Currently

The weather... is cold and getting colder. It's 28 degrees and temperatures are dropping throughout the night to a morning low around 10 degrees and a windchill below 0. There's some snow coming, too, but it shouldn't be more than an inch at most.

Reading... still working on Melania.

Listening to... I've been in the mood for disco and 90's country. The folks I work with seem to be enjoying it, too.

Loving... that I finally got several rooms of the house deep cleaned over the weekend and the last of the Christmas things put away.

Thinking... about a prayer request that came through on the phone tonight. The son of people I know is being flown back to the states. He and his wife are missionaries and he has contracted typhoid while visiting Uganda. The wife is very pregnant, but will take a separate flight along with their young son to join him. All will have to be tested.

Feeling... a little achy, probably from the cold and snow coming this way. I've become that person who feels the weather in their bones.

Celebrating... my daughter agreed to my plan for us to make beaded pens, badge holders, lanyards, keychains, and bookmarks to sell at a craft show. Everything is very easy to make and it should be fun. I'm hoping it will help her focus on something other than her problems and calm her anxiety down a bit.

Grateful... that our grandson finally had an appointment today with a behavior specialist who is said to be the best of the best. He was tested more thoroughly than ever before and got a definite diagnosis of ADHD, oppositional defiance disorder (ODD), severe anxieties, and selective mutism (which is an outcropping of anxiety). Our daughter is relieved to have answers and know what she is up against. We are all encouraged by the practical advice he gave on how to deal with the behaviors that have been spiraling out of control. He also approved the recent changes to the meds. Now, to get everyone to be consistent in handling it.

Enjoying... listening to Oliver's purrs as he sits here with me.

Giggling at...

Saturday 9: Calendar Girl

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

1) How will you keep track of your days/weeks in 2025? Do you have a desk planner? A wall calendar? A pocket planner? Do you use the app on your phone?  I have 3 calendars in the house, a planner in my purse, and I occasionally use the calendar on my phone. For better or worse, in spite of having all that, I tend to rely on my memory more than anything.

2) Consider your typical week. Which day tends to be your busiest?  They are all busy, but Fridays may feel more busy since that is my day at work to have planned and lead all the activities (learning, craft, exercise, life skill, etc.). On top of that, our daughter often asks us to keep the kids on Friday evenings while she and her husband go shopping or out to dinner.

 

3) This week's artist, Neil Sedaka, is one of pop music's most prolific singer-songwriters, but his first love was classical music. He was so good that he trained at Julliard and won the accolade, "Best New York High School Pianist." Recall one of your passions from your high school years.  I liked writing and art. I wrote for the school paper and enrolled in most of the school's art classes. I wrote things on my own and was always drawing or doing something creative.

4) Elton John has always enjoyed Sedaka's music and in the 1970s, when Elton was one of the world's top stars, he requested a meeting. If you had the power to contact and then meet anyone in the world, who would you choose?  I really don't have any idea. Maybe a political figure? It might be interesting to hear their thoughts directly, rather than how the media spins it. 

 
5) Sedaka appeared as the musical guest during the second season of Saturday Night Live. What's the most recent show you watched on TV? Was it live, from your dvr, or did you stream it?  I just finished streaming last night's episode of Swamp People: Serpent Invasion.

6) His daughter Dara sings on TV and radio commercials. What advertising jingle sticks in your head?  "Jardiance, the little pill with the big story to tell."

 

7) In 1960, when "Calendar Girl" was popular, To Kill a Mockingbird was first published. Have you read it?  Yes, but not in school. I read it on my own less than 10 years ago. I loved it.

8) Also in 1960, John F. Kennedy, Jr. was baptized in the Georgetown University Chapel. His godparents were Charles and Martha Bartlett, the couple who introduced his famous parents. Do you have any godchildren?  No.

9) Random question -- Which did you enjoy more: the last week of 2024 or the first week of 2025?  I guess I'll go with the first week of 2025. We were still dealing with norovirus the last week of 2024. (Our grandson seems to have the virus now...praying it doesn't hit us again.)

Thanks to Crazy Sam at Saturday 9 for the music and questions!

Looking Back & Looking Forward

I've been meaning to share a little about our holidays and a few photos, but circumstances have kept me from it. Now that we're hibernating due to cold weather, I've got plenty of time.

The season really got started for us when I took my mom and granddaughter to see The Nutcracker Ballet. I've always wanted to do that, but our daughter never wanted to (still didn't) and we don't get to see our oldest granddaughter. I'm so glad I decided to go this year. Our granddaughter was so excited and loved it all.

The big party at work for the consumers was a hit as always. I can't share too many photos due to privacy issues, but here are a few.

This is me and one of the consumers I'm closest to. She is only a few years younger than me and she's a real party girl!

Santa and Mrs. Claus are played by a member of the local Lion's Club and his wife. They are always great and this year Santa played along to play a joke on a consumer. This consumer had been joking, going on and on, to everyone that we'd been bad and wouldn't be getting anything but coal for Christmas. Then he said everyone should just stay home on party day because there wouldn't be presents...while also saying he'd open them all. I started telling him that HE was the one getting coal and all the staff and office staff got in on it. I found a little bag labeled "North Pole Coal" and put some candy coal in it. When it was his turn to go get his gift from Santa (they even made him the very last one) Santa told him he had a special gift for him and handed him the coal. He was sure surprised, but a good sport and laughed along with everyone.

Looking across the multipurpose room with everyone seated for dinner.

The Saturday before Christmas I ran into Santa and Mrs. Claus at the grocery store. They allowed me to take a picture and sent a message to our grandchildren to be good, because they were watching!

Christmas was less than ideal. Tim came home from work on the 23rd terribly sick. Looking back I'm sure he had Norovirus. It hit him hard and he completely missed out on Christmas. 

After opening gifts with Tim, I made dinner and took it over to our daughter's along with all the presents for everyone. I'm very thankful our son-in-law was able to come over and help me load it all up and then unload it at their home.

The kiddos had a wonderful Christmas and between home and all the grandparents got everything they asked for (and a few they didn't ask for as Colton let us know...spin toothbrushes did not excite him). We enjoyed our meal, playing games with the kids, and of course, watching the Steelers game.

Playing Guess Who with our granddaughter.

One of the few photos of our grandson that isn't a total blur. They are having some trouble adjusting his ADHD meds right now and he was especially hyper on Christmas.

At about 11:30 pm on Christmas Day the virus hit me. It wasn't fun, but it lasted less than 24 hours. My mom came down with it Thursday evening and had it for 3 days. Her husband came down with it Saturday and it hit him hardest of all. He is just now feeling back to normal.

Oliver took good care of me when I was sick.

He's been enjoying his Christmas present.

Tim is at that phase of a work project when he is working a ton of overtime to get everything done. He didn't even get home on New Year's Eve until 7:30 so we didn't do anything. He was asleep by 8:30 so Megan kept the kids at home and Mom and John were keeping to themselves because of the virus. New Year's Day we took down the tree and inside decorations and watched several movies.

I kicked this weekend off by getting my nails done after work. I got rid of the sparkly, red Christmas color and went with a pretty purple. I love the pampering of a manicure.

Tim took Saturday off as he had promised back at Christmas. It figured it was one of the coldest days we'd had so far. We went ahead and did some running around in spite of that.

We need a new storage shed in the worst way and have needed to go look for a long time. We finally did that (I think my nose has finally thawed out) and found one we can both agree on. Yay! 

We also looked at, found, and purchased a lift recliner. It's for me. I don't really need one, but every once in a while when the inflammation flares up at its worst, I need Tim to help me get up. I was worried it might happen some day when he isn't around. It also has heat and massage, which will be nice now. It's not due in until the end of February at this point.

We had a late lunch out and did our grocery shopping so we could stay home today. Tim still went out for a short while. He got more salt for the sidewalks, de-icing windshield washer fluid, and filled my gas tank. Other than that we've just relaxed and watched TV.

I've started a new Bible study. It's called Dear Food, I Love You, I Hate You, Don't Leave Me! It's by Julia Fikse. I bought it a while ago but never got started on it. It isn't a diet, but rather a program meant to help you put food in its proper place in your life...and put God first. I haven't gotten very far into it, but it seems good.

Lastly, I want to share my One Word for this year. It's Victorious. There are many places in scripture that speak of victory, but I'm holding to this one...

1 Corinthians 15:7 - But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

I can not do this. I have proven it time and time again. However, if I turn to Christ first, not relying on myself, He is faithful and will lead me to victory.

And now I'd better call it a night and get ready to head to bed early. We are under a winter storm warning tonight and all day tomorrow. We are expecting 6-10 inches of snow. If the morning is as ugly as they predict I'm going to have to leave very early for work.

Currently

The weather... 65 degrees with scattered showers and lots of wind. We are under a wind advisory until 10:30 tonight. Tomorrow's high is predicted to be a bit cooler at 48 degrees.

The big, bad, bug... is still making itself known. As I had reported before, Tim brought it home this past Monday and missed all of Christmas with it. I got it late in the evening on Christmas Day. My mom got it overnight between Thursday and Friday. This afternoon I learned my stepdad now has it and our daughter reports she isn't feeling well, but she is prone to intestinal issues so it may not be the bug. (As an FYI, our daughter' friend who is a nurse practitioner said to drink grape juice when you have an intestinal bug. It will get you over it sooner. Also, if you're living with someone who has a bug, drink grape juice even if you aren't sick because it may beef up your immunity.)

Reading... I just finished Hero for the Holidays by Maisey Yates. The premise was good. Landry and Fia grew up on neighboring ranches, both had highly dysfunctional families. As teenagers they found solace in each other, but when Fia became pregnant at 15 and gave birth to a baby girl at 16, she knew she didn't want her baby growing up in that environment. She knew she couldn't give her the life she wanted her to have so she gave her up for adoption. Landry disagreed with her decision and it tore them apart. 

They spent the next 13 years growing up, changing their families' legacies, building the ranches into something to be proud of, and hating each other. Unbeknownst to Fia, Landry found the adoption agency she used and put his information on record with them...just in case their daughter ever wanted to find him.

When the couple who adopted their daughter dies Landry is contacted about fostering her with adoption in mind. He is all in and brings her to the ranch, keeping her a secret from all but his own family for nearly a month. He plans to tell Fia once the girl has time to settle in a bit, but a surprise visit from Fia about business forces his hand. 

The rest of the book is about how Landry and Fia learn to deal with the past and each other in order to build a family for their daughter. It should have been a good book. The story was good. The characters were likeable. Unfortunately, a majority of the book ended up taking place in Landry and Fia's thoughts. Everything was rehashed and rehashed...to death and beyond. It got boring.

Next up: I got a Louise Penny book and Melania Trump's biography for Christmas so one of those.

Listening to... nothing really.

Watching... Landman on Prime Video

Loving... that I had today all to myself at home. Tim worked and everyone else stayed away. I slept in a bit, watched movies, and read.

Thinking... about getting the Christmas gifts put away and getting the tree and decorations packed up for another year. It will probably happen on New Year's Day.

Feeling... determined to change our diet and get this inflammation under control in the coming year.

Celebrating... New Year's I guess, though we don't usually do anything exciting these days.

Grateful... for a mild winter so far. It's going to get cold again by Friday, but there's no snow in the forecast at this point.

Enjoying... leftovers, going out to eat with gift cards, and not having to plan or cook meals for a few days.

Laughing at... 

 

Saturday 9: Goodbye

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

This song was chosen because it's time to say goodbye to 2024.

Thanks for participating in Saturday 9 this year.

1) In this song, Mary Hopkin asks her lover not to let her sleep too. late. Did you wake up this morning on your own, did someone wake you, or were you jangled awake by an alarm clock?  For once I slept until the alarm went off. Too bad it was due to having had a stomach bug yesterday.

2) The lyrics reference "a lonely song." Can you name a song about loneliness?  The first one I thought of was Owner of a Lonely Heart by YES.

3) "Goodbye" was written for Mary by Paul McCartney. He was the one who signed her to her first record contract and produced this and all her Apple Records, including her first big hit, "Those Were the Days." Looking back on 2024, who is someone who gave you a helping hand when you needed it?  So many people! Most of my co-workers, my mom, my husband, and especially my daughter.

4) This video shows Mary performing on The Ed Sullivan Show while wearing a miniskirt. Minis were very popular in 1969. Did you embrace a fashion trend in 2024?  Are comfy clothes and orthopedic shoes a trend?

5) Also in 1969, the Colts lost to the New York Jets in Super Bowl III. The game is famous because of all the hype leading up to it, including Joe Namath "guaranteeing" the underdog Jets would win. Do you have a special sports memory of 2024?  Nope. Not a sports girl these days.

6) What's the farthest from home you traveled in 2024?  About 200 miles to Erie, PA.

7) What was the biggest purchase that you made in 2024?  New living room furniture back in January.

8) What was your favorite book of 2024?  The latest Stephanie Plum book from Janet Evanovich, Now or Never.

9) What are you looking forward to most in 2025?  Spending time with my grandchildren, less sickness, improving my health, and actually having some vacation days to play with. 

Thanks to Sam @ Saturday 9 for the music and questions!

It's Nearly Here

 As I sit here in the glow of the Christmas tree lights, I'm forced to wonder if we will be celebrating Christmas at all.

I am on track and not feeling rushed. All but a few presents are wrapped. I kept the dinner plan simple and plan to make the side dishes today so that tomorrow can be a relaxing day with family.

Enter the "big nasty bug." Tim brought it home. This time it wasn't me. He is SICK. It's an intestinal thing and it's hitting him hard as these things usually do. He never gets a mild case of anything. I tend to blame it on his workaholism and failure to take care of himself. He just pushes himself until his body revolts.

So, that's why I'm sitting here wondering what kind of Christmas we'll be having. No one wants to catch it, obviously. Will he be over it by tomorrow? Will I have avoided it? I'm trying to be careful...keeping my distance, spraying Lysol on EVERYTHING, taking my vitamins, washing my hands constantly...but I do live with the man.

Also, he is an absolute grouch and miserable human being when he is sick. Plus, I have to worry about the fact that he can't take his meds while he can't keep anything down. Trying to get him to drink to avoid dehydration is not a job for the faint of heart.

I was really looking forward to tomorrow. I NEED a happy family holiday. Keep us in prayer for a quick recovery for Tim and that I don't catch the bug. Thank you.

In the meantime, I wish you and yours a wonderful, blessed Christmas filled with love, peace, and the joy of the season!

Currently

The weather... is hovering right at freezing with some light rain and snow due before morning. ☃

Reading... nothing. I just haven't had time.

Listening to... nothing but Christmas music. At work. In the car. At home. In a more general sense I'm currently listening to Tim snoring on the sofa.

Watching... The Great Christmas Light Fight.

Loving... that the Christmas party for the consumers where I work went off without a hitch and everyone had a wonderful time. Pictures aren't uploaded yet, but will be coming.

Thinking... about our daughter. It's hard not to. She has struggled with anxiety for several years now, but recently it been rising to increasingly higher levels. Last week she was able to drive herself to the ER when she felt a heaviness in her chest and pain in her arm. That proved to be nothing more than a panic attack (not that I'm trying to minimize it, but it's better than a heart attack).

Last evening she arrived at our house with the kids and for five minutes I watched her struggle to breathe and she complained her arms, legs, and face were numb, and her stomache and back were painful. She was clearly in distress and getting worse. I called 911. The EMT's found her heart rate and blood pressure were both sky high and they put her on oxygen. As they worked on her, she began to shake violently and said her limbs were getting stiff and she couldn't move.

The EMT's continued to talk to her and ask her questions about mundane things, distracting her, and coaching her to take deeper breaths. As she did that she began to calm a little and her blood pressure and heart rate began to come down. The longer she was on oxygen the more the numbness in her limbs receded. The EMT's said that was purely from a lack of oxygen.

Once they had calmed her quite a bit they did take her to the ER to be checked out. Again it was a panic attack. They suggested she get on her doctor to put her on something strictly for anxiety. She takes Cymbalta now. It's for depression, but is supposed to help with anxiety. Clearly it doesn't. She sees her doctor tomorrow.

Feeling... exhausted. Christmas, work, what's going on with our daughter... It's a lot. I've let a lot of things go this year. I ordered cookies rather than bake. I only put up the tree and a few other decorations.

The friend who was my maid of honor passed away this past Friday. They had to bring her home from Indiana so the viewing wasn't until today and I was unable to go due to work.

Oh, and I've been trying to deal with Oliver, my kitty. He's been peeing where he shouldn't and refusing to use his litter box. Our daughter took him to the vet for me yesterday to be checked out. It turned out he's terribly constipated and is so backed up it's putting pressure on everything inside him. To deal with this they gave him an enema...and sent him home.

Yeah, my life. You can't make this stuff up.

Celebrating... today was Tim's birthday. I gave him his gifts, but we didn't do much. We will go out to dinner this weekend. 

Grateful... always. Even though I feel like life has been hitting us a little on the hard side lately, I know that compared to so many in this world I am blessed and I am grateful to God for all of it!

Enjoying... the joy and wonder of my grandchildren and those I work with. It keeps my own Christmas joy alive.

Laughing at...

That's all for this week. I don't know if I'll be able to post any more before Christmas so I want to wish everyone a safe, happy, and blessed Christmas filled with family, friends, and love!!