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Monday, November 15, 2010

How is it mid-November, already?

Oy! No idea where the time goes, but it sure does fly by fast, with a gerbillion things waiting in the wings...


Tomorrow is my beloved's birthday, and his secret surprise "don't buy me a present" should arrive today. Maybe right now -- junior dog is practicing her professional skillz, barking at someone who wants to bring us something. Nope, just the evil mailman, delivering bills, credit card offers, and daughter's jury summons for her winter break.


Also, senior cat continues to pook in the tub. In antiwhines, it is a gorgeous day, but dark will come too early tonight. What's up by you?

44 comments:

Madeleine said...

Dead bugs on windowsills (though not that giant fly from the last week, at least not that I've stumbled on).

Sue said...

Hmm.....dead bugs. We're off to a good start pixies!

Add continuing cat pook, and we're good to go.

Kathy a. - I love surprise "don't buy me a present" presents!! I did that for hubby on our anniversary. He was really, totally surprised and quite liked his gift. Such fun!!!

Anti-whine: It's a lovely day here. It snowed yesterday so everything is covered in lovely white. Apparently everyone in the city thought the same thing I did this morning - "Hey, it's almost Christmas!!!" - because the roads were busier than usual.

Around here that means you might have to wait for a second round at the traffic lights. That just never happens, except on days like today. Seriously, we really don't know about traffic jams. Sweet!

Anywho, the Christmas shopping has begun. And I have a happy cat on my lap.

Yep. Life's good.

esperanza said...

Dead bugs, that's an Old Skool winner, I'd say.

W: I should have trusted my instincts about Teh Wedding and refused to go. I have no idea why the couple practically insisted that the Baboos come. There were no other children there, it was definitely not child-friendly, and they were disruptive. I ended up walking with them up and down the hallway during the ceremony. As cocktail hour stretched into cocktail hour-and-a-half, I left and took them back to the hotel to get them into bed. So...I basically spent the weekend in a hotel room with two small children. And the other guests were definitely not My People.
AW: Elmo had fun going in and out of the hotel safe.

AW: We did have a good time Saturday with my college roommate and her family. We hadn't seen each other in a long while, and it was good to be with a non-church friend, the kind of friend where it feels like you've just talked yesterday.

W: Baboo's physical therapy evaluation last week was underwhelming, so I'm taking her to a different place this week.

AW: Have already begun my Christmas shopping/creating as well, even my Christmas baking. I have never been this far ahead. Must not let it go to my head.

Sue said...

Esperanza - sorry about the not so fabulous wedding, but I'm glad Elmo had a good time, and that you got to visit your college friend.

Um. What is this "baking" that you speak of?

I hope the next physical therapist is better suited for Baboo. She deserves the best and only the best.

kathy a. said...

snow! pretty!

esperanza, glad you got to see your friend, anyway! i remember doing the kidlet shuffle during a cousin's first wedding, a fancy pants affair. bleah. elmo visited the safe, for real? cooool.

somehow, we are committed to hosting "boxing day" at my house, a holiday we have never before celebrated, but that's when my sister and her canadian husband and son can come. since we are having ham for christmas -- that is the sum total of christmas planning -- i have prudently decided that we are also having ham for boxing day.

Madeleine said...

kathy a., I'm pretty sure Christmas leftovers are de rigeur for Boxing Day. (Plus ice packs for injuries sustained at stores with "door crasher" sales. Not that I've ever actually been, I just see it in the news.)

esperanza, it was a Saturday EVENING wedding? Oy, sorry about all the bad advice last week. I assumed it was a daytime wedding since the couple insisted on you bringing the kids . . .

Unknown said...

Yet another unwanted guest. Last week it was Aunt Flo. this week it's cousin Candida and she is a serious pain in the nether regions.

My daughter, the kid I haven't seen in a month because it is "too far" to travel 4 miles, came back from her second trip to Miami since 9/1 went right to some hiphop concert (is it a concert when all they do is yell bad words?), drank a four-loko and passed out, and then called me at 4:30 am telling me she and two male friends were on their way over to "hang-out". Please pass the cluestick, size small.

Meanwhile we saw but did not get an apartment that was on the second and third floors with NO railings. The landlady didn't want to replace the railings, and cannot get into another situation where the landlord will not follow the building code.

Last week's fight was with CVS. This week it is Bank America. I had charges from hangzhou china on my statement. Almost $500 of Chinese mayhem. I reported the theft Friday. They still have not taken off the charges yet. Another cluestick in XXL, please.

Lastly, I am somewhat hooked on American Chopper. Not for the bikes, but for the family drama. I am SO pissed off at Sr. that I actually wrote him a letter to let him know what an ass he is. Like I don't have enough drama, I have to take on the Tuetuls, too?

Nobody invited us for Thanksgiving, but we were invited to Friendsgiving the next day. Close enough. So we'll be watching Chunkin Pumpkin on Thanksgiving.

Madeleine said...

Again with the bank fraud! Pixies, this is an epidemic.

Sue said...

(((madeleine))) - stoopid bank fraud. Ack!

(((margalit))) - Bleh. Just bleh.

kathy a. - Christmas leftovers are definitely cool for boxing day. I believe it is also totally okay for the hostess to remain in her jammies for the occasion. (It is boxing day, after all)

Anti-whine: I just 'borrowed' two lovely looking cupcakes from the church freezer. There was a label on the container that said something about the church tea, but I opted to ignore that. The hardest part was re-arranging the treats so it wasn't so obvious that the minister had stolen two. *snicker*

kathy a. said...

oh, sue! who would suspect you of refrigerator theft??? on the up side, borrowing from an abundant supply meant to be shared is much less of a mortal sin than stealing someone's lunch. one could even think of it as "leftover prevention." or an emergency use, for the greater good.

esperanza said...

Sue, I have *so* done that. Did anyone never catch on when the fellowship hour cookies seemed to disappear?!? "Baking" is my creative outlet. Just adapt to your own desires. No need to approach the kitchen.

Cluesticks come in sizes? Excellent! Is it based on the size of the recipient, or the size of the offense?

Yes, evening wedding. Exactly. Why would you want my small children at your evening wedding? No one's children are adorable past bedtime. And Elmo's adventures were in the in-room safe. It was a moment of pure genius when I suggested that perhaps he would like to get in there. Good entertainment.

W: Poor Mini's rash is gone everwhere except for her nether regions. It is bright red and very ouchy. We are all ears for any suggestions.

kathy a. said...

oh, poor mini! time to see the pediatrician again -- that sounds like me with every spotty childhood illness in the days before vaccinations for that stuff, and then some. [i had a weird extra one, too.] aveno oatmeal baths. that old standby, calamine lotion. is there any possibility she was exposed to poison oak/ivy, or some other allergen, even second-hand? because that was the leading cause of bad rashes with my kids. xoxo

Madeleine said...

Clarification: No bank fraud in my life, this week at least. I was just lamenting the frequency with which it has shown up at WW lately.

Days said...

My kids' school is on fall break this week, and the weather forecast is rain, rain, rain. However, silence reigns since the three oldest have been bribed. If they can collectively finish re-reading the H@rry P0tter books by Friday, we'll see the new movie on opening day.

I'll be back to read and comment later. I'm savouring the silence right now.

Liz Miller said...

Margalit, your children are grown, it's time to start focusing on yourself. Put on your own oxygen mask, and let your children fend for themselves. At this point, you really need to get your own life together.

It will be far easier for each of you to find your own place to live, and your son will not have as many opportunities to steal from you.

Regarding aunt flo and the itchy nethers, is there a medical school free clinic you can go to?

kathy a. said...

yay, days, for the sounds of silence! i'm all in favor of bribery for the greater good. ;)

margalit -- liz is saying so well some of the things i'm thinking. the return of flo after 5 years is worrisome. and kids who are out of high school need to be assuming responsibility -- which i know can be a struggle, but it's important for them as well as for your mental health and well-being. i hope you find a new place soon.

Jenevieve said...

Man, guys. Spouse suffers from serious depression, which was well controlled until we left Scotland and took a 3.5 month vacation from health care (and thus prescriptions). So he's been in a BAD downward spiral. We finally got him back on meds 2 weeks ago, but things are really, really bad still. And I can't be supportive right now; I know I'm being selfish but I just don't have the energy when the clinic has me doing 24h shifts.

Whiiiiiiiine. My life is hard.

W: Roommate thinks paying rent is optional. He's childhood bff of spouse, so kicking out isn't really an option.

W: My son has decided he's no longer potty trained. He doesn't care at all if he's wet. I have no idea how to deal with that.

AW: I drank a really good chai today from my fave local coffeehouse.

kathy a. said...

(((( jenevieve )))) let's hope the meds kick in soon. i know it can take a few weeks. your shifts are awful, too -- but even if they were better, there is only so much someone else can do for the person suffering depression. xoxxo

i'd just let the potty training go for now, and rely on pull-ups and peer pressure. i swear he'll be past that at some point!

Sue said...

Margalit - I'm with Liz and kathy - as tough as it is to do, sometimes the tough love approach is the only one that's realistic with grown children. Take care of you!

Jenevieve - so sorry about everything - the hubby's depression, the 24h shifts (gah!), and the reverse potty training. Bad trifecta - no question. Add in the non-paying roomie and it makes for a genuinely whine-worthy week.

From personal experience, I can say that the first three weeks of any new anti-depressant are the worst. My doc always reminded me when we were trying new meds "Remember, it gets worse before it gets better - just hang on until your body catches up with the the meds."

If you've been through two weeks, you should be getting close to the time when you will know if this is the one that is going to work for your hubby. I hope you don't have to wait for too long.

kathy a. said...

AW: the "don't buy me a present" did arrive, and he had no idea, and it is something he wanted and needed. woot! we are not big-gift people. he would have been fine with the right coffee mug. shhhhh! that's for christmas. ;)

esperanza said...

((Jeni)) I hear you, both on the depressed hubby (though mine is not so severe) and the regressive potty issues. Let's just say that the Sweet Baboo owns 18 pairs of undies. I did laundry Thursday, and she was wearing her last clean pair this afternoon. Sigh.

Cluesticks for roomie.

Jenevieve said...

Esperanza, that's a frequent scene in our house, too.

AW: We blew the budget and went out to dinner tonight at a ramen place nearby. H ate a big bowl of soba noodles and broth without whining. WHOA.

Sue said...

Morning - yes.

Good - too early to tell.

When I rule the world, morning will begin at noon. Just sayin....

Sarah at ratatat said...

Oh Esperanza - I'm sorry the wedding bombed. Hope you stay ahead of the Christmas rush.

Sue - don't stolen cupcakes taste better?

Jeni - Oh no. What utter horribleness. Hope the med kick in for your husband and then he can deal with his BFF.

W/AW: Second interview went OK. I think I could have been more brilliant and I prepared for all the wrong questions. But they haven;t rejected me yet, so hope spring eternal.

Liz Miller said...

((Jeni))

kathy a. said...

sarah, crossing fingers!

AW: we went to dinner last night, and the place was absolutely packed. they ended up losing our pizza order -- which was OK, we just grazed on garlic bread and salad until they fixed that. the waiter was mortified, though, and comped us half the meal plus the drinks! he got a very handsome tip.

Sue said...

Yes, stolen cupcakes are better. I can hear them calling my name from the freezer downstairs. Reminds me of Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart."

On the other hand, the cupcakes were so good yesterday, I was "raven" about them. Ha!!! So early, yet I'm punny.

kathy a. said...

esperanza -- i'm sorry, i mis-read your note about mini's rash, and was thinking full-body instead of localized. that there sounds like some nasty diaper rash. i'd still call the ped.

jeni -- yay for the dinner!

Liz Miller said...

Esperanza, I would have the ped check for strep.

Alas.

kathy a. said...

or, thrush [a yeast infection], which might be more likely if mini has been on antibiotics. poor mini!

esperanza said...

Well, y'all are just full of fun possibilities. It looked a little better this morning, so I'm holding off on our (no kidding, weekly) doctor's appointment. No fever, no itching though it is ouchy at changing time, generally happy otherwise. I'm hoping that it's just the same rash that is slow to heal because of moisture, etc.

In other news, I'm pretty sure she has reflux, just like Sweet did. I caved and had the doctor call in a prescription. So now we're doing the insurance arguing. Oh boy. I wish I weren't so good at this. Prior authorization from the doctor? I'm guessing that YES, he will authorize it since he's the one that prescribed it in the first place. Grr.

Sue, you are cracking me up with the Tell-Tale Heart cupcakes. Are you going to be able to keep a straight face at the tea?

Sue said...

esperanza - not a chance. I'll have avert my gaze from the talking cupcakes.

Sorry to hear about Mini's rash and the insurance stuff. Talking to insurance people about anything makes my head spin 360. Also, pea soup reflux is bound to happen by the third time I'm put on hold. (I have had a slightly different reason for battling the insurance beasts - mostly it was when I was on sick leave and my extended health care got confusing after six months).

Still - sorry about your troubles.

kathy a. said...

what do y'all think about doing a holiday food open thread over the weekend? i could use some ideas, especially of the cook-ahead variety.

Liz Miller said...

Sure! I'll post up a holiday thread that will start Saturday and end Friday.

purple_kangaroo said...

Why, oh why, can't I make myself go to bed at a reasonable hour??? Argh.

kathy a. said...

liz is the best!

W: my son's neighbor who has cancer? he's not doing so well -- more complications. weekly chemo. his parents and brother have moved in. he's probably early 30's. his daughter is due in february. my heart is breaking.

thinking of some food to take over there. and a baby blanket, something like the happy quilt i made son's neighbor.

Sarah at ratatat said...

Oh Kathy, that's terrible. Fireplacing cancer.

Sue said...

Oh kathy, I'm so sorry. Fireplacing cancer indeed.

I'll be happy to participate in the holiday food thing, but I will first confess: None of what I post will have anything to do with I myself have actually cooked. Hubby is the chef in the family (well, and our elder son, but he lives out of province) - so anything I post will be from him. I'll pass along his best holiday creations. They are truly yumilicious.

Sue said...

Oh, and Sarah, still crossing fingers and toes here....

amy said...

PK, I'd like to offer you company in your misery. I cannot seem to get to bed at a reasonable hour, even though I know I would feel better in the morning (every morning) if I did. *sigh*

I nominate Sue for an Award for getting away with liberating cupcakes that were clearly being oppressed by the confines of the church kitchen.

((hugs)) to Jeni, because people who have never been depressed or lived with someone who is just don't understand. I join with Sue and hope that the relief comes soon! And really? 24 hour shifts? I'm *so* sorry. But I'm happy for your really good Chai. Thank goodness for the little things in life. If only there were more of them.

Days -- WELL DONE! I can hardly wait for my kids to be old enough to reward like that!

Sarah, I'm crossing my fingers for you, too! I haven't heard about my interview yet, but today or tomorrow is the earliest I'll hear. I'm feeling very zen about the whole thing, which is a blessing.

Liz Miller said...

Fireplacing cancer. Why can't it just fireplace off?

The Holiday thread will be recipes and whines. And it doesn't have to be something you cooked yourself.

Sue said...

That's right amy ~shifty eyes~ I was freeing oppressed cupcakes. Ya. That's it! :)

I'm with PK re: sleep deprivation. Last night I tossed and turned until 2:00 or so, then read for a bit before trying again. This morning - uber tie-tie.

Unfortunately, tired or not, I really must get my newsletter done today. There is the ever-so-slightest chance that it may not be my most inspired piece ever. Oy.

amy said...

I desperately need a haircut, but I have no time to do it. I hate being shaggy.

I have had to kick two students out of my class this semester, and there is another one on the bubble for today. I've been summoning my inner b-word, and it's been working, but egad -- I chose to teach college so I wouldn't have to deal with children.

Tater had his hernia repaired on Monday. The day (and the days leading up to it) sucked in so many ways, but he's recovering nicely, and I am willing to accept that outcome as a balm for the suckiness.

amy said...

This should help get us all in the holiday spirit! Totally SFW! And cute!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm3dm5J5r0A