Currently...

I am

Reading... Camp Girls: Fireside Lessons on Friendship, Courage, and Loyalty by Iris Krasnow. I found it in the used bookstore at the mall. The store is unique in that there are no employees. It's a self-checkout place, but there are Ring doorbell buttons by the registers so you can "call" the owner if you have a problem. Books are $2 for paperbacks and $4 for hardbacks. I can beat the prices, but there are tables, chairs, and even recliners, along with a free coffee/tea bar. It's a nice place to hang out for a while.

Watching... American Pickers. It's more background noise than anything.

Listening... to the hum of the A/C and Tim's snores.

Loving... the grands popping in and out all the time now that school is out. I just wish I had more time to be here with them. Having summers off was one thing I did love about driving a school bus.

Thinking... about Tim's appointment at the dermatologist's tomorrow. He is finally going to have the skin cancer removed from his nose. No one is going with him. He won't need a driver and he doesn't want anyone sitting there waiting as that is what a lot of the day will be. They peel a layer and then he sits. Then they peel another layer and he sits. That goes on until they remove all of it and it goes pretty deep. The doctor told him he may wait an hour or more between layers.

Feeling... about 10 feet tall and bullet proof. More about why below.

Celebrating... that the consumer I'm working with in a one-on-one situation while his usual person is on vacation, has been totally AWESOME!! Normally, he does not listen to anyone but his regular person. Anytime that person has been away in the past, this consumer has run wild and the best anyone working with him could hope for was to not get punched in the face. To everyone's surprise (and my great relief) he has been absolutely wonderful for me. We have one more day to get through so I hope my luck holds.

Enjoying... the chocolate pretzel popcorn I bought yesterday.

Grateful... for all the rain we've been getting. We haven't had to go from work to water the flowers downtown since last Thursday!

Weather... the rain has stopped but even at 74 degrees it's pretty soupy out there. Tomorrow will be in the low 80's and then it's an uphill climb from there...nothing but 90's from Saturday through most of next week. Ugh.

Giggling...

Thankful Thursday

It's been a while. A long while. It's not that I haven't been thankful for lots of things. It's that most evenings find me worn out and in pain, hence only a post or two a week. I just don't feel like coming up with a post.

So, today I'm delighted and very, very THANKFUL to report that I'm feeling good this evening. It's unexpected as the summer weather has brought back the daily chore at work of taking some consumers downtown to water the huge flower baskets hanging on the light poles in the shopping district. 

Walking with the consumers can be challenging. Walking with the consumers (especially when some of them are blind or have more severe physical limitations) while lugging the water cart (a 30 or 40 gallon tank with a pump on wheels) behind you is exhausting and can leave my legs and feet hurting so bad I can't sleep at night. 

Today I pulled the cart and walked with the consumers and when we were done we went to a park for lunch and to spend some time outside on such a beautiful day. I even went grocery shopping for the older man I take care of and then cleaned, cooked his dinner, and prepped some of the food for over the weekend.

I should be hurting right now. A lot. However, I'm not. I'm thankful to be able to say I feel pretty good after all that. I'm thankful for the Vionic walking sandals I wore to do the watering and for the Vionic recovery sandals I changed into afterward.

Vionic Walk Max Wanderer

Vionic Rejuvenate Sandal

Y'all, not being in pain right now is HUGE! It gives me hope that I might survive next week when the only man in my department is off. He has a one-on-one. His consumer is notoriously difficult for everyone but him. I already know I have him on Monday. It's likely I will have him most of the days. The plan is to meet him at the door when he arrives, get him into a van, and leave the building behind. He is usually better when he is out so we are hoping if he never gets in he won't act up. Anyway, getting him out that quick means he is designated (along with whoever has him) to water the flowers every day. So, yeah, today gives me hope I can do it.

What are you thankful for this week?

Currently

I am

Reading... finishing up Smile Beach Murder by Alicia Bessette. I didn't read much over the weekend. Hubby was home and it was a binge watch couple of days.

Watching... just about finished with our Longmire binge.

Listening to... today it was Weezer and Smash Mouth.

Loving... Tim had a great check up with his heart doctor yesterday. His heart looks good and he will start rehab next month. His doctor made the appointment.

Thinking... about some really stupid stuff going on at work.

Feeling... happy.

Celebrating... our daughter's family is coming home tonight. They had gone to Niagara Falls for a few days. It was really quiet around here.

Enjoying... the summer weather. The pool's open, though the water's too cold for me. We take the consumers out to one park or another nearly every day at work.

Grateful... we bought a robot pool vacuum this year. We all hate trying to keep the bottom of the pool clean.

Weather... sunny and 73 degrees this evening. Partly cloudy and 80 tomorrow.

Giggling...

  

Saturday 9: Hold On

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

 

1) This song gives encouragement to someone who is enduring heartache. Have you more recently given support, or received it?  More often than not, I am the one giving support. I suppose it's because I tend to keep difficult things private.

 

2) "Hold On" is featured prominently in the 2011 movie Bridesmaids. It's an anthem for the friends in the film and they love to sing it together. Is there a song that reminds you of good times with a good friend?  Billy Joel's Piano Man reminds me of my college days and some very good times.

 

3) The video for this song finds Wilson Phillips outdoors on a snowy mountainside and then on a sandy beach. What's the view outside your window?  From the kitchen window I can see our pool, my mom's backyard and the huge Catalpa tree whose branches spread nearly the entire width of her yard and is easily the tallest tree in the neighborhood. 

 

4) The mountain segments were filmed in California's San Gabriel Mountains. The girls were flown to the set by helicopter. Have you ever been in a helicopter?  I flew in helicopters several times as a child. I haven't been in one since.

 

5) The members of Wilson Phillips are authentic "California Girls." Wendy and Carnie Wilson's father is Brian Wilson, who wrote the Beach Boys hit. Chynna Phillips is the daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas, who sang "California Dreamin'." Have you been to California? If yes, where did you visit?  I've never been to California.

 

6) Another generation of the Wilson family has entered the music business. Carnie's daughter/Brian Wilson's granddaughter, Lola Bonfiglio, participated in the current season of American Idol. Has a family member followed you in your chosen profession?  No.

 

7) In 1990, when this song was popular, satellite radio was in its infancy and streaming was unheard of. Our cars gave us a choice of AM/FM and maybe CD player/tape deck. When you're driving and a favorite song comes on, are you more likely to sing along if you're alone? Or don't you care if anyone hears you?  I only sing when I'm alone or with someone I feel won't judge my lack of talent like my grandchildren or my special needs clients.

 
8) Also in 1990, actor Alan Hale Jr. died. He was "the skipper" on Gilligan's Island. Without looking it up, can you name the other six castaways? (If not the actors, then their characters.)  Gilligan (Bob Denver), the Professor (Russell Johnson), Thurston Howell (Jim Backus), Lovey Howell (Natalie Schafer), Ginger (Tina Louise), and Mary Ann (Dawn Wells). And yes, I knew them. I have always been a fan.

9) Random question: What superhero would you like to have as your best friend?   You should know by now that my answer to any superhero question is...

Currently

I am

Reading... Smile Beach Murder by Alicia Bessette.

Watching... Kevin Costner's The West.

Listening... I've been in the mood for funk lately.

Loving... that my boss is finally forcing those in my department who do as little as possible, to step up or face the fact that maybe it's not the job for them.

Thinking... about all the things I want to do this summer.

Feeling... better, in that the cough is just about gone. but still not great due to my knees really acting up the last few days.

Celebrating... I received an email over the weekend that my daughter and I secured one of the 10 vendor spots at the opening day of midget football in August. We did very well at the softball/baseball opening day and everyone says the football opener is much bigger.

Enjoying... getting out of the building more often at work. Nice weather means trips to the park several times a week.

Grateful... for a quiet weekend at home doing a lot of nothing. I didn't realize just how tired I was and the time off was much need and much enjoyed.

Weather... sunny and 74 degrees today, sunny and 84 tomorrow.

Giggling...