Thursday, December 20

[karlinann]

Aunt Maye it is ok to be upset with all the commercialism cuz we all are. I'm glad that you posted though. It lets us know you're ok.

We drove around the community last evening and some of the houses are decorated over the top and others are just really pretty. I love the icicle lights around roof lines. There are a couple of elaborate nativity scenes. I thought it was nicer last year. Maybe everybody was not home from work yet.

My meatloaf turned out great. I will post the recipe on the Kitchen forum. It's easy! Be back later to read what's going on.

[maxie]

Morning...today is my shopping day. Probably won't buy anything but breakfast and lunch but will be in good company. The cutout cookies were baked and are sitting all naked in the freezer. There is also a batch of chocolate chop dough in there. Sierra is suppose to be off today and said something about icing but I will be really surprised if she does anything but sleep and leave. That may be how I spend the day tomorrow after my haircut...icing cookies. Andrew is feeling better and only has today and an early dismissal tomorrow before Christmas break. It's getting close!

So off to shower since I have a long drive to meet up with my sister and the gang. Have a wonderful day!!! It is amazing how some people go all out decorating. We are rural out here and I love seeing the lights of a house alone in the distance...or entire neighborhoods that went out of their way to decorate. Fun!

[JoGee]

Good morning, everyone. ☀️
Looks like nice weather, in the 70’s, through Christmas Eve; Christmas and a couple days after are supposed to produce rain. Looks like the chances of that are slimming down, but that’s not new. Mornings will remain pretty chilly, though.

PT went well yesterday. But I haven’t made new followup appointments. Haven’t had the spiking heart rate for a couple of days, so I will keep my regular pace of life. I see my doc after the New Year. Then hopefully we will be ready to move, and get it over with.
After the PT session, we went to lunch at what was “The Good Egg” restaurant. They changed their name to an unlikely “First Watch”. I had eggs and cinnamon chip pancake. I give E my bacon. Then he went to the Finance building to check his account and discuss what to do, considering the rates have dropped drastically in the last couple of years. The guy he talked to was from the general area in MI that we are from. He knew our home areas pretty well. That’s always exciting, though rare; it’s almost as good as seeing family.

I think today I will dispose of stuff in the cupboards. Maye, I know what you are saying about hubby’s help. It’s much the same here. But E says he is only putting the PRO in CRASTINATION. Or that he is a Pro in Crastination. Big deal.
Well, I’m just going to try harder to get my part done.

We have not decorated inside or outside this year. E bought us both Fitbits for gifts. So I have been aware of how much exercise I’m not getting. OK, I read a lot. But I’m getting better at moving about. Getting closer to 1,000 steps a day. Then I will be working toward the second K. And more hydration. The gadget also tracks sleep, so you know how much of the night got deep sleep, light sleep, REM sleep, and awareness. It also tells you the importance of each level. I am not much of a deep sleeper. Did you know you can wake 30 times a night, and not even be aware of it? My fb is on the charger right now.
E has confirmed that he is awake much of the night. So maybe he can learn to relax and sleep better. We went to bed earlier last night, so he might wake earlier, too. But I average 6 hrs sleep a night, so unless I am really tired, I’m awake at an earlier hour. I generally don’t get back to sleep, so I guess I can do my reading earlier, and have a more productive day if he gets up earlier. And his day will be more productive as well. But we have to be more ruthless in discarding stuff.

It looks like our CA grandson moved his family back to TX. But all the cards I sent him since November keep returning to us. A postal glitch, that no one is taking care of. So I’m sending them to his mother, and hope she doesn’t try to just forward the original envelopes. Again.

Well, the season hasn’t sunk in on us. I don’t think E likes the plain cookies he bought (they aren’t as soft), so I will tell him to get himself the frosted ones. It’s funny, when people buy bakery goods, they enjoy the frostings so much. Unless you have been a cake decorator, in which case frostings are not really that exciting to eat. LOL

Now I should get a refill on my mocha, grab a bit of breakfast and my meds, and see how early E will wake up. ☕️

[boffler]

Good Morning to all...I have so much on my list of 'to do' things..hubby just left for the office, sent a small goodie plate with him...gave my money donation to the childrens Christmas here locally this morning. Feed the cats, cleaned up a few cat sick messes, rounded up stocking stuffers for the grandgirls...now sitting here trying to muster up some enthusiasm..

My hubby and I had a clash over his sister, my sister in law yesterday, he just doesn't see or doesn't want to see what a b*tch she is...so many things she has done to me over the years I am throwing up my hands in all of it...next year I am leaving home at Christmas, going to my sisters and having some Christmas with MY family... okay enough of that..

I shopped until I dropped yesterday but still have a few things I need to pick up here that they did not have...I am so over this holiday, seems the older I get the harder it gets...Once your kids grow up and move on the excitement leaves also...ready to celebrate the birth.

Today I need to do some laundry, finish up the wrapping, and like Maye, make my list so I get things done, I have to have a list also.

I got a strange call yesterday from Santa telling me I have been naughty and getting nothing for Christmas so I need to give a call back today.. jostoy!!
Well onward and upward..have a great day. I am the grinch that is stealing your Christmas spirit..

[Paula A]

Not at all, Sharon! And I hope you go somewhere before next Christmas and enjoy yourself. Seeing my brother's Christmas cruise pictures I am thinking that would be a fun thing to do if you aren't going to be home!

[Paula A]

Maxie, that is exactly what I was saying the other evening whenI had to take something to a friend who lives outside of the town limits: her house and others on this rural road where decorated. One person had their whole fence line lit as well as their house. Big expanse of dark land between the properties and just so pretty.

I will go read what Aunt Maye said about commercialization but I bet I will agree. I tend to ignore and not even let it enter my mind, but that could be because I am so used to it I don't really see it anymore. But I am not paying attention to it. And noting gets me more irritated than hearing a store say they will be open 24 hours until Christmas...

Becky got our Veteran's gifts delivered and was very impressed with the facility, the security and the welcome she felt. I think we will try and volunteer there. Something more than drop off gifts.

I have started a bag of clothes to donate to the truck that comes around every 6 weeks. I am not even sure who they are anymore. It used to be a Cystic fibrosis organization, but it is recognized as a true non-profit. You have no idea how many times I have put something in the bag and then take it out and then...well, you get the idea. It is one thing for me to say I want to get rid of things but another entirely to actually let it go! (Well, it would look good if I wore it with that skirt, or if I lose just a little more weight I could wear it again...) I had to start saying out loud (!) "I can buy another! "
Linens are another thing I need to do something with. Not just sheets, etc, but tablecloths, and embroidered pieces that I just don't use like I used to.

I am going with a few friends to see the new Mary Poppins Returns movie tonight. Early show at 6:15, so that will be a regular night for me. I do not stay up so late. 4:45 is my get up and get moving time to get things done before daycare starts.

I hope the day goes well for all of you.
Oh, I found the cards!!! this morning, 2 days late. I decided it is actually ok, the one graduation card will be a real hit at her ceremony and the birthday one can wait for next year. This is the story of my unorganized life! I am always putting "the perfect card" somewhere and then forgetting it. I ahd them in my dresser drawer but took them with other things when I thought I might be evacuated during the Carr Fire in the summer and when I unpacked the bag I put the bag the cards were in on a hanger in my closet. I was so close to finding them as I looked on my shelves in the closet...

Well, as I said before, I hope we all have a good day! Be positive and help someone else to be positive.
Have a fun day, maxie with the girls!
Stay safe, Everyone!

[jostoy]

Good morning everyone.

Gosh, Sharon, that's the first time I've been accused of being Santa. I don't think I've got the balls for that.

Since I've not been to Church the past 2 Sunday's, due to back problems, I got a real surprise last night. Our Church Choir came to my house and sang Christmas carols. That was a very nice surprise. Since the Church Cantata is Sunday night, we won't be having a Christmas candle light service. I am really going to miss that. I just may have to go to a Church here in town Christmas Eve.

Nothing planned for today after the Chiopractor's appt. Am moving the head better, but boy is he ever making my back hurt. No injection until Jan. 3rd.

Hope all have a good day.

[karlinann]

OMG! Will you girls please send the ark over here? It has rained all last night and all day and is supposed to be 100% rain again tomorrow. My Hydrangea's are both in pots and the biggest one was drowned in water. DH had to move them under the eave of the house. I cannot believe all this rain. The good part though is that it will make all those transplants grow like crazy! Whoot!

[Aunt Maye]

good afternoon,,,

been moving slow today.. conserving energy... I did get DAvid's hair cut... been his barber for about 65 years now.. and every single time,he tells me how to cut some hair there and a little less on top etc etc. agggggggggggggggg.... I almost made him bald today.. per his request..

. moved the kitchen table and set it up for the cookie=bake tomorrow evening .. sounds like the girls will all be here... Grandson Kiel , if he leaves Va. early enough ,,will be here too.
.... Now THAT is what I love about Christmas.. family , fun... laughter.. a few extra folks dropping in.... Icing smeared everywhere.. etc etc..
then,,,, Sunday evening there will be an extra, "Christmas Eve:" program at the church.. will be there ..

today I will be returning the hearing aids I have from the audiologists,, on Trial... Hope she don't give me any static about just plain returning them..
don't want a sales pitch either... will get a Signed Receipt. from their office that they are returned in perfect condition.. discovered she was not on my insurance companies list..

Hi Karlin,, thanks for thinking of me got your Boat inflated yet?

Sharon,, yeap time to visit your family for C... should be every other year... Ummmm sister in laws.. I had three,, Davids sister passed in may.. the other two are as different as night and day.. love the one and no so much the other.. .. don't see them much tho' they only live couple miles away..

hi to all ,,see you later,, will report back how I make out with the Ear Dr..

[cookielady]

Hey all! The light is getting brighter at the end of the tunnel. There are just pies to be made Sunday & Monday. People will be coming & going until noon 12/24.

When we were planning on what we were going to bake & when, Sue suggested we make an extra 40 doz of Sugar cookies & Ladylocks. Last week we had a TON of both unclaimed, and she kept saying...they'll get sold and then I can tell you 'I told you so". Well she took great pleasure is doing that yesterday & today. We are down to just a couple doz Sugar and those will be for extra trays, and 6 doz LL. Sue will take some cookies to BINGO with her Saturday. We are both whipped.

Sue has been telling me the last month that there is a tree shortage and places were charging top dollar for live trees. Well Cork went last Saturday & Sunday, and sure enough there is a shortage of trees. The few he found were extremely expensive. Well Sue was chatting with her former boss, and she said they were shut down for the season, but one of the guys there was given the remaining 4 trees to sell for whatever he wanted. Sue got us a beautiful tree for $20! We were blessed!!!! Now to get it inside & decorated. Maybe Saturday.

I'm hoping to wrap gifts tonight while watching some TV. That's the plan.

Have a good one all!

JoG….have you decided on a place yet?

[JoGee]

Hi Cookie -
There are 3 on the list. Two if we (wisely) not choose the one near his twin sister.
Although she has recently sent us some pretty nice cards on holidays lately, after all her years of meanness I’m not sure I am ready to trust her. (She hinted about having had a serious medical problem, not telling what it is..... maybe she is looking for a quicker door to heaven. She & E turn 82 in mid February.)
Next time we go to Phx, probably shortly after the New Year, we will check all 3 places out again, and make notewhen they have an opening; and E will measure the furniture we plan to keep and double check the size of the rooms. I’ve already told E we won’t take the hutch....it’s far too big for those rooms. And we have gotten rid of most dishes, glassware, and serving plates, so a regular cupboard will do for what is left.

We still need to hire someone to clean out the yard, as the big winds really did a lot of damage.....and when we leave we need someone to clean the entire house. Plus we need to get a real estate agent to sell it.
With an Amazon Distribution Center being built not far from us, it shouldn’t take long to sell the house.

[Paula A]

Could easily have a bidding war!

[JoGee]

That is a toss-up, Paula. Another construction is going up, too, just 10 minutes down the road....a “legal marijuana” structure, the plants will be in an indoor facility covering like 200 acres of land. Although there will be a 24/7 guard on the premise, I doubt it will keep the “undesirable” people away.....those who want a chance at getting a fix of free “pot”.
Im hoping to be gone before the facility is built.