Thankful Thursday

Let me begin with an update.

My doctor called on Tuesday. The sample tissue she sent off to the lab did not contain the correct tissue, so the biopsy was a failure. She still said to come in to the office in two weeks so we can talk about where to go from here. At this point she sees two paths. The first is to continue monitoring the situation with sonograms. The second is to have a hysterectomy. I am not a fan of option two unless there is nothing else we can do. If it is not urgent I'm not even a fan of it for this year. There are things I want to do this year. My doctor says we can both think about it until I come in. 

Anyway...

Things I am thankful for on this cold January evening:

1. I got to work with my work bestie today and we got to take our consumers out for the day. We're an unlikely pair but we always have fun.

2. Whatever this weekend's storm brings (forecasts vary widely), we're ready. I ordered a few things we might need or run out of and picked them up on my way home today and in the unlikely event our power goes out (it has never gone off for more than a couple of minutes here) Tim has a generator.

3. Mom has been sick with some intestinal bug this week, but seems to be on the upswing today.

4. The storm isn't going to hit during working hours so we probably won't have to brave bad roads.

5. The grands are planning to sleep over on Saturday night. It's been a while so we're excited.

6. I'm not sure why, but my joints haven't been hurting very much since Monday's trip to the hospital. The IV fluids? The IV doses of Motrin and Tylenol? I don't know, but when they start to ache again....can we do the IV thing again? Please?

7. Today warmed up enough to melt most of last night's ice. Tim salted the last of it when he got home tonight.

8. Oliver "making biscuits" on my lap.

Currently

I am

Reading... The King's Ransom by Janet Evanovich.

Watching... NCIS Hawaii, we're working our way through all the NCIS versions.

Thinking... I'm cold and we aren't even to the really cold weather that's coming this week.

Feeling... Pretty good, all things considered. I had my out-patient procedure today. Well, I had part of it. It seems my cervix is completely closed over with scar tissue from the cone biopsy I had 20 years ago. They "think" they got a biopsy, but they couldn't do the D&C. I see the doctor in 2 weeks to find out the biopsy results and what the plan is.

Celebrating... a friend and coworker retired. Friday was her last day and we partied a little at work in our department. The real celebration was Saturday night when a few of us that are close met up for dinner. Good times.

Grateful... for my cozy home, warm jammies, fuzzy socks, fleece blankets, and cuddles from Oliver on this cold night.

Enjoying... ibuprofen in my system after more than a week without it.

Weather... clear, 18 degrees/feels like 3 degrees, going down to 5 degrees tonight and feeling like -10 degrees in the morning.

Giggling...

Currently

I am

Reading... The Restoration Garden by Sara Blaydes

Listening to... Oliver meowing in my ear

Watching... nothing

Thinking... about next Monday. I'm having an outpatient procedure done.

Feeling... cozy

Celebrating...  a coworker/friend's last week at work with a pizza party on Friday and then 4 of us who are friends are going out Saturday night to send her off right

Grateful for... good jobs, good insurance, and employers who contribute generously to our retirement funds

Enjoying... the way I rearranged the furniture after the tree came down

Weather... cloudy and 45 degrees...rain is on the way

Giggling...

 

  

Saturday 9: Volare

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

1) The word "volare" is Italian for "to fly." Say something else in Italian.  Ciao. Amore. Buongiorno. Arrivederci. Grazie. Prego. That's all I've got.

2) This week, Bobby Rydell invites us to take off with him up in the clouds and promises we'll find a rainbow. Countless lyricists have included rainbows in their songs. Can you name another song that mentions rainbows?  Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Rainbow Connection, Brown Eyed Girl.

3) His happy heart is singing. What is making you happy this morning?  I'm answering this Friday evening, but I'm anticipating being happy about feeling well enough to finally take down the Christmas tree and other decorations.

 

4) Bobby Rydell, like Frankie Avalon and Fabian, was a 1950s teen idol who hailed from Philadelphia. Home to the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, Philly is Pennsylvania's most populous city. Have you ever been there?  Yes, my grandfather's family had ties to the city, but I was so young I don't remember anything.

 

5) Bobby was such a perfect example of a clean-cut American boy that when Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey sat down to write the play Grease, they named their fictional high school Rydell High after him. Do you have a favorite song from Grease?  Oh boy....Grease is my all-time favorite musical and I love all the songs. We Go Together was the class song we chose when we ruled the school in 1982, but if I have to choose one I like just a bit more than all the rest I guess it would be Summer Lovin'.

 

6) In addition to singing, Bobby also acted. His most famous film role was opposite Ann-Margret in Bye, Bye, Birdie (1963). Have you seen it?  Several times, both the movie and the musical.

7) In 1960, when this record was popular, so were hand-loomed, 100% virgin wool sweaters from Italy. You could order one from the Sears catalog for $12.60 (approx. $135 in today's dollars). That sweater was labeled "dry clean only." Do you have any garments waiting to be picked up from the cleaners?  No. Dry cleaning has fallen so out of favor that I don't think there is even a cleaner in our town. It has been years since I've dropped anything at the cleaners.

 
8) Also in 1960, Princess Margaret married photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones. They met when he was commissioned to take her official portrait. Who took the most recent photo of you?  Probably someone at work.

 

9) Random question: Is your oldest friend also your best friend?  No.

Currently

It was back to work for me today. I'm not over whatever bug I have, but I am doing better than over the weekend. The horrible achiness has mostly passed and the constantly running nose has switched gears and gone to congestion. It was good that it was a fairly easy day at work.

... it's a "balmy" 37 degrees at 9:00. We have been well below freezing for a while now so today felt like spring even with the mountains of dirty snow piled here and there. We're warming up all week and predicted to hit the low 60s on Friday and Saturday. 

... getting ready to start reading the new Janet Evanovich novel, The King's Ransom.

... listened to a lot of classic country and Motown at work today. I love Christmas music, but after a month it's nice to listen to anything else.

... watching Antiques Roadshow. It's been ages since I've watched.

... thinking about the elderly, blind man I help care for. If you remember, he was diagnosed with throat cancer and has been in a nursing home through his chemo treatments. Those are done and he is coming home tomorrow and returning to work on Wednesday...but only until he goes to the hospital for surgery on the 19th. It will be a long and involved surgery and he will spend 2-3 days in the ICU followed by 4-5 days in a regular room. He was a "lot" before all of this and he is going to have a lot more needs after his surgery. I feel bad, but I have told my employer I don't want to take care of him any longer. It's just too much. The other caregiver has also quit. I did tell them I will help out a bit until he goes for his surgery to give them time to look for help. Pray they find people for him.

... feeling wide awake. All that sleep over the weekend sure has me rested up. I hope I can sleep tonight.

... celebrating the Steelers' win last night. They squeaked into the playoffs! We'll be having a pizza party at work next Monday before the game.

... grateful for grocery pick up and for my daughter who went to get mine yesterday since Tim worked. Also that this bug doesn't seem to be one that's going to linger.

... enjoying the towel warmer our daughter got us for Christmas. Talk about luxury!

... making me giggle

Sunday Stealing: When You Need a Break

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!

This week's meme is inspired by Christina at Call Me Patsy, who turned to answering these questions when she felt frustrated by a project she was working on.

Questions to Answer when You Need a Break 

1. What would you rather be doing right now?  Just about anything other than sleeping. I've had a cold or some bug all weekend and nearly all I've done is sleep. There was so much I wanted to get done, not the least of which, was packing up the Christmas decorations for another year.

2. What is always on your grocery list?  Diet Coke, orange juice, eggs, and some kind of bread are the top items and always present on the shopping list.

3. Have you ever used a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose?  No, thank goodness!

4. How many times did you text yesterday?  Maybe two, because, uh, sleeping.

5. Would you prefer a slow-paced, relaxing vacation or one filled with new sights and experiences?  I would prefer a mixture of both. I want to see and do new things, but I want to have times to rest and relax, too.

Saturday 9: New Year's Day

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

Welcome to the first Saturday 9 of 2026.

 

 
1) In the lyrics, Taylor Swift promises she'll not only be there for the party, but for the clean up afterward. As we say move on from the holiday season, could your home benefit from a thorough cleaning? Yes, it could. Are you offering?

 

2) This song describes a party where guests took Polaroid pictures. Have you ever owned a Polaroid camera? Do you have one now? I had a One Step. My dad got for me the Christmas I was 13. I loved that thing. It's long gone and no, no Polaroid cameras in the house.

3) Taylor sings that we should "hold on to memories." What special memory from 2025 memory will you hang onto?  Our week long vacation with our daughter and her children.

 

4) Taylor Swift grew up on a Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania. Have you taken your tree, or other holiday decorations, down yet? If you didn't decorate at all, let us know that, too.  No, everything is still up. I will be taking the tree and inside decorations down on Sunday. The outside things will have to wait for a thaw and/or my husband to have some time off work...whichever comes first.

5) Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement but no wedding date has been shared. Do you anticipate attending any weddings in 2026?  No.

6) Travis' team, the Kansas City Chiefs, is currently 6-10. Not exactly the record their fans hoped for. According to a 2024 Pew research study, 53% of Americans said football is their favorite sport. Have you watched much football this season?  No. I like football, but Tim grew up in a family that didn't watch any sports and he doesn't like to watch either.

 

7) In 2017, when "New Year's Day" was released, Wonder Woman was a hit at the box office. While Wonder Woman's superhero abilities vary depending on which TV show, movie or comic book you refer to, some of her powers remain consistent: a) immense strength, b) superhuman speed, c) the ability to almost instantly recover/heal from injury. Which would you like to possess – a, b, or c?  I think I'd appreciate the ability to heal. Would that include healing arthritis?

8) Have you made any New Year's resolutions for 2026?  Nothing specific, just a general thought of being healthier.

 
9) What was the first thing to make you laugh in 2026?  My husband being goofy.

Thanks to Sam for the music and questions!

Play along here.