Thankful Thursday

It's been a long while since I did a Thankful Thursday post. I admit I haven't been all that into blogging lately, but I did always enjoy Thankful Thursday. Focusing on the good things has always been a great mood lifter and a way to feel closer to God. It's about time I get back to it, I think.

This week finds me thankful...

Even though I am now working extra hours with the older, blind gentleman I help take care of; driving one of the vans to pick up a consumer and take him home while the regular driver recovers from major surgery; and working my regular job, where my department is once again without a supervisor and most of the responsibilities fall on me...my pain levels continue to remain manageable.

My daughter is going to be able to help my mom figure out her Facebook problem. Mom swears she didn't do anything or post political stuff, but Facebook has suspended her account for 180 days! To file a dispute she must take a selfie and jump through some other hoops. It's all part of Facebook's new security measures and is rather time consuming (we just had to go through it for Tim's new phone). I just don't have time to figure it out, so our daughter said she'd try.

Our doctor is sending Tim to see a pulmonologist to find out why his breathing is so labored. While it's not good that he's in the shape he's in, it is good that our doctor is working hard to find the cause.

Wednesday's thunderstorm waited to unleash itself until after I was in the car on my way home. Lots of booms, jagged lightning all around, high winds, heavy rain, and even some hail. I was glad to be safe in my car and also that the hail I had to drive through was pea-sized rather than the golf ball sized hail other nearby areas saw.

We've had plenty of rain lately and it looks like the trend will continue. That's good news since in the fall we were under drought watch conditions and our water was brown for a few weeks in December due to the reservoir being so low.

We've had the means to take care of several larger expenses that have popped up recently without it causing hardship.

Even though they have no contract yet, our son-in-law's employer continues to have plenty of work. SIL is working 12-hour shifts and at this time it appears it will continue through the summer.

The young man I'm picking up and taking home is also someone I work with in a one on one setting three days a week. We are getting to know each other even better in the van and most days we end up singing along with the radio. Somehow I learned he likes the Sunday school song This Little Light of Mine. This week I've started playing it on the department's smart screen computer and it's turned out ALL the consumers know it and like it. We've started every day this week by singing it. It's been fun and sets a great tone for the day.

There's so much more to be thankful for, but I could be here all day and that wouldn't be a good thing. 

Have a wonderful, blessed day, friends and take the time to count a few blessings!

Currently

I am

Reading... Lennon, Dylan, Alice, and Jesus by Greg Laurie

Listening... to Jesse Watters Primetime and the furnace (we're having some colder temps this week)

Thinking... about what I need to take with me for work tomorrow. It's my day to plan and lead the program. It'll be peanut butter and jelly day so I'm going to let them make pb&j "sushi." It's also nature day so we're going to learn about caterpillars and even make some out of...toilet paper!

Grateful... Tim kept his doctor's appointment yesterday. They doubled one of his heart meds and they are going to look into his terribly labored breathing. He goes for a CT scan in two weeks and then will see a pulmonary doctor.

Feeling... exhausted and like maybe I'm getting sick again. It wouldn't be out of the question as the bug keeps going around at work, probably because no matter how sick they are, many of the consumers are sent to work anyway. Or maybe it's just allergies? I see my doctor this month so I'm not making another appointment. I'll just ask about the wheezy cough then.

Celebrating... that no one was hurt this morning when another motorist came flying up a ramp onto the interstate and hit the side of Tim's truck. There was a lot of traffic and it was a bad location. The person was apologetic and polite at the time and happily traded insurance info with Tim. Too bad we learned his insurance had been cancelled in January. The man's own (former) insurance agent recommended that even though our insurance will cover the damage, Tim call the police and pursue it through the magistrate.

Loving... I saw the first daffodils at the end of last week. Since then the Forsythia have started to bloom and today I notice cherry trees in bloom. Spring is really coming!

Enjoying... that the nice weather has the grandchildren running in and out after school again.

Looking forward to... staying home this weekend and doing some much needed cleaning and organizing.

Giggling at...

Sunday Stealing

Welcome to Sunday Stealing. Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. Cheers to all of us thieves!

Back in 2016, regular Sunday Stealer Shannon W. from Moments of Introspection took on 43 questions. We're lazy, so we pared it back to 15. 

 

Stealing from Shannon 

 
1. What book are you currently reading?  Lennon, Dylan, Alice, and Jesus: The Spiritual Biography of Rock and Roll by Greg Laurie.

2. Have you ever smoked?  Just a puff here and there during college. Not enough to really say I was a smoker. 

3. Do you own a gun?  We have several and 3 or 4 of them are mine. I have taken gun safety classes, had training, and I practice safe use regularly at a shooting range.

4. What is your favorite candy?  Lindor truffles. Snickerdoodle, blueberry, and milk chocolate are the best flavors.

5. Hot dogs: yay or nay?  Yay. I like them plain with ketchup, with chili, or with cheese wrapped in a Pillsbury crescent roll.

6. Favorite movie?  Uh, duh...

7. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?  Diet Coke or Orange Juice.

8. What do you drink throughout the day?  Diet Coke or Crystal Light peach iced tea.

9. Do you do push ups?

10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry?  My wedding ring.

11. Current worry?  My husband's health.

12. Current annoyance?  Where is question #14?

13. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?  Not really.

15.  Can you whistle?  I used to be able to, but seem to have lost the skill.

Saturday 9: Can't We Talk It Over

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

1) In this song, The Andrews Sisters plead for verbal communication.  Is there someone you'd like to engage in a heart-to-heart conversation?  As an introvert, deep, heart-to-heart conversations are the only conversations I really enjoy. I don't like small talk and I'm not good at it. So...I'd pretty much like to have a heart-to-heart with everyone.

 

2) They want to sit together for this talk. Think about the most recent personal conversation you had. Was it in person, over the phone, or via Zoom?  It was in person with my husband when I got home from work tonight.

 

3) This week's tune was written by Victor Young. He was prolific, earning 22 Oscar nominations in 18 years. (His one win came after his sudden death at age 57.) Think about your friends and family. Who is the most active, productive person you know?  That would have to be my friend, Fran. She is nearly 75 and she is in constant motion. She runs circles around people decades younger than her. She always has.

 
4) The lyrics were written by Ned Washington, who is perhaps best remembered for "When You Wish Upon a Star" from Disney's Pinocchio. Do you believe, like Jiminy Cricket, that dreams come true?  Sometimes, but not always.

 

5) This week's song is performed by The Andrews Sisters -- LaVerne, Maxine and Patty. Do you have siblings? If yes, are you the oldest, the middle child, or the baby?  I grew up as an only child, but when I met my biological father in 2020 I also gained three half-siblings. I am older than all of them.

6) With more than 80 million records sold, the Andrews Sisters remain one of the most successful female vocal groups of all time. Name another girl group.  The Bangles.

 
7) In 1950, the year "Can't We Talk It Over" was released, we were introduced to the Peanuts comic strip. Without looking it up, do you know who created Peanuts?  Charles Schultz

 

8) In 1950, most suitcases were hard sided rectangles, with no wheels and a small handle at the top. They came in colors like tan, copper, green and blue. What does your luggage look like?  These days we have a hodgepodge of modern soft-sided luggage. Several pieces are black, but there is also a red and a purple one. When I was a teenager my uncle was a Samsonite salesman and it was a big deal that he and my aunt gifted me with a complete set of suitcases in a pale blue. I think my mom may still have a couple of the pieces in her attic.

9) Random question: Who was the last person to phone you? Did you pick up, or did it go to voice mail?  It was my daughter just a little bit ago. I answered.

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

 

Currently

I am

Thinking... that getting a new phone and getting things set up is a royal pain. It's all through Google and over the years I've been forced to have a couple of different emails through them and now they want to sync everything up between my phone, my laptop, and our TV. The problem is that not all the accounts were created using the same gmail address and it's all a big, fat mess!

Grateful... my mom had her phone with her this afternoon. She was trying to get something out of the crawlspace on the second floor (she has those instead of an attic) when things kind of shifted and she found herself sitting on the floor and there wasn't enough room to maneuver around to get back up. She also couldn't crawl or scoot out the door because she'd stacked a bunch of stuff in front of it. She called our daughter, probably assuming I wouldn't be home yet...and I wasn't. Our daughter was able to get there quickly and help her out. Nothing wrong, but Mom's embarrassed. Anyway, glad she had her phone, though I can't imagine why she did.

Feeling... tired. With the craft show behind us and only having to fill in on the van run at work 2 days a week rather than every day, I should be able to slow down a little. I may even have the week off from companion work. The man I take care off two days a week is having an out-patient procedure done Thursday morning, but since he has no one to stay with him overnight, the doctor may have him spend the night at the hospital. Then, if he is feeling well enough, he will leave Friday for a weekend retreat in Pittsburgh. If both things happen I won't see him.

Celebrating... the first signs of spring. I saw daffodils today! That makes me so happy. 

Loving... that my daughter enjoys the beading so much. She told someone on Saturday about how I introduced her to it hoping it would help her anxiety by giving her something else to focus on and said how much it had helped. She is so into it she has booked us for the fair at the opening day of Little League in May...one week before the other craft show I'd booked us for. We are going to have to do a lot of beading in the next month.

Enjoying... my pretty new spring manicure. They can do a cat-eye effect in the dip color now. So my nails are a pretty purple with a sparkly silver sheen in it.

Looking forward... to an extra day off at Easter.

Giggling at...

Saturday 9: Photograph (1973)

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

1) In this song, Ringo stumbles upon a photograph that reminds him of a lost love. Are there any photos displayed in the room you're in right now?  There are photos in every room of the house (except the bathrooms). Here in the living room you'll find photos of my grandparents on their wedding day, my grandfather's family, our kids' senior photos, the grandkids' school photos, a photo of our daughter holding a koala in Australia, a photo of Tim and I on a cruise, a lovely landscape our daughter took several years ago, and an assortment of my favorite photos of the grands.

2) While there are approximately 180 published songs credited to Lennon-McCartney, this is the only song written by Harrison-Starr. When you think of Ringo's old band, the Beatles, what's the first song that comes to mind?  Twist and Shout, thank you Ferris Bueller. 

 
3) George and Ringo wrote this song while on a yacht in the South of France. They, and their wives, had just attended Mick Jagger's wedding to Bianca in Saint Tropez and decided to take a little holiday together. What are your vacation plans for 2025?  We've rented a house just a little south of Erie, PA for a week in July. Our daughter and grandchildren are going with us. We'll spend time at the beach on Presque Isle, visit some family, and explore some other fun things.

 

4) At 5'8, Ringo was the shortest Beatle and the only one with blue eyes. How tall are you? What's your eye color?  I'm 5'5" and a brown-eyed girl.

5) Ringo gave his first wife, Maureen, a one-of-a-kind birthday gift. Frank Sinatra recorded "The Lady Is a Tramp" with special lyrics, written just for her. Do you have anything that's personalized? (It could be a monogram on a scarf, it doesn't have to be as cool as a gift from Frank Sinatra.)  A blogging friend wrote a book about journaling several years ago and my name appears among those she thanks on the dedication page.

6) Ringo appeared as Mr. Conductor on Thomas the Tank Engine. He recorded the narration for the entire first season in just a week. Tell us what you did last week.  Worked and made beaded stuff.

7) As a boy in Liverpool, Ringo loved watching American westerns. Do you like cowboy movies/shows?  Sometimes, but they aren't really a favorite.

 

8) In 1973, when this song was a hit, former President Lyndon Johnson died. Who was President when you were a kid?  Nixon, Ford, and Carter.

 
9) Random question: When you woke up this morning, did you know the day and date (before looking at your phone)?  Yes. I'm still a working woman so I am very aware of days and dates.

Thanks, Sam, for the music and questions!

Join the fun here.

Currently...

I am

Reading... The Christmas Tree Farm, which is book 3 in the Dream Harbor series by Laurie Gilmore.

Watching... It's Thursday so...the latest episodes of Swamp People and Swamp Mysteries.

Listening to... today at work it was a mix of 70's AM radio hits, Motown, and 90's country.

Loving... the nicer weather that is coming more and more often. Winter isn't done with us yet, I'm sure, but the past week gives me hope!

Thinking... about work. It's kind of hard not to these days. I am working my regular job, my hours with the older gentleman I care for (which just increased due to one of the other caretakers quitting without notice...and there are no plans to replace her), and I'm driving one of the short van runs for the next month or two while the regular driver is off due to a surgery.

Feeling... busy, purposeful...and maybe just a bit stressed because this Saturday is the craft show my daughter and I have been creating beaded items for.

Celebrating... nothing at the moment, but St. Patrick's Day was fun at work. This is the staff I work with every day.

Grateful... the doctor finally got back to Tim and set up an appointment to see him on the 31st. There were several concerning findings in his last round of blood work.

Enjoying... the time I've been spending with my daughter. Busy hands tend to open up the paths to good conversations.

Looking forward... to the craft show on Saturday. The hard work will be done and I can't wait to see how we do. I'm so glad my daughter has been enjoying this and hope we do well enough to keep her encouraged.

Here are a few of our most recent creations.

The weather... is cooling off again, but not back to winter cold. Our coldest days in the next week are supposed to be in the mid 40's.

Giggling at...