We had a rather soggy weekend -- which, after these years of drought, remains ever so exciting. But the sun looks to be returning today, and that is a lot more cheerful!
Need to pick up the pace on the rest of this current albatross. Have been suffering, alas, from a bad attitude. Also, this albatross hates me.
My shy old lady cat has returned to sleeping by my feet! She is too afraid to let human hands touch her, but feet are apparently safe. My feet, anyway -- she does not confer this honor on just anybody.
What is happening out your way?
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Whatever Works
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Wednesday Whining is a weekly blog with rotating hosts. Whines and Anti-Whines, both big and small, are welcome! Our purposes are mutual support and sharing a few laughs along the way.
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The Wednesday Whining Community is diverse, and strives to be safe, welcoming, and supportive. To this end, comments that are personally abusive or otherwise disparaging [regarding race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation] will be deleted by moderators, along with spam and self-promotion.
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A: Yes, really. Traditional awards include Style [music, poetry, etc.], Old Skool [piddly little whines], and Elevated Risk of Mullet [funniest line in a whine], but other hand-crafted awards may be granted at the host's discretion, and nominations from commenters are encouraged.
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A: The Playdough Violin
A: The Whiner's Ball commences no later than Tuesday, and ends when Awards are given (usually Thursday in theory, but definitely before Monday).
Q: Awards? Really?
A: Yes, really. Traditional awards include Style [music, poetry, etc.], Old Skool [piddly little whines], and Elevated Risk of Mullet [funniest line in a whine], but other hand-crafted awards may be granted at the host's discretion, and nominations from commenters are encouraged.
Q: Can I whine about someone who just does not "get it"?
A: The Cluestick Posse is on hand for persons in need.
Q: Is there a mascot?
A: Ralph is the mascot.
Q: Are there other traditions I should know about?
A: The passing of virtual refreshments is appreciated.
Q: How did this all get started anyhow?
A: Phantom Scribbler was our muse and host for two years.
Q: What was the first prize ever awarded?
A: The Playdough Violin
71 comments:
When we went to visit SIL, her favorite staffer wanted to talk about a card she just got from her son. We did not see the card displayed, so she could have had one of her bad reactions -- he is almost 16, and looks just like his father; but I think in her mind he is still 6.
Anyway, her son wants to come visit. Evidently, he doesn't understand how bad off she is -- even basics, like that she can't read, and she can't plan, and she can't understand new info, and etc. We told the facility that we should really be there if he visits (look of relief).
And I've drafted a letter for her son, trying to explain her deterioration -- and that it is caused by her brain disease, and that he should plan any visit with us. Even a "good" visit is going to be devastating to her boy. Her behavior is not predictable, so there's a pretty decent chance of something hurtful happening, too. (I don't know whether to laugh or cry that her speech is now so unintelligible that if she really lets loose, the specifics will likely get lost....)
(((kathy))) I think it's a good idea to coordinate your nephew's visit when you and hubby can be there. It's a horrid, cruel disease.
W: Snow. Cold. It's April, but the weather doesn't seem to have gotten the memo.
AW: If that's my worst whine, I'm doing okay. :)
W: Good thing I didn't have much else planned for today. It's been negotiation day over fixing things on the new house, among other contract amendments (see how official I sound?).
AW: It's all going to work out fine. Just so many phone calls and emails and texts
Woot! Stuff getting done on the new house, and I'll take calls and emails over actually arranging it myself, any day.
I don't know what to say about snow in April, Sue.
AW: tax refunds on the way! The only up side to a bad money year.
Well, kathy a, the current owners don't want to arrange it either, so they're giving us some $$ back to take care of it as we wish. It's the a/c. It needs to be fixed.
Huh, Esperanza. Well, it will get fixed! And I assume you don't have to be there unpacking boxes and wrangling kidlets while it happens?
No. It's only one of the units, and it's functioning, but it wasn't cooling well, even when it was only ~75 outside. Come July, when it's 105 outside, it will not work much at all. They are giving us the higher of the costs (it's either a $200 fix or a $2000 fix), so it's a gamble on their parts. There should be time to get it taken care of before the unpacking stage.
I'm glad it's taken care of, esperanza. When it's 105, you definitely need a/c!!
The weirdest thing about buying/selling a house? At the point of reaching a deal, it is all fake money. Numbers that make one cringe in normal life -- eh, no problem! I assume that fixup cost can be folded into your mortgage?
That's fantastic negotiating with your sellers, esperanza! We had to fight for an entire day to get our sellers to share the cost of the furnace that needed replacing. It's great that they gambled on the higher of the two costs, and honestly, I'd always rather get cash back and be responsible for fixes than make the seller do it (because then I can pick the repair person, and all that). You're getting cash back upon signing, and not having the price taken off the sale price, right?
(((kathy))) It's really wise that you're trying to go with Nephew to see his mom. What a heartbreaking situation.
AW: the day turned out better than it started. Notification that our tax refund will be in the bank on Thursday (at which point we can get an estimate to get AC installed here!)
W: But, oh buddy, did it have a rocky start. (Everyone is tired of being sick all the time. Apparently we are cranky.) (Bless the inventor of TV.)
QWP, kind of. We were going to cover all the closing costs, so the repair money will be money that they instead pay toward closing costs. Definitely not just taken off the sale price.
And oh yes, kathy a, I was just noticing the "fake money" phenomenon.
Very exciting, Esperanza!
QWP, hope everybody's feeling better!
I keep obsessing about the nephew's desire to visit his mom, and tweaking the draft letter. My thought was to be very clear about just how impaired she is now -- because, he may be thinking joyous reunion and a long loving talk, and that is 100% not possible. Also mentioned that she barely lasts 20 minutes for visits, even on a good day.
The latest addition was to explain she is very easily agitated, it's often hard to tell why, but if she gets that way we will need to leave immediately, to help her calm down. That is my actual plan if there's a blowup -- husband tends to her while I scoot her son the hell out of there. (Would not wish this disease on anyone.)
((((Kathy)))) I think it's really wise and kind of you to send a letter preparing him first.
Particularly letting him know she may get agitated and that she thinks he's still a little boy. And that she's hard to understand when she speaks.
AW: Daughter is taking several bags of stuff up to the donation place and the free exchange! Including some of my stuff. Yay!
W: My goodness, the paperwork.
W: Mini had a refried bean sandwich for supper. I could hardly watch her eat it. Blech. So much squishy.
AW: she ate it.
What. Ever. Works.
Yep. So if you're counting, she had a slice of bread at every meal. At least it was whole wheat, right? So much beige. And squishy.
Seriously: whatever works. (And we've definitely had a lot of days when E has had a slice of bread at every meal.) (I feel like I'd like a refried bean sandwich. But I'd need the bread to be toasted.)
AW: we were all relatively healthy today! And even though we had a swing of temperatures from frozen in the morning to 19C/67F in the afternoon, and I didn't have a migraine, which was awesome. (Seriously: after having had only a handful of migraines in my entire life, I had about six in a month. I'm really hoping that the changes we've made to clean up the house has taken care of that problem, and it's not something that is going to happen all the time now.) We were able to take advantage of the nice weather and go the nearby playground with friends. After the past few weeks we've had, that's huge for me.
Toasted would have been an improvement. And the beans were not technically refried at all...they are the same smushed up pinto beans I cook every week in the crock pot. So they are healthy beans. I just can't get past the texture of said sandwich. Mini has eclectic and eccentric food preferences.
Yay for healthy and nice weather.
That's a beige meal, but as others have stated - whatever works!
Yay for a healthy day QWP! That's quite a temp swing! We haven't warmed up quite to that extent yet, but it's sunny today, so that's good.
W: Crappity, crappity, crap. Hubby has an infection and I'm going out of town for a conference on Sunday afternoon, returning Wednesday. Send all the "Antibiotics Do Your Job" energy his way...
Oh no, no, no infection! Go away, germs!
Oh, Sue! Oh, hope this clears right up. You've got emergency backup on call, right? (Besides the kittehs, which are known to be curative, but they don't have opposable thumbs, you know?) xoxo
Well, my FIL has always been our back-up, but he's not doing so well these days. He's quite depressed, I think. He's just not himself. I've known him for just over 40 years and have NEVER seen him grumpy. Ever. I didn't think he had it in him. He was in ministry for over 55 years and was around people all the time. Helping people is like oxygen to him. He hasn't done a funeral for about 8 months because he can't leave my MIL alone for very long and she refuses to have anyone else stay with her, even for a few hours. I think he feels trapped and lonely. Poor guy.
Anyway, long answer to your question. My sisters are in town also, so I can always ask them to check in on hubby over the days I'm away.
((( Sue ))) I'm so sorry about your FIL. That certainly sounds like a change. And yes, being the *only* acceptable caregiver is very stressful. xoxo
Glad your sisters are around! And here's to the meds working!
((((Sue)))) germs be gone!!! Is your in laws house accessible? Can your husband go there to keep an eye on THEM while your away?
AW: ~whisper~ I have received ZERO Albatross related emails today. I think that means it really is really launched.
AW: a real life friend came for a visit. She is a former hairdresser, so she cut my hair, too. And we had lunch. So nice to be with people who have known you for a long time.
AW: ginormous hail missed us last night. Lots of people with busted windows and roofs and siding (!). It also missed our new house.
W: Someday the Baboos will get themselves ready for the day in a timely fashion. Or am I deluding myself? They've gotten progressively slower over the course of the school year, and they weren't fast to start with.
No Albatross! No hail! Friend for lunch! That's pretty darned good!!
Got nothin' on moving the troops in a more timely manner.
Menu: Teriyaki chicken, and fried rice with pretty much everything that was around. Including pancetta, which is known to make certain someones happier.
Liz, the in-laws' condo is mostly accessible. Unfortunately, the wheelchair doesn't fit in the bathroom, so hubby hasn't been there for some time. Otherwise, that would have been a good solution.
esperanza, that's so nice about seeing your friend and getting a haircut too! Those days are gold.
Yum, kathy!
AW: Fever is down this morning, but climbs back up a bit just before the 4 hours between otc meds dose. Antibiotics seem to be starting to work, so we're hoping by the end of the day things will be looking much better.
Hooray for reduced fever. Crossing fingers for continued improvements.
W: This conversation between me and Sweet reveals my true purpose:
Sweet: Are you going on the field trip with me?
Me: No
Sweet: But what if I need a Kleenex?
(Aside: the powers-that-be are making it as difficult as they can for parents to go on the trip...have to drive your own car, have to find a place to park, buy your own ticket. And all they're doing is: eat sack lunches, go into theater, watch show, get back on bus. I decided I would not be that helpful, nor would it be a fulfilling "Sweet and Mama" time. So I'm not going. She can just carry a Kleenex in her pocket).
Go, antibiotics!
~snort~ Esperanza. Ye olde kleenex carrier.
Kleenex has this problem solved: https://www.kleenex.com/products/facialtissues/on-the-go
I did not know those came in Frozen designs, Liz. I am now completely obsolete.
You don't have to buy the fancy-pants tissues! LOL
It rained more last night, and I had to go out at 2 a.m. and shut the roof thing on my car. AW: our sun is back again!
There is some serious upper-generation love and excitement going on between families about the [still secret in public] nuptials! These kids had better go ahead and announce soon, is all I'm saying. <3
W: a couple weeks ago we went fishing. I scraped my finger on a fish's mouth while removing the hook. No biggie. It was just about healed up...until Wednesday, when it started itching like crazy. Now it is red and swollen and looks a bit like poison ivy rash. Hydrocortisone cuts the itch a little but not all the way. So, I turned to Dr. Google, who tells me it's a bacterial infection and I should see my doctor ASAP. (Other dire predictions: this bacteria can lead to tuberculosis). I had other plans for tomorrow, but I guess I'll see if I can get in.
AW: at least I'll have a Kleenex handy
Eeeks! Go get thee some antibiotics! (Those suckers can be especially painful in fingers, because of all the nerve endings up there. I think that one was actually a worse ER visit with the beloved than the time he was found unconscious on the side of the road after a bike accident.) (Which none of us will ever mention, right?)
omg, daughter visited a cat cafe and adoption thing, and it is possibly the best pick-me-up ever.
That's the weird part...it doesn't hurt at all. The itching is insane. And it's a little stiff from being swollen and kind of throbbing from that, but no pain. Hmmm...
Get thee to a doctor asap!
W: the new bras I got last week (I'd ordered them after trying them on 2 months ago didn't fit. I brought them back to the local wonderful bra shop and I've gone up 2 sizes in 2 months. Mammogram Monday.
AW: the bras that I bought today are way cheaper. Like a third. Also, I preached the gospel of proper fit to a newbie (you should have seen her poor shoulders). She was experiencing sticker shock, and cup-size shock. The bra she walked in wearing was a 36DD (from Penneys) she walked out in a 32G. The store owner told her what I learned years ago from Dr. Bitch, that, except for Nordstroms, most department stores will say you are a DD because they don't stock any larger cup sizes, and they'll just keep going up in band sizes instead, and that's what causes shoulder dents
Dr. Liz, dispensing bra wisdom where ever it is needed! Also, thanks for the reminder to go get some fitting done. Yay, for bargains! As always, best on the mam.
I detest too-big bands. Thank you for spreading the good news, Liz. And yes, good luck on the mammogram.
My daughter did a birthday party at a cat cafe one year--loved it.
Negotiations were attempted, and failed miserably. There are no best alternatives left at this point. No matter which way it goes, it's bad. I'm just hoping for the least bad outcome at this point.
(((((((pk)))))))))
--Neighbor Lady
((( PK ))) xoxo
(((((PK)))))
Liz on iPhone
((((PK))))
esperanza, I hope you can get your itchie/wounded finger sorted out quickly!
Yay Dr Liz for bra wisdom!! And deals!!! As it happens, I went bra shopping earlier this week at my fave specialty bra shop. I always have a fitting, even when buying the same bra 'cause you never know when your size might change. I ended up buying two - the same one I already have (except the new one is RED!) and another one that was very nice and reasonably priced.
Good luck on the mammogram!
W: Drat. Fever was down for the entire night, so this morning we figured we were done with it. Now it's back, very low grade, but enough to make hubby feel weak and bleh. Now the question is whether to go to ER on a Friday.
AW: All the other symptoms (belly pain, back pain, etc..,) are gone. He still has a dose of antibiotic to take tonight, so we're hoping the bugs just need one last kick out the door.
Here's hoping this is the last gasp of the nasty bug. xoxo
Finger update: allergic reaction, because rash is limited to where the fish actually touched me. Steroid cream.
(((PK))) hoping for some light to come your way.
Sue, hoping the bug is on its way out. ER on a Friday does not sound appealing.
W: Head spinning. I went to window shop for appliances today. (Fridge and washer and dryer) Too many choices. When we chose the fridge for this house (which the church purchased because it's their house), there was only one fridge that fit into the available space. Shopping made easy. This time, not so much.
Are there brands that have worked well for you in the past? Can you pick out maybe a top 3, and do a consumer report search? Also see about repair policies, and how close repair people will be in case of need. Because yeah, window shopping is overwhelming!
In general, we've done well with Kenmore -- durable, know what we're getting, decent warranty, repair people not hard to find. We had a washer/dryer set that lasted almost forever in appliance years. (Washer died at about 23; dryer a couple years later.) Newer models have more computer stuff in them, so it is handy to have the repair option if something is imperfect.
You can get a washer/dryer and a refrigerator with wifi. I am not even kidding. I have no idea why this would be useful.
Back right the heck away from those products. LOL
We did have a glitch with the new washer, that turned out to be some defective computer bit controlling the everything. They had to order it. But at least it was under warranty.
Menu: broiled salmon; yakisoba; broc. It is ridiculously amazing that the local Japanese store has plain fresh yakisoba, and 3 servings means enough leftovers for tomorrow, even with 3 people eating.
Oh, I forgot a funny....when I went to pick up the steroid ointment for my finger, the pharmacist was doing the consultation (in which she reads me the instructions from the Rx label), and she says, "Oh! This is my favorite steroid!" I did my best to keep a straight face.
Things my town does not have: "local Japanese store" "yakisoba" Taquerias? Gotcha covered. Ditto BBQ.
"Oh! This is my favorite steroid!" -- Best.Pharmacist.Comment. Ever.
I know! I'm sure it was just pharmacist geekery, but it sounded quite different!
The pharmacist wins for Mullet!!
AW: It was a good night here - fever down, fingers crossed it stays that way.
Yay, Sue and hubs! Fingers crossed!
((((pk))))
Crossing appendages that Sue's husband stays free of fever.
Esperanza, I'm glad that your finger isn't infected! Regarding the appliance decision, have you ever used the review website The Sweethome? They aggregate other review sites, but also do their own (excellent) product testing.
W: we had our third week of preschooler music class, and for the second week in a row, E had a lot of behavioural problems, compared to the rest of the kids her age. I'm getting both frustrated and disheartened. I don't know how to teach her how to be functional with other people.
Very cool about the music class! QWP, what do you mean by "behavioral problems"? She is still very young, and there's a lot of variation in little kid behavior. She just might not be used to the "class" idea, or be used to groups, or know the other kids yet. I'm totally guessing!
ooh, thanks for the tip on the website, QWP. I would love some objective sort of measure on these things.
At what point do offspring not have last minute shopping requests for school/club/etc?
Tonight it's for a reporters notebook for tech rehearsal tomorrow. And stores close in an hour.
QWP- it may be a bad time for E or too much stimulation. When my youngest was that age, we often only went to playtime and music time in 5-10 minute increments. You can also ask the teacher privately if there are some tips to try.
It does get better, although my last whine may not fully indicate that.
We are up to 4 stores with nothing The Teen Boy finds acceptable.
4 stores? Above and beyond, Miranda.
We finally found something adequate. In store 5. I'm exhausted.
Above and beyond, Miranda.
Also QWP, she's had a lot of transition lately with the move...and with the sickness....etc.
I agree that there is lots of variation among kids, and also things tend to come (and go :) ) in phases.
Talking to the teacher for suggestions might not be a bad idea, but also please be gentle with yourself and your mothering and teaching skills. I know that she (and you) are fantastic!
:) Neighbor lady
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