to N. C. and it was a whole day to spend with him.

I'm glad you got through a day of subbing. It's is a little nerve racking when it's not your normal routine I know. But it sounds like you handled the little crisis as well as you could. Special needs kids can be unpredictable- I know first hand. Rachael still has her tantrums and she is almost 6 feet tall to my 61 inches. If she doesn't want to do something, I have to think outside the box to get her to do it - i can't force her ; that's for sure. At the gym, she will sometimes throw a loud fit, but at least they know her there, and some of them will help distract her too. That is a help that money can't buy.

Have a beautiful week-end with those you love, and hopefully love will be in the air for the buck and the mating will go fine.

P.S I've never had a chocolate martini - but chocolate "anything" is good I'm sure.

Hello! Your walk sounds nice! I really like walking near water. It's so pretty and peaceful. I walked a few miles on Saturday with my son and his wife, and I plan on going out this morning.

I am sorry to hear about the silent treatment your daughter is getting. I hope she continues to hold up ok while they figure things out. We had a little drama with my son's wife this weekend, but this time it was justified. They came up Friday night and she made us a lovely Korean soup for my husband's birthday, and brought a cake. We had fun playing board games. On Saturday they both helped me go get hay. Later we were driving to the park to walk and we thought she fell asleep, because she had not slept well and was not feeling great. My son and I had a conversation about something very personal that she had shared with her mom, and her mom later talked with him about it, including trying to get him to have a procedure done in Korea (circumcision). He doesn't want to, I advised him not to, and we talked about how awkward it must have been to talk with his mother-in-law about something like that. It turned out she was awake the whole time ,and when we got back to the house, she was really angry with him (privately in the bedroom - she has never said anything to me directly when she's mad). Her parents really do like my son and her mom truly is just concerned for what she perceives to be a potential health issue and wants to take care of him. DIL was mad that he would talk about her mom that way when her mom always is trying to be kind and take care of him, and that he's going to make me think her parents are nut job foreigners. We should have been more discreet and not have a conversation like that right in front of her, assuming she was asleep. I feel terrible for making her feel bad. They both have other very stressful things going on in their lives right now, and she's been very good to my son lately, and now I've added to her stress. I feel pretty ashamed for being so tactless. I still think it is an awkward thing to tell your mother about, and for her to talk to her son in law about, but it was not right for me to say that in front of her.

As for Thanksgiving, it will be at my older son's house, with the younger son and his wife, so I'll get another chance to try and be nice and hopefully not put my foot in my mouth. My husband and son will deal with the turkey. I always make a pumpkin pie but my son wants to do it this year. I actually like baking, so I might make something else. I will probably also do cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes, so my part is very easy. I am not interested in cooking a turkey, so I'm glad they will handle that part! I would not make that whole big meal in my own kitchen either, too small and not enough room for everyone to sit (no dining room). My son's kitchen is bigger though, with a separate eating area. I remember you going to the yurt last year. That is pretty cool! It will be pretty up there too. I would love to get to the mountains more often. I wish we lived just a bit closer. It takes me 2.5 hours to get to Shen Nat Pk.

I knew that we were both short, but I am 61 inches also! And my boys are both right about 6 feet. Another similarity for us! My husband is about 6'3" so my boys say my genes stunted them, but at least not by too much! My mom had a brother with Down's syndrome who was extremely stubborn. He was even shorter than me, but still, if he didn't want to go somewhere or do something, you couldn't force him either. It took a lot of patience!

My weight had been doing ok, actually down one pound, but this week I gained 2 back, even before we went to our restaurant yesterday for my husband's bday celebration with the boys. That included cake at the restaurant, in addition to the cake my DIL brought Friday - a 2 cake weekend! I'm not getting on the scale today!!

Hi there, I don't know if this is your cup of tea, but there are two cool sounding free events at VMFA tomorrow night. I would go if I was closer! I am on their email list and see stuff I want to go to but never manage it. I recently missed a Napolean Bonaparte exhibit.

From their email:

InLight 2018 is this week!

On Friday, November 16, 7 pm–midnight, and Saturday, November 17, 7–10 pm, InLight returns to VMFA's Sculpture Garden. The 11th annual exhibition of light-based art and performances is FREE and will kick off with the Community Lantern Parade.

LANTERN MAKING & PARADE
The Community Lantern Parade will gather Friday at 7 pm at the corner of Grove Avenue and Sheppard Street by the Nightlights Interactive Zone and begin its procession at 7:30 pm. Need a lantern? Make one during one of the remaining lantern workshops leading up to InLight. For a list of workshops, visit the InLight website here. Or join us early at VMFA at 6 PM on Friday to make one the day of InLight!

Wow, sometimes you wonder what could make a situation worse, and then it happens. I am so sorry you had the "talk" episode and it was overheard. I have to agree with you though, it is a subject you wouldn't expect to have with your MIL. No doubt, you and husband discussed the pros and cons of the procedure a LONG time ago and there is very little evidence that circumcision is advisable for infants; and certainly not for adults. It is riskier then for infection, and except for a cultural norm, it would never be a good idea. MIL probably has a background that makes her believe that it is "healthy" , but the opposite is true. I also hope he doesn't go through with it. Maybe some googling would help. I'm sure the gaf on your part will blow over. We all make mistakes like that, just take a mental eraser and wipe it off your conscience list when the thought comes to mind that you are "guilty".

I am looking forward to some time away from the grind more than anything. Also- the nice meal the lodge will fix and I don't have to cook or clean up. I remember spending hours cooking, hours cleaning and dealing with leftovers, and only an hour- maybe- actually eating the meal. I didn't mind it with my Dad, but now its just not worth it. I hope you all have a very nice time- harmony with family is the main thing.

I haven't done anything different with my meals/ wine yet. i'm waiting for the test results that I mailed in. It will probably say what I already know, but that is my excuse for now. I do have my labs/check up in January so I hope to make some changes before then. Good with exercise, and I hope your routine is going Ok too. I know you have challenges - do the best you can with the holidays and travel.

Thanks for the FYI about the VMFA light show. I did hear about it, and the museum is dirctly across the street from the hospital. I'm working Friday night and Sat until 11 - maybe I can slip over and see some of it. Today was miserable cold rain, but tomorrow is supposed to be nice.That would be good for the activities. Have a restful week-end - you deserve it.

Hello, I've exchanged some civil emails with her, thanking her for the soup etc. and saying I look forward to the next thing she makes for us, and got a nice reply. I hope things are smoothed back over for now, but I also really hope my son does not do the surgery. I think it is off the table for now due to lack of time when they are there. I have to be careful and be more discreet. I don't want to offend her or have her think that I think badly of her parents.

It looks like my part of the meal prep for Thanksgiving will be quite easy. So far just cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes. Since my son is making the pie that I wanted to make, I was thinking of making another dessert, but then I got on the scale yesterday morning. Sigh. After cycling up and down the same 3 pounds forever, I had lost a little over a pound and got to a number I hadn't seen for quite a while. Then the 2-cake weekend and I'm back to the top of the cycle. We had quiche for dinner last night, so that number won't be going down this morning!

One of the few things I don't like about living in the sticks is that I would enjoy museums, plays, classical music concerts, etc. more often but it's too much with the drive. Not that I have much time anyway. On Fridays I even usually go to bed early because I've been up early that morning and I'm still tired at the regular time! I hope you get a chance to slip over for a little while!

After I feed the animals today, I'm going to go over to a little bead/jewelry store nearby that has very limited hours, to see if I can find something for my DIL and the other son's gf for Christmas. I also planned to send some gifts to Korea and wanted to give them to my son over Thanksgiving in case I don't see them again before they leave, but I haven't ordered them yet! I need to get on that today. I am having trouble picking stuff for some of them. I want to make a gesture, but I want them to actually like whatever I send too!

I hope you have a great trip to the yurt! That sounds so wonderful!!

I had brie for breakfast today. It's possible I won't lose any weight this week!