Currently

I am

Reading... Trust No One by James Rollins.

Watching... The Emoji Movie with the grands. I need a night sleeping in my own bed so they are having a sleepover here tonight. It may take a while for them to settle down, though. They got to Facetime with their mom tonight for the first time since she's been gone and they were a "little" excited.

Listening... to them rustling around on the air mattress. They are both notorious for flopping all around before they finally relax and go to sleep.

Eating... we had a pretty normal schedule this evening and I was able to make a big pot of spaghetti with meatballs and garlic bread. Enough for everyone, some leftovers, and dinner for their dad at work tonight.

Thinking... about schedules. There is so much to remember and fit into each day. I'm exhausted. It's no wonder our daughter gets overwhelmed. I don't struggle with anxiety or depression, but it's still a LOT. It's going to be relaxing when I go back to work.

Feeling... tired and sore. That's why we're sleeping here tonight.

Celebrating... each day we make it through and that the kids got to "see" their mom tonight. Also the way our son-in-law has stepped up to do a lot more than he's used to doing.

Enjoying... getting to know our son-in-law better. He's normally super shy and quiet, but we've been having some long heart-to-hearts.

Weather... temps are in the 50's, but we've had pouring rain most of the day.

Giggling...

Saturday 9: Farewell, Amanda

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

 

1) The record begins with a long instrumental interlude, and when the lyrics kick in at about the 1:00 mark, they bid Amanda "farewell, adios, addio, adieu." Of course you recognize "farewell" as English. Without looking it up, can you identify the other languages? Spanish, French....and I have no idea what language"addio" is.

 

2) Can you say "goodbye" in a language not represented in question #1? Aloha, shalom, auf Wiedersehen, and sayonara.

3) The lyrics reference a night full of stars. When did you last take a moment to check out the night sky?  I almost always look up when I am outside at night.

 

4) This song was written for Adam's Rib, a comedy starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. The movie is about husband-and-wife lawyers who square off against one another in court. Have you ever served on a jury?  To my dismay, no. I've always wanted to, but I've only ever been summoned once and I never got called up to be considered. The parties involved settled out of court.

 

5) "Farewell, Amanda" was composed by Noel Coward. Though best known as a playwright, he also wrote more than a thousand songs and was a director and an actor. His epitaph reads, "A talent to amuse." How would you like to be remembered?  As someone who loved much, cared deeply, gave freely, and laughed hard.

 

6) There's even a book of Noel Coward paintings. It was published after his death, in part because Coward considered himself only an amateur painter. When did you last pick up a paintbrush?  It would have been at work, probably within the last month, but it was for a craft, not any work of art. Unless you consider things made from things like tissue paper, dried macaroni, pipe cleaners, and toilet paper tubes art. If you do, I have some pieces I'd be willing to part with for the right price.

 

7) In 1949, when audiences first heard "Farewell, Amanda," Americans began playing Clue. What's the last board game you played?  I think it was Candyland.

 

8) The best-selling novel of 1949 was Point of No Return by John P. Marquand. Tell us about the last book you finished.  Eh, it was some romance. It was enjoyable, but nothing made it stand out from the millions of others out there.

 

9) Random question: Growing up, did you share a bedroom?  Yep, with the dog.

Have a wonderful Saturday, everyone! I'll be around to visit as soon as I can. I am taking care of the grandchildren these days and their dad is working tomorrow (Saturday). It kind of all depends on whether dad works a single shift or a double one. We won't know until tomorrow when he's at work. It's all based on if someone calls off (and tomorrow's going to be a beautiful day so what are the odds?).

Thanks, Sam, for the music and questions!

Play along here.

Thankful Thursday

And here we are.

One phone call upended our world today. Our daughter went to a residential mental health facility today. She will be there for at least two weeks. Her tearful call to me included the admission that she no longer trusted herself to be alone as she had reached the point of "having a plan in place." (The plan being one to commit suicide.)

My mother stayed with the children. Our daughter's best friend drove her to the facility, about 90 minutes from home.

Our son-in-law can't take time off without seriously hurting the family finances. I was able to take time off. I must use all my vacation days first and then I can use the emergency family medical leave. Once activated I will have up to 12 weeks that can be used all at once or here and there as it is needed. I just have to fill out the forms and get our daughter's doctor at the facility to sign it.

So, for at least the next two weeks I will be off work and taking care of the grandchildren, doing the homeschooling, and whatever else is needed.

This week I am thankful...

* our daughter was brave enough to reach out when she needed help.

* for the friend who not only drove her, but argued with the facility about finances and was able to get her admitted to begin with.

* my employer is understanding and willing to work with me.

* I can keep my insurance up by paying $50/month if it comes to that.

* our son-in-law is really stepping up. He is under a lot of stress between this and his father's upcoming heart procedure next week.

* my mom, at 81, is still fit enough to help out.

* all the thoughts and prayers for our daughter and our family.

* above all else, that I know the Lord is in control and He is my strength.

Songs That Would Be on My Ultimate Playlist

These are the songs that make me want to get up and dance or sing along.

In no particular order.

1. Come and Get Your Love

2. Should Have Been a Cowboy

3. Piano Man

4. Dancing in the Moonlight

5. How Do You Like Me Now

6. September

7. Get Down on It

8. Walking on Sunshine

9.  She's In Love with the Boy

10. Sweet Home Alabama

11. These Are My People

12. Ballroom Blitz

13. Love Shack

14. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go

15. Take Me Home

16. American Pie

17. Sweet Caroline

18. Brown Eyed Girl

19. King of the Road

20. Uptown Funk

21. It's a Great Day to Be Alive

22. The Joker

23. Hotel California

24. Take It Easy

25. Girls Just Want to Have Fun

What songs are on your list?

Currently

I am...

Reading... A Sweet Alaskan Fall by Jennifer Snow

Watching... American Idol

Listening... to Oliver purr while he sits on the back of my chair and toys with my curls.

Eating... I've been living on soup the last couple of days.

Thinking... about how much needs done around here. The clutter is getting away from me.

Feeling... meh. My cold took a turn for the worse Saturday evening and yesterday (Sunday) I did nothing but hide under my blanket and binge watch Netflix. Today it's been up and down. Right now I feel slightly better. Here's hoping tomorrow I'm feeling a lot better.

Celebrating... our daughter's improvement. The med changes seem to be helping a good bit. Praying it continues. Also, thank you, everyone, for your kind words, encouragement, and prayers.

Enjoying... starting to plan and prepare to sell our crafts and other items at the opening day of the local athletic association's softball/baseball season. We did extremely well last year and that was with not really knowing what we were doing. We've learned a few things.

Weather... cold. It's going down to 18* tonight and tomorrow's high is only supposed to be 28*. At least the big storm that swept up through New England pretty much missed us. We didn't get more than a "robust" dusting and that is already gone.

Giggling...

A Quick Update

Whew. 

We made it. 

It's Friday.

If you are among those who saw my last post and showed support or even if you didn't, but have been praying...I want to let you know how much I appreciate it. Also, that our daughter seems much improved today. She went to that new facility I mentioned and they began evaluating her meds. Right off they found more than one combo that wasn't good. They've already changed meds and are weaning her off of another. She is so pleased she's begun the process of changing our grandson over to this facility, as well.

As for me, I do indeed have a cold. At this point it seems mild. I am doing everything I can to keep it that way. 

Anyway... T.G.I.F.

Currently (& Thankful) on Thursday

Hi, everyone! I'm coming in late this week, because once again, it's been a bit of a week. I'll get to that in a bit, but for now things are settling down and for that I am grateful.

Reading... sad to say, nothing at the moment. I need to find my next read.

Watching... at the moment, FOX News. In general, I renewed our Netflix subscription and have watched a few good mystery movies.

Listening... not to silence, but to a calm house. Our daughter and her kids have been here most evenings this week and it has been anything but calm. I love having them here, but at the same time I'm an introvert and after spending all day dealing with special needs adults who are very emotionally demanding, I need some time to recharge.

Eating... loving our subscription to the Tovala meal service. The meals have all been very good. However, I've been craving Chinese, so tonight we had takeout.

Thinking... Ok, here's where I explain why it's been a week. If you've been around here for a while you know our daughter struggles with a lot of health issues and some mental health issues as well. Tuesday I got a call from her at work. That call kind of rocked my world.

The depression and anxiety our daughter deals with has, in recent months, gotten much worse. She has confided in the past, that while she wouldn't kill herself, she often thought of just not waking up or getting hit by a truck...things that would take it out of her hands.

During Tuesday's call she told me the thoughts are getting worse, more persistent, and involve action on her part. She wanted to go to a live-in treatment facility, but not one connected to any of the hospitals around. She doesn't think well of them and from what we can see, neither does anyone else. 

She found a nice facility, only an hour away, and with great reviews. It would require a 30-day stay. Could I get leave to take care of the kids? I was out with a client when she called, but as soon as I got back I was knocking on HR's door. It took a bit to get all the answers, but I walked away with all the forms to fill out to get emergency family leave. Right about then is when our daughter called again telling me to "never mind." Her insurance would pay, but only half the cost. That would leave a bill of at least $15,000 to pay upfront before treatment.

She wasn't handling the news well. We weren't handling the news well, but tried to remain supportive and help her find answers. By evening she'd calmed down a bit and yesterday and today she is calmer still. I think maybe her anxiety had taken hold on Tuesday and magnified everything.

Today she met with a new behavioral health facility that she said seems very different from the place she goes now. They agreed with her that step one should be evaluating all of her meds because they could very easily be behind the escalation of her depression. They do therapy if they decide it will benefit her once the meds are adjusted. She seems happy with the outcome of the meeting and they will begin evaluating tomorrow morning. 

Praising the Lord for His hand it all of it. Please keep our girl in your prayers.

Feeling... a bit tired and, maybe, like I'm getting a little bit of a cold. I'm hoping not.

Celebrating... a nice Valentine's Day. We had a big party at work...catered lunch, music and dancing, treats for all the clients, and red carnations for all the girls. On Saturday Tim and I went to The Lobster Shack for a delicious and (very) pricey Valentine's dinner. My mom and John went with us. We had a very nice time.

At work we've moved on. We started decorating for St. Patrick's Day today.

Enjoying... being busy and the work days flying by.

Weather... rainy, but still warm for February in Pennsylvania. Today's high was close to 60* before the rain and it's still in the upper 40's. Tomorrow the rain is supposed to move out and we should see a high of 64*. The weekend will bring a cool down and snow moving in on Sunday and lasting through Monday. The ground isn't frozen so we can hope the snow doesn't last.

Thankful... 

• Above all, that our daughter is still with us and still fighting to get the help she needs.
• For an employer who is willing to work with me to enable me to be there for my family.
• For everyone who has shown our girl and us kindness and understanding.
• For every single day the Lord grants us. I don't take any of them for granted.
• The grandchildren have started cyber school this week and they like it.
• I can keep the grandchildren all day this coming Saturday to allow our daughter time to figure out what to do with all of the boxes and boxes of supplies that came with enrollment in cyber school. Clutter and mess stress her terribly. They always have and she knows that dealing with it will help her state of mind.
• Our son-in-law will be off on Saturday and is going to help clean and organize the house.

Giggling at...

Have a great Friday, friends!