@MusicCandy @SadMe70 New place to communicate
@MusicCandy Hi! I decided it was easier to just start a new thread. I can't figure out the old one.
I am headed to my mom's tomorrow until Sunday night. Today is the fifth anniversary of dad's death. I couldn't get up there today, so it's the first time I won't be with her on the actual day. I won't be on here this weekend, so I'm writing this on Wednesday.
Yesterday I made my first trip to the mountains in a long time. I hiked to Mary's Rock. It was not crowded and was great weather. It was kind of funny hiking in a t-shirt with snow on the ground!
Today we are celebrating my DIL's birthday. The actual day is Saturday but I'll be at mom's. I am going to make the Korean dessert that I made for New Year's, since their dog ate all the leftovers and she didn't get to try much of it. Then I have some cleaning to do, and some errands to run, and then pick her up 45 min away because my son is here at work near our house. I'm going early enough to drop by my other son's house first to meet his new dog. He and his fiancee are adopting a 2 year old. I need to do laundry to prepare for my trip, and need to write detailed instructions for my pet sitters. I have an old note to work from, but I have a new lady coming one day and I need to make it extra-detailed for her. She is a pet sitting company, so it will cost me, but I need another person in my rotation of feeders. So it's a busy day today!
I am grateful for my spring break this week that allows me to do all these things. I spent the weekend doing very little because I knew the rest of the week would be very busy! I don't like getting home the evening before I have to go back to work, since I won't get laundry, shopping, or cooking done, but it couldn't be helped!
I hope the new thread works out, and that I tagged you correctly so you will see it!
I hope your week has gone well, and here's to five more years of messages to come!
Hello my friend, my sinuses have flared up again and I'm on round 3 of antibiotics. I've had a terrible sinus headache for two days and tylenol/ibuprofen have not helped. But, I did do 10 minutes of my morning cardio videos two days this week, a 15 minute walk one day, and most of my yoga class on Thursday. My meals have been ok, and not too much alcohol. The good news is that today I head to my mom's for five days! Tomorrow will be our annual meal in honor of dad, who died March 16. The husband of a couple that my parents were close friends with died a few days ago, and mom has been sick a lot herself for over a month, so she's feeling down and I will be glad to be able to spend some time with her. I feel so helpless when we do our video calls and wish I could be with her more. We were just talking last night about going up to a town about an hour from her, called Quarryville, to some Amish and Mennonite shops she likes. Then my husband and I watched Boys from Brazil before bedtime, and part of it took place in Quarryville! Such a coincidence!
I am glad that Mark got through the first chemo. I know he has a long road ahead. I am sorry to hear that his prognosis is not very good. I pray that these treatments will be effective and the prognosis will improve. I hope also that he will feel well enough to really enjoy the wedding. That should be a happy, joyful day for them.
The tasting sounds very fun! I went only to the cake tasting with my son and DIL. I didn't get to the main meals tasting part. They ended up doing a buffet rather than served meals, and I liked that.
You are definitely staying very busy with church events! I hope that lady steps up and realizes what she needs to do! I was just thinking the other day about the reception after dad's funeral at their church. It was very plain but very nice. Their friend who just died was also from their church, so I think they had something similar after his funeral yesterday.
I hope Rachael is feeling better from her cold! What is your dress like? I really like all of your plans for your family for the day after the wedding. I would love to do all of those things myself! I hope that your family enjoys it, and that you all have a wonderful time together!
Have you set your retirement date? How annoying to have to deal with such a boss right at the last few months. I hope she will just stay out of your hair and let you do your job!
I am going to go make my tea and then pack. I hope to be on the road around 10, but it doesn't really matter too much when I leave. I don't look forward to driving all the way in the rain, but I'll just take it slow. I have multiple audiobooks on my ipad, in case I get tired of one or the other. I usually try to call someone and spend at least part of the time talking, but I think the ones I usually call are busy today, so it's me and my audiobooks! I do have several hours of a book from a series I like, so that one will keep me good company.
I hope you are well and happy. Until next week, my friend!
@SadMe70
Hello traveling friend, I hope you have a safe trip. The roads here are pretty awful with on and off rain and people don't know how to drive. I read the sad news that the 16 year old girl that went missing was found dead in the woods, actually not far from where I live southside. Her parents reported her missing Thursday. That has to be the worst possible call they could get. It was all over Midlothian FB, and I know a lot of people are praying, they said no foul play, still so sad.
I'm glad you get to see your Mom, even if you aren't feeling great. How cool that you saw your town visit on a movie, I have heard of that one, but not seen it, I pray you have a really nice visit,. Rachael is better. Mark seems to be doing OK for now. They arent having a cake- just macaroons and a small one just for them. They also opted for family style dining..it was in between buffet and individual servings. What she fixed was all good.
I have all the reservations made for the weekend, and almost everyone has RSVP'd for the wedding, about 140. I am practicing the song I plan to play and 2 of Abi's friends will sing . The Joker and the Queen, Ed Sheeran and Taylor S. version. The hard part of getting all of us together to go over it. That will be their "private dance" in the Hall with a grand piano. I want to get it down pat soon since i know i'll be nervous.
no date for retirement, but tentative is the end of this year if the new boss doesn't make it terrible, as it is for the daytime people, she is not what we have been used to here. SS finally right and that helps.
Work hasn't been bad, but i have 2 patients now, so signing out. I hope you get to enjoy your visit with lots of laughter and maybe a tear or two over your Dad. Special people never leave our heart,
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@MusicCandyI had a long message, anndd Gone!
I hope your trip to your mom's goes well. Busy life right now with Everything... but hanging in day by day. Wedding coming up in a flash. Big funeral at church next Saturday , I'm in charge of set up and beverages. Nervous about that, but I'm sure it will be fine. I don't remember what else I wrote before. grr.
Hello! I hate losing a message like that! So frustrating! If I am writing from my laptop, I copy it into a text file now, because I've lost too many!
I had a wonderful visit to my mom's! I got there Saturday, and my sister was already there. We played some games that night. Sunday was the lunch for Dad down near Baltimore. My other sister brought our aunt. Today is the actual day of his death, and the first year nobody is with my mom. My dad liked rob roy cocktails, so my sister and I always drink those at his lunch. I had two, and luckily our other sister, who doesn't drink much, was driving, because boy they were not stingy with the alcohol! Then we went to my aunt's for dessert, homemade lemon bars and chocolate covered peanut butter eggs that my sister made, and more game playing.
My sister went home Monday morning, and mom and I went to run some errands. On Tuesday we went up to a town in Lancaster county that has some stores she likes in a town called Quarryville. Such a pretty drive, all little roads. We had lunch and visited two stores, all three businesses run by Mennonites. One store had ice cream made from their cows' milk. I had two scoops! We went home and made a quiche, that was excellent if I do say so myself!
Mom has a deck out back where she sits every day that it is warm enough. Tuesday afternoon we sat out there drinking wine and reading for two hours. How I loved that! My house in the woods is too buggy to sit outside, and usually way more humid in summer than at mom's, so that was a rare treat. I love being outside like that! We played some cards that night. On Wednesday morning I picked up 3 gallons of raw milk from the Amish store near her, and headed home. I made one gallon into yogurt, we drank another already, and I just used part of the third in the weekend chai and hot oat bran cereal. I am packing on the pounds (hmmm, quiche, ice cream, cookies, candy, cheese, whole milk), but I think I should be able to exercise every day this week, even if it is short and not too vigorous. I know I can take off 5 pounds for sure once I get to my regular exercise level, and of course, eating more reasonably!
That is my news for this week. Next Saturday I will see my family again at a lunch for my son's 30th birthday up in LaPlata. My family is coming just for the lunch, but it will be good to see them again so soon!
I know you are incredibly busy with everything! I hope you have some time for you as well!
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@MusicCandy
Well, my friend, you just made me hungry for all of the goodies during your trip. Lemon bars made right are so good and chocolate PB eggs - that's a double treat. I also love quiche and I'm sure your raw milk creations were delicious too. I'm so happy that you had a nice trip and relaxing time with your mom. I would love sitting outside with wine and a book just as much as you! It was a pretty warm winter which suits me just fine. Today was warm and was off part of the Saturday afternoon for a church webinar. The content was pretty dull but I straightened my work/spare room as it went on so it wasn't waster time. I did sit outside a little while, but then had to come back in and sleep ahead of my night shift. This is the last year for that and then I can really enjoy being outside when its warm, it was 70 today,
I have the big church funeral next Saturday so I have some time off work for that too. I'm nervous about getting everything just right for a big crowd. I know in the end it will be fine, but I still worry because that;s just how i am! for the wedding, I'm playing a piano song and Abi's 2 friends will sing it. I haven't gotten together with them yet to practice with everyone having a different schedule. but I can play it along with the video version on utube, so it will be fine. also, this is their private dance, so it won't be in front of 130 people, which would make me more nervous. Most of the wding =details are worked out unless I forgot something.
This ED doctor orders exams like crazy, and I now have 2 patients.
I had a letter to the editor published in Discover magazine and I didn;t even know it until I picked it up last night! It was a response to an article about donating your body to science and why. I can't write it out right now, but i'll try to do that next time. If you have that in your school library, it is the March/April 2024 issue. It was cool when I saw it in print. Gotta go. Enjoy your chai tomorrow.
Hello my friend, a few less treats for me this week! I still ate too much, but I have done a little bit of exercise each weekday, and a 40 minute walk on flat ground Tuesday. Today is my son's 30th birthday party up at our Indian restaurant, and I picked up a cake at the bakery yesterday, so this weekend will be lots of calories! I have recovered enough from the mono that I do not feel a crash of fatigue in the afternoons at work, for which I am grateful! So work has gone well, and whenever I get a good night's sleep, I should be able to do increasing amounts of exercise. I think that as I feel better, I will do a better job resisting so many treats (fingers crossed!). I am motivated by wanting my pants to fit again! Nothing else to report this week. I am just hanging in, trying to get back to normal.
I'm glad you got at least a little chance to sit outside when it was warm! That won't be happening today! I will be so happy for you when you can retire and don't have to work nights and long shifts!! I hope that the funeral goes well - that feels weird to say, but you know what I mean.
I didn't realize you were going to play at Abi's wedding! That is so lovely! I'm very glad you are doing that. I am glad for you that you don't have to do it in front of everyone. Just having to socialize with so many people is stressful enough! I am betting that you did not miss anything in your wedding planning. You strike me as very organized and competent.
My school library does not carry any magazines. I have not had a chance to get to the public library to look for Discover, but I don't see it in the online catalog. I have been meaning to get there to drop off some donations, so I will get a chance to look eventually. Once I finally accepted e-books, I read mostly from my tablet so I rarely get to the library, which really is a shame because I love the feel of a real book, but convenience has made me lazy. I hope they have Discover though, because I would love to read your letter! I've never had something published like that.
I had suggested skipping our chai this morning since we are going to the Indian restaurant for lunch, but my husband said we should do both, so I'm off to make the chai! Then off to celebrate becoming the mother of a 30 year old!
I hope your week has been good, and that things go well today despite the rain.
@SadMe7test0
@SadMe70
Hello my friend,
I think you are so sweet to ask how my "event" went today. Last Thursday, i worked at the church about 12 hours setting up. I did have some help, but I honestly didn't know what to tell people to do after the tables were put out nd set with my doilies and candles. There was a lot to do, but I did one section at a time and didn't really have a full plan until it was done. It turned out beautiful in the end. I was prepared for the folks to bring in the items they signed up for to put them on the table that I had little labels all around. W had more coffee and tea than we needed, but the food was fine since we packed up the leftovers for the family to take home. fiance drew out a floor plan where everything was and took pictures so next time it will be easier. One lady said she attends a different church and they don't do anything that nice.. she said she wants her reception to be at St Davids. It was a nice compliment. I noticed that even though the church was packed, and that was what I expected, a lot of folks just left after the service. I'll remember that next time. I was there today from 8:30 to 2:30. I don't think the rain kept many people away, it stopped mid morning, but some are on Spring Break out of town. I was the next to last person in the building and that one said she knew I was going home to rest. But of course not - I went to work at 3 and here until 7. Pretty tired.
The sad thing is our Deacon Emeritus is on Hospice, so we will probably have another big funeral in the near future, and Pastor isn't doing well with her cancer treatments, Just have to take it one day at a time. Abi was with her 17 friends at a BNB house at Lake Anna for her Bachelorette weekend. she put up some pics and they had a blast, I could not even come up with 17 friends, let alone to spend the weekend with. The piano piece I'm playing is pretty much down pat. I have certainly played in front of a lot of people in the past and I probably wouldn't mind it for the wedding, but it does add a layer of nerves that won't be the case with just the 2 of them. A month from today.
I'm glad your health has improved on some levels. It must be better to not be so exhausted. Msybe we can both get outside more with the weather getting warmer - thank God.
I hope the b-day dinner went without a hitch. They do grow up fast. Rachael turns 40 next week, but she looks the same as when she was 20. I don't know what we will do with her besides sending treats to Day Support. So much going on, it may be next year when she gets a big birthday party.
work hasn't been terrible so far, a decent doc on in the ER. I'm going to try to rest some anyway so I'll catch you next week. I will have gotten some sleep by then!
Hello my friend, I did not forget you! I got caught up in doing so many things that I did not write earlier. I am afraid I may have missed you, so I will not write much now as I am still in the middle of a project. However, I have to leave one piece of news. Last night my son told us that they have bought plane tickets to come visit in June! I will see my son and grandchildren in 2 1/2 months!!!!
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Well, my friend, it is so nice to see the words that you didn't forget me! No idea how much that warms my soul. I don't say that nearly enough I'm afraid to people I care about. Terrific, very good wonderful news about the visit.!! That gives you something beautiful to look forward to. I'm happy for you.
I had a busy as usual week, but not as stressful as getting ready for that funeral reception. However, I do know we will be doing it again soon since our Deacon is very close to passing. i will eliminate some things now though since i know better what to expect. Other not good news, but also not unexpected- our Rector has another metastases if cancer, going to start chemo and its been going on so long now, she is stepping down. We have a lot of decisions to make in this case and a lot more work for the Vestry, but it is best. she needs to be with her family, and she was with us 13 years, a long time for one pastor.
Wedding plans are finalizing smoothly. Mark has some side effects from the chemo but they are managing to get through it and keeping busy with seating plans and menu changes ect takes their mind off it some anyway. Rachael had a good birthday party at her Day support, and some cute card and cash and balloons. Next year we will try something more, but she did have a fun time .
Not much more on my end now. fiance is in the hospital parking deck replacing a coil and plugs on my car- I don't know anything about cars so its good that he does. It was almost undrivable so I hope this fixes it for now. Its a 21 year old car, trying to hold off until after the wedding for my next one. I hope your project is going well. Easter tomorrow - i may or may not go to church depending on how busy it is tonight. Picking Rachael up early from her Dad's, he has something going on which is totally unnecessary, but he is hardheaded. fiance will have to watch her while I get some sleep. I'm glad the weather is warming up, it lifts my mood after all the rain. enjoy your chai tomorrow, and Happy Easter to you.
Hello my friend! I am better on the ball this week, writing before it is too late! This week we rented an airbnb for my son's family, with extra bedrooms for my mom and various other family members to come and go. I might have to stay there myself some nights, because even 15 minutes away is going to be too far! Maybe they will even let me bring a baby home for a night or two! I am still nervous about the immigration paperwork issue, but I know my son is working on that on top of everything else he is dealing with. He talked to my husband recently and he is struggling with wife tantrums and two people at work being nasty, on top of the normal stresses of raising kids. They all had norovirus this week too, and the babies had to get IV fluids at the hospital, but they are all ok now.
My older son and his wife signed a contract on a house this week too!! If all the inspections go well, they hope to close and start moving in on May 1. It's a great house on a really nice wooded lot at the end of a cul-de-sac. Looks very quiet and private. Bonus for me, it's only 45 min from my house, on my side of Fredericksburg, instead of Northern VA like they were initially planning. I hope that once they are settled in this nice family looking home, my DIL will change her mind about not having children! I have so much excitement this week!
I have done most of my regular exercise this week, missing only my Tuesday walk because of rain, and have been eating fairly well. I lost a couple of pounds. Still struggling with after effects of 17 days of antibiotics. The yeast infection is long cleared up, but I am having pain and irritation that I never had before. I saw a NP at the gynecologist yesterday, and am now taking estrogen cream, plus continuing the probiotics (though I read a discouraging article related to probiotic pills on Harvard's website yesterday, so I question whether I am doing any good with that).
I am very sorry to hear about your Deacon and your Rector. I am glad the Rector can have more time with her family though. I hope that your parish will get a good replacement soon. My mom's parish priest died a year or so ago, and it took a while for them to get a new one.
I bet you are all getting excited about the wedding! I am excited for you! We had so much fun at my son's wedding last year. Hard to believe their first anniversary is next month! I'm glad Rachael had a good party too. Having fun with friends and loved ones is all you need! My son in Korea sent me a picture of some blankets and asked which one I liked. I told him he does not need to bring me a present, just bring yourself and those babies!
How did the car repair go? I don't know anything about cars either. My husband does, but is not physically able to do much anymore. I hope your car is running better now. I know well about trying to keep very old cars going as long as possible! Every vehicle I had before my current car was at least 10 years old when I got it.
My project last weekend was taking down and apart a big ugly metal bookcase from my bedroom, which I liked because it had a lot of space, but everything was always coated in dust. We bought a smaller bookshelf with doors and built that. I filled most of the shelves, but this weekend need to re-do all that after adjusting one shelf taller to fit my records (yes, vinyl records!). I have too many things in this room just sitting out and collecting dust, so my overall project over time is to try and get as much as possible inside things. My next move is a curio cabinet, hopefully one that will fit in the corner.
My chai is done; time to go feed animals! It's pretty and sunny out there, but a very cold wind. I hope you are well!
@SadMe70
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@SadMe70
Hello my friend,
2 tests this time, I don't trust it much. good to hear your news and especially that you are feeling somewhat better and getting back on track with meals and exercise. 2 lbs. is a great start. As we know, losing too quickly always comes back. I hope the weather gets a little warmer. are your schools letting out for the eclipse? Ours are and I did get some glasses. We went to the river last time but this time, no special plans. I had an OK week, but car is still in the shop. He took it to the older guy who I bought the car from, years ago. It was his mother's car, so he has worked on it a lot over the years --he is just slow getting it back. Fiance does have another older car, 2 seater with no power steering, , no radio ,but I can drive it. Abi's shower is tomorrow afternoon. Starts at 2 so I hope to go straight home from work and get a few hours sleep before that. The good thing is the 2 singers for the song will b there so I can take my keyboard and we can go over it. I got the carriage ride lined up and I think that's about it for me, except a haircut, lip wax, and little things.
I know you are already excited about the visit. I'm sure the BNB wasn't cheap, and 15 minutes away isn't realty convenient, but sometimes its the best you can do. I think you should stay there too and just come back to take care of the animals if you have to. I will pray that every detail works out for a wonderful visit with lots of picture taking. Good to hear about your other son's house too. sometimes that "baby" thing sneaks up on folks- fingers crossed.
Church is still a lot with the rector and plans we have to make for services. no news yet on pour beloved Deacon. I knew him an his daughter even before I started at church there. He ministered on death row when the prison was downtown Richmond. Incredible life experiences.
I can't say any better with my meals and we havent started afternoon walks yet, too much going on. i managed one herbal tea night instead of wine, but I am pretty tired and low on willpower now. About the prebiotic/ probiotic, my Dr. suggested one for the VB I had and it turns out I was already taking one form of it l-reuteri, It did seem to help with balancing the PH for me, but it was just for that one thing. I take others 2, but this one seems to have good reviews. I hope the estrogen cream works. i am supposed to use that in a tube, vag twice a week, but i usually forget.
It is always nice to hear you nes, and I hope things just get better and better. You deserve joy at last.
Your news, spell check.
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